The girl sat in her place behind the counter as she watched customers enter on the windy Thursday evening.

She was bored out of her mind, feet aching from the constant restocking of shelves and running around trying to find what the customers desire.

In short- she was exhausted.

"Thank you for shopping at our store." Seowoo almost spoke out robotically but managed to plaster a smile and a preppy voice.

The girl slumped back on her chair with a large exhale and leaned her head back on the wall with her eyes closed.

Her peaceful silence was disrupted by the notifications on her phone filling up the air.

Begrudgingly, she picked up her phone to click onto the said notifications.

Jisung: So you're telling me

There's £3m worth of money in Seowoo's house

Heejin: sugar daddy

That's what I said

Renjun: no you dumb shits why would he get money from being a sugar daddy, you get money from being a sugar baby

Donghyuck: mhm you'd know

Jeno: anyway, back to what we were saying

Do you have any idea where he could have gotten it from?

Nope, but I'm going to look more

Jaemin: you were meant to come join us earlier

Sorry, had to work extra shifts

Renjun: what's the point working

To get money

Heejin: you get paid in the mafia but it depends what mission you get

So if I kill Renjun will I get a lot

Renjun: hey!

Donghyuck: nah he's worth nothing

Renjun: you're so funny.

Chenle: bring all the phones with you but don't let your fingerprints get on it

If I can ever make it home at this point

Donghyuck: why did you get stabbed again

I just got flashbacks to that I'm just gonna pretend it never happened

And no I'm exhausted bro

Heejin: why bro

Cuz school and work bro

Jisung: I forget you go School

What's the point

To get education...

Renjun: eh it's overrated

Jeno: anyway I'm sure if he gave you hints about the money under the bed there must be other hints

His whole diary doesn't make sense to me

Like it's definitely hinting at shit but I can't piece it together

Chenle: cuz you're dumb

Thanks rat

Chenle: so you admit you're dumb

No ❤️

Seyeon: hm

You said that the monsters under the bed thing was what he said to you every night or whatever

Yeah

Seyeon: so he wants you to find something

Or maybe he wants you to carry out his job

I don't even know what his job is

Did he owe people money, did people owe him money

Did he kill for money or did people kill him for the money

Like idk

Jisung: this is far more than we think isn't it

Jeno: yep

Jaemin: what happened to those spider tattoo bitches

Aren't they who killed your brother, you saw them right

Chenle: you saw them

Their faces?

I mean

Yeah but I can't remember properly

Maybe if I saw them I'd recognise them

Chenle: did he tell you where he was taking you

No he just said he wanted to spend time with me before the wedding

Jaemin: who was he getting married to

Miyeon

Seyeon: full name?

Song Miyeon

I haven't spoken to her in ages but I think I should see how she's doing

Jeno: she must be distraught

She was, she's such a sweet girl and I know how much Jeongmin's death affected her

I really wish we didn't lose contact

Jisung: are you coming tho

We're waiting

Yeah yeah I'm walking out now

Jaemin: don't u have a car

Nope

Jaemin: dw we'll come get u

↻

Seowoo was seated outside her store, taking advantage of the outside seating as she watched cars drive past.

All she wanted to do was go home and drop dead at this point.

As the cold began to engulf her, a speeding car came to a halt in front of her store.

She looked up, eyes flickering to the expensive sports car as the window rolled down- the boy sat there with one hand on the wheel as he glanced outside to the freezing girl.

"Are you getting in or not?"

Seowoo gawked, standing up as she stared at the car.

"This yours?"

"Yes, now get the fuck in." Chenle replied, turning his head to look straight ahead as his fingers mindlessly drummed on the wheel.

Seowoo rounded the car, opening the passenger seat as she slid into it and her widened eyes raked over the interior in awe until she glanced up at the boy.

His stoic eyes were burning into her face.

"Put your seatbelt on." He said.

"Wait, this is yours? Damn..." She trailed off, reaching out to touch the expensive looking dials and he sighed harshly.

Chenle impassively leant forward towards her- arm leaning over her to grab the seatbelt as she halted at his sudden action.

For a split second, Chenle's eyes drew up to her own and the close proximity began to encase her in a fluster as her pulse quickened.

He pulled the seatbelt over her, clicking it into place as moving to sit firmly back in his seat as he began the engine.

"How come you picked me up?"

"I was out already."

"Oh, how come?"

"Mission." He said and Seowoo's eyes raked over him, he didn't seem disheveled at all.

She turned out, glancing in the backseat where bloodied clothes layed across the seats and she clamped her lips together.

Seowoo turned back around, watching as the night sky encased the surroundings with the neon lights of passing stores and signs amplified the scene.

"Can you take me home first, I need to grab the phones."

The fast, harsh swerve of Chenle doing a U-turn made the girl gasp, gripping the handle of the door for leverage as he remained unfazed.

"Are you mad at me?" She asked softly as if she cared if he was mad at her or not.

"For what?" He asked nonchalantly, turning the corner swiftly.

"For bringing up...you know- your Mum."

Chenle was silent for a second which only fuelled her concern and guilt.

"No I'm not." He replied emotionlessly.

"Are you sure?" She asked, leaning forward so she could look at him and he pulled up to her house- glancing towards her.

"Why would I care about what you say?"

Seowoo held his eye contact for a second, not replying as a part of her was disappointed.

Maybe she thought they were getting somewhere but everytime they took one step forward- they were back at square one.

The silence hung in the air as Seowoo tore her eyes away and quietly left the car- walking up her driveway as his eyes followed her.

Once she entered her house, Chenle let out a small breath of air and leant his head against the headrest.

Something inside him was warning him to stay away from her, but for whose good?