Chapter 32: Karaoke.
It was just as Suyin thought. Haru didn't have any other classes that she would be in for the rest of the day. The day dragged on as he walked around getting lost quite often as he tried to find the classrooms. It felt like it took an eternity but he had finally finished his first day of school. Now it was time to meet Suyin and her friends for karaoke.
Haru waited by the school gate. A few minutes went by before his phone began to vibrate. He looked down to see it was a call from an unknown number. He answered the call and put it to his ear.
A voice whispered out in course tone. "You look so vulnerable standing there Haru..." He began to look around for a minute. They can see me? Who is this? What do they want? He began to wonder. "It's no use looking for me. You will never find me. You should watch your back." Haru felt small hands cover his eyes.
"Haha, You should have seen your face," Suyin said taking her hands away. "Did I scare you?" Haru laughed with her. "Of course you did. Look I'm shaking right now." He showed her his hand and began to shake them overdramatically. Suyin looked at him with disappointment for a second. "No fair. I thought I actually got you. I will just have to try harder next time." Suyin laughed as the rest of her friends walked over.
There were three boys including Lei and four girls. When Lei spotted Haru he became nervous and began to sweat. He then looked down at his phone "I'm sorry guys I just got a text from my dad, I can't go with you tonight." He said before getting into a car with tinted windows that was waiting for him at the gate.
That is convenient. At least he won't bother me anymore. Haru thought as Suyin leaned toward him. "I think he is too embarrassed to see me. Or maybe he just hates you so much that he can't bear to see you." She laughed once again. "What's up with Lei? He seemed excited to come earlier today." One of the two remaining boys said to the other.
A car beeped as the driver from earlier got out and waved toward Haru. "Who's that for?" Suyin asked confused. "Oh, sorry I need to tell him that I'm not coming home yet." Haru ran over and then explained to the driver that he is going to karaoke with a few classmates. He then sent a text to Zen to let him know he will be home late. Once everything was settled he walked back other to the group who were now only waiting for him.
"Sorry about that I just had to send my uncle a text to say I will be home late. Are we ready to go?" Suyin stepped forward. "It's okay we can get going then if everyone is ready." She said before beginning to walk in the direction of the city.
They walked into the city which took them twenty minutes. It was already five o'clock and the sun was starting to set. Suyin seemed to be lost before spotting a small dark alleyway. It was just wide enough for a car to drive down. And in the alley was the place they were looking for. Seven Headed Snake Karaoke the sign hung in front of the building read.
They all headed inside. The atmosphere was weird. There were a group of businessmen sat out in the bar area all drinking. A few seconds went by as the barkeeper spotted them. "Are you the kids who booked a Karaoke room?" The man shouted over. The girls in the group seemed kind of nervous. It looked like it was a kind of bar for miscreants.
Suyin stepped forward. "Yeah, that was us." She said as the man looked down at a screen behind the bar. "It says you booked for 5:30? Having kids upfront will be bad for business." He said quietly "The room is empty now so just head back there I will give you all an extra half an hour."
"Are you sure? I don't mind paying for the extra time" Suyin began to open her bag. "No, It's Okay It's on the house." The man said as he waved across to one of the other employees who was stood next to a door.
"This way, please." The employee said as he guided them to an empty room at the end of a long corridor. They entered to find a small room with seats around a table with a microphone and tv screen in one corner. "Oh, Look there's a menu. You can order drinks and snacks directly to the room. So cool." One of the boys said as he began to look through it.
"Yeah does anyone want anything? I have a prepaid card for this place so just order whatever you want to." Suyin said as she closed the door behind them. "Okay, I won't hold back then. Haru sat down and began to browse through the tablet to himself a drink. Ohh alcohol. I don't mind if I do. Haru looked through the alcoholic drink section and then found what he was looking for. He hadn't really drunk alcohol much but the time he drank with Li Jun in the cave he found that he liked the taste. It's not like he could get drunk anyway.
"You're ordering alcohol? But we are underage what if they kick us out?" Suyin said to Haru as he placed his order. "Judging by the location of this place and the people it attracts It wouldn't surprise me if they are operating an illegal business here. Don't worry if they say anything I will just say I ordered it by accident. No harm is done right?" Suyin stared at Haru for a few seconds before there was a knock on the door.
"Room service?" A man asked from the other side of the door. One of the boys walked over to the door and opened it. "See Haru was right they actually brought it." He said as he opened the door.
A group of four men in suits was stood outside. It seemed to be the men from earlier who were drinking at the bar. "Get out of the way kid." One of them shouted as they shoved him to the ground. "You three brats get out!" He pointed to Haru and the two other boys.
"Why what are you doing here?" The boy stood back up from the floor. "That is none of your business." Another one of the men kicked him in the stomach making him clutch his stomach as he dropped to his knees.
"Wait, How about we tell them what we are going to do? Let's make it more fun we will give them a chance to call the police to see how long it will take them to get here." The bigger one of the four began to laugh. "Woah you're crazy bro. Fine, let's tell them."
"When you leave we are going to have fun with these pretty young girls sat over there." He began to laugh. "And if you don't leave we will kill all three of you and then have fun with the girls." Haru couldn't believe his eyes. He knew it must have been an illegal operation but he didn't think it would be something like this. What was it? Do you pay a bunch of money to rape customers? That is sick. He looked over to Suyin who seemed oddly collected. She pulled out her phone and typed out a message quickly and sent it to someone.
Oh, She's calling in back up? Then I guess I don't have to kill these guys. Haru stood up from his seat. "What are you doing? Are you really going to save yourself and leave your classmates to get molested? You coward!" the other boy shouted. Haru looked back to see everyone was looking at him with hatred. He smiled at Suyin but she quickly looked away with disgust. Do you guys really think I'm that kind of person?
"You made a good choice kid." The biggest man put his hand on Haru's shoulder. Haru looked him in his eyes as he grabbed his arm. "Who said I was going anywhere?" Haru said as he began to squeeze his arm more and more.
"What are you doing? You little bastard let go of me." A crack echoed throughout the room as the bone snapped in two. "You made a big mistake by trying to harm my friends," Haru said as he kicked the man in his chest sending him flying backward and slamming into the wall behind him.
Running footsteps came from outside as the bartender from before came into the room. "You said you would be quick! Why are you lying on the ground? Someone tell me what is going on!" He demanded.
There was a flash of light as all four of the businessmen were knocked unconscious by something. Haru smiled. That must be the backup. "I was hoping you would tell me that." A man who looked to be in his early twenties appeared out of nowhere and pointed a baseball bat toward the barkeeper.