Hiraeth - (n.) a homesickness for a home you can't return to , or that never was.
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Silence is a thing that may be preferred by some while being completely hated by others. Most people disliked silence, as it made them think of things that they didn't want to think of again. They prefer to drown themselves in heavy noises to escape their past.
But some people find solace in silence. To them, silence is the only way for their mind to function. Yejun is one of those people who likes stillness to commotion.
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Yejun stands near the large windows that overlook the city. There were a lot of cars, which is expected for a city location. His long hair covers his forehead and reaches the back of his neck. He plays with his black locks while his soft doe eyes are still fixated on the cars.
He had heard footsteps stepping inside the room, but he waited until the other person called him out to acknowledge him.
"Yejun."
Once he hears his name, he puts down his hand playing with his hair. He turns around and meets the eye of the person. His face is still as expressionless as ever.
"Mr. Lee."
The man in front of Yejun seemed to be of middle age; he was dressed in formal attire. A white button-up paired with a black suit. One of his sleeves was rolled up to show a tattoo of Phoenix.
Mr. Lee chuckled as he noticed Yejun looking at his tattoo.
"I had already given you the option to tattoo it on your arm too."
It is customary among them to have a phoenix tattooed on one's body as a symbol of belonging to the same organization. Everyone has one, except Yejun.
"And I had already declined the offer."
Yejun responds, taking his eyes off the tattoo. He does not want to make a commitment that will last forever. The concept of committing to something is vastly different from his beliefs.
" Well, I thought you might have changed your mind."
" Is that why you are here? To persuade me to get a tattoo?"
Yejun raises an eyebrow, confident that Mr. Lee would not come here for such a small duty.
" You know, I wouldn't bother coming here for such a simple reason. Let's take our seats first."
Mr. Lee took a seat first, motioning for Yejun to follow.
" How did your last the mission go ?"
Mr. Lee inquired, despite being well aware that if Yejun was sitting in front of him, it meant he had completed his last mission.
" Pretty good. I found him easy prey because of his unwavering trust."
Yejun's demeanor changed for the first time, revealing a proud smirk at the corner of his lips. He closed his eyes for a few seconds to relive that memory again.
His cold hands, drenched in warm blood of the man that painted them red. The man in front of him begged for his life, his hands holding Yejun with a loose grip. The 'please spare me' sounded like a soft melody to him and it gave him even more energy to put the dagger back in the man's chest, this time finally in his heart.
" Yejun ah, you never disappoint me that's why you are my favourite."
Mr. Lee smiled while displaying a hint of pride in his eyes.
" Your face looks very place, I think you have lost some weight too."
Mr. Lee furrowed his brows in concern.
" You need a well deserved vacation after working non-stop."
" And I won't take a no. You'll be off for a week. Just enjoy your life like a normal adult during that time."
Mr. Lee said not letting Yejun speak against the idea.
" And what's waiting for me after that week? "
Yejun has been in this line of work for years, and he can readily detect something suspicious about this one-week holiday.
" I'll tell you when the time is right."
And with that Mr. Lee walked out of the cabin.
Yejun was annoyed with that vague answer but he knew he couldn't possibly force the man to answer him so he decided to let him leave.
He decided to stay in his cabin for some more time. He took out one a file from his locker that held information about all of his previous clients; they were so many that Yejun has lost count by now but it must be a couple hundreds.
Yejun began his career as an assassin when he was just a teenager. He was left with no choice than to kill someone else or to die. And he picked the latter without giving it any thought.
His parents were both alcoholic, his parents would often beat him up for trivial things or for no reason at all. He was bullied a lot at school for his torn clothes and his shabby appearance.
Even if he tried to work part time and make some money, his parents would eventually take it from him and use it to feed their addiction. He spent his entire youth in that torment, until one day he returned from school and discovered his parents had overdosed to death. Instead of crying or screaming, a tiny smile slowly appeared on his face. At last, he was free from the hell.
Yejun closed the file and put it back in the drawer, there were several other assasins working under Mr. Lee but only Yejun had a 100% success rate that's why he was Mr. Lee's favorite and so cared for.
He fetched his house keys from another drawer and walked out of his cabin. He hasn't been home in weeks. His method of work was different he infiltrated his target from inside. He first forms a sort of relationship with the target and once he gains the trust that's when he strike. He strikes when the iron is red hot.
It often leaves him with a deep thought of why human puts their blind faith in others? He hasn't been able to find the answer yet but he believes that he'll one day.
When he reached his house a package was already waiting for him at his doorstep. Yejun was cautious at first but when he saw the Phoenix seal on it he knew it must've been left by Mr. Lee.
He took the package inside with him but didn't open it right away.
He opened two bottles of alcohol and set them on the table, once he downed a whole bottle then only he picked up the envelope again.
" To Hades" It read on the front. Hades was the name Yejun was referred to as in the organization. It was given to him by Mr. Lee himself.
He slowly opened the package to reveal a thick stack of documents. Yejun sighed finally understanding why Mr. Lee suddenly gave him a week holiday, it was not to relax or anything it was for him to learn about his next target.
He picked out the very first page scanning the photo image. His new target seemed to be around the same age as him, his eyes sharp like a feline's and lips pulled in a straight smile. His hairs done in the typical chaebol manner, it made Yejun laugh a little.
" Kim Minjae. "
Yejun read his name out loud and it rang a bell in his mind, Kim Minjae is the sole heir of Kim enterprise,
He is always in headlines, not because of his good work or anything but because of him being openly gay.