Chapter 8:
"Security system unlocked"
"Please confirm"
"Confirmed"
*****
A monotonous robotic voice woke me. I rubbed my eyes tiredly, trying to locate where the sound was coming from. My eyes were puffy when I had gone to sleep. I touched them again and realized they weren't as puffy anymore.
I walked groggily but the sound had stopped. Was I imagining them? It had felt too real. It was already past 8 in the morning. No more sleep then.
I sighed in relief. I looked at bruises on my thighs since they were the most recent ones- almost 3 days ago. Most of the bruises had healed.
I looked at myself in the mirror, debating if I should hide my puffy eyes and dark cycle using the concealer but decided against it. It wasn't like I am going to have any visitors, anyway.
I made breakfast and logged in to the chatroom. There was already an ongoing bantering about Josh's game addiction. Living alone and attending university, Josh had fallen in love with gaming to the point that almost everyone felt it was an addiction.
Josh: I'm skipping today. I have an important character to unlock ^^
Hailee: Are you for real? You have your midterms coming up in a few weeks.
Josh: ...Yeah. How do you know that?
Hailee: I collect all information about the members. Also, I was in college once.
Josh: Information? 0.0
Alayna: Hailee, you're scary. You don't have any information about me, do you? ^^
Hailee: Not yet. Azi hasn't given me access to your information.
That was news. What kind of information would Azi be able to find? Speak of the devil and it shall appear. Azi entered the chat room.
Azi: Hailee...I thought we agreed to keep that a secret.
Hailee: You were the only one who agreed ^^
Alayna: Azi, you peculiar hacker!
Azi: Peculiar? Me? I'm as innocent as a baby.
Josh: Don't insult children.
Azi: Isn't it time for your class? Oh right, you're skipping again.
Josh: Yes, I have to unlock the new skin.
The conversation carried on with the guys talking about the special features of the character. I cleaned my breakfast distractedly, the sound I heard in the morning haunting me. Should I or should I not? I braced myself and clicked send.
Alayna: Azi, does this apartment has some "special security system"?
Azi: ...No
I was relieved. I left the chatroom soon after, deciding to take a shower when my phone vibrated. Another chatroom?
I opened up to see Jin and Azi already discussing the... security system. Jin seemed worried that it might have been activated while Azi assured him that he coded the system to the point that it was almost impenetrable.
Alayna: Azi, you said there wasn't any security system.
Azi: I lied.
I blinked at his message, sure that I was seeing things. He lied?
Alayna: Why?
Jin: Because I told him to keep it a secret.
Why does a fundraising organization have a "security system" and hide it from its members?
Jin: I know what you're thinking but the people that attend our party value their privacy and some of them come from rich backgrounds.
Alayna: What does that have to do with this security system?
Jin: A special security system was placed in the apartment to safeguard the guest information and to use it for future projects.
Jin: I will answer your questions soon...just trust me.
Jin and Azi both left the chatroom, leaving me more confused. His reasoning made sense but hiding it from the others...I didn't get that.
At the moment though, I trusted them. I had no choice either. My mind was occupied with worry for Kai. Too much had happened the previous day, my brain has yet to comprehend everything.
The chatroom, surprisingly, had become a refuge to talk with the members. It still surprised me how accepting they were of me, even though they were skeptical. Acceptance...I can't remember the last time felt that.
When the doorbell of the apartment rang, I almost fell down the chair. Was it...Adrien? It was unlikely unless he hacked the camera inside the apartment.
I walked to the living room and stared at the door. When the doorbell rang again, I rushed to the door. I opened the door, hesitantly.
My eyes settled on the tall, dark purple hair colored man. His hair was mused and his expression was grim. It took me another second to realize who it is.
"Jin?" I blinked, my eyes widening. He looked even more handsome in real life. His blue eyes scrutinized me. I looked away from him and noticed a dark brown-haired man who looked much younger than Jin with a mischievous grin.
"Azi," I said, immediately recognizing him. I looked back and other between the two of them. My eyes were a little reluctant to look away from Jin. The thought made me blush, a deep shade of red tainting my cheeks.
Broad shoulders, sharp jaws, perfect nose...Jin looked like a wannabe Kpop star that had wandered into the real world away from the spotlight. Weirdly, he looked too familiar but I concluded that I was seeing things.
"Can we come in?" Jin asked with dry amusement. I stuttered out a 'yes' and moved away from the door so they could enter. Azi shut the door behind him, winked when he noticed me staring at Jin.
I was still in shock as I walked into my room where I spent the most time working. Jin gestured at Azi and paced around the room and walked towards me. I had been standing at the entrance, watching the duo till then.
He walked outside the room and faced me. I swallowed nervously. This was the last thing I had expected to happen. I tried to smooth down my hair and was horrified when I realized I had nothing on my face.
Jin seemed to pay no attention to my internal struggle as he sauntered towards the kitchen. I followed after him. Luckily, the note Kai gave me was buried inside my bag. There was nothing else I had of Kai-or Adrien- that would arouse suspicion.
The kitchen was filled with groceries, the box of the takeover on the table and my breakfast remains on the sink.
"Sorry, I was just going to clean the kitchen," I said apologetically, disposing of the takeover box in the dustbin.
"That's okay" he assured me, his voice emotionless. Nevertheless, I cleaned up my breakfast and hastily arranged my grocery.
"Do you need any money?" he asked in concern. It was the first emotion I could detect. I shook my head. Adrien had already added a few more dollars to my purse, more money than I'd need.
Jin settled on the couch in the living room. He patted the spot beside him, a gesture for me to sit down. I complied and sat but kept my arms around myself defensively. His aloof demeanor had me on edge. It felt like I was being judged.
Though, Jin didn't creep me out like many other people I have met, keeping my guards was my only defense mechanism.
"Did you come here because of the security system?" I asked, distracting Jin from his thoughts. He was silent for a few seconds.
"Yes," he replied, brushing his hair away from his eyes. A small moment that had my eyes focused on his face. My blush reappeared with a vengeance. I turned my head away, letting my hair cover the part of that half of my face.
A comfortable silence fell over us. Every few minutes, I'd glance towards him and look away shyly. I was so tempted to apply some makeup to hide my puffy eyes and dark circles.
"So tell me about yourself, Alayna Swelyn" I froze when I heard that name, distancing myself away from instinctively.
Swelyn. The name I had been trying to run away from for months. My family name. Jin knew my family name.