While in Meracle’s house 7:00am

Jin was making food while the other four were getting their life together. But even while making food, he could not forget what’d happened in the past few hours. The screams for help continued to ring in his ears.

Even when he blinks, he could see those people who he had experimented on flash before his eyes. He’d used over twenty types of poisons, thirty types of viruses, and fifty types of medicines. The number of combinations were practically limitless and thus he needed an expert’s help.

Blood samples were continuously used and tested before a medicine or a vaccine is injected in a person. But that only guarantee the vaccine to work to some degree. Which is why he also needed lives to test it out on. Once a virus or a disease is in a person’s body, there was no telling what it’d do.

If it weren’t for Lucian’s and Ban’s help, the experiment would’ve taken at least a day and a half when making a new vaccine. At the longest, it would’ve taken months and even years to see results.

That was how hard it was when it comes to creating a new vaccine to a hereditary disease. He was lucky enough that he’d help and only took four hours to make the vaccine. But it was also because each and every one of those persons were experts in their own respective field of science, they were able to bring forth a miraculous vaccine within four hours.

‘Still bothered because you did human experimentations Jin?’ Lucian asks softly.

‘Yeah… I would never thought I’d do something so unforgivable in my life. Even though it was for something so small as to get rid of debt collectors and meeting Meracle’s family, I… just…’ Jin could bear to say the rest. He’d stirred up so much for something so little that it didn’t make sense. But it wasn’t like he wasn’t going to do it in the future anyhow. It was only a matter of time before he would do it anyhow because he wanted to cure people who had new and evolved diseases. He was knocking multiple birds with one stone all together.

‘… Eh… You would’ve done that at any other point in your life Jin. I know because you also have a small desire to help others. It is because you desire to be near others that you want to help them so you really can’t blame yourself for a small selfish wish you know. At the very least, no real casualties were made. Only scars in the deepest parts of their minds. All else, you’ve helped some of the people who were enslaved by drugs and corruptions. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that it is the right thing to do. But you’ve helped at least one more person who could become someone like you. Someone who is willing to do good and spread that kindness’ Lucian told Jin his point of view of things.

‘But what if some of the people there were happy about being a slave? What if some people don’t want to be freed?’ Jin asks.

This time, Ban appeared in front of Jin and said, “… Then they should never consider themselves human. Human themselves always strived for freedom of choice. But to throw away freedom that was built on other peoples’ corpses is just sad. This country was bought with the souls of the dedicated and hardworking humans that wanted not only themselves to be happy but future generations to be happy. Happiness is the ending we all wish for. But it has no meaning if it was just given to us. It has to be worked for to have a meaningful ending. But to be satisfied as other people’s plaything? … sad.”

“Oi Ban. Isn’t that a little harsh even if some people desired to be slaves?” Lucian was about to reprimand him.

Ban then circles around Jin and sighed, “*Sigh* They don’t want to be slaves but to be continuously loved. They want to be continuously held by another because they want some form love. Even if it is an illusion”

“…” Lucian could see that even Ban was getting emotional now. Maybe it was because of his own experience as a slave that got him emotional.

It was strange because Ban then spoke in a serious tone. “Do you know that in the community, it is really hard for even some parents to say ‘I love you’ to their child? Do you know how much f*cken efforts it took for those three words to come out of their mouths? Some children worked for those three words and still could never hear those three simple words. Similar to your situation. They would even go as far as to commit to doing underhanded tricks to show that they were their parent’s pride and joy just to hear those three words. All this for those three damned words that they might not hear. Those three words might not even have any feelings. But those three words were something a lot of people are striving for to be heard out of other people even if it is not from their family. Maybe it is from their lover. Something so simple and yet people just can’t say it because of some stupid f*cken reason such as, ‘Oh he can hear it when he is eighteen’ or ‘Oh she is too old to hear it’ and ‘sounds too cliché’. Don’t give it any more thought Jin. If you do, it won’t be Lucian, but me beating you because you are being pessimistic.

Ban then disappeared back into Jin’s mind and turned into a fluffy ball form. “Don’t mind him Jin. It is his own way of saying that you are right. Some people who are enslaved lost their own will and became nothing more than a doll. Lifeless and without their own thought. Humans without their own thoughts are just another rock to him. But to those who do regain their wills, they often find life more meaningful and more appreciative. Ban is one of those people. So he knows what freedom means more than anyone else in this world.” Lucian then explains. “Sometimes, he would go to sleep and remember what it means to be human. I mean, after you are dead, it is hard to remember what it means to be human. So don’t blame him too much Jin for acting like a prick just now.”

“Ah. I don’t blame him. He sounds more like my big brother in a way. Just in an extremely weird way. More or less like a sudden moment of being a brother you know. You too Lucian. Except you are more perverted. Not that I dislike the pervertedness. You sound like a person who knows what he wants and would do anything to grab it.” Jin said lightly while cooking.

Lucian then went back into Jin’s mind to poke at Ban who was in a sort of fluffy ball form.

“Hey. Hey Ban. You heard that? You sound like his big brother. He he he!”

“… Shut up Lucian. That is not my sides you are poking you know.” Ban lazily said.

“Oh? Then where am I poking at?” Lucian kept on poking at Ban.

This got Ban mad to his boiling point. ‘So you want to know huh… Fine.’

*Pooooooot*

Lucian’s eyes turned teary and his whole finger stank of mildew in an instant. Those once mischievous eyes turned into a pair of sorrowful waterfall. “Ban!!!! You!!!!!!!” Lucian roared.

Ban ignored the horrified Lucian and rolls away in his fluffy ball form which bounced on a cloud like object and flew away.

“Get back here!!!!” Lucian chased after the ball form Ban.

But try as he might, he could not catch up to Ban. “Don’t ever poke at me ever again. Next time, it won’t be just a simple punishment. Nyaaaaaaaaaaa” Ban sneered.

“Amazing… past selves just messing with each other… And apparently Lucian is losing to a panda in ball form!” Ren laughing in the far off distance.

Back outside of Jin’s mind…..

“Heh… That’s funny. Didn’t know that Ban was an emotional person. Looks like I found out more about my past selves in more ways than one.” Jin smirked. It was because the guys were trying hard to cheer him up that he felt better. Even if those resounding screams were still in his ears. They felt less painful in his mind now.

Jin quickly made breakfast and it was quite a heavy one for Jin. Mostly because Jin didn’t get any sleep at all. So he needed the extra calories.

When Meracle and the others saw the table, they thought it was a feast. On one side, it was mostly fried or barbequed meat. Chicken was glazed with honey and even specially fried. On the other side, it was mostly vegetables salads and healthy food.

“Oh you girls done? Dig in.” Jin warmly invited the girls to eat. The meat looked so tantalizing that Rosa nearly drooled but was worried about her diet. “You girls don’t have to worry about the meat. It is for those who needed the extra energy of the day and it was made healthily so that it would bring out the most flavor and protein while offering the least amount of unnecessary fat. The taste… a little on the bland side but is made up with extra flavoring I added. Don’t worry, flavors are all natural. The vegetables are those who are on a diet but will definitely fill the person up and won’t lose to the meat. That much I can guarantee!”

The five got around the table to eat. The girls were hesitating to even touch the chicken or any of the other meat. So they only kept eating the vegetables. That was until Jin saw the desires in their eyes and quickly sliced up the beef meat into small square cubes making the portions look smaller. But this was just the devil tempting the girls to eat the meat!

First one to fall was Meracle. Which was a surprise to them. It was strange because Meracle wasn’t usually one to eat so freely in front of others. But this time, she ate with a little less restraint and took cubes after cubes of beef.

“Meracle? Aren’t you being a little… you know? In front of others?” Rosa nervously said.

“What are you talking about? If Jin doesn’t mind, then why should I? Even you ate like this when the four of us usually get together at your house” Meracle said without even a hint of shame.

Rosa then turns to see that even Jin was eating without restraint. ‘Huh… Really laid back? Not a slob like every other men who eats without a care in the world. But he isn’t like those refined pricks either.’

“I don’t mind the messy eating. Just don’t make a mess of yourself.” Jin said lightly. He then took a drumstick and then chewed off a big piece. Half of the drumstick was gone like that. In another bite, the drumstick was done!

“… He never acted so openly in school. He sure acts different when he is in his comfort zone huh. Almost refreshing…” Mirana was surprised. So were the other two. It was more like a family eating together than having guests over. Which made things all the easier to eat without the excessive table manners.

Table manners are still important just to certain degrees.

Half way into breakfast, Rosa suddenly said, “Jin. Do you mind if you help me?”

“Yes I do mind” He plainly said.

“What? You will refuse a girl’s request?” She frowned.

“… I don’t usually try to help others. You should know that by now.” Jin shifted his eyes away.

“… Can’t you just take this one request? Pretty please?” Rosa even acted all cute for that moment.

“N-.” Jin wa about to refuse but Meracle then side jab him to quickly change his mind.

“If you keep on refusing her and fail her on purpose, I will twist your nipples!” Meracle coldly whispers to Jin.

‘WHAT!? TWIST MY NIPPLES!? SINCE WHEN WERE WE THAT CLOSE FOR YOU TO EVEN TOUCH THEM?’ Jin was completely confused. His eyes widen when she even mentioned nipples. But he didn’t want this military princess to even hit him let alone twist his nipples.

Seeing that he had no say in the matter, he folded. It was like he was whipped and trained. Sad that even the ruler of the underworld folded like cards.

“Alright. Tell me what your problem is. I’ll do to my utmost to solve it.” He smiled because he had no choice.

“Yay! See, I need you to act as my fiancé! My father preset a marriage and I need a way out.” Rosa started to say.

But the moment she said fiancé, Jin was about to run away. Acting as a fiancé? He has never been in much contact with girls or real love! Fiancé?

What was that?

He took a moment of silence to breathe. He nearly had a heart attack! “… You know that you are asking a man who have no real experience with love right? Used and abused multiple times and tossed aside. Yet, of all the people in the world, you ask me? There was Akira as well Rosa. Even he had more of an air of success than me.”

“Eh? It doesn’t matter. Akira is too far and he usually works at a big company. I’ve tried him. Seriously. You are the only one who has the most free time out of the many people here. So it wouldn’t kill you to help a girl out you know. I could even get you a job at my father’s company even though I work at my uncle’s company.” She said nonchalantly.

Jin’s face muscle twitched. He had a bad feeling of this. “Care to tell me more about what I am supposed to do? I don’t want to be shot, robbed, or get hit by a car by the end of this. What I am most scared of is being hunted by business men. Especially now that I hear that you are a daughter of a business man.”

“Uh… As long as you don’t do anything wrong, he won’t get his men to mutilate you. If he sees that you are good, then he will approve, host marriage and then we’ll break off two weeks later.” Rosa plainly states.

‘What the?’ Jin had no words to say. Marriage? “Are you trying to kill me girl? Once I enter marriage, a business man like your father will instantly kill me! I’ve seen this play out! It doesn’t end well for the man usually!”

Even Meracle was about to protest because Jin was about to meet her family in a six days and here Rosa is talking about a fake marriage so she can be off the hook.

“I’ll pay you well. Trust me! You won’t die!” Rosa spoke with full confidence. But inside she was just spouting words. She really hasn’t seen her father mad in a long time.

“… *Sigh* You’ve just set me up for a death trap… Alright. Since you’ve asked, I’ll play it all the way till the end. But on one condition” Jin sighed.

“What’s that?” Rosa was curious about the condition.

“Whatever I do from here on out, I do it for a reason. Don’t question me and I’ll get your father to approve of me and you breaking up while getting you off the preset marriage. Just trust me. I’ll get things done in three days.” Jin said calmly.

“Sorry to break the news Jin. But you need to move by tomorrow.” Meracle injected.

“… Don’t tell me…” Jin whimpers.

“My father… wanted to meet this mysterious boyfriend I have today or tomorrow. So at latest is tomorrow. Earliest is today. Sorry. Ha ha” Rosa laughed.

Jin almost coughed up blood seeing the innocence in her face. She was clearly getting him killed! ‘… She must have a grudge against me doesn’t she?’

‘GG. WP. *Pfft!* Ah ha ha ha’ Lucian was laughing inside Jin when he took the death trap.

“Never have I been so unprepared in my life…” Jin mutters lifelessly.

“Oh you will be fine. As long as you act like you did during the night at our group date, things will be fine” Rosa said as if it was easy for him to act like that.

“…” Jin silently sat thinking about ways how he could die. At worse, he would have all his limbs broken.

“By the way Jin. What’s in the suitcases?” Meracle broke the atmosphere because it was too tense and wanted to lighten things up.

“… Blood. Poison. Medicines. Vaccines. Viruses. Money.” Jin did not even hide a thing and admitted them openly.

“What!?” They all jumped a little when they heard poison and money.

“… What is the big surprise?” Jin, still calm and picked up another drumstick to eat.

“Is that true? Money?” Rosa’s mouth was still left agape.

“Yes…” Jin slowly said.

“Real money?” Gisela added.

“Yes….” He said slowly again.

“You’re not broke? Not jobless?” Meracle asks.

“For the love of…. Why is it that everyone keep on treating me like I am some broke hobo?” ‘Jin slightly popped a fuse. He never felt so insulted in his life. Especially when he was helping people.

“No that is not what we meant Jin. We only heard that you were jobless and homeless recently… Sorry if we offended you” Mirana apologizes in the girls’ places. Even she thought he was just a broke man. Luckily, she said nothing.

“*inhales*exhales* It’s fine. Maybe if I hadn’t act all broke during my high school years, I would’ve gotten robbed more. I am only human you know. I can’t have my ass handed to me every day. So it was a habit… Let’s not talk about my circumstances okay?” Jin said after a long sigh. They ended the breakfast in an awkward silence.

He definitely didn’t lie. The more someone knew about Jin, the less sense things made. But seeing that he was more or less capable, it gave a strange reassured feeling that everything would play out fine. “He might just pull it off. But my father does have a high bar…” Rosa happily murmurs.

"You must really want to kill me huh..." Jin sadly whimpers inside.