The lingering queue of Ginkgo trees, the stirring shadows cast by darting cars, guilds of pedestrians venturing through the sidewalks and the big fat tear drop that refused to drop down my cheek, my heart clenched into oblivion as I retraced my steps to moments ago when the world came crashing down for me.

"What happened Jungkook, tell me..."

"I am sorry Y/N, I lied to you..."

"W-what?..."

"It was all part of the plan..."

Sheer regret skewered at my sanity and my memories sailed back to the time when it all started.

"Jungkook, can I talk to you for a second" appearing right behind me, Namjoon grabbed onto my shoulder directing me to a secluded place as I greeted the fellow officers goodbye before following the commander. The excitement of having a lead in my very first mission was already incinerating my brain with zeal.

"What is it Namjoon-nim?" I asked as soon as we stopped near an unfilled fire escape. With a scanning glance over the entire scope to revise the solitude, Namjoon spoke up.

"Jungkook-shi, I want you to listen to me very carefully" with an obedient nod, I payed all my attention.

"I believe you know exactly how much you are risking by going on this mission-"

"I do Sunnim"

"Good, I am proud of you and I have full faith in you but you are still like a brother to me and I have to make sure of your safety as much as I can. This case is like a suicide mission, one wrong move and you are dead meat but I don't want that for a young aspiring officer such as you. So I have a back-up plan-"

Frown lines sheathed my forehead as the words let out by Namjoon nudged through my head. I knew this mission was risky but I didn't care. My life is precious to me but if I have to give it up for my passion, for my dreams, I won't hesitate to do that.

"What is it?"

"Good question. See, the Kim Mafia had been terrorizing Seoul for a long time now so dealing with them won't be easy. The people are highly trained in treachery and deception, two things our instincts refuse us to pursue. But if we gotta stop them from causing anymore trouble, we have to stoop down to their level-"

"What do you mean?"

"Frankly speaking, I highly doubt that this plan could actually work. I mean they are freaking mafias, they have networks all over the world. Even if you are able to put up a good show for them, I don't believe it would take them too long to crack open the truth. And once they find out about your cover, they won't think twice before ending your life with a gruesome death. That's how vicious these people are.

But I don't want that for you. So I came up with a back up plan. Although this one is highly unsafe too, and the fact that you'd be defenseless is unsettling but if executed properly, it might work"

"What's the plan, Sunnim?"

"The moment you feel like your cover might get blown, change your course and try to earn their trust. If they catch you, they'll surely keep you hostage for some time, I mean killing you immediately would be stupid on their part, considering the police force will be in search of you-"

"So, what will I have to do?"

"You'll have to use that captivity judiciously. Try to converse with the leader, instigate him just enough to spill the secrets and try your best to dodge their attacks. If you manage to escape, you can be our witness against them since kidnapping a cop is highly offensive but if you don't, slowly and believably start earning their trust. Mafia or not, every human has a soft corner, has some insecurities, try and find them out and use those to get into their bubble. You can trick their staffs into giving you the information you need and once you find them you can use those to act as if you understand their motives and feel the same way. You'll have to play a role of being one of them and once you do that, you might find your way to the ultimate bounty we are looking for.

Just make sure to not give away your own insecurities while you're searching for theirs.

And lastly, this whole plan is for your and mine ears only. Nobody else should know about it, not even the field agent you'll be paired up with..."

Rage flowed through my veins at how the events followed but I didn't know who to blame. Was Namjoon wrong to fabricate this treacherous plan or was I wrong to deflect ways from it? Initially all of these was just professional but now it went much deeper. I didn't plan on befriending a bunch of supposed criminals but now, here I was, sobbing through the pain of separation.

Namjoon had devised this plan because he believed the Kims to be ruthless but wouldn't he feel the same as me when he would know the truth. Sure mafias are supposed to be bad but Y/N is different, all of them are. And that is what they had been trying to convey for all these years. I just don't want them to suffer any longer.

One fine day I go for a mission, I fail the mission so I start referring the back up plan. Y/N's sudden outburst on the first day makes me think that if I call her pathetic, she might reveal her weaknesses. She felt emotionally decrepit to me and just as planned, I wanted to use it to my advantage. However her constant retaliation made it difficult for me to go through with my intentions and I ended up hating her with passion. But then the day came when I was exposed to her story and all of a sudden, I didn't hate her anymore. I somehow forgot the mission and then the climax came when I actually started harboring respect for her.

How did all that even happen? Who the hell orchestrated that plan?

Namjoon had strictly forbade me from exposing my weaknesses but what was I supposed to do when they, become one? Platonic or not I deeply cared for Y/N and now there was no turning back.

With a whooping halt the cab ride came to an end right in front of the Seoul Police Station. The clock lingered past 9 pm and the dense night seized the city with a heavy grasp. Seoul under the influence of the late hour remained calm and the silence lurking around in the snoozing neighborhood came along with an ominous repose. Everything seemed so peaceful, well everything but my palpitating heart.

For two and a half month was I detached from this outside world. This office, the conference hall, the plate with my name, I missed it all but at this moment I wasn't feeling it anymore. I never thought gaining back my freedom would feel so lousy. What did you do to me Y/N-aah?

Stepping inside the premises I made slow strides towards my destination, Namjoon's office. On reaching I landed some hard knocks on his door until his husky voice echoed from the inside.

"Come in"

One step into the room and all the passion and ambition came crashing back. The day I left here, I was brimming with intentions of bringing the Kim Mafia down and now that I was back, I might as well do the same.

________________________

To Be Continued...