PRINT:7

The public places usually look so peaceful and relaxing without the regular crowd. And anyone would be grateful to have a VIP experience without actually being one. But not when one is actually a very important person who is on a mission to be chasing another important person who managed to escape with the crowd and granted the said very important person another, “Mission failed.”

“Don't worry, Officer Taeil. At least everyone is safe and that is the biggest deal of our missions. Keeping everything and everyone in place while doing things that are undoubtedly chaotic is just like magic which isn't possible to happen in real but we make it real.”

The senior officer chuckles at the latter's frustrated rant. Well, it was understandable too as he himself was just on the same page and it all was really hectic. “I just don't understand…” He hears the latter continuing. “Why don't they add this as an official part of the mission. Like, they always say that our priority is people's safety. Then why can't they carol our accomplishments for once instead of reminding us about our failure all over again. Like, okay we failed at that certain thing and it's not like I'm asking for a nobel prize or something but, at least give the credit where it's due.”

“That is alright Officer Joy. Don't mind them much. I know how hard we and specifically you work even though it should be me to be worried the most regarding our missions as a senior yet you still take the duties equally and I really praise it. Even the others do. They just are not too good at praising but complaining. But don't worry, we're in this together and we'll get there. You will get there.”

“Oh no, it's not just me. We both are giving our best so we both will get there. But yeah, my mind does feel like blowing up a bit more that I feel like I can knock Commander at any moment which is why I don't take the communication things in my hands much often.” The woman jokes and the duo starts laughing.

After a moment of laughter the lady continues. “Also, no property of the museum got stolen. That is just a win win for us! All these whiny tards mist bow ninety degrees to us. We failed Don. We accomplished our f*****g mission!”

“Officers!” The loud call distracted the FBI partners as they turned their attention towards its direction. “The center artifact has disappeared from its chamber. It's being assumed that the Don stole it.”

Joy looks at the anxious museum staff and after hearing his words, she herself becomes anxious as she looks at her partner who just smiles and embraces the woman like a mother as the latter just looked like a lost puppy face. “Mission failed.”

______

People usually get fed up by visiting the places and seeing the same faces all over again. Especially when the said place and said face is already disliked by them. And there was no doubt that Haechan disliked both Jung towers and Jung Jessica from his utmost.

And his tolerance had been exploited to a level where he was feeling like to tarnish everything related to Jung. Except for Jaehyun, of course.

“Welcome Sir. Master is waiting for you inside her cabin.”

Haechan offered a kind smile in return as a way of thanks as he went further following the direction. He soon reaches the cabin and as always, he barges in without a mannerly knock or heads up.

“Haechan… I have been waiting for you.”

“I mean, when do you not? Jung.” Haechan taunts as he reaches further where the woman was smoking on her cigar. He takes a glance at Jaehyun who was standing by his mother's side. He flashes a wink and the latter smiles in glee.

Not just a moment after, Jessica also shot a glance at her son which made the latter's smile flew away as soon as it came just a while ago. The woman then turned her attention back to Don as she spoke, “I mean, how can I not when you are my only ace card in the whole game which wins my heart in every game.”

“So you do admit that you are a loser, huh? Well, I agree with you this time round.” Haechan says as he sits in front of the lady. Jessica shots an emotionless chuckle.

“Whatever makes you feel satisfied of course. Your satisfaction is important to me and you know that, right?” The woman smiles gently but the mock could be seen in her features.

“My satisfaction is in your loss, Jung.”

This time the tone of the man did not sound filled with any mockery or humor. Which actually felt worse than a mock to Jessica. “So, are we really at it? Then I really, or maybe not really, regret to know that you haven't been satisfied ever as we both know that loss and losing are the words that don't fit in my vocabulary.”

“I know you have always lacked education but learning has no age and I really advise you to refunction your vocabulary since it seems to be really cheap and a low quality one. Also, if you're thinking I have never had satisfaction, then you're wrong. I've been more than satisfied over the years by seeing you losing a lot of things without even your realization.” Haechan exclaims and the latter just had a poker face at that while her son seemed to be mentally listing his mother's losses, in which he himself was also somehow included.

“Fiction is always more pleasing than reality. No?” Jessica purrs while brewing her ciger off on the wooden tray and Haechan could exactly feel her satisfaction of pestering his own lines to him.

“Pity that not only your vocabulary lacks but you even lack in differentiation between fiction and reality. Well, since you seem to not realize your losses till now, how about I give a live session to show your biggest loss?” Haechan pans politely yet abruptly as he throws the crystal box almost on the woman's face.

Usually, Jessica gets excited or thrilled whenever she receives what she wants and especially when she receives them through Haechan's mission accomplishment. But today, not even the priceless antique artifact could thrill her. But still she managed to keep her fierceness through her following interrogation. “Is that so? And, what is that biggest loss of mine?”

“Me.”

The one word reply made both of the mother and son stunned. Though, Jaehyun was more likely surprised while his mother was just excessively shocked.

“What?”

“You heard me, Jung.”

Jessica laughs humorlessly in a somewhat disturbing tone. “You can not leave me, Haechan.”

Haechan slipped his gun from his belt and dangerously aimed it right at the woman's head. And it seemed for real dangerous since he looked as if he could shoot the latter at any moment. “You don't know what I can do.” Haechan deadpanned fiercely which made Jaehyun gulp in horror while Jessica just kept emotionless like a sculpted icon.

“Shoot.”

Jaehyun's gaze landed on his mother after her obvious command. She didn't even flinch when she said that as if she wasn't afraid of death, which she actually wasn't. But it was also looking as if she knew that she wasn't even going to die in the first place. That Haechan wouldn't shoot despite his utmost rage, which also somewhat seemed factual.

“Come on, Don. Pull the trigger, kill me. Make me dead. The thing you wish for every single day. Now your it's in your hands. Take it your way. Take my life away.” Jessica insists as Haechan sets his finger on the trigger. Though, he really didn't pull it right away and looked up at his friend who just seemed as vulnerable and horrified. And for some reasons, Haechan himself felt weak to press just on a lever. And he really hated the realization of his weakness already.

After a moment of staying still, the woman's slightly creepy laugh discarded the silence in the room. “Just see yourself, Haechan. You are already getting weak, vulnerable. Just think what you will become without me. Pathetic.”

The words screeched Haechan's nerves but he loosened his grip on the gun nonetheless. “Nothing could be more pathetic than you, Jung.”

“Again, fiction is always more pleasing than reality.”

“I don't give a s**t of what you say or do Jung. Do whatever the f**k you want but just leave me the f**k alone and let me live the way I want.”

The lady chuckles as she replies, “Nor do I give two f***s if you prefer a lame loser's life but, are you sure you're gonna still be alive after doing this, Haechan?”

Haechan could feel himself getting enraged as he silently clenched his fists but he chose not respond through words anymore and instead by action as he started making his way to exit the room.

“You will die, Don.” Jessica warned just as Haechan opened the door, making the latter stop on his track.

Haechan fiercely looked at the woman. “Desperately waiting for that day.” He answered in an excessive confident tone.

The woman did expect him to answer that way since they both knew each other so well. They both were death terminators. But there was still a thing which Jessica knew could affect Haechan. Or at least make him have a second thought.

“You will get caught, Don.”

Haechan chuckled for the first time since the entire scenario as his confidence raised even more than it already was.

“It is not only hard to catch Don. It is impossible.”

And then the door got shut right away, not giving the woman another chance to perk in. Not that woman was even intending anymore to do so.

“As you wish.” Jaehyun heard his mother mumbling to herself before she grabbed her phone and started dialling on the numbers. “I require a few helping hands as well as some undercovers. The Federal bureau has been struggling for years to hunt down the Don, always failing in the end. But this time will be their time. Their tempted mission is finally going to be accomplished.”

Jaehyun gasps upon hearing and probably knowing what his mother was going to do. And it was nowhere near good. It was a breaking, bad news.

______

“No, I've already cleared this out that I'm not gonna keep with your guys' s**t this time. I myself have lost a hell lot of time yet you're still going on the same s**t. You are such a terrible friend Woo-ah. Bye.”

It's been a whole day since Donghyuck and Jieun's argument and the family still has not sorted their feud out and it was just getting more and more frustrating.

Well, Donghyuck had already decided to apologize to his mother but for that he himself needed to cool down himself so he decided to relax with having some conversation with his friends in hope that they could suggest or advise him something productive but they just started whining about overloaded work and broken heart stories even over the phone call which just gave Donghyuck another mental breakdown.

He should have rather studied instead of picking on his friends and oh well… What a great idea. Why should he not just complete his task then convince Jieun with all light weight and mood?

The idea actually sounded good so the man got comfy on his bed with setting down his study material and electronics.

However, just after two or three minutes of just staring at his stuff he again started feeling heavy. He was literally unable to focus on anything with knowing the fact that his mother was mad at him and he definitely was at fault.

Maybe the only thing that can sooth him was his mother. So he better just go to her and cry like a toddler. It was an extremely rare act of him but whenever he did it, it worked.

Just as he was about to stand and make his way to his mother's room, the door of his room opened and surprisingly, it was his mother. “Mom, I was just coming to you…”

“But I came first.”

“Mom… I'm sorry I–”

“Shh…” Jieun shushed her almost crying son as she sat next to him. “I am sorry. It's me who overreacted for something I should actually be proud of. Yes, it was really dangerous and all but I should accept the fact that my baby has grown and became a man.”

“But I still should have told you Mom. I mean, yeah you would yell at me but that's only for my own good. I should not have been an arrogant kid.”

Donghyuck's last comment made the lady chuckle as she says, “Okay I guess, we both were right and wrong at the same time and both lost their cool at that moment. But in the end, we both understand and consider each other and that's what matters right? But still, Hyuck, just please be a little alert and informing to your mommy, will you? If that's okay with you…”

“Mom!” The man whined childishly and they both crackled into a laughing session. “Of course that's okay and you're embarrassing me by asking such a question. You're my mom and I should be concerned if something is okay with you or not.”

Jieun smiled and hugged the latter gently and Donghyuck was not wrong when he thought that he needed his mother to sooth him.

“No, Hyuck. Just because I'm your mother or older doesn't mean that I am the one to make decisions or I'm always right. I also can be wrong. You also can make better decisions than me. We both should listen and consider each other. Because before family, man, woman, we are humans. Humans on the same page, right?” Jieun explains and they pull and the latter nods in amusement.

“Anyways, what's the status of your assignment? Should we group up and start working on it together? If that's okay with you? Journalist Lee Donghyuck?” She asks in a playful tone and again the duo start laughing but of course getting on assignment as commanded by the mother Jieun.

Honestly, working with his mother was not only joyous but it also helped Donghyuck's work to come out so well. And with Jieun helping him with his assignment, he already knew that he was going to get another top tier result despite having literally not enough time remaining for the project. The family was literally time terminators whenever it came to academic stuff.