[15] his revenge

                                    

                                          
soobin left the police station with a dreadful feeling. 
after hearing the full story from howon, he couldn't help but to feel a tingling sensation around his body. 
especially after howon whispered something to him that made the pain to reside inside his chest.
_
"okay, i'm gonna tell you what really happened." howon leaned his back on the chair. soobin and hueningkai was ready to know his side.
but before he began, howon slightly chuckled, "but first of all, i don't really know why you badly wanna know what happened. are you reporters? perhaps, a journalists?"
hueningkai was about to give him an answer but howon spoke, "probably not. you're probably some jobless teenagers who wants an interesting story to gossip about."
"no, sir. i am a journalist student and i need a report to write on our blog," soobin casually lied.
howon rose an eyebrow, "a student bailing me out just for a freaking blog? don't lie to me, kid."
soobin clenched his jaw, thinking for more excuses while hueningkai sighed in defeat, "okay, we're not from the media but we're definitely not here to gossip about you." 
soobin threw a warning look but hueningkai continued, "we need your help. my friend might be connected to the strange boy you're talking about. and i-i dont know why but he's acting weird lately, probably because of the boy. we just wanna save our friend from him."
soobin added, "he's right. and your story will be a big help for us to figure out who is this guy."
howon fully listened to them, understanding their reasons. soobin and hyuka waited for his response, the long silence around them gettng heavier that their chests were about to drop.
howon sighed, "fine, i will tell you." the two othet males sighed in relief when howon spoke again, "and you don't have to bail me out. i know y'all are broke."
soobin nodded, "i understand, sir."
howon stared at him, his gaze travelling on soobin's features, as if wanting to remember his face. 
after a minute, howon looked away and cleared his throat, "i've been seeing this strange boy for a long time, even before the accident."
soobin and hueningkai exchanged looks as the man continued, "he always appears in my dreams, bringing me nightmares."
"can you describe these nightmares to us?" soobin queried.
howon's lips slightly quivered, fingers now playing with one another as he took a deep breath. 
"they are all the same," howon began, knees bouncing up and down. "i'm on my car, driving alone in a road. and he would always show up in front of me. he's always crying, t-there were blood that continuously pooling out f-from his head down to his neck."
howon's breathing got heavier upon recalling the scenes from his nightmare, "a-and then, he would scream. his screams were disturbing, they were full of wrath."
soobin puckered his forehead, deep in thoughts. his nightmares seem to be telling something, it must have a reason.
so he decided to ask, "do you know him?"
howon snapped his head towards him, "n-no."
soobin frowned, wondering why the man stuttered. is he, perhaps, hiding something?
soobin narrowed his eyes, placing his sweaty palms on the table, "why do you think he's doing this? do you have any idea?"
howon tensed up, avoiding soobin's gaze. he released a shaky breath, "i-i don't... k-know..."
hueningkai cocked his head to the side, "wait. your nightmares... they came true?"
howon looked at him, realization coming to him so late. hueningkai widened his eyes, "it's a warning."
soobin never leave his gaze at howon for he was too sure that he's suspiscious,"it's not a warning. it's a promise."
howon's breath hitched at those words. soobin observed him closely, witnessing how his fingers were fidgeting while his gaze can't seem to stay at one place.
"what do you mean?" kai asked in confusion.
soobin stood up, eyes never leaving the prisoner's body. his look was judging and accusing his entire soul. 
howon finally got the courage to meet his gaze but he's much weaker, too exposed. he is naked to soobin's eyes.
"it's a revenge." soobin declared. howon gulped in fear, hands were shaking.
soobin leaned closer to him, "this is his revenge, howon."
howon's whole body were now shaking. hueningkai looked at the man with worry but soobin can't help but to be amused. 
"i think we're done here. let's go," soobin said to hueningkai and they both prepared to leave.
howon stood up and called his name, "soobin, w-wait."
soobin stopped and gestured for hueningkai to go first. kai nodded and left, leaving the two of them.
soobin turned his heels to face him. howon looked at him, desperately.
"i know you," howon confessed, shocking soobin a bit. the guy sighed, "you are friends with his brother."
soobin looked so confused, "what are you saying?"
instead of explaining further, howon slowly walked closer to him. soobin didn't move, watching his every steps that he took.
howon halted, his eyes glinting with tears as he whispered, "please, tell him that i am sorry."
_
hueningkai followed him and huffed, "hyung... do you think it's him who caused the accident? is it really possible that it happened because of taehyun's invisible friend?" 
soobin abruptly halted his steps, releasing his breath he didn't know he's been holding. he glanced at hueningkai, who's face was enveloped with fear and worry. 
soobin faked a smile, placing his hand on the younger's shoulder, "let's not think about it. howon might be lying, anyway." he tried to convince him, but it's more like he's convincing himself.
hyuka shook his head, "no. his story may sounds impossible to you, i know. but we're talking about a ghost here."
"what if it's not a ghost?" soobin retorted, staring straight at hueningkai's eyes with his empowered gaze.
kai frowned, lips parted in disbelief. "it is a ghost. i-i'm sure of it."
soobin tutted, "we're not sure of it."
soobin began to walk while kai scoffed behind him, following his steps, "what is wrong with you? i thought you believe me. i thought we will help taehyun."
soobin halted once again and looked at him, "what if it's not taehyun? what if it's you?"
hueningkai knitted his brows, "excuse me?"
"what if it's you who needs help," soobin muttered, getting worry. "i don't know, kai. but it's you who brought up this ghost stuffs. what if it's not true and you're just lying to me? maybe you're just making this all up in your head."
kai scoffed, placing his hands to his hips, "are you saying that i'm crazy?"
soobin sighed, "i'm saying maybe, you're wrong."
kai stared at him in pain. he forced a laugh while shaking his head, "i don't get you. if you wanna stop, then tell me. i'll just figure this out on my own."
hueningkai walked out, leaving soobin in the middle of the street. a frustrated sigh escaped from soobin's lips as he kicked the pebble on the way.