A Rose Between Thorns

Chapter 109: The World Turned Upside Down

There was a hidden camera in the practice room, which recorded the entire encounter I had with Choi. All of the boys except for Namjoon went ahead to watch the tape with the police, our leader stayed by my side while I was being questioned about the ordeal. It was a little difficult because it hurt a bit to speak, but I was able to give them as much information as I could.

We didn't mention anything about the research the boys did into broken bonds. Since it isn't public knowledge, Choi's ability will only be known as an exception to the rule, much like Gisselle and my father's are. 

Since there is video evidence, the court said I didn't necessarily have to testify if I chose not to. I told them I'd think about it, honestly right now I'd rather just take some time to let the whole ordeal sink in.

"So this entire time, Choi was the one behind all of this," Namjoon says in a quiet tone beside me. We are sitting in one of the lounge rooms while we wait for the others to return. "She was right under our noses this entire time.. I don't know why I didn't see it before."

I do. It's the same reason why I refused to believe that Gisselle could have done this. They've known Choi for years, and Jungkook even said before that she was his best friend. I couldn't bring myself to suspect her, since she was my friend as well.

I glance down at the red woven bracelet on my wrist. The same one that was made alongside Gisselle and Choi's, to symbolize our everlasting bond. So much for that, huh?

"Can I ask you something?" Namjoon says, and I silently nod as I run a finger along the bandages on my neck. Apparently Choi had dug her nails into the skin there, which I didn't notice at the time. I didn't notice the blood either since it was more towards the back, not until Taehyung pointed it out to us. 

"We always told you who we suspected of being behind this, but you never said anything on the matter. Did you not suspect anyone, or did you just want to wait for more valid proof?"

I fold my hands in my lap, thinking over my words carefully before responding. "I didn't exactly have anyone in mind, I'm just as surprised as you are to find out that Choi was behind all of this. But if I had suspected her and brought it up to you all, it would have been extremely hypocritical of me. I'm sure you all would have reacted the same way I did when Hoseok first told me about Gisselle being on your list."

Namjoon hesitates before nodding in agreement. "You have a point. Jungkook especially would have been upset, but we really have no room to talk. In a way, we were being hypocrites ourselves. We let our bond with Choi cloud our judgement, and you trusted us on that. We should have done the same for you when it came to Gisselle."

I'm honestly surprised I didn't see it either. Looking back, all the signs pointed right to Choi. She had a broken bond, and I didn't think for a second that she was lying to us the entire time. The way we were going about the whole thing, asking everyone what their bonds were. It was so obvious, of course she must have caught on to our plan.

I don't even know how the boys managed to convince her to come here, even if it was by accident. My only thought is that she must have gotten desperate, and wanted to kill me off as soon as possible after so many failed attempts. She slipped, and her carelessness mixed with her insanity caused her to ultimately lose in the end.

I feel so stupid now, even her tattoo should have been a sign. Two masks, one representing the front she puts up in public while the other is her true self. I never really considered that maybe the tattoos we have represent who we are as people.

But that doesn't make much sense, does it? Her own tattoo shouldn't appear on her body, unless that's what happens when a bond is broken. Maybe in bonds of two people, their tattoo is replaced by their own. I'll have to do some more research on the topic, on my own time of course.