They’re here because of the tear between the worlds. But we’ll fix it before they have a reason to go after Miyoung.”
“That’s why you said we didn’t have much time,” Jihoon said.
“We don’t, but we will fix this,” Junu said. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”
“Then I’m coming with you to find the bangmangi,” Jihoon said.
“What? No,” Miyoung said, standing again.
“Please, let me do this,” Jihoon said, taking her hand in his. “After everything you did for me last spring.”
“Our relationship isn’t a scorecard,” Miyoung said with a scowl. “You don’t owe me anything.”
“No, but I want to do this,” Jihoon said. “There are still people in this world who love you.”
“You can’t use that against me,” Miyoung said.
“What? Me use something against you?” Jihoon said with an easy grin. “That doesn’t sound like me. I’m too charming and easygoing to resort to those games.”
“This isn’t a joke,” Miyoung said.
“Of course it’s not; it’s your life. I take that very seriously.”
“And I’m serious when I tell you that you’re not going. And I won’t forgive you if you do,” Miyoung said, adding a hard finality to her voice.
“But—”
“Give it up,” Junu said, laying a hand on Jihoon’s shoulder. “I don’t think you’re going to win this one.”
Jihoon shrugged off Junu’s hand, but he didn’t try to argue again.
“I’ll leave in the morning,” Junu said. “Just rest, Miyoung, and don’t worry.”
She looked up at him, and if she didn’t know better, she’d have said she saw sincere concern on his handsome face.
“I’ll stop worrying when we find my bead.”
17
USUALLY IF JUNU wanted to take a trip, he’d just book some luxury tickets on the mode of transportation he wished. Maybe a five-star hotel. A reservation at a nice restaurant if he had the time.
But today he wanted to move quickly, which meant he was traveling light.
He was already annoyed that he had to wake up at such an ungodly hour on a Tuesday. But he supposed this was what he’d signed up for.
He’d already taken his car out of storage—a bright yellow Porsche 911—it begged for speeding tickets, but he loved it. And if he had to travel hours across the country, then at least he’d do it in style.
At the knock on his front door, he opened it to find Somin. Déjà vu struck him from the other night, and suddenly he was remembering what had gone down the last time she’d shown up unexpectedly. He was grateful he didn’t blush or else his pale complexion would have given him away.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Want to come along?”
“No, I wanted to talk to you in private.” Somin stepped into the foyer.
Junu let a smile spread over his lips, and he couldn’t help glancing at the doorway to the library. “Is that so?”
“Get your brain out of the gutter,” Somin said. “I need to ask you a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Junu asked, wiggling his brows.
“Can you be serious for one freaking second?” The frustration in her voice wouldn’t have bothered him, but he heard fear beneath it and sobered.
“Okay, what do you need?”
“I know Jihoon’s going on this trip no matter what,” Somin said.
“Miyoung said no.”
“Yeah, well, whatever conversation they had didn’t work. He told me he’s determined.”
“Then why are you here? Why don’t you try to talk to him directly?”
“Of course I tried,” Somin said. “But he’s so bullheaded—” She cut off with a sigh.
Junu wondered if she realized she was just as hardheaded as her best friend, two peas in a very annoyingly stubborn pod.
“Since he insists on going with you,” Somin said, “I need you to promise you’ll take care of him. I need you to promise it in a way that will make me believe you.”
Junu almost laughed at how she phrased it. Like no matter what, she truly thought he could never make her believe in him. It made him more determined to prove her wrong. This time it was easy to be sincere, because he had every intention of protecting Ahn Jihoon. There was no way he’d lose face by letting a mortal die while with him. And maybe Junu did kind of like Jihoon sometimes. Of course, he couldn’t let him know that. They had such a great frenemy thing going on.
“I’ll take care of him,” Junu said. “If I make a promise, I keep it. It’s how I stay in business.”
Somin nodded. “Thank you. And please don’t tell Jihoon that I asked you to look after him. It’ll