Chapter 48
The room was unusually quiet.
Outside, the building was surrounded by reporters, security personnel, production crews, and dozens of cameras waiting for the interview that had already become the biggest story of the week.
Inside the private room, however, the three members of the BVS Kings sat in silence.
Kim-Jo sat on the edge of a sofa, his elbows resting on his knees.
His head was lowered.ii
His hands were clasped together so tightly that his knuckles had turned pale.
He had barely slept since Lucy disappeared.
Every time he closed his eyes, he saw her running away from him.
Every time his phone vibrated, his heart jumped, hoping it would be her.
But it never was.
Lee-Dae stood near the window, staring down at the crowd outside.
Thousands of people had gathered around the building.
Some held signs.
Some held photographs of Lucy.
Others held banners with Kim-Jo's name.
The entire world seemed to be asking the same question.
Where is Lucy?
Seo-Joon sat across from Kim-Jo.
He looked just as exhausted.
His usual playful expression was gone.
There was nothing left of the carefree Sunny Lucy knew.
Only worry.
Only fear.
The door opened.
Their manager walked inside.
"The interview starts in twenty minutes."
Nobody answered.
The manager looked at Kim-Jo.
"You don't have to do this if you're not ready."
Kim-Jo slowly raised his head.
"I have to."
The manager sighed.
"Kim-Jo—"
"I have to."
His voice was quiet, but firm.
"If Lucy is watching..."
He stopped.
His eyes became wet.
"I need her to hear me."
Lee-Dae turned away from the window.
"Then we'll do it together."
Kim-Jo looked at him.
Lee-Dae nodded.
"We're not leaving you alone in this."
Seo-Joon stood.
"Of course we're not."
Kim-Jo looked at both of them.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
These three men had stood together on enormous stages in front of hundreds of thousands of people.
They had celebrated victories together.
They had protected each other from scandals.
They had shared secrets.
But none of them had ever faced anything like this.
Lucy was missing.
And nobody knew where she was.
Kim-Jo lowered his eyes.
"I should have protected her."
June shook his head.
"Don't do that."
Kim-Jo looked up.
"You don't know that."
"I know you."
Lee-Dae walked closer.
"And Lucy wouldn't want you destroying yourself while she's fighting to survive somewhere."
The words made Kim-Jo's expression change.
"While she's fighting..."
He swallowed.
"She has to be fighting."
Sunny placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Then we fight too."
Kim-Jo nodded.
"Together."
The door opened again.
A staff member appeared.
"Five minutes."
The three men stood.
Before leaving, Kim-Jo looked at the other two.
"If she calls..."
June understood immediately.
"We answer."
Sunny nodded.
"No matter what we're doing."
Kim-Jo took a deep breath.
"Let's go."
---
THE INTERVIEW
The studio was already packed.
Cameras surrounded the stage.
Reporters sat behind the production crew.
The interview was being broadcast internationally.
Millions of viewers were waiting.
At the center of the stage sat the three members of the BVS Kings.
Kim-Jo.
Lee-Dae.
Seo-Joon.
They looked exhausted.
Their clothes were simple.
Their expressions were serious.
There was no flashy idol styling.
No smiles.
No carefully prepared entertainment persona.
Tonight, they were simply three men searching for someone they loved.
The interviewer sat opposite them.
For several seconds, she said nothing.
Then she spoke.
"Kim-Jo..."
He looked up.
"Over the past several days, the entire world has been asking one question."
She paused.
"Where is Lucy?"
Kim-Jo's jaw tightened.
"I don't know."
The words were almost impossible for him to say.
"I don't know where she is."
The interviewer looked at him.
"Many people have accused Lucy of leaving you voluntarily."
Kim-Jo closed his eyes for a moment.
When he opened them, there were tears in them.
"I don't know what happened to her."
He looked directly into the camera.
"But I know Lucy."
His voice shook.
"She wouldn't disappear without telling anyone."
The studio became silent.
Kim-Jo took a breath.
"There is something else everyone needs to know."
June looked at him.
Sunny did too.
Kim-Jo continued.
"We lied to Lucy."
The interviewer looked surprised.
"And to everyone else."
He lowered his eyes.
"We weren't homeless."
A murmur moved through the studio.
"We weren't ordinary men."
He looked toward Lee-Dae and Seo-Joon.
"We are the BVS Kings."
The truth that had once been hidden was now being spoken publicly.
Kim-Jo continued.
"But we didn't lie to Lucy because we wanted to use her."
His voice became softer.
"We met Lucy when she was in danger."
He paused.
"She was dealing with someone from her past who was hurting her."
Kim-Jo's hands trembled.
"We helped her."
His eyes filled with tears.
"But what happened afterward..."
He smiled sadly.
"Lucy helped us more than she ever knew."
Lee-Dae lowered his head.
Kim-Jo continued.
"She took us into her home."
"She fed us."
"She made sure we slept."
"She worried about us."
His voice cracked.
"She gave us somewhere to belong."
Sunny wiped his eyes.
Kim-Jo stared at the camera.
"She never asked for money."
"She never asked for fame."
"She never cared about our wealth."
"She just treated us like human beings."
He took a shaky breath.
"And somewhere along the way..."
His voice became almost a whisper.
"I fell in love with her."
The interviewer remained silent.
Kim-Jo looked directly into the camera.
"Lucy..."
His eyes filled completely.
"If you're watching this..."
He swallowed.
"Please..."
His voice broke.
"Please come home."
He leaned slightly toward the camera.
"The whole world knows the truth now."
Tears rolled down his face.
"You don't have to hide anymore."
He whispered the nickname only she used.
"U-bi..."
His lips trembled.
"Wherever you are..."
He closed his eyes.
"Please come back to me."
---
SOMEWHERE ELSE
A television was playing in a dark room.
The volume was low.
But every word could be heard.
Cha-Woo sat in a chair, watching the interview.
His face was expressionless.
Lucy was tied to another chair a few feet away.
She was still wearing the same red gown from the night she disappeared.
Only now, the beautiful dress was ruined.
The once-perfect fabric was wrinkled.
There was dirt along the hem.
One section was torn.
Her hair was tangled.
Her face was pale.
Cha-Woo looked at the screen.
Kim-Jo's tears filled it.
"Please come back to me."
Cha-Woo laughed quietly.
"Look at him."
Lucy said nothing.
Cha-Woo turned toward her.
"Do you see what you did?"
Lucy lifted her eyes.
"I didn't do anything."
Cha-Woo stood.
"You were nobody."
Lucy stared at him.
"You were just some girl."
He pointed at the television.
"And now?"
He laughed.
"Look at you."
"Everybody knows your name."
"You became famous because of those boys."
Lucy frowned.
"You mean because of Jimmy, June, and Sunny?"
Cha-Woo's expression darkened.
"Don't call them that."
"They're my friends."
"They're billionaires."
Lucy stared at him.
"And?"
Cha-Woo stepped closer.
"And you think they actually love you?"
Lucy didn't answer.
Cha-Woo's voice became bitter.
"They made you famous."
He pointed at the screen.
"Now everyone is talking about you."
"You should be grateful."
Lucy laughed weakly.
"You're jealous."
His face hardened.
"You think I'm jealous?"
Lucy looked straight at him.
"The person you couldn't control."
Cha-Woo's expression changed.
He slapped her.
Lucy's head snapped sideways.
Silence filled the room.
Cha-Woo breathed heavily.
"You always thought you were better than me."
Lucy slowly turned her face back toward him.
"I never needed to think that."
Cha-Woo's jaw tightened.
He turned away.
And that was when Lucy noticed it.
The phone.
A small burner phone sitting on the table.
The same phone he had been using.
The phone that could connect her to the outside world.
Lucy looked at it.
Then at Cha-Woo.
Her heart began beating faster.
The rope around one of her wrists had loosened slightly.
She had been working on it for hours.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Waiting.
Now she knew she had one chance.
Cha-Woo turned toward the television again.
Kim-Jo was still speaking.
Lucy moved her wrist.
The rope slipped.
She froze.
Cha-Woo didn't notice.
She moved again.
Her hand came free.
Her heart raced.
She looked around the room.
A metal object lay near the chair.
She reached for it.
Cha-Woo turned.
"What are you doing?"
Lucy swung.
The metal struck the side of his head.
Cha-Woo stumbled.
Lucy grabbed the burner phone.
She ran.
"Lucy!"
She reached the door.
Cha-Woo tried to stand.
"Lucy!"
She disappeared outside.
---
THE ESCAPE
Snow hit her face.
Lucy stumbled forward.
She didn't stop.
She ran.
The red gown dragged behind her.
The cold cut through the torn fabric.
Her feet were bare.
Every step hurt.
But she kept moving.
Behind her, Cha-Woo shouted.
"Lucy!"
She ran deeper into the trees.
She didn't know where she was.
She didn't know which direction would lead to safety.
She only knew she had to get away.
Her breathing became heavier.
Her legs began to shake.
She stumbled against a tree.
"No..."
She forced herself upright.
She looked at the burner phone.
There was one thing she could do.
Call them.
Call Jimmy.
She opened the phone.
Her fingers trembled.
She found the number connected to the live broadcast.
Then pressed call.
---
THE CALL
Back inside the studio, Kim-Jo was still sitting beneath the lights.
The interview continued.
Then Lee-Dae's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
He answered.
"Hello?"
Silence.
Then breathing.
Heavy.
Terrified breathing.
Lee-Dae frowned.
"Hello?"
A weak voice came through.
"J-June..."
Lee-Dae froze.
His eyes widened.
"Lucy?"
Kim-Jo immediately looked at him.
The studio went silent.
Lee-Dae switched to speaker.
Then came the voice again.
"June..."
Kim-Jo stood.
"Lucy?"
A pause.
Then—
"Jimmy..."
His entire face changed.
"It's me."
Kim-Jo rushed toward the phone.
"Lucy!"
She started crying.
"Jimmy..."
"I'm here."
His voice shook.
"Where are you?"
"I don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm in a forest."
Kim-Jo looked at the production crew.
"Trace the call."
Lucy continued.
"I'm hurt."
Kim-Jo's face went pale.
"Where?"
"My stomach..."
She struggled to breathe.
"My leg."
Kim-Jo's eyes filled with tears.
"Lucy, listen to me."
"I'm scared."
"I know."
"Jimmy..."
"I'm coming."
"I don't want to die."
Kim-Jo shook his head.
"You won't."
His voice cracked.
"You're not going to die."
He looked toward the producer.
"Find her."
The producer was already speaking urgently to the technical team.
Lucy suddenly stopped.
A branch snapped behind her.
Her eyes widened.
"Jimmy..."
"What?"
"I think he's here."
Kim-Jo's heart stopped.
"Lucy, run."
She ran.
Her footsteps pounded through the snow.
"Jimmy!"
"I'm here!"
"We're coming!"
"Please hurry!"
"We will!"
Then Cha-Woo's voice came from behind her.
"You bitch!"
Lucy screamed.
The phone shook.
There was a struggle.
Then—
BANG!
Silence.
The call ended.
Kim-Jo stared at the phone.
"Lucy?"
Nothing.
"Lucy!"
He grabbed the table.
"Lucy!"
June immediately stood.
"We have to go."
Sunny was already moving.
The manager rushed toward them.
"The location is being traced."
"How long?"
"We don't know."
Kim-Jo was already heading for the door.
"I'm going."
---
THE SEARCH
Police vehicles raced toward the forest.
Emergency teams followed.
Helicopters were dispatched.
The news stations immediately began reporting that Lucy's location might have been discovered.
The world watched.
Fans prayed.
Millions waited for updates.
And Kim-Jo, Lee-Dae, and Seo-Joon ran through the snow with police officers behind them.
"Lucy!"
Kim-Jo shouted.
"Lucy!"
Nothing.
Then—
A scream.
Kim-Jo stopped.
His heart nearly stopped with it.
"That way."
He ran.
June and Sunny followed.
Branches scratched their faces.
Snow covered their shoes.
Then they reached a clearing.
Kim-Jo stopped.
His eyes found Lucy.
She was lying in the snow.
Her red gown was stained.
Her hair covered part of her face.
And standing near her was Cha-Woo.
A gun in his hand.
Kim-Jo's blood turned cold.
"Lucy..."
Her eyes opened.
She looked toward him.
"Jimmy..."
Kim-Jo took one step.
Cha-Woo raised the gun.
"Don't move!"
Kim-Jo stopped.
"Please."
Cha-Woo's eyes burned with anger.
"You took everything from me."
Kim-Jo shook his head.
"No."
His voice was low.
"You did this."
Police officers emerged between the trees.
"DROP THE WEAPON!"
Cha-Woo looked around.
Lucy looked at Kim-Jo.
"Jimmy..."
"I'm here."
"I'm scared."
"I know."
Kim-Jo slowly moved forward.
"Stay with me."
Cha-Woo raised the gun.
"NO!"
Kim-Jo lunged.
BANG!
The sound tore through the forest.
Lucy screamed.
Her body jerked.
Then she collapsed.
"LUUUCY!"
Kim-Jo ran toward her.
He dropped to his knees.
He pulled her into his arms.
"Lucy!"
Blood spread across the red gown.
"No..."
His hands trembled as he pressed against her wounds.
"No, no, no."
Her eyes opened weakly.
"Jimmy..."
"I'm here."
Tears streamed down his face.
"I'm here."
Behind them, police officers tackled Cha-Woo to the ground.
June and Sunny reached the clearing.
They stopped when they saw Lucy.
"Lucy..."
Sunny covered his mouth.
June's eyes filled with tears.
Kim-Jo didn't notice them.
He only saw her.
The woman he had spent days searching for.
The woman he had promised to find.
She was finally in his arms.
But she was bleeding.
"Look at me."
Kim-Jo held her face.
"Please look at me."
Lucy's lips trembled.
"You came."
"Of course I came."
He pressed his forehead against hers.
"I told you I'd find you."
She tried to smile.
"I knew..."
Her voice was weak.
"You'd come."
"I love you."
Kim-Jo was crying uncontrollably now.
"I love you so much."
Lucy struggled to breathe.
"I was..."
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"So scared."
"I'm sorry."
"You didn't..."
She opened her eyes again.
"You didn't know."
"I should have found you sooner."
"No..."
Her fingers moved weakly against his coat.
"Jimmy..."
"I'm here."
"I love you."
Kim-Jo's face crumbled.
"I love you too."
Her fingers slowly loosened.
"Lucy?"
He shook her gently.
"Lucy?"
Nothing.
His heart stopped.
"Lucy?"
Still nothing.
The sound of approaching sirens grew louder.
Paramedics rushed into the clearing.
"Sir, we need to take her."
Kim-Jo wouldn't let go.
"No."
"Sir, she's losing blood."
"No!"
His voice broke.
"She's cold."
The paramedic knelt beside him.
"We're going to help her."
Kim-Jo looked down at Lucy.
His hands were covered in her blood.
Blood stained his clothes.
Blood stained the snow.
And the beautiful red gown she had worn on the night everything changed was now soaked with blood.
The paramedics carefully lifted Lucy from his arms.
Kim-Jo's hands remained suspended in the air for a moment after she was gone.
"Lucy..."
They rushed her toward the ambulance.
"Lucy!"
The ambulance doors opened.
The paramedics disappeared inside with her.
The doors slammed shut.
The vehicle began moving.
Kim-Jo stood frozen in the snow.
The cameras were still recording.
Helicopters were still circling overhead.
Millions of people were watching.
But Kim-Jo saw none of them.
He only watched the ambulance carrying the woman he loved disappear into the darkness.
His lips trembled.
"Come back to me..."
The ambulance disappeared beyond the trees.
Kim-Jo finally sank to his knees.
For four days, he had feared not knowing where Lucy was.
Now he knew.
She had been found.
She was alive.
But as the sirens faded into the distance, one terrifying question remained.
Would Lucy survive the night?
And if she did...
would she ever wake up?