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In an organized, pristine, and spotless white room, Minji Kim currently resides. She occupies one of the hotels provided by her organization to carry out her mission once more. A sigh escapes her lips. Her profession is one she finds passion in, yet it perplexes her. She harbors no desire to remain entrenched in its dangers. Honestly, she's witnessed too many lives lost in the line of duty. Despite this, she's unable to fathom her reasons for staying or even entering this vocation.
"Liar," she chides herself internally. Deep down, she comprehends the truth she's hesitant to admit.
Rolling out of bed, Minji readies herself for the tasks ahead. Clad in a black turtleneck, she slips into a coat, zipping it up snugly. Her attire comprises black fitted jeans and black boots. It amuses her how her oblivious friends critique her, likening her appearance to that of an undercover agent, unaware that she is, in fact, one.
From a drawer, she retrieves the gun she's been concealing, its remaining five bullets a stark reminder of the risks she faces. Securing it at the back of her jeans, she's confident it remains unnoticed, though a swift movement could betray its presence. She completes her look with glasses due to her poor eyesight.
Adjusting her coat once more, Minji grabs the paperwork essential for the day's proceedings. She grimaces. This shit is one of the reasons why she chose this line of work yet it's ironic how such tasks are necessary to fulfill her mission.
Rolling her eyes, she seizes the paperwork and exits her room. Stepping into the elevator, the attendant automatically selects the right floor for her. Minji leans against the cold corner, casting a glance at her fellow passenger. He sits there, seemingly oblivious. She wonders how much he knows about the company he serves. Is he aware of its illicit dealings, the lives it's claimed to sustain him? The thought makes her flinch.
Upon reaching her destination, Minji strides towards her car, a Rolls Royce. As she's about to open the door, a voice startles her from behind.
"You're not planning to take that car to the university, are you?"
"Shit!"
Instinctively, Minji reaches for her gun, only to relax when she recognizes the speaker.
"What the fuck, Juyeon! You almost gave me a heart attack!"
Juyeon laughs, seemingly unfazed as if she wasn't almost killed by her gun.
"Okay, scaredy cat. But seriously, dummy, you're planning to drive this baby to your university?" She asked while touching the hood of her car. She knows how much Minji loves this car.
"Yes?"
"And here I thought you were the organization's genius monster."
Confusion clouds Minji's expression as she attempts to enter her car, but Juyeon intervenes.
"Juyeon, I swear to God—"
"You dumbshit. You're supposed to keep a low profile, and this Rolls Royce is literally one of the most expensive cars in the country. Are you planning to blow your cover or something? Tsk."
Oh. Minji is indeed dumb.
"Come with me instead. I have my Nissan."
With that, Juyeon leads the way, and Minji follows suit, locking her car door before joining her friend.
"How did you know I was heading to the university anyway? Are you a stalker or something?"
Juyeon remains silent, opening the car door. Minji is unfamiliar with this vehicle, witnessing Juyeon driving it for the first time.
Fastening her seatbelt, the short-haired woman hands Minji an envelope.
"What's this?"
"Open it, dimwit. But buckle up first. I don't want any accidents while driving."
Following Juyeon's instructions, Minji opens the envelope.
"Huh? Mirae Girl University?"
"Surprise, motherfucker. You and I will work together on this mission."
And once again, Minji finds herself engulfed in confusion.
"I'm so fucking lost. Does this mean anything? I mean, you're literally twice as skilled as me, and this mission seems like a walk in the park," Minji questions her. She's acutely aware of Juyeon's expertise and experience, despite their one-year age gap. She's not jealous, rather proud, which is probably why Juyeon has a soft spot for her.
"I'll explain the details later," Juyeon replies, briefly glancing at Minji before refocusing on the road.
Minji simply nods. What could be the reason? Honestly, the mission seems incredibly straightforward. Enrolling in the university again feels like just another step to complete the task. Like in a game, it's merely a quest to finish.
The mission is simple: expose the corrupt politician involved in drug trafficking. That's all.
"Tell me the name we need to follow," Juyeon breaks the silence as they near the university.
"Pham Hanni. I heard she's the politician's only daughter. Based on my investigation, she's an illegitimate child," Minji provides the information, gazing out the window as they pull into the parking lot.
Juyeon steps out first, and Minji grabs the two envelopes before following her.
"Well, Gumayusi got back to me, and it turns out Hanni is more than just an illegitimate child," Minji is surprised by the mention of the name. He's back?
As if sensing her question, Juyeon nods and leads the way. "Minseok threatened to break up with him if he cut ties with us," she chuckles. "So yeah, he contacted me again and provided details about her. It's not much, but it'll help."
Minji nods and takes in the surroundings. It's like any other university, bustling with students in uniform, except this one is exclusively for girls.
"We're off to the principal's office. I'll fill you in on the details later. It's not the best place for that," Juyeon quickens her pace, and Minji matches her stride.
"Good morning to you both," the sophisticated-looking principal greets them as they enter. Minji doesn't smile, but Juyeon does, handing over the two envelopes.
Principal Rachel Trinidad, with a wooden placard bearing her name neatly placed on the desk, addresses them. "Kim Minji. Lee Juyeon." No response. She immediately eyes Juyeon, and Minji watches her closely.
"There are certain rules you both need to follow," she begins, though Minji can tell she's directing her words mostly at Juyeon.
"By that, we don't allow guys—"
"I'm a lesbian. Biologically, a woman," Juyeon interjects. Minji almost laughs but holds it back. The principal is taken aback, and Minji glances at Juyeon, wondering what happened to staying low.
"I thought—"
"I'm a she. It's written there, Ma'am."
"Well, you know, things like this can change these days, and I'm just making sure—"
The ringing of the phone interrupts her, and she excuses herself to answer it eagerly.
"Oh, Mr. Lee!" Minji raises an eyebrow. Mr. Lee? As in Lee Seunggi? The principal's shocked expression confirms her suspicion.
"Yes! Oh no, you're never a bother, Mr. Lee! Of course, we'll make sure they're well taken care of," she gushes into the phone, casting a sweet smile at them. Clearly, she's heard something about them from their boss.
"Well, Mr. Lee just called, and he mentioned that you're related to him! I'm delighted that you both enrolled here, and rest assured, we'll treat you with the utmost respect—"
"Thank you, but we need our schedule more than your flowery words," Juyeon snaps, and Minji notices the twitch in the principal's eye. Despite that, she maintains her smile—a fake one. Minji rolls her eyes, making sure their gazes meet before doing so.
"What a homophobic piece of an old hag," Juyeon mutters as they sit on one of the bleachers in the university garden. It's less crowded than the main hall.
"What happened to staying low?" Minji asks, echoing her thoughts from earlier.
"Not when an old hag tries my patience," Juyeon retorts, and Minji laughs at her frustrated friend. But she understands. It's still a taboo in their country, a topic people want to change but are afraid to speak up about. Ironic, really.
"By the way, you seem to know this university well. You were walking around mindlessly, although I know you're familiar with this place," Minji observes, and Juyeon smiles as if reminiscing.
"Well, Naeon graduated from here. She was a student here and always brought me along whenever we had time. Back then, the rules weren't so strict. Anyone could just enter, and I was one of those who enjoyed those privileges."
Minji studies Juyeon, finding her expression confusing. She knows Juyeon is in love with Naeon, but there's more in her eyes. Love. Contentment. Gratefulness.
There's a lot more.
"How is she? I haven't heard from her since she debuted," Minji asks, referring to Naeon's idol career, which she pursued after leaving the same line of work they shared.
"Doing great as usual. She's busy and well-protected by the company."
The two have been in a relationship for so long. Minji remembers catching them kissing on the rooftop once. She was confused back then about why they hid their relationship from everyone. She later understood that both of them were protecting their relationship because of their work. It's so dirty, no one knows what might happen next.
As Minji and Juyeon sit in the quiet garden of the university, surrounded by the whispers of the wind rustling through the trees, Minji's thoughts drift to their mission. Despite the ease of their current task, there's an underlying tension in the air—a sense that things may not be as straightforward as they seem.
"Juyeon, do you ever get the feeling that something's off about this mission?" Minji finally voices her thoughts, breaking the tranquil silence.
Juyeon furrows her brows, contemplating Minji's question. "Yeah, I know what you mean. It's like there's more to it than meets the eye."
Minji shrugs, a feeling of unease settling in her stomach. "I wish I knew. But something tells me we're not just here to expose a corrupt politician. There's a deeper layer to all of this."
Juyeon's expression darkens at Minji's words, a flicker of concern crossing her features. "You might be right, Minji. When I received Gumayusi's message, it was unsettling that he only gathered little information about that politician, considering he's the best hacker in town. But for now, let's focus on gathering information about Pham Hanni. She might hold the key to unraveling this mystery."
Minji nods in agreement, steeling herself for the challenges that lie ahead. Despite the uncertainty looming over them, she finds solace in knowing that she has Juyeon by her side—a trusted ally in the face of adversity.
As they rise from the bleachers and make their way back to the main hall, Minji can't help but wonder what secrets await them in the halls of Mirae Girl University. Little does she know that their journey is only just beginning, and the truth they seek may be far more dangerous than they could ever imagine.