"So, how did 8 become 8? Like is there any meaning behind that traitor's name?"
"Well, if I can still remember... 8 told me he came up with it because he awakened when he was just eight years old,"
"I heard he's the youngest awakened hunter in Seoul, so that's why! I am disappointed to know that 8 was a traitor... the potential that kid has!" The interviewer laughed along with the audience and Song Dohyun shook his head.
"Yes, we're all betrayed, especially me... He was my greatest best friend despite not even knowing his real name."
Yeon Yujun paused the video as he exited the full screen mode, reading the title of the video and it was an interview from four years ago.
"Exposing 8, the traitor of all hunters with Song Dohyun..." Yujun mumbled under his breath as he grabbed a handful of pills from the pill bottle, shoving it to his mouth without taking any water.
He swallowed it bitterly as Yeon Yujun scrolled through the comment section of the video, observing what people thought of him after the lies that Song Dohyun had spread.
The only truth Song Dohyun had said is the origin of his codename.
[ @must3rdlover: how come we still don't know how 8 actually looks and his real name!? hes already dead!! ]
[ @tomaTomato: (replied to @must3rdlover): I heard he uses a special skill to alternate his entire profile, including his face! He's so anonymous, can't believe he was a murderer Lol. ]
[ @randomGGuy: (replied to @must3rdlover): imagine he's still alive though? ]
[ @Da6to7Geek: (replied to @randomGGuy): bfr no ones surviving a vortex explosion ]
It is true, no man can survive a vortex explosion... But how did Yeon Yujun survive it and got out of there?
He couldn't put his finger around it, but he knew that something had happened when he was unconscious and found himself teleported back to Seoul at the alleyway. How ironic.
Suddenly — thud!!
Yeon Yujun snapped his gaze to the desk, a notebook and pen had fallen to the ground, including Pouch who let out a small whimper while biting on a piece of paper.
"Pouch? What are you doing?"
"Mph...pu!"
Yeon Yujun stood up from his bed and walked towards the mess that Pouch made. With a sigh, he grabbed the dizzy Pouch and snatched the note between its teeth.
The note. Of course. Back from three days ago, it's still a mystery who put it from the truck.
He had asked Kim Misook and Shin Jongsu if they had enemies, but nothing came to their mind. Yeon Yujun also asked Lee Seolji if she has any ex-boyfriend or stalker, still a dead end.
Maybe it's just some sick prank?
Yeon Yujun frustratedly crumpled the paper in his fist and threw it across his room.
He has no time to solve stupid mysteries like this.
***
"Thank you for coming, please come again next time!"
The shop bell jingled when Yeon Yujun stepped out of the bakery, holding a plastic bag of freshly baked carrot cake.
Yeon Yujun had almost forgotten Kim Misook's birthday today because he had been so distracted by some prank note three days ago.
Good thing, Lee Seolji had reminded him.
"Are you coming here now, Oppa?" the voice said from the other line as Yeon Yujun pressed the phone back to his ear.
"Yes, just wait. I just finished picking up Grandma's cake,"
"Hurry up! The food's gonna be cold." With that, the call ended and Yeon Yujun shoved his phone back to his pocket.
Yeon Yujun had never spent birthdays with anyone before, he never even celebrated his birthday after his parents died. He only had the chance to spend it after the elderly couple took him in as the son they never had.
That's why he appreciated them like his own family.
In these four years, he had been celebrating his own birthday and others. It probably became one of Yeon Yujun's favorite occasions next to Christmas Eve.
But sometimes, birthdays bring up the worst memories.
***
"Hyung! Blow the candles!"
It was seven years ago, inside the vortex along with the other hunters before the great vortex raid happened. They were at an alien-like forest and it was night time, everyone was talking with each other and laughing.
Yeon Yujun was sitting at the log, blinking as he watched Song Dohyun lift the cupcake to Yeon Yujun's face.
"Huh?"
"It's your birthday today right? November 10!" Song Dohyun laughed, patting his shoulder as he encouraged him to blow the candle on the cupcake.
"Don't tell me you don't celebrate your birthday, 8!" Han Yerin chimed in, pouting as she held up a crocheted bracelet with Yeon Yujun's initials in it.
Han Yerin, a young woman who became an awakened hunter at such an early age. Beside her was another hunter, a foreign hunter, Anna Sloane.
"You're a big boy now, right? Too bad we can't see your face clearly, are you that handsome?" Anna Sloane tilted her head as she wrapped her arm around Han Yerin, causing her to flinch and flush. "H-hey! Get off, An!"
"I'm... 22 now." Yeon Yujun murmured as Song Dohyun nodded towards the cupcake.
"Now say your wishes and I decide to blow it myself."
"Alright! alright..." Yeon Yujun sighed in resignation as the other hunters began forming around them.
When Yeon Yujun was about to blow the candle, Han Yerin interrupted. "Before you blow it, let us sing you a birthday song!"
"I agree." Anna Sloane nodded her head as Yeon Yujun was against the idea.
"Oh god please no—"
But it was too late, everyone was already singing him a happy birthday song and he had no choice but to remain quiet and listen to it.
It wasn't that bad actually, even when some are low and high-pitched... It was enough for his birthday.
When the song finally faded, Song Dohyun waited beside him. "So? What's your wish, 8?"
Yeon Yujun paused for a moment, looking around at his companions then at Song Dohyun before glancing at the waiting cupcake.
"I wish..." he trailed off, as if tasting the foreign words on his tongue.
"I wish for us to get out of here together safely."
***
Yeon Yujun found himself sitting at the bench in the memorial park of the memorable hunters who contributed to South Korea.
"Kim Yerin..." Yeon Yujun ran his hand through his ebony locks as he stared up at the skies, the carrot cake is beside him, probably cooling down now.
He suddenly thought of stopping by the memorial park instead of heading straight home. He wasn't sure why.
Yeon Yujun stood up and grabbed the carrot cake at the bench, he walked towards the huge monument tombstone where the names of the hunters who died on the great vortex raid.
He traced the engraved names on the stone, Kim Yerin, Anna Sloane... and the others who he deeply cared about.
What happens if he didn't volunteer for the raid? Would everyone still be alive? That thought alone made him pause as he stepped back from the monument.
Now that he thinks about it, his name wasn't even at the tombstone.
His phone suddenly rings in his pocket as he hastily fishes it out and answers the call.
"He-"
"Where are you?! Granny's about to come home soon! Get in here already!" Lee Seolji demanded in the other line.
"Right, sorry… I'll be there shortly."
Yeon Yujun ended the call and began moving back home.
***
When Yeon Yujun arrived at the house, he looked up and saw the familiar piece of paper stamped to the wooden oak door.
He immediately had his guard up as he looked around the surroundings. Nothing unusual at all.
Yeon Yujun snatched the note and read what was written; "Trying to look for me?" it read.
He let out a bitter chuckle, shaking his head as he crumpled the paper and threw it away. Was someone messing with him and the innocent elderly couple and their niece? That thought made Yeon Yujun see red.
"So they know…"
"Know what, young man?"
"Granny!" Yeon Yujun turned around and smiled at her instantly.
"Know nothing, granny! Anyway, let's head inside — We have a surprise for you," Yeon Yujun quickly went to Kim Misook's side and guided her inside the house while holding the plastic bag of the baked goods.
"Oh dear, I'm too old for surprises, it'll give me a heart attack!" Kim Misook joked as she began coughing hoarsely, causing Yeon Yujun to halt and lean down to check on her.
"Are you feeling alright, granny?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine… I think I just pushed myself too hard at the cafe earlier, and I'm getting older!" Kim Misook assured as she nodded at the dining room.
"Now, let's go and eat. I know you and that girl, Seolji, prepared something." she laughed, heading deeper inside the house while Yeon Yujun just stood there at the doorway.
'Maybe I'm just worrying too much.' Yeon Yujun tried reassuring himself as he took a deep breath before joining with his newfound family. Then Pouch came crawling out of his pocket and rested on Yeon Yujun's head.
"Happy birthday, granny."