A door swung open unlatched and young girl walks inside with a boy walking behind her. The hallway was full of students busy with their own groups. some chatting among themselves, while some judged others in the corner and some were running through the hallway to get to their class on time.

"Listen Reina! you can't do this. You have to take this gig dude." Boy begged joining his palms in prayer position.

Girl who was walking ahead stops in the middle causing the boy to bump into her, before he stumbled back to regain his balance.

"Didn't I tell you I won't take gigs anymore and now we already have money to get out of contract!" She exclaimed, reasoning with him.

"But what after that? We don't have money to stay outside the premises of organisation. We have to pay our college fees and house rent. How do you think are we going to pay that?"

"W-we can find some part time job," She stuttered.

"We can. But, do you know how expensive housing is? We will have to work our butts off without having a place to stay. Organisation will completely cut us off!!!"

"Can't we do something else?" Girl pouted.

Boy shook his head in denial, reached out his hand holding her arms. He leaned closer to her face and whispered, "You don't have to kill anyone. we just need to steal something."

"Anyone can do that. Why us?"

"Its a especial case, you're the only one who is capable enough of handling those people,"

"But..."

"Reina! Organisation promised to cancel our contract along with paying us will pay us 10 million dollars. we can start the business after graduating!!"

"Max! I'll tell you after some thought."

"I need an answer before college ends."

"Fine!" Reina turns around, "I'm leaving first I've classes."

Reina said and walked away from Max quickly with an unsettled feeling lying dormant in her chest. taehyun and her have known each other for half of her lifetime. They were like siblings even though they shared no blood. What brought them close? Cruel training of the organisation they worked for brought them together.

Even though she told him that she'll think later, answer was already there in her head. She had agreed to him. But, being a stubborn kid she couldn't admit so quickly. So this was her trick.

A sigh escaped her lips as she settles down, keeping her backpack on the table. She pulled out her notebook and stationery supplies preparing for the class. Her body was jumpy with anxiety and to calm down, she placed her head on the table whilst continuing to shake her legs underneath.

"Hey reina baby!" Reina hears her friend Yena voice in the background. Yena was a normal civilan friend reina made when she entered the university. Now the girl was obssessed with her because of Reina's chilled personality. A hand wrapped around her shoulder as Yena leaned her weight on reina's body.

"***** you're crushing my body!" Reina grumbled, shot her head up pushing yena away. Yena being used to it simply got her balance and stood straight on her feet.

But, she knitted her brows as soon as she saw Reina's face, "babe! why do you look so stressed?"

She cupped Reina's cheeks, turning it to check for a reason. Reina closed her eyes as her friends warm hand calmed her down.

She shook her head, "Nothing, just pulled all-nighters to complete assignment."

"You don't have dark circles,"

Reina pointed at her light dark circles that she purposely created by smudging kohl. It was to give an effect of burnt out university student and avoid any kind of attention. Because people's face made them popular in universities and school pretty quickly and she had already experinced a tiresome high school life of being a popular kid and refused to face it again. She simply hid behind the glasses and hoodie and avoided people by wearing headphones 24/7 even though music wasn't playing in the background.

Yena frowned leaving her and sitting on the empty seat next to hers, "Why would you sleep during the day and work at night?"

"I feel energetic at night,"

"You're weird."

"Yeah, and you're weirder. Who wears branded clothes to college. you look like you have come to a party,"

Yena rolls her eyes flipping her hair back, "My life is a party unlike yours,"

"Unlike yours," Reina mimicked her voice earning a glare of her friend. They broke into fits of laughter in next second. Till then it was time and professor arrived in the class.

The class started and went on for a hour, while the professor barked standing in the podium everyone was busy in their own world. Some in the back busy on their phones, others busy gazing out of the window since talking was prohibited in this professor classes. It wasn't that students were so obedient that they avoided talking. If the professor caught them talking it would result in public humiliation and along with that bad grades in semester exam. Since this professor was best at holding grudges.

"Today, since we have finished the chapter. You'll have to do an assignment. I'll email you the details. Partners are already chosen by me so check the notice board before you leave." He instructed at the end of the class.

When the class ended, Reina had lost all of her braincells and was staring at the blackboard blankly. Yena watched her bestfriend, wondering what was going in her head? As quiet and chill Reina was she was quiet a mystry and that's what intrigued Yena to be with her all the time.

"C'mon pig get up we have next class in 30 minutes," Yena kicks reina's chair. earning a eye roll from her. She shoves all her stuff into her backpack and got up.

"Let's check the board,"

"Someone already sent the photo in the class group, we can check it later. Let's first go to cafeteria. I'm hungry!"

"Pig!" Reina mutters, making yena glare at her, but she smiled and freed her arms before running down the hallway away from her with yena chasing her down.

Just like tom chases the jerry in every episode.

Reina pours the soup and walks over to the empty table with yena at her side. But before they could sit together Yena pokes Reina attracting her attention. Reina frowns at first but when she notices where yena is pointing at she hurriedly looks away.

It was Max sitting at the table with his friend, Kai A civilian friend like Yena. Kai waved his hand towards us, Yena happily waved back at him. But when I glanced at taehyun he had this pissed off look on his face. I looked away pulling yena to sit in the corner from where taehyun's face wouldn't be visible.

"What did you two fight?" yena probes, she leans forward on the table.

"Not really, he wanted me to watch this anime real bad and I said I don't want too," I replied.

"What? Why? I'm sure he must have recommended something good," she frowned taking his side as she had a crush on him. I glared at her squinting my eyes. Wondering whose friend she is.

We ate our lunch and talked about the gossips of the campus, judging people. When our conversational contents ended we looked through our phone. And all of it happened in 15 minutes.

I was looking through the group chat messages to see who was partnered with whom. When I finally saw my name in it written in capital letters with my partners name next to it.

Reina & Ivan

Why didn't he add our surnames I thought? While I was thinking. yena answered my question.

"Looks like professor got lazy he didn't add surnames of those people who have unique name."

"my name is unique?" I narrowed my eyes staring at yena in confusion.

"At least we don't have anyone with same name as yours in our class. I have and that Pyo Yena have same name!" She hissed, with a disgusted look on her face.

So I leaned forward pinching her cheeks, "but this yena is the best," I told her in baby voice.

"I know. You won't find anyone like me."

"trust me that's the only reason I put up with a crybaby like you," I implied, she squinted her eyes before punching my arm.

I moaned, "ouch, pig!"

"you are a pig, your whole family is pig."

"aww my piggy got upset. Oink, oink!!"

I joked making her annoyed and receiving another punch on my back.

After lunch, we made our way to another lecture hall. When I recalled his name and turned to yena to ask about him.

"Bro! My partner is Ivan. He was once your partner right?"

"yeah, you remember?" she asked her eyes fixated on her phone. While, I interlinked my arms guiding her to the class.

"hmm.... what kind of person he is? He will participate in assignment making right? I won't have to do it all alone? And can text me his phone number?"

She stopped staring at her phone and stopped walking, raising her head to stare at me. I raised my eyebrow wondering the reason she stopped.

"Wow! That's a lot of questions."

I shrugged and sighed, "dude. I don't know him I want to know everything,"

"Okay! He is topper so that's given he is pretty famous. He did help in assignment and even showed up when I wanted to discuss with him. He is sweet as well, but I'm committed to taehyun so anyway."

"Just confess to him dude!" I suggested, rolling my eyes.

"I will!" she exclaimed.

"What else? How does he look?" I asked as we continued to walk down the hallway.

"he got decent face, I don't know he is looks like a sweet nerd. You don't remember his face. I introduced you to him,"

"nah! I don't like looking at people taller than me, it feels weird."

"Seriously girl. Does that mean you don't remember any guys face in our class?"

"no I do. I remember John's face!!" I exclaimed.

"he is same height as yours, I never met someone like you." she said in joking disappointed tone. I pursed my lips gazing on the floor.

"Text me his number."

"I will text you,"

the day ended, and now it was time for me to meet taehyun. I really didn't want to meet him, I don't know after literally denying it for three days straight I was agreeing to it. I felt my pride crushing and tried to save my crushing pride by texting him.

^^^Reina: ^^^

^^^fine, I'll do it. ^^^

Max:

I knew it ;)

will drop at your apartment.

See ya later

I rolled my eyes at the text, before exiting his chat. When Yena's message popped on my screen and it was a phone number.

Yena:

here is his number

text him now

he said he is usually free during

this time

^^^Reina^^^

^^^Kay, get home safely.^^^

Yena:

you too.

I blew out the air as I opened his chat, my heart beating wildly as I began typing the text. My hands and feet grew cold, while I pressed my body on the bus's seat to calm myself. But it only made the contents of my stomach swirl. I usually feel nervous when sending someone message for the first time. This reaction is pretty normal.

^^^Reina:^^^

^^^hi! This is Reina your partner ^^^

^^^in business law assignment^^^

^^^contact me when you're free^^^

I sent him the message and quickly exited all the apps, switching my phone off. A wave of relief washed over me and I glanced outside the window with a sheepish smile on my face. My stoppage came and I got off the bus, and walking two locks down the alley. I reached my miniature apartment.

The reason why I call it miniature is that it's tiny. But, since it was equipped with good amenities, I rented it. My apartment wasn't bad for me, it was my safe haven, but it was too small so it kind of felt congested.

I entered the key code, and opened the door just to inhale whiffs of cigarette. My eyes darted in the direction of couch and Max sat on it with a sheepish smile covering his lips.

"You smoked in my apartment again, right?" I fumed as I paced closer to him, grabbing his collar.

He already had his hands in the air, "I'm sorry! I got bored." He yelped, "I was literally smoking in the balcony, how did you still get the smell?"

"How do you think I became an assassin?"

The windows were shut and curtains were drawn quickly, reina's neighbour who had a habit of being nosy smirks to herself when she recalled the friend of reina standing in the balcony.

Reina sighs staring at Max. Because she knows her neighbor has seen him here and now that they have to act all suspicious by closing the doors and windows, she will have a wrong idea. The mere thought of her asking Reina about their relationship irritated her and urged her to commit one more killing even though she wanted to quit being an assassin.

"Can't we do this at your house?"

"Bro did you forget? I share with Kai," Max reminded as he started the session of studying about her target.

"Our target is a file that is inside this palace." Max points at the projected image.

"The file contains names of all the people who belong to secret society that is said to control the economic flow of the country from behind the curtains. And government is ready to do everything to get their hands on this information."

"Government wants it?"

Max nodded, "Yeah."

I shook my head in disbelief, "What about their spy agencies?"

"They failed!" he replied calmly.

I scoffed, "What makes them think that I can do it?"

"Because you're the best in the assassin organization has ever trained and you've completed those missions that many people have not been able to pull off."

"How can we believe that those government officials will let us live?"

"You know Reina our organization maybe be rough on us but they won't betray us. They kept our identities secret we can work well in disguise."

"Okay, but how?" I nodded understanding his point but my heart was still anxious. Still I asked Max to explain the mission further.

"You'll be Vivian Reyes daughter of a newly appointed high ranking official.  Event will be hoisted in Cassano Royal Residence for three days straight. Host of these three days long party himself is the new leader of secret society.

Other information is pretty useless but let me feed you the most important ones.

Ivan Cassano has two brothers. Benjamin Cassano and Steven Cassano. Ben is the youngest and is famous for his promiscuous lifestyle, middle son is most probably involved with the underground world. Eldest is the heir of this family and people still revere them as there king even after our country is democratic so it's better to call them your highness.

Though make sure you don't get caught up with either of them, they are dangerous. The file is stored in the vault inside the study of the eldest son. That vault has fingerprint lock along with the passcode which we can crack, so you've three days to get Ivan Cassano fingerprint and then open the vault."

Reina squinted her eyes and blinked rapidly but the information Max gave her didn't change a bit. As she registered the information in her head. When the information began making sense to her, She rolled her eyes in annoyance because she wasn't getting good vibes from the entire mission. First thing that made her all uneasy was the government. She simply couldn't believe that someone like them is asking an assassination

Reina began clearing her doubts,"But you just said that I should stay away from these three people?"

"You can avoid too but you have to meet the eldest."

"How do you make this shit sound so simple."

"That's convince you to work, you know that right?"

I glanced at the projected screen before me, my eyes set on the majestic palace. Silence filled the atmosphere and the sound of table fan was the only thing audible. I pressed the next button of remote to see the other pictures in PowerPoint presentation Max has made.

When a photo of three handsome boys appeared on the screen. All three of them had their own charm. Tall, dashing and handsome as if they came straight out of a romance novel.

"Who is Ivan among them?"

"One is tuxedo!"

I zoomed in picture of guy in tuxedo and stared at him imprinting his face and every visible feature of his body in my head. He looked like guys of my age. Young but there was hint of maturity in his face. He is young to be head of secret society. I thought.

Max continued explaining the plan in more detail, day disappeared and darkness covered the night sky. Max's session finally came to an end, an exasperated sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back on my couch closing my eyes. When I felt his hand grasping mine, a wave of warmth washed over me. Unknowingly I smiled.

"We are going to be okay right?" I asked taehyun who was in the same position as me.

"We have to be, we promised our younger selves that one day we will get out of this messy world,"

Reina nodded, recalling all the painful memories of their childhood but before she could completely fall victim to her dark and dangerous memories. Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her deadly thoughts and she opened her eyes breathing heavily. Reina picks her phone and switched it on to see a message popping on her phone screen continuously. She clicked it open without a second thought.

Ivan:

::hi!

::sorry i didn't respond earlier

::i was busy

::thanks for informing me

::can we start the project from

next monday i'm a little busy

recently and won't be able to

attend school for a while

::we will be able to complete it

since deadline is saturday next

week

^^^Reina^^^

^^^yeah, i don't mind.^^^

^^^actually i was going to ask^^^

^^^same thing since i also had^^^

^^^something to do back in my^^^

^^^hometown^^^

Ivan:

great then lets meet

next monday.

^^^Reina:^^^

^^^fine, okay^^^

I didn't realize that I was smiling from simply texting a guy, I don't know the reason, but I felt the vibes coming from his text message. It was similar to what Yena said, he was kind of sweet and polite. I could sense it in the message. Then my eyes fell on his name again. Ivan? Chukle escaped my lips as I flashed my phone at Max.

"Huh Ivan?" He asked frowning as he takes my phone.

"He is my classmate and my partner in next assignment. Funny isn't it that the name of royal guy is also same."

"Its actually kinda funny." He said chuckling.

It was tuesday and we had to leave for the city where this event was happening the next morning. So Max quickly brought the bleach and colour to bleach my hair blonde. We already recieved the advance so me and him went for shopping cause I was going into a royal palace and wearing luxurious cloth was must so that I don't stand out from the people and look poor.

And the next day we set out for our mission.