* Name Reminder
Haphuco - The main character
Biani - Haphuco's younger sister but not blood related
May - Biani's co-worker and her best friend
Bodi - The boss of the Hakyo Bodyguard Agency where Haphuco is working for
Nara - A co-worker of Haphuco at the Hakyo Bodyguard Agency
Ba - The restaurant owner where Haphuco is working for
Haphumi - Ba's daughter
Jowi - The owner of the Orphanage where Haphuco and Biani lived during their childhood
Mayo - The city mayor who has a daughter named Barami
New Character
Jina - Mayo's secretary
Hakyo - The name of the city where Haphuco is living in
This is a story taking place last month when Haphuco just got accepted into the Hakyo Bodyguard Agency to become a Bodyguard despite having been an Assassin for literally his entire life until now.
...
It's 5 a.m.
Like a clock, Haphuco wakes up and slaps himself immediately to get awake. He is sleeping in a room of an apartment complex owned by the Hakyo Bodyguard Agency where he was just recruited recently.
It's not like the Agency leases the complex as an additional means of making money. For a fact , this apartment complex has been seriously degraded and left abandoned that the Agency just snatched it and let anyone working for the Agency who is having troubles finding home to use.
The seriousness of the building is crystal clear. Wall, ceiling system, wires ... are all peeling and breaking. Furniture which must be of previous owners is sprawling throughout the corridor and the common staircase of the building. Apparently there has been rumors this, rumors that about the complex will be renewed and rebuilt but several years passed and nothing changed.
When receiving the room key, Haphuco was clearly told to find another place to live soon but it will be very hard considering his current financial situation plus it is getting harder and harder to find a decent-priced place to live these days. The more Haphuco thinks about that, the more appreciated he feels towards the Agency for giving him a place to live. Now, let's stop thinking about it and start doing some...
Haphuco : Ouch !
The pain, the pain from his first day joining the Agency still remains. While the details will be saved for another chapter, you could say that Haphuco has been greatly "welcomed" by his seniors at work. So generous that he fainted at the end. At least it's just that day, that's the most comforting thing that Haphuco can say to himself. Although it has been way less intense now but man, the seniors are really fierce people, especially that woman, Nara.
Nara ( Sneeze ) : ZZZZZ...
It is still a bit hurt but this alone won't stop him from doing his routine morning which is 100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and finally 10km run. When he finished his running, he looks around. This suburb area of the city is truly a deserted place, isn't it ? Apparently, the city has been invested in areas around the city center, as a result, this suburb is neglected, leading to poor infrastructure and people moving away to better places of the city.
Speaking about being deserted, Haphuco wonders how many people are living in the complex exactly. He just realizes that despite having moved to here for around two weeks, he never encounters a single person. Oh mind, is he the only person living here ? Is the building haunted ? Well, it's not like he has got to see the face of the ghost since he moves to here and so from the beginning of his life but he has seen a bunch of insects invading his room. Anyway, it's time for him to go to the Agency in the city center.
The distance from the complex to the Agency is quite far, talking around 40-45 minutes of walking. Although Haphuco can take the bus, he finds pleasure in observing everything around and definitely not because he wants to save the money for the bus. Stores being opened, old people finishing their health-preserving exercises, students going to school, people eating breakfast, they are all scenes pleasing to his eyes. During his walk to the Agency, Haphuco always sees a big white fancy school. It is a school established by Maristanity, a religion that worships Maria, known as Mother of humanity. The second floor of the building, he has arrived at the Hakyo Bodyguard Agency.
It seems like because Haphuco is new to the job, he has not been assigned any duty of Bodyguard yet. Luckily, he is given a job to look around the office as a way for him to make money. The job lasts from 9:00 to 17:00, mainly about managing Requests for hiring Bodyguards from people, whether it is through phone or direct meeting. Bodi, the boss of the Agency, often shows up late and sometimes doesn't show up at all. Despite appreciated for giving him the job, Haphuco could not forget the day when he first went here, after reading the recommendation letter from Mr. Jowi, Bodi immediately shoot a bullet towards him and then said "That's for Jowi, nothing personal, kid". Of course, Haphuco managed to dodge it, otherwise, how can he tell Mr. Ba and Haphumi about his job as a Bodyguard now.
Haphumi : Wow, your job sounds cool, Haphuco Senpai.
This is Haphumi, the daughter of Mr.Ba who is the owner of a Vietnamese style food restaurant where Haphuco is working for. The story is that when Haphuco is wandering around a food street half thinking about how to make more money, half thinking about what to eat, he saw a poster of hiring in front of Mr.Ba restaurant. Trying his luck, he entered, he applied, he got a test and he eventually got hired. Turned out that his tongue is more useful than he thought, in food tasting specifically. Apparently Mr.Ba just wants to hire someone who can share the work with her daughter who has been willingly helping him running the restaurant despite her still being a student so Mr.Ba wants the person to be capable and Haphuco was chosen.
Ba : I am surprised that with what you have showed, they have not given you a proper job since then. Do you find the current job boring ?
Haphuco : Well, it's certainly not a job on my wanted list. I actually have to... uhm... what do people call it... right... TYPE the information of the requests into a computer but I just can not handle these technological things so I am accepted to just take a note and another person will handle it for me.
Haphumi ( Smile in disbelief ) : Seriously, you can not use the computer ?
Haphuco ( Slightly embarrassed ) : Yeah, for some reasons, I just could not learn anything when it comes to technology.
Haphumi : You are seriously tech-blind, Haphuco Senpai. I mean REALLY ! Even a baby can use a phone nowadays.
Ba : Now, now, Haphumi. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Haphuco, I hope you got used to the work here, you have been a great help. About your Bodyguard job, I believe you will get your chance soon.
Haphuco : Thanks you, Mr.Ba. I hope so.
...
I did not expect it will be this soon though...
[ Next Morning ]
A woman visits the office. It seems like she has made an appointment and this is not something trivial as Mr. Bodi even shows up beforehand to wait. Her name is Jina. She looks serious.
Jina : My name is Jina, I am the secretary of Mr. Mayo. I believe you know his name, Mr. Bodi.
Bodi ( Smoking cigar ) : Yeah, I know his name. He is the guy who will soon become the city's mayor. Considering his relatively young age, he has achieved something really amazing.
Jina : Yes, then I believe it will be easier to talk.
Jina : I am here to discuss about an Emergency Request for Mr. Mayo.
Hearing the words, Haphuco immediately realizes the seriousness of the situation. Emergency Request is not something trivial. Normally, people would just have normal Request for hiring Bodyguards, commonly to be guards for public events. Asking for an Emergency Request means the client is in danger of being ASSASSINATED.
Bodi ( Get more serious ) : Do you know any details about the upcoming Assassination.
Jina : Yes, based on the information we got from a Rat, an Order has been made to assassinate Mr. Mayo on his inauguration evening this Sunday. It is confirmed that the Order has been taken.
Each day, Orders of Assassination are gathered by the Organizer. Each Order has an Offer and a Duration to complete before being expired. The Organizer then proceeds to allocate Orders to different places based on several criteria. An Assassin will then proceed to take the Order and do their job. Haphuco has learned everything since he was at the School.
Jina : We did pay for them to tell if the Assasin taking the Order was an Assassin of high Rank but apparently, they aren not.
Bodi : I see...
Bodi ( Put his hands over Haphuco's shoulder ) : Well then, Haphuco.
Haphuco ( Turn his head to Bodi in confusion ) : Eh ?
Bodi ( Turn his head back to Jina ) : We shall entrust this boy to protect Mr. Mayo on that evening. His name is Haphuco.
Jina ( Frown ) : Mr. Bodi, I hope you understand the seriousness of the situation. No disrespect but do you believe that he can ensure Mr. Mayo's safety ?
Haphuco ( Thought ) : She is right. I have not done any work as Bodyguard before. Can I really do the job ?
Bodi ( Smile ) : I understand what you are saying. The boy Haphuco here is still quite young but I can assure you that he has skills.
Bodi : Having said that, it's not like Haphuco will be the only person we assign for the job. Nara, one of our top Bodyguards, shall take the job as well.
Nara ( Open the door ) : You bet I can !
With long golden hair and sharp eyes, Nara Senpai opens the door, emitting a confident aura.
Bodi : You are late, Nara.
Nara : For a fact, I am not. I was actually waiting behind the door until you call out my name so I can... Wala... make an epic entrance.
Jina : Nara ? The renowned Bodyguard Nara ?
Nara : Yes, ma'am. That's me !
Jina : With her involvement, then I guess sure. We can go with that.
[ One Request negotiation later ]
Jina : Then I will take my leave. I entrust Mr. Mayo's safety to you guys.
Haphuco ( After Jina leaves ) : Uhm...
Haphuco : Mr. Bodi, why did you give me this job ? I have not been a Bodyguard anytime since I joined and now suddenly, I am being assigned to protect the city mayor. That's just so... sudden.
Bodi : Do you believe in your ability, Haphuco ?
Haphuco : Well...yes...
Bodi : Then consider this as your opportunity, Haphuco. You have proven yourself since your first day here. I know Assassins have this Rank and that Rank but for Bodyguards, if you have the skills, you are one of the top Bodyguards.
Bodi ( Pat into Bodi's back ) : Be confident, Haphuco.
Nara : Not to mention, I will be there too ! So worry not, Haphuco.
...
The day comes. Wearing a prepared suit, Haphuco and Nara goes to the top floor of a skyscraper where the inauguration will be held.
Nara ( Gives Haphuco a mask ) : Here, take this, Haphuco.
Haphuco ( Questioned ) : What's the mask for ?
Nara ( Smile ) : You don't want the Assassin to remember your face for revenge, do you ?
Nara : Now, let's go meet the mayor.
Nara ( Holding the fist up ) : If anyone dares to hurt him today, let's just beat the hell out of them.
...
Meanwhile, a waitress is preparing her stuff. Hidden inside her ears is a small communication device. A sound of another woman comes from the device.
May : Did you get in ?
Biani : Yes !
End of Chapter 4 : Last Month
Next Chapter - Chapter 5 : Familiar Voice