Chick SS16
by Cristae16
[Trending Articles>
[(Breaking) Chloe Han Exposes Human Experimentation by US and Korean Governments]
[(Breaking) On Ijo Confirmed Alive]
[(Breaking) On Groo, Daughter of On Ijo]
[(Breaking) On Ijo Was the Head of Gnosis]
[(Breaking) On Ijo, While Presumed Dead, Created Gnosis]
[PhotoIN] “We’re Actually a Family!”]
[Title: Still Riding a Dopamine High After the Press Conference? Absolutely!]
Wow, that insane Jamcon* aftermath just won’t wear off.
[*TN: “Jamcon” likely a portmanteau of “jam(jam)” (fun/crazy) and “conference”]
[Comments]
- LOLLLLLLL
- So how many bombshells dropped? Wasteland, On Ijo, Gnosis, Groo…
- lmao I haven’t slept, just keep reading articles all day every day LOL
[Title: Groo Just Outscandaled Every Other Celebrity, Fr]
Who cares if a celeb married in secret, everything else is old news.
Now the #1 headline is Groo.
[Comments]
- sjh This is a world-class scandal, right?
Yeah, never seen anything top this in my life
[Title: Groo Was a Silver Spoon On Ijo’s Kid????]
Is this for real?
[Comments]
- I always said, look closely, she totally looks like an On family kid
- If she was adopted at four, then nobody knew before that, right?
Makes sense;; Holding my breath til Joorim spills how he found Groo
[Title: You Idiots, They Dumped All These Issues to Cover for Politicians]
Tsk tsk, pay more attention to politics, you livestock
[Comments]
- oink oink more please
- Not even the president can ignore a scandal this big
[Title: I Can Understand Why On Ijo Became Gnosis vs I Can’t]
I get it, just look at the mess, of course he snapped smh
[Comments]
- Still, how do you go from that to “let’s end the world”?
That’s why he got 20 years, cheers~
He did save the world once though~ cheers~
[Title: On Ijo—That’s Real Love for the Ages]
So he fell in love with one of his own researchers, huh? wow
[Comments]
- um, delicious
- A handsome couple, it’s believable
- Fact: The human experiments were run by a different team in the shadows
[Title: So What’s Going On Now?]
Is On Ijo back in prison or what?
[Comments]
- Probably?
- Wish there were more Groo family photos
- (Photo: Chloe holding Groo in the center, with Joorim, Ijo, and Suhyeong surrounding them, all walking off somewhere.)
That’s a rare pic
Where are they going as a family?
Who knows
Maybe to see off On Ijo going back to prison? lol
Splash—
The waves swept in, brushing lightly against the sandy shore.
Chloe adjusted her wide-brimmed hat. She had missed this peace.
At her side was On Ijo, and ahead, On Suhyeong and On Joorim walked the beach with Groo between them.
After the press conference ended, Groo and her family had left, almost as if in retreat, to the island where On Ijo was newly transferred.
The government had granted permission without hesitation.
It was better, after all, for the instigators of the commotion to lie low for a while and help things calm down.
“How did you manage to arrive just in time for the press conference?”
“If anything, I was late getting approval.”
“Come to think of it, it’s a miracle you were granted permission at all.”
“Joorim worked hard. It isn’t just me. Joorim will be getting called in everywhere from now on, too.”
Now that On Ijo’s survival had become public, it was only to be expected.
He had revealed himself as Gnosis, but the name On Ijo still carried immense weight.
No one knew what the future might bring for them, but for now, at least…
“We can finally breathe.”
Chloe stretched her arms in relief.
How anxious she’d been, terrified Groo’s secret would come out.
If Groo had been exposed as an S-class Creation-type even more brilliant than On Ijo—
They would never be walking peacefully along this beach now.
Chloe gave On Ijo a light punch on the shoulder.
“You did well at the press conference. That couldn’t have been easy.”
This was a man who had been worshipped as a hero.
To stand there, facing the ravenous press, and declare himself a villain—it couldn’t have been easy at all.
On Ijo spoke, as if Chloe hadn’t even needed to say it.
“I did those things. I have to bear it.”
“That’s true.”
Chloe shook her head.
“But honestly, what stung was not being able to say you were my husband at the conference.”
Chloe’s cheeks flushed as her eyes narrowed.
“You were thinking about that, in that situation?”
On Ijo stopped in his tracks, then looked down at her.
“Right now… all I feel is regret for the foolish things I’ve done.”
Chloe met his gaze.
His eyes were heavy with remorse. It was a sincerity he’d never put into words before.
Chloe nodded quietly.
“Yes, you should.”
On Ijo’s head dropped.
To lose everything, to be imprisoned on an island, his only solace memories of loved ones—that was the price of his crimes.
After Chloe left, the emptiness he felt standing alone on the shore came flooding back.
Chloe suddenly blurted out,
“Shall we get married?”
On Ijo stared, speechless in surprise, then pressed his forehead against her shoulder.
Chloe gently patted his back.
His shoulders were trembling.
No matter what sins he’d committed, he was someone she wanted to shoulder responsibility for.
“You don’t mind, do you? You just said at the press conference you wished you could call me your wife.”
“That’s right. So how could I possibly refuse?”
Chloe burst out laughing at his playful tone.
Meanwhile, Joorim, with his annoyingly sharp ears, let out a sigh out of earshot.
He really didn’t need to hear his big brother promising marriage. If he’d known it would come to this, he would never have Awakened.
But when he turned to the side, he saw it wasn’t just him—On Suhyeong was rubbing at tear-filled eyes. Clearly, he was moved by the moment.
…
At that moment, Groo tugged on Joorim’s hand.
“What is it?” he asked, bending down. Groo glanced around, then whispered in his ear,
“Mommy’s going to get married, I think.”
So Groo had heard as well.
“Looks that way. They’re announcing it to the world without even sending out invitations.”
“Invitishun?”
“There’s such a thing.”
Joorim gently patted Groo’s head.
“Watch the kids for a minute here. I need to prepare.”
At that, Suhyeong, who had been drying his tears, suddenly declared, “There’s preparations to make if there’s going to be a wedding,” and hurried off to make some calls.
Would they get married here on the island? Or would Father work some magic so they could have a grand ceremony off the island?
Joorim wondered idly about it, but mostly, he just hoped he wouldn’t get drawn into more hassles next time.
He never wanted to see Groo on a screen in a crisis again.
He still felt a little sick when he remembered Groo’s serious face peeking out from hiding to make that bold statement.
“…Were you really going to reveal you’re Fakeclaw, right there?”
“Mm.”
Groo nodded in reply.
Joorim’s eyes sharpened as he flattened Groo’s head with his palm again.
“Never. Not ever again. Understood?”
“Then… then, when is it okay to tell?”
“What?”
Groo swung her short pointer finger side to side with a determined look.
“We can’t hide Groo’s specialness forever.”
…
Annoyingly, that was true.
Groo would only draw more attention as she grew, and it would only get harder to hide.
Still—
“Not now. Maybe when you’re much older…”
Groo’s eyes rounded.
“How old?”
“Well—let’s say… twenty?”
“Ehh? That’s older than Dani oppa…”
“Not until you’re twenty.”
Groo puffed out her cheeks.
Twenty…
That meant she’d have to wait another fifteen years.
In Groo’s mind, she began to envision all the years ahead.
Mom and Uncle would get married.
They’d spend lots of time at the seaside together.
She’d study hard, and keep making fun item toys, too.
She’d go on to become a hero who defeats villains in style—or maybe, get into trouble sneaking off to have fun.
And then, fifteen years later.
An emergency press conference at Orchestra.
Journalists, summoned in a hurry by Orchestra’s sudden official notice, filled the venue with excitement.
Everyone eagerly anticipated a major announcement from Orchestra.
When the scheduled time arrived, the emcee announced the start of the conference.
As the humming crowd fell silent, all eyes shifted to the stage.
Then, Groo, now freshly twenty, strode out to the podium.
Having steadily grown as a Hunter under Orchestra, it was her first official public appearance.
The flurry of flashbulbs lit up Groo as she climbed the stage.
Groo, unfazed, met their gaze head-on, standing with composed dignity.
She’d been waiting for this day—her twentieth birthday—for so long, and her face was filled with resolve.
As Joorim imagined the scene and watched Groo grinning to herself, he pinched her cheek.
“What are you going to say, when that day comes?”
Groo traced a V-shape under her chin with her fingers.
Both the five-year-old Groo and the twenty-year-old Groo answered together.
“I’m Fakeclaw.”
-fin-