ONE MONTH LATER....
The warehouse was cold, metal beams echoing the relentless drip of water somewhere in the shadows. A single bulb swung from the ceiling, slicing through the darkness with harsh, flickering light, casting restless, dancing shadows across the cracked concrete floor.
Tae-hyun stood there, hands tucked in the pockets of his black coat, its edges fluttering gently as a cold draft slipped through the rusted gaps. His eyes were sharp, dark as midnight, his jaw tight, carved from control and fury held barely in check.
Do-yoon lounged against a crate, arms crossed lazily, a gun glinting at his hip. His face was unreadable, but his fingers drummed rhythmically, tapping a slow, deliberate beat that echoed like a countdown.
In the center, on his knees, hands bound behind his back, head bowed, was Ji-sung. The bruising on his cheek was already purpling, blood dried at the corner of his lip. The traitor.
"I warned you, didn't I?" Tae-hyun's voice was quiet, yet each syllable dripped with lethal promise.
Ji-sung's breath rattled, eyes wild. "Mr. Tae-hyun, please I can explain"
A short, cold laugh slipped past Tae-hyun's lips as he stepped closer, boots scraping against the concrete. "What's left to explain, Ji-sung? You sold us out to Han's crew, didn't you?"
Ji-sung's pupils flickered, a single bead of sweat sliding down his temple, mixing with the tear streak on his cheek. "I didn't!! It was a mistake, please, please"
Tae-hyun crouched down, bringing his cold, piercing gaze to Ji-sung's frantic, tear-filled eyes. The calm in his face was terrifying, like the dead air before a storm.
"You think this is a game?" Tae-hyun's voice was soft, deceptively gentle. "You think you can betray the family and crawl back with an excuse?"
"I was scared...Han threatened me. Please, I didn't have a choice, please!!"
Click.
The sound of Do-yoon sliding a bullet into the chamber snapped through the air, echoing like a clock striking midnight.
"There's always a choice," Tae-hyun whispered.
Ji-sung's breath caught, shoulders trembling, eyes darting between them. "Please, hyung— Tae-hyun Hyung, please!! don't let him near me, please. If I have to die, please kill me yourself, please, please don't let Do-yoon touch me, he's a maniac—"
Tae-hyun's eyes narrowed, a faint smirk curling at the corner of his lips. He reached forward, wiping the blood from Ji-sung's lip with his thumb, the gesture almost tender, almost brotherly—before he stood up, stepping back into the shadows.
The darkness seemed to grow colder as Do-yoon began to move, slow, deliberate steps, the smile on his face the kind that belonged in nightmares. His eyes were bright, almost feverish, as he reached for the furnace beside them, pulling out a rod glowing red, the heat hissing in the cold air.
"Do-yoon, please, please don't do this, please," Ji-sung whimpered, tears streaking down his dirt-stained cheeks, eyes locked on the glowing rod.
Do-yoon tilted his head, his smile widening. "Let's play a game," he said softly, like a lullaby from hell.
"Please—just shoot me—please, I'm begging you, just kill me already," Ji-sung sobbed, trying to shuffle back, but his bound hands left him helpless.
"But where's the fun in that?" Do-yoon cooed, crouching down, his smile so wide it looked unnatural, shadows stretching over his sharp cheekbones. "The coin decides. Tails, I shoot you. Heads, I make sure every second you have left feels like eternity."
He flipped a coin into the air, the metallic clink echoing, the flicker of light glinting off its surface as it spun, spinning, spinning—
Time stretched, the air thick, each breath a scream in silence as they all watched.
Clink.
The coin hit the concrete, spinning in a small circle before falling flat.
Silence.
Do-yoon's eyes dropped to the coin, and a slow, maniacal smile spread across his lips as he tilted his head.
"Lucky bastard."
Bang!!!
---
Soo-ji stretched with a dramatic yawn, arms shooting up like a sunflower reaching for the first kiss of dawn, a giddy smile plastered on her face. The ever-hovering figure of Mrs. Gu-won's shadow fell across the room.
"You seem happy today, Ms. Kim," Mrs. Gu-won remarked, folding a towel with grandmotherly precision.
"Do I?" Soo-ji sighed happily, hugging her knees to her chest. "Maybe I had a good dream."
Just then, Seo-jun walked in, as unfazed as ever, carrying a cup of tea like it was a sacred morning ritual. He presented it to her with the same blank expression.
"Thank you, little guy," Soo-ji said, bright eyes peeking over the rim of the cup as she took a sip. The warmth slid down her throat, tickling something soft in her chest.
"Do you have anything you wish to do today, ma'am?" he asked in his calm, almost robotic tone.
Soo-ji lowered the mug, tapping her finger against it in thought. "Actually, I was thinking… maybe we should go shopping. It's been forever since I last saw a mall."
Seo-jun nodded like a dependable soldier. "I will have them prepare the car immediately."
"Perfect." Soo-ji grinned, taking another sip.
"Do you need anything else, ma'am?" he asked.
She shook her head, and he gave a polite bow before stepping out.
Soo-ji watched him leave, cheeks puffed. "Isn't he too formal? It's been, what, a month now?"
Mrs. Gu-won chuckled softly. "I think it's just his personality."
"Hm." Soo-ji nodded thoughtfully, lips quirking. "Is that so?"
"Yes, and your bath is ready," Mrs. Gu-won said.
"Thank you, Mrs. Gu-won."
"My pleasure." Mrs. Gu-won said before exiting the room.
—
Few hours later, Soo-ji was sitting in the back seat, phone in hand, thumb tapping mindlessly as she peeked at her notifications like a squirrel expecting a nut drop from the sky.
Seo-jun, glancing through the rearview mirror, finally spoke, "Is everything alright, Ms. Kim?"
"Yeah." Soo-ji exhaled, cheeks puffing again. "How close are we to the mall?"
"About a mile away."
She perked up. "Let's walk there."
"Pardon?" Seo-jun blinked.
"I'm feeling a bit nauseous. A stroll would help," she said, already reaching for the door handle.
"Stop the car," Seo-jun commanded the driver, concern slicing through his calm exterior. "Ms. Kim, are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?"
"Hey, little guy, chill. I'm fine." She winked, stepping out before he could even open the door, gulping in the fresh air. "I was just getting stuffy in there."
Seo-jun stepped out, still looking unconvinced. "Yes, ma'am."
Soo-ji turned sharply toward him, placing a finger on his forehead. "Hey!! Little guy. My name is Soo-ji. Kim Soo-ji. Not ma'am. Not Ms. Kim. If you can't call me that, then go traditional."
Seo-jun tilted his head, confusion softening his sharp features. "I'm sorry, but what do you mean by that?"
She beamed. "Noona!"
"Noona?" he repeated, blinking.
"Yes! Or are you going to fight your cultural roots now?" she teased.
"Yes, ma— noona," he corrected himself, cheeks pinkening ever so slightly.
"Better." She began walking, hands in her pockets, humming.
—
They were nearing the mall when Soo-ji suddenly froze, her face twisting in mild horror.
"Noona, are you okay?" Seo-jun asked, panic flickering in his eyes.
"No." She swallowed, looking him dead in the eye. "My bra strap just snapped."
"What?!" Seo-jun sputtered, his ears turning red.
"Turn around," she commanded calmly.
"You want to fix it here?" he asked, shocked.
"Yes! Nobody's watching. Only you, and you're going to turn around." She waved him off.
"Understood." He turned so fast his hair flipped, facing away like a loyal guard dog.
"Don't peek until I say so!" she warned.
"I won't," he mumbled.
Silence.
A few seconds passed. Then a few more.
"Are you done?" he asked tentatively.
No reply.
"I'm turning around now."
Still no reply.
When he finally turned, Soo-ji was already a speck in the distance, sprinting like her life depended on it.
"Ms. Kim!" he shouted instinctively.
"Noona!" she yelled back mid-run. "Siri, call Certified Maniac!"
Her phone buzzed, and Seo-jun's voice came through immediately, "What?!"
"Open the goddamn car!" she screeched.
"What—?"
"Just do it!"
He scrambled, unlocking the car just as she leapt in, slamming the door behind her.
"Drive!" she yelled.
Seo-jun floored it, the tires screeching as they sped off, leaving a cloud of dust where he had been standing.
In the passenger seat, Soo-ji was clutching her chest, eyes wide. "You fool, I almost died out there!"
"At least you didn't." He handed her a water bottle without missing a beat.
She gulped it down, gasping. "Hey, I told you it would work," she said, a mischievous laugh bubbling up.
"You absolute menace." He glanced at her, a small, rare smile tugging at his lips. "What if you'd been caught?"
She winked. "I told you, I'm not letting you go without seeing you off."
His eyes darted to the rearview mirror. "Are they following us?"
She checked her phone. "Surprisingly, no."
"That's a relief."
She grinned, her earlier fear dissolving. "First stop, the amusement park! Today's going to be the best day of your life."
Seo-jun smirked, his fingers tightening around the steering wheel. Without warning, he pressed the accelerator, the engine roaring to life as they sped off into the city, laughter spilling into the warm morning air.