"Van..."
A voice grabbed his attention from the group he was sitting with.
All eyes turned towards Seon, who was huffing and panting like he had run a mile. He came and stood near the couch where Van was seated, along with others in the main hall of the club.
Van looked toward the people he was with.
"Excuse me," he said.
The people nodded, even though they felt disrespected. But they knew better than to show their emotions in front of that person.
Van stood up and walked toward Seon, the sharp sound of his leather shoes tapping against the glass floor of the club.
They entered their private VIP room, where another male was already sitting, downing shots.
Van sat in his chair, legs spread in dominance, and nodded at Seon.
"He's back."
As soon as those words left Seon's mouth, both the other men in the room stood up, eyes wide. They looked at each other, then at Seon.
"Fucking finally!" the other male, Jay said loudly.
V looked at Jay and let out a long sigh, sitting back down.
"I guess it's finally time," he said in his deep, commanding voice. His tone was cold, but both men could sense the eagerness behind it.
He glanced at them both.
"Jay. Seon brother. I hope you know what to do."
They nodded instantly.
Van then looked at the scar on the back of his hand, gritting his teeth.
Jay stepped forward and placed a hand on Van's shoulder.
"Van, we'll get him this time."
Van didn't look at him, only at the hand on his shoulder. Jay followed his gaze and immediately withdrew it.
"Sorry, Er..." Jay started but stopped as Seon nudged him with his elbow.
Van closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"We can't let this chance slip, guys. It's been way too long. He's been out there for far too long. It's now or never."
He looked at them. His cold eyes held something unfamiliar, a silent plea.
Jay and Seon knew that look too well. And saying they hated it would be an understatement.
"We won't let you down, Van" Jay said with a soft smile.
Van tried to smile back but failed.
"Thanks, jeu. We can do this."
Jay's smile widened at the old nickname he hadn't heard in years. He and Seon exchanged a look before saluting him.
"Aye aye, Captain," they said with a chuckle, managing to draw a small smile from Van.
"I'll leave now. Some people came with a proposal for new arrangements at the club. I'll see you guys."
With that, Van left the room.
They both glanced toward the door Van had just exited through, then returned to their seats.
Jay looked at Seon.
"I'll kill him with my own hands this time," he muttered.
Seon rubbed his temple. "He's not your kill, Jay. You know that."
---
Van stepped down the stairs and glanced around at his club 'Moonshine', or more accurately, his second home.
He had been living on the floor above the club and running it for the past six years.
His club wasn't too famous around the city, but for him, it was the only place where the loud music drowned the louder thoughts in his head. Watching people have fun from a distance helped him forget his past even if just for a while.
And so he sat at the bar counter with his favorite glass of whiskey, observing people getting drunk and making terrible decisions.
It was amusing, really, people jumping on the dance floor, some grinding on each other, some just lost in themselves.
One glance at them, and someone might think they were the happiest people alive. But only they knew how deep they were drowning.
Just as Van was about to take a sip of his second glass, a commotion caught his attention.
"What the hell, you bitch? You have the audacity to cheat on me?"
A drunken man yelled at a woman who was seated on another man's lap.
The man looked wasted, wearing weird glasses and barely able to stand straight. He glared at the couple.
The guy with the girl gently stood up, pulling her with him.
"I'm not cheating on anyone. We broke up years ago! Why can't you just leave me alone and let me live?"
Her voice was raised and angry. The guy beside her rubbed her back soothingly.
Cute, Van thought.
"I don't fucking care! Come with me right now! I love you. Only I deserve you!"
The drunk man grabbed her wrist in a bruising grip. But before the girl could react, her friend grabbed the man's hand.
"Leave her," he said. His voice was calm and soft, the kind that hid steel underneath.
"You! It's all because of you! Just wait, I'll..."
The drunk sneered, eyes scanning the tables.
Van stood the moment the man grabbed a vodka bottle. The guy with the girl shut his eyes. She screamed.
But the bottle never made it.
The drunk looked up, Van was standing there, gripping the bottle mid-air.
"Who the fuck are you? Get lost!" the man yelled, trying to pull it away.
Van's glare shut him up immediately.
"You've got some guts, coming into my club, causing a scene, and then asking me to get lost?"
Van chuckled darkly. There was no humor, only rage. The entire club fell silent. Van towered over the man.
He snatched the bottle and slowly began pouring it over the man's head. The drunk tried to retreat, but Van's guards held him in place.
As the vodka soaked the man, he yelled but no one moved.
Van tossed the bottle to a staff member, looked at the couple, then back at the drunk.
He stepped closer, locking eyes.
"Next time you pull a stunt like this, remember this time it was just vodka. I can't promise what'll be in the bottle next time. Guards, please escort this trash to the trashcan outside."
Laughter erupted around the club. The man's head hung in humiliation.
As the guards dragged him, Van raised a hand.
"Also..." he said, walking back up.
"A man who can't respect his own love doesn't deserve her. If you can't respect her, you're not worthy of her love."
He smirked as the man turned pale and was dragged away.
The girl smiled at Van in appreciation. He nodded in return and walked back toward his seat.
Just as he was about to sit, something... someone, caught his eye.
Two people had entered the club, and as soon as Van saw one of them, he slipped.
He stumbled but caught himself before falling. His eyes widened. His heart pounded.
He blinked once. Twice. But the girl was still there. He couldn't look away.
She sat on a couch with his friend, not that Van noticed the friend at all.
No. His entire focus was on her. A hand rose to Van's chest. He could feel his heart threatening to break through his ribs.
The most beautiful girl he had ever seen was right in front of him. His gaze slowly roamed over the female.
Dressed in black, not extravagant, but strikingly perfect. Her long raven hair fell into her eyes. She had an eyebrow piercing.
The jacket barely containing the tight flex of her arms. But that face...
That face belonged to someone who could destroy galaxies with a blink.
Those eyes. Gentle. Innocent. And yet, galaxies deep.
Her button nose scrunched with every laugh. And those lips... plump, soft, sinful.
And when she smiled?
Sunsets could never compete.
In his whole life, Van had seen his share of beauty. He always knew when to hold on and when to let go.
And he'd be damned if he let this one go.
He was about to move toward the girl when Seon called from behind.
Van turned, about to say, "Just a minute," and turned back...
Only to find the couch empty. His heart dropped. He looked around frantically. But the girl was gone.
The weight in his chest settled again, the intoxicating pull fading, leaving him annoyed and breathless.
He glared at Seon
and stormed back to his seat.
Seon blinked.
"...Did he just pout?"