Ice & Fire

-ssi - (Read as -shi - Mr/Mrs/Ms) is an honorific used when speaking to someone. It is a respectful way of addressing another and can be used in different settings.

***

Leaning against the window, Min-jun stared out into the moonlit night, his phone pressed to his ear. The pale glow of the moon bathed his room in an otherworldly silver, the quiet hum of the city barely audible through the glass. His lip caught between his teeth as anxiety tangled with an inexplicable flutter of excitement, surging in waves that made his hands clammy. The phone's ringing echoed in his ears, each prolonged tone clawing at his patience. The stillness of the night deepened the weight of his anticipation, making it feel like the universe itself was holding its breath.

"Hey, Changmin-ah. What do you know about the Hwang twins?"

Chang-min's voice broke through the silence, deep and unhurried, like an anchor in a storm.

"Who… Ah… Handsome devils. Nothing much, except they're practically attached to Seung-joon at the hip. They do everything together, go everywhere together." The slight teasing lilt in Chang-min's voice only heightened Min-jun's irritation.

"But why?" Min-jun's voice sharpened with exasperation, brushing aside the teasing like a persistent itch he couldn't ignore.

"Why do you ask me why… Ask them… Am I their mother? Why do you expect me to know everything?"

The exasperation in Chang-min's tone suddenly erupted like a summer storm, loud and brash. Min-jun yanked the phone away from his ear, grinning despite himself.

"Woah... Woah... Calm down, Changmin-ssi. But hey, dig up some details if you can. Bye!"

Before Chang-min could launch into another tirade, Min-jun ended the call with a swift flick of his thumb, tossing the phone onto the bed with a careless sigh. He collapsed beside it, his body sinking into the mattress as he stared at the dim ceiling, his mind a whirlpool of unanswered questions.

His thoughts spiraled back to the moment he first laid eyes on the Hwang twins—their intense, scrutinizing gaze. It wasn't just the symmetry of their faces or their uncanny ability to move in tandem that unsettled him. It was something darker, something in the way their eyes seemed to bore into his soul.

Was it hostility in their gaze?

The memory clung to him like a shadow, gnawing at the edges of his resolve. He wanted to ask Seung-joon directly, but their limited connection—no phone numbers exchanged—left him trapped in a restless limbo.

***

The next morning, Min-jun hurriedly dressed, his mind a maelstrom of plans and scenarios. The early sunlight streamed through his window, casting golden streaks across his disheveled room, but he paid it no mind. His sole focus was reaching school before Seung-joon, catching him before the twins could whisk him away.

In the car, he picked up Chang-min, careful not to mention Seung-joon in front of the driver. Despite his best efforts to act nonchalant, Min-jun found himself stealing glances at Chang-min, his eyes pleading for some kind of hint or revelation. Chang-min, as usual, met his desperation with infuriating indifference, gazing out the window as though the world outside were far more interesting.

As they stepped out of the car, Min-jun spun toward his friend, his patience finally snapping.

"Come on, man. I know you've got something. Spill it. Tell me..."

Chang-min raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a knowing smirk.

"Hwang Tae-jon and Hwang Tae-min. Carbon copies of each other, but you can tell them apart by their personalities. Tae-jon's the quiet one, Tae-min's fiery. Both are brilliant, but uncontrollable. No one—teachers included—dares cross them. Oh, and they're models. Already signed with an agency. Seung-joon? He sticks to them like glue, doing whatever they say. They live in D*, but I'm guessing you already knew that."

Min-jun's mind raced, dissecting every word. As they neared the school building, he positioned himself by the staircase leading to the 11th-grade hall, his heart hammering in anticipation.

***

Seung-joon's familiar figure appeared down the corridor, moving with his usual unhurried grace. Min-jun's breath hitched as he scanned for any signs of the twins, his pulse quickening when he found the hallway mercifully empty. Gathering his courage, he stepped forward, grasping Seung-joon's hand without warning and pulling him into a nearby empty classroom.

The faint scent of chalk and old textbooks filled the air as Seung-joon turned to him, wide-eyed.

"Hyung, what's going on?"

Min-jun ignored the question, his grip tightening slightly.

"Joon-ah, tell me quickly. What's your relationship with the Hwang twins?" His voice trembled with urgency, his eyes searching Seung-joon's face for any crack in his calm exterior.

For a moment, Seung-joon hesitated, his lips parting slightly as though weighing his words. Finally, he let out a soft sigh, his expression unreadable save for a faint, bittersweet smile.

"Hyung, they're my brothers."

Min-jun froze, the words crashing over him like a tidal wave.

"What… But… your surname is Kim."

A flicker of sadness crossed Seung-joon's face, so brief it was almost imperceptible.

"I'm adopted."

The quiet confession hung in the air, thick with unspoken emotions. Before Min-jun could muster a response, a sudden bang shattered the fragile silence. The classroom door flew open, slamming against the wall.

The Hwang twins stood framed in the doorway, their faces shadowed with barely contained fury.

Tae-jon moved first, his expression dark as he strode across the room and grasped Seung-joon by the wrist. His grip was firm yet oddly gentle as he pulled his younger brother away from Min-jun's side, his glare cold enough to freeze the air.

"Don't ever touch him again," Tae-min hissed, stepping closer to Min-jun. The intensity in his gaze was like a flame, burning away any notion that this was an empty threat. His voice dropped lower, almost a growl.

"If you even look at our Seung-joon again, I'll bury you alive."

The venom in his words made Min-jun's blood run cold. As ridiculous as it sounded coming from a high schooler, there was no mistaking the conviction in Tae-min's tone.

Min-jun stood frozen, helpless, as Tae-jon led Seung-joon out of the room. Seung-joon glanced back once, his blue eyes shimmering with something between apology and resignation. It was a fleeting look, but it seared itself into Min-jun's heart.

The door clicked shut, leaving Min-jun alone in the suffocating stillness. The lingering threat in Tae-min's voice echoed in his ears, but louder still was the ache in his chest—the undeniable sense of loss.