Stepbrother's enemies

As Minjae and Jihoon strolled through the park, the cool breeze swept past them, and for the first time in a long while, Jihoon felt at ease. The bright sunlight filtered through the trees, casting soft shadows on the ground. Minjae was walking beside him, talking casually about work and how he planned to spend the rest of the weekend. Jihoon was listening intently, his nerves from earlier fading with each step.

Then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared in front of them.

A man with striking red-dyed hair stood across the path, his gaze locking onto them immediately. His presence was magnetic, and there was an air of danger around him that made Jihoon's heart race. His sharp features, intense eyes, and the confident way he carried himself gave off the feeling that this was someone who could punish anyone who dared cross him. It was a vibe Jihoon was all too familiar with, yet this man seemed more mischievous, like trouble wrapped in a smile.

The red-haired man smirked as his eyes lingered on Minjae, and then they shifted to Jihoon. There was something in his gaze that made Jihoon feel uneasy, but it wasn't just the intimidation—it was the way the man seemed to analyze him like he was a puzzle to solve.

"Well~well~" the man spoke, his voice smooth but carrying an edge. "Minjae, dating a new person almost every week? How scandalous."

Jihoon's stomach dropped at the comment, unsure of what it meant or if he should be concerned. But before he could even react, Minjae's grip tightened around his arm, and he instinctively pulled Jihoon behind him.

Jihoon felt a wave of warmth and safety wash over him as Minjae's protective presence surrounded him. He instinctively leaned into Minjae's back, unsure if it was the stranger or the situation that made him so nervous. Minjae's posture was firm, his jaw clenched.

"Kangwon-" Minjae said, his voice low but stern. He didn't look surprised, but Jihoon could feel the tension between them. "What are you doing here?"

The red-haired man, Kangwon, grinned widely, his eyes flashing with mischief as he took a step closer. "I was just passing through. But honestly, I was more surprised to see you here, Minjae," he continued, his gaze never leaving Minjae's. "You've done well for yourself. Got your life back together and became wealthy so quickly. Not bad for someone who ran away and disappeared for so long."

Minjae didn't flinch. His eyes were unwavering, and Jihoon could sense the quiet storm brewing beneath the calm exterior. The words hit close to home—Jihoon could feel the weight of them, like there was more to Minjae's past than he knew.

Jihoon shifted uneasily, not entirely sure how to react. There was something unnerving about the way Hyunsoo spoke. The way he seemed to know too much, like he was prying into their lives.

"Kangwon..." Minjae started, his voice now cold and firm, "what do you want? I'm not interested in whatever you're selling."

Hyunsoo chuckled, a soft, sinister sound that only heightened the tension. "Oh, nothing at all. Just thought I'd catch up, see how the new life is treating you. You've been out of the game for a while, Minjae. But I can't say I'm surprised. You always did have a knack for bouncing back."

Minjae's grip on Jihoon's arm tightened slightly as he took a step forward, making it clear that he wasn't backing down. Jihoon could feel Minjae's protective aura surrounding him, but it also made him wonder just who this person was to Minjae and why they had such history.

Jihoon hesitated for a moment before speaking up, his voice quiet but steady. "Is there a problem here?"

Both men turned their gaze to Jihoon, and for a split second, Hyunsoo's smirk faltered, as if surprised that Jihoon had spoken up. He appraised Jihoon for a moment, his eyes lingering on him with the same intensity as before.

"No problem," Kangwon said smoothly, his grin widening again. "I'm just curious. I've never seen Minjae like this before, with someone... normal. It's interesting."

Jihoon didn't know if he should be offended or confused. The words hung in the air, thick with meaning. Was he calling him "normal" a compliment or an insult?

Minjae didn't miss a beat, stepping even closer to Jihoon, his expression hardening. "Leave, Kangwon. I don't have time for games."

Kangwon looked at Minjae for a long moment, his smirk slowly fading as his eyes narrowed. Then, with a shrug, he turned to leave, but not before casting one last glance over his shoulder.

"We'll see...." Kangwon muttered, his voice almost a whisper. "You can't hide forever, Minjae."

As Kangwon walked away, Jihoon let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. The encounter had rattled him, leaving him unsure of the kind of person Minjae had been before, or who this Kangwon really was.

Minjae remained silent for a moment, watching Hyunsoo disappear into the distance. When he turned back to Jihoon, his usual calm demeanor had returned, but there was a flicker of something dark behind his eyes.

"You okay?" Minjae asked, his voice softer now.

Jihoon nodded slowly, though he could still feel the unease lingering. "Yeah... I just didn't expect someone like that to show up."

Minjae gave a reassuring smile, though it didn't reach his eyes completely. "He's just a ghost from the past. You don't need to worry about him."

Jihoon wasn't sure if he should believe him, but he trusted Minjae. Still, the feeling of tension between them lingered, and Jihoon couldn't shake the thought that there was more to Minjae's past than he was letting on.

As they continued their walk through the park, Jihoon couldn't help but wonder—how deep did this history with Kangwon go? And was Minjae truly free from it?

But for now, Jihoon chose to trust him, at least for today.

As Jihoon and Minjae entered Minjae's apartment, the weight of the encounter with Kangwon hung heavily in the air. Jihoon could feel the tension radiating off Minjae, his stoic face hiding the turbulent emotions he was trying to suppress.

Minjae's jaw tightened as he leaned back against the couch, his fingers still massaging his forehead, clearly trying to suppress the anger that was bubbling beneath the surface. Jihoon sat beside him, his heart pounding. He could feel the intensity of Minjae's frustration radiating off him, but Minjae was doing his best to keep his cool.

"Don't get too close to Kangwon" Minjae said, his voice quiet but filled with a warning that made Jihoon uneasy.

Jihoon hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor before looking back up at Minjae. "What does he mean by… 'You can't hide forever?'"

Minjae's face grew darker, his eyes flickering with something Jihoon couldn't quite place. For a moment, Minjae didn't say anything. His lips curled into a faint, almost bitter smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. He took a deep breath, shifting on the couch as if weighing the decision to explain.

"When I ran away from home," Minjae began slowly, his voice tinged with something regretful, "I got involved with a lot of people. Thugs. Criminals. People who wouldn't think twice about killing you if they thought it was in their interest."

Jihoon nodded, not wanting to interrupt, but his heart was racing. He'd always known Minjae had a dark past, but hearing it in his own words was a different thing entirely.

"But Kangwon..." Minjae's tone grew colder as he spoke the name, "He was different. He wasn't like the others. He didn't just hurt people. He took pleasure in it. The guy's a goddamn monster."

Jihoon shivered at the thought, his mind racing as he thought about the red-haired man they'd met earlier. The one who'd seemed so dangerous, so calculating. Now, hearing this about him made him even more uneasy.

"I thought I could handle him, you know?" Minjae continued, his voice softening with a touch of regret. "But when I pulled myself out of that life, I left a lot of things behind. Drug deals and trafficking. People I couldn't afford to cross. And Kangwon... He wasn't happy about it. He thought I was abandoning him, betraying him. And that's when things got really messy."

Jihoon could see the tension in Minjae's shoulders, the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides. The last few words hung in the air, thick with unspoken history and unresolved conflict.

"So... what does it have to do with me?" Jihoon asked, trying to piece it together.

Minjae's gaze softened, though there was still a storm in his eyes. "I'm telling you this because you need to understand. Kangwon doesn't care about anyone but himself. He's dangerous. And if he's involved, it's because he wants something. And right now... He wants to remind me that he still controls part of my past. But I won't let him hurt you, Jihoon. Not if I can help it."

Jihoon felt a lump form in his throat. He hadn't expected to hear something so dark about Minjae's past—let alone have it so directly tied to the present, to him. But there was one thing that stuck with him. One thing that made him nervous yet strangely comforted at the same time.

"You care about me," Jihoon whispered, more to himself than to Minjae, but Minjae heard it all the same.

Minjae's expression faltered, his tough exterior cracking just a bit. He met Jihoon's eyes with a look that was both fierce and gentle, a look that spoke volumes without saying a word.

"I've always cared about you, Jihoon," Minjae said softly. "I just... never knew how to show it. Not back then. But I'm trying now."

The words hung in the air between them, more meaningful than any of the tough guy talk Minjae usually gave off. Jihoon's heart fluttered in his chest, a mix of emotions rushing through him. He felt warmth spread through him, despite the chaos surrounding them.

"So" Jihoon started, his voice shaky but firm. "What happens now? If Kangwon not done with you... what do we do?"

Minjae stood up slowly, his eyes never leaving Jihoon's face. He walked over to the window, staring out into the distance for a long moment before speaking.

"We stay aware" Minjae said, his tone resolute. "We keep moving forward. And if Kangwon comes back to cause trouble, I'll deal with him. You don't have to worry about that."

Jihoon watched Minjae, feeling both reassured and anxious. He didn't know what the future held, but one thing was clear—Minjae was determined to protect him, no matter what it took.

But Jihoon couldn't help the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Kangwon wasn't someone who'd just let things go. And whatever came next, Jihoon would have to be prepared for it.

The storm was far from over.