Kangwon on a hunt

Jihoon let out a deep breath as he walked back to the dressing room after finishing his first photoshoot. The praise from the team had been unexpected but flattering.

"Great job, Jihoon! You're a natural," one of the photographers said as he packed up his equipment.

"You looked like you've been doing this for years!" another worker added.

Jihoon flustered, scratching the back of his head. "Oh, no, it was nothing, really. Thank you, though."

As the workers continued tidying up and chatting among themselves, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The once lively chatter fell silent, and the sound of the door creaking open drew everyone's attention. Jihoon turned his head and felt his breath hitch when he saw Minjae stepping into the room. His presence was commanding, and the look in his eyes was serious, making it clear that this wasn't a casual visit.

"Jihoon," Minjae said in a calm yet firm tone, his eyes locked on him. "Can we talk? Privately."

Jihoon nodded quickly, unsure what this was about but sensing the urgency in Minjae's demeanor. "Of course."

The two exited the room, and Jihoon followed Minjae down the hall to his office. The tension in the air was palpable as they stepped inside. Minjae shut the door behind them, the faint click echoing in the otherwise silent room. He leaned against the door for a moment, exhaling a long sigh before walking over to his desk.

Jihoon stood there, unsure of what to say or do. "Minjae… is everything okay?"

Minjae turned to face him, his expression stern but tinged with concern. "I need you to check out of your dormitory," he said bluntly, wasting no time getting to the point.

Jihoon blinked, startled by the sudden declaration. "Wait, what? Why?"

Minjae walked closer, his voice softening but still firm. "I've gotten word that Kangwon's men have been seen lurking around your place. It's not safe for you to stay there anymore. You need to move out."

Jihoon felt a cold chill run down his spine at the mention of Kangwon. "They've been… around my dorm? Are they looking for me?"

"It's possible," Minjae admitted, crossing his arms. "And I can't take that risk. I want you to stay at my place from now on. At least there, I can keep an eye on you and make sure you're safe."

Jihoon hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts. He didn't want to abandon his dorm—his little space of independence—but the thought of being targeted by Kangwon's men was terrifying. "But… what about my classes? My things?"

"We'll handle it," Minjae reassured him. "I'll have someone help you pack and move your things. As for your classes, I'll make sure you get to and from campus safely."

Jihoon glanced down at the floor, biting his lip. He didn't want to feel like a burden to Minjae, but the reality of the situation was sinking in. He looked back up at Minjae, seeing the seriousness in his expression. Minjae wasn't just offering; he was insisting.

"Alright," Jihoon said quietly, nodding. "I'll move in with you."

Minjae's tense posture relaxed slightly at his agreement. "Good. We'll start the process tomorrow. In the meantime, just stay close to me, alright?"

Jihoon nodded again, though the unease in his chest hadn't fully subsided. He didn't know what Kangwon or his men were planning, but he could feel the danger creeping closer. For now, he had no choice but to trust Minjae's judgment and hope that staying with him would keep him safe.

Jihoon fidgeted nervously, the weight of the conversation pressing on him. "Minjae," he said hesitantly, "shouldn't we report this to the police? I mean, if Kangwon's men are after us, isn't it better to get help before things get worse? What if they hurt you—or worse?"

Minjae's expression hardened, his jaw tightening as he leaned back against his desk. "It's not that simple, Jihoon," he said, his voice laced with frustration. "Getting the police involved will only complicate things.

Besides..." He hesitated before continuing. "None of them would help me even if I begged. I'm not exactly on their list of favorite people, thanks to my past."

Jihoon's eyes softened, guilt washing over him. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to bring up something uncomfortable. I just..."

Before Jihoon could finish, the door to Minjae's office was thrown open with a loud bang, startling them both. One of Minjae's men stumbled in, panting heavily, his face pale with panic.

"Boss! Kangwon's here!" the man exclaimed, his voice trembling.

Minjae's expression darkened, his demeanor shifting instantly. "What?!" he barked, his voice sharp. "How the hell did that happen?!"

The man stammered, clearly shaken. "H-he's on the roof! We didn't see him coming—none of us did. The security cameras—"

"What about the cameras?!" Minjae interrupted, his tone icy.

"They were hacked," the man admitted, shame evident in his voice. "Kangwon's men must've done it. He's demanding to meet with you. Alone."

Minjae cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Unbelievable. How did no one notice? You had one job!"

The man looked down, visibly distressed. "I'm sorry, boss. We had no idea they'd breach the system so easily..."

Jihoon stood frozen, his heart pounding as the reality of the situation sank in. "Minjae, you're not seriously going to meet him alone, are you?"

Minjae turned to Jihoon, his face unreadable. "I don't have a choice" he said grimly. "If I don't, he'll escalate things. This is Kangwon's way of forcing me into a corner."

"But it's a trap!" Jihoon protested. "He's not just going to talk—what if he tries to hurt you?!"

Minjae placed a reassuring hand on Jihoon's shoulder, though his own eyes were filled with uncertainty. "I'll handle it," he said firmly. "Stay here. Don't move."

Jihoon grabbed Minjae's arm, desperation clear in his voice. "Please, Minjae, don't go alone. You don't know what he's planning!"

Minjae hesitated for a moment before gently prying Jihoon's hand away. "I'll be fine-" he said, trying to sound confident. "This isn't my first run-in with Kangwon. Trust me."

Without waiting for a response, Minjae turned to his man. "Stay here and keep Jihoon safe. If anything happens, get him out immediately."

"Yes...boss" the man replied, though his voice was tinged with fear.

As Minjae left the room, Jihoon felt a sinking feeling in his chest. He wanted to believe Minjae's words, but something about the situation didn't sit right with him. The thought of Kangwon lurking on the roof, waiting, sent shivers down his spine.

He clenched his fists, silently vowing to do whatever it took to protect Minjae—even if it meant disobeying his orders.

The elevator doors opened with a chime, revealing the rooftop bathed in the harsh light of the midday sun. The wind hit Minjae's face as he stepped out, tousling his hair as he scanned the area. There, standing at the edge with his back turned, was Kangwon. A cigarette hung lazily between his fingers as he tilted his head to the side, noticing Minjae's arrival.

Kangwon turned slowly, his lips curving into a smirk. Removing his sunglasses with a deliberate motion, he revealed sharp, piercing eyes that seemed to see straight through Minjae. "Ah...." he drawled, taking a drag from his cigarette, "there's never a day you look happy to see me, Minjae. Your old brother in arms."

Minjae's expression darkened, his jaw tightening. "Don't call yourself my brother," he said coldly, stepping out of the elevator and walking toward Kangwon. Each step was purposeful, the tension between them thick in the air.

Kangwon chuckled, unfazed. He flicked the cigarette to the ground, crushing it under his boot. "Still the same, huh? Always so serious, so righteous. I thought running away from home would've taught you to loosen up a little."

Minjae stopped a few feet away, his height slightly eclipsing Kangwon's. His broad shoulders and clenched fists radiated anger, but Kangwon didn't flinch.

"You've got some nerve showing up here," Minjae said, his voice low and laced with venom. "What do you want?"

Kangwon smirked again, crossing his arms. "I was curious. Is it worth it? Reconciling with Jihoon's family when they don't even love you?"

The words hit Minjae like a dagger, and his face twisted in rage. Without thinking, he lunged forward, grabbing Kangwon by the collar and pulling him close. "They're everything to me!" he growled, his voice trembling with emotion. "Don't you dare talk about them like that."

Kangwon didn't flinch, his smirk unwavering. His calm, almost mocking tone only fueled Minjae's anger. "Look at you-" Kangwon said softly, his eyes narrowing. "So desperate for love from people who don't even care about you. It's pathetic. You think I don't see it? That empty hole in your heart you're trying to fill?"

Minjae's grip tightened, his knuckles white. For a brief moment, his emotions threatened to spill over, but he forced himself to release Kangwon, shoving him back roughly. Kangwon stumbled slightly but quickly regained his balance, laughing under his breath.

"That's the Minjae I know-" Kangwon said, brushing off his jacket. "Always letting your emotions get the better of you. But I'll give you this—you've got guts. Still trying to play the hero after all this time."

Minjae's chest heaved, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "If you came here to pick a fight, you're wasting your time" he said, his voice strained but steady. "I'm not the same person I was back then."

Kangwon tilted his head, studying Minjae with a calculating gaze. "No-" he said finally. "You're not. But don't think for a second that means I'm going to let you off easy."

He turned and began walking toward the edge of the roof, pausing to look back over his shoulder. "Take care of that little brother of yours, Minjae. It'd be a shame if something happened to him because of you."

Kangwon descended the stairs with slow, deliberate steps, his boots echoing against the concrete walls. His voice rang out, sharp and cutting, as if he wanted his words to pierce Minjae's very soul.

"You know..... " Kangwon began, his tone dripping with mock sympathy, "that kid—Jihoon, was it?—he'll never see you as family. Not truly."

Minjae stiffened, his fists clenching tightly at his sides. He didn't move, his eyes locked on the spot where Kangwon had stood just moments ago.

"One day-" Kangwon continued, his voice echoing up the stairwell like a taunt, "he'll open his eyes and realize what you are. A fraud. A thug. A man who ran away and left everything behind."

The words hit harder with each step Kangwon took, his voice growing softer but no less venomous. "When that day comes, don't bother crying about it, Minjae. No amount of pretending can change who you really are—or how little you deserve him."

Minjae's teeth ground together, his nails digging into his palms as his rage and pain swirled within him. He wanted to yell, to chase Kangwon down and make him take back every word. But he didn't.

Instead, he stood there, staring at the rooftop door, his breaths ragged and uneven. The sound of Kangwon's footsteps faded, leaving only the eerie silence of the rooftop and the weight of his parting words.

Minjae whispered to himself, his voice trembling with emotion. "You're wrong. He's not like that. Jihoon... he's different."

But deep down, a small part of him couldn't help but fear—what if Kangwon was right?