Filling Minjae's Void

The dim, hazy lights of the bar flickered slightly as Kangwon sat slouched over the counter, a half-empty bottle of whiskey in front of him. His hand trembled slightly as he poured another glass, his sharp eyes glinting with a dangerous mix of anger and despair.

"Another..." he muttered under his breath, throwing back the shot as if it could drown the emotions clawing at him.

The bartender, visibly nervous, cautiously placed another glass in front of him. But the tension in the air was palpable, and it didn't take long for the man to accidentally knock over a bottle. The loud crash of shattering glass made Kangwon's head snap up.

"You clumsy idiot!" he roared, hurling his own glass in the bartender's direction. The sharp sound of breaking glass mingled with the startled cries of the onlookers as the bartender scrambled away, a thin trail of blood trickling from a cut on his head.

Kangwon's voice boomed over the chaos. "Get back here! You think you can just walk away from me? I'll kill you, you coward!"

But the bartender was gone, and the rest of the bargoers tried to act as though they weren't watching. Kangwon's chest heaved, his anger briefly masking the gnawing emptiness inside him. He grabbed the whiskey bottle, took a swig straight from it, and staggered back to his booth.

The lively chatter of the bar continued around him, but Kangwon felt completely alone. He leaned back, his bloodshot eyes scanning the room, hoping to find someone, anyone, who could fill the void he felt.

But no one did. No one ever did.

His thoughts drifted, unbidden, to Minjae. He gritted his teeth, his fist tightening around the neck of the bottle. "Damn you....Minjae" he muttered. "Why did you have to be so... so different?"

He shut his eyes, and the memories came flooding back.

He saw them as kids, scrappy and wild, surviving the streets together. Minjae had always been strong, but it wasn't just physical strength. It was something deeper—an unyielding spirit, a kindness that seemed almost impossible in the world they lived in.

Kangwon remembered how Minjae had taught him to fight, not just with fists but with his will, his heart. "If you're going to survive, Kangwon," Minjae had said back then, "you have to be strong. But don't lose yourself in it."

And now, Kangwon had lost himself.

He stared at the bottle in his hand, his grip slackening as his shoulders slumped. Even owning the entire bar, even surrounded by noise and people, he felt lonelier than ever.

"I thought... I thought I was protecting you," Kangwon whispered to the empty booth, his voice cracking. "But you hate me now. Because of him."

His mind lingered on Jihoon, the way Minjae spoke about him, the fire in his eyes when defending him. Jihoon was just another person who didn't value Minjae the way Kangwon did. At least, that's what Kangwon told himself.

But deep down, he knew it wasn't true.

"Damn it," he whispered, his hand coming up to his face as he laughed bitterly, tears burning his eyes. "Why can't anyone love you the way I do, Minjae?"

The whiskey bottle slipped from his hand, falling to the floor with a dull thud, but Kangwon didn't move to pick it up. Instead, he leaned back in his seat, staring blankly at the ceiling as the weight of his memories pressed down on him, suffocating and relentless.

The sound of ice clinking against glass broke Kangwon's daze. He looked up to see a boy with striking pink hair behind the counter, casually mixing a drink. His demeanor was calm, almost playful, as he smirked at Kangwon.

"Rough night?" the pink-haired boy asked, sliding a fresh glass of something strong toward him.

Kangwon narrowed his eyes, his temper flaring. "Who the hell are you? And who said you could make me a drink?"

The boy chuckled, leaning casually on the counter. "You looked like you needed it. And by the way, it's on the house. Consider it my way of saying hello."

Kangwon growled, grabbing the glass but not drinking from it. "I didn't ask for your charity, brat. Mind your own business."

But the boy wasn't fazed. He tilted his head, studying Kangwon with an amused expression. "Let me guess. Trouble with an ex? Or maybe someone you can't have?"

Kangwon slammed the glass down, the liquid inside sloshing over the edge. His voice was low and dangerous. "You're skating on thin ice, kid. Don't push your luck."

The boy's smirk didn't falter. Instead, he straightened up and extended a hand. "The name's Haemin. And for the record, I'm not trying to push anything. Just thought you could use someone to talk to."

Kangwon ignored the hand, scoffing as he leaned back in his seat. "Haemin, huh? Sounds like trouble." He eyed the boy suspiciously before letting out a dry laugh. "Wait a second. That name… You're one of those government brats, aren't you? What the hell are you doing in a place like this? Here to report me for violence or something?"

Haemin's smile widened, and he shook his head. "Nope. Not here to report you. Not tonight, anyway."

Kangwon raised a brow, both annoyed and intrigued by the boy's audacity. "Then why are you here?"

Haemin shrugged, sliding into the seat opposite Kangwon. "Let's just say I like places with a bit of chaos. Keeps things interesting. And you? You're the most interesting thing in this bar tonight."

Kangwon barked out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing in the quiet corner of the bar. "You've got guts, I'll give you that. But you're playing with fire, kid. You don't know who you're dealing with."

Haemin leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. "Oh, I think I do. Kangwon, right? The guy with a reputation for making everyone around him regret crossing him."

Kangwon froze for a moment before smirking. "So, you've heard of me."

Haemin's expression turned sly. "Of course. Who hasn't? But here's the thing. I'm not scared of you."

Kangwon's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of surprise that quickly turned to irritation. "You've got a death wish, don't you?"

Haemin just chuckled, his confidence unwavering. "Maybe. Or maybe I just know when someone's more bark than bite."

Kangwon clenched his fists, the veins on his hands bulging. But instead of lashing out, he leaned back and laughed, the sound filled with disbelief. "You're either stupid or insane. Either way, I'm not in the mood for games."

Kangwon's gaze darkened as Haemin turned back toward him, lingering with an unshakable confidence. "By the way," Haemin started, his tone dropping into something more serious, "I know you care about Minjae. Maybe even more than you're willing to admit."

Kangwon's eyes narrowed, his fingers curling tightly around the edge of the counter. "Watch your mouth, brat. You don't know anything about me or Minjae."

Haemin tilted his head slightly, smirking with a knowing look. "Oh, but I do. Minjae doesn't let many people close, but I've seen the way he talks about you—even when he's mad. It's not hate, Kangwon. It's something deeper. Complicated."

Kangwon scoffed, trying to brush it off, but his body tensed. "You don't know what you're talking about."

Haemin stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Maybe not completely, but I know enough. You think you're the only one who notices how broken he is? How he's always trying to prove himself, even when there's no one left to impress?"

Kangwon's jaw clenched, his glare intensifying. "If you're so damn observant, then you should also know that whatever you've got with him—it's nothing. Just keep your nose out of my business."

Haemin chuckled softly, crossing his arms. "Relax, big guy. I'm not here to steal your thunder. Minjae and I? We're just fuck buddies. That's it. No strings, no feelings."

Kangwon flinched at the bluntness, his fists tightening. "You're lying."

Haemin shrugged nonchalantly. "Believe what you want. But if you ask me, Minjae deserves better than both of us. I'm just filling the void, same as you probably did once. Deep down, you know he's just trying to stitch himself back together with whatever scraps he can find."

Kangwon was silent, his expression unreadable, but his knuckles had gone white against the counter.

Haemin sighed, leaning against the bar. "Look, I'm not trying to pick a fight. I've seen enough of Minjae to know he's not okay. Maybe you don't want to hear it from me, but someone's got to stick around long enough to pull him out of that hole he's been digging himself into. The question is, are you going to do it, or are you going to keep letting him push you away?"

Kangwon didn't respond immediately, the weight of Haemin's words settling heavily in the space between them. Finally, he stood, his towering frame casting a shadow over Haemin.

"Stay out of this, kid" Kangwon muttered, his voice low but trembling with suppressed emotion. "You don't know a damn thing about me or what I've been through with Minjae."

Haemin simply smiled faintly, stepping aside as Kangwon stormed out of the bar, leaving shattered glass and unanswered questions in his wake. Watching him leave, Haemin whispered under his breath, "Maybe I don't. But you should figure it out before it's too late."