Bonds

As soon as Carrie stepped beyond the scene's reach, she disappeared into the night with Ms. Kim's help. But now, she was walking alone, her breath shallow, her heart still pounding from the echoes of everything that had just transpired. It was almost surreal—even for her, who had known the plan all along. And yet, despite her awareness, the speed at which everything had unraveled left her stunned.

The moment she had uttered the word me, everything had shifted, spiraled, snapped into action with an intensity that still sent shivers down her spine. The world around her felt distorted—silent yet deafening, still yet moving, as if she were floating in the eye of a storm.

Lost in the whirlwind of her thoughts, she barely registered the rush of headlights in the distance.

A sharp tug yanked her backward just as she was about to step onto the street. The force jolted her out of her trance, breath hitching as she spun around.

"What were you thinking?" Jae-wook's voice was tight, laced with something between anger and desperation. His fingers still gripped her wrist, the warmth of his touch a stark contrast to the cold night air.

"Jae-wook…" Her voice was quiet, surprised, yet calm.

Before she could form another word, his arms were suddenly around her, pulling her into a firm embrace.

Carrie froze.

Among all the things she had braced herself for tonight, this—this—had never even crossed her mind. Her hands hovered awkwardly at her sides, unsure whether to push him away or pull him closer. She stood there, completely still, the sound of his heartbeat pressing against her ear, her lips parted in silent shock.

Then, just as suddenly, he stepped back.

His eyes burned with fury as he searched her face. "What did she say to you?" His grip tightened on her shoulders, as if afraid she would vanish before answering.

Carrie opened her mouth, but no words came. The weight of the night, of secrets, of what had just passed, pressed heavily against her chest.

Jae-wook exhaled sharply, his jaw clenching as his hands curled into fists. His voice was low but seething. "She crossed the line." He turned sharply, ready to walk away—ready to confront her.

Carrie's fingers wrapped around his wrist before he could take another step.

"Don't go," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "Please."

His muscles tensed beneath her touch. "Why didn't you tell me you were going to meet her?" he asked, his gaze snapping back to hers.

Carrie let out a small, knowing smile—one that held both warmth and exhaustion. "Because then you wouldn't have let me go," she murmured.

She exhaled, tightening her grip ever so slightly. "I'll explain everything to you. But for now… let's just go home."

A pause.

Then, slowly, Jae-wook's shoulders relaxed. He looked at her for a long moment before finally nodding.

---

The rooftop was silent except for the occasional rustling of the wind. Ms. Kim, known to most as Na-eun, sat cross-legged on the edge, holding a half-empty can of soju. The city lights stretched endlessly below them, flickering like distant stars.

Hwang, sitting beside her, placed his own can down and exhaled deeply.

"What is it?" Ms. Kim asked, her voice indifferent.

Hwang smirked. "I'm just surprised you asked for my help." He tilted his head slightly. "Are you going soft already?"

Ms. Kim shot him a sharp glare. "Do you wish to die?"

Hwang chuckled, leaning back on his elbows. "Honestly, it's nice to know I'm not completely useless to you."

Ms. Kim took a slow sip before replying, "I never said you were useless."

Hwang's expression darkened for a brief moment. "It just felt that way," he admitted before taking another sip.

She studied him in silence before offering a rare, genuine smile. "You've really grown up."

Hwang turned to face her fully, a determined glint in his eyes. "Then, as a good brother, I'll start by stopping the forced marriages toward you."

Ms. Kim raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden decision?"

"Noona," Hwang said, his voice softer now, "just come back home. This… all of this is too dangerous. Aren't you tired? Let me handle things."

Ms. Kim sighed, ruffling his hair. "Hwang, you don't have to worry. I can take care of myself." A pause. "Though, stopping that marriage would be very helpful."

Hwang grinned. "Consider it done." He shook his head and stretched. "All this sentimental talk is making me nauseous."

Ms. Kim elbowed him. "Idiot."

Meanwhile…

Back at Na-eun's house, a dim glow from the chandelier barely illuminated the room. She stood motionless in the center, her head tilted slightly, a sinister smile creeping onto her lips. The knife in her hand, slick with the remnants of animal blood from her meal, dripped onto the polished wooden floor.

Around her, her bodyguards barely stood, their confidence rattled.

The door creaked open, and Mr. Jun, Na-eun's lawyer, stepped inside, holding a glass of water.

"Ma'am." He extended the glass toward her.

Na-eun took it but didn't drink. "So?"

"The bodyguards detected a group named the TG Gang. A notorious faction in Daegu. Known for excessive political fights. Unbeaten." Mr. Jun's voice was even, but there was a trace of unease. "The question is, why are they working with Mr. Alex?"

Na-eun swirled the water in the glass, her gaze cold. "How accurate is this information?"

"They left their sign on the bodyguards."

Before he could continue, his eyes flickered downward. A slow horror crept into them as he noticed the blood dripping from Na-eun's hand. The knife she had been holding was now deeply embedded in her palm, yet she showed no sign of pain.

"Ma'am—"

"If you come any closer, I'll slit your throat." Her voice was eerily calm. She turned to her guards. "And as for the rest of you… don't bother coming to work tomorrow."

She stormed upstairs, leaving a thick tension in the air.

Elsewhere in the City…

Inside a dimly lit room, the Racial Squad sat in tense silence. Carrie had just finished explaining the near-unbelievable truth—Ms. Kim was part of a gang.

Ava scoffed. "This can't be real. Ms. Kim? A gang member?"

Carrie leaned in, her eyes sharp. "It makes more sense than you think. She's been protecting Jae-wook for seven years—long before he even knew her."

Leo frowned. "Clearly, she didn't do a great job. Jae-wook was always getting hurt."

"She was following his orders," Carrie explained. "And she was his advisor. She couldn't act beyond his will."

Jae-wook, who had been silent for most of the conversation, finally spoke. "So, you're saying she's been protecting me because my dad did some favor for them?"

"Exactly." Carrie nodded. "I thought it was a joke until they actually attacked Na-eun."

Ava frowned. "That's what I don't get. They didn't touch her. Why? What's Ms. Kim trying to prove?"

Carrie's lips curled into a smirk. "She's sending a message—Jae-wook isn't alone."

Leo exhaled, shaking his head. "She should've done that a long time ago." He glanced at Jae-wook. "I'm just glad you're safe. It's a relief."

Jae-wook barely reacted.

Carrie leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "We have three weeks left to solve this puzzle. Now that she's shaken, it's our turn to act."

Ava grinned. "I love it when you smirk like that." She leaned in. "Let's do this."

Leo joined. "Let's do this."

Jae-wook, however, stood abruptly and walked out without a word.

Ava blinked. "What's up with him?"

"Probably worried about the risks we're taking," Leo muttered.

Carrie sighed. "You two should get some rest. I'll talk to him."

---

Under the night sky, Jae-wook sat in the dimly lit garden, headphones in, gazing up at the stars. His face was unreadable, but something heavy lingered in his eyes.

Carrie approached silently, settling beside him. She didn't speak at first, just watched the stars with him.

"What are you thinking about?" she finally asked.

Jae-wook turned his head slightly, his gaze meeting hers. "How long are you going to keep doing this? isn't it too much already?"

Carrie exhaled. "If you're asking why I'm risking so much…" she hesitated. "I have no idea."

Jae-wook's brows furrowed. "Carrie, we have no bond. Ava and Leo make sense. But you—why are you going this far for someone you hate?"

She smirked slightly. "I don't hate you as much as you think." Her voice softened. "It's a love-hate thing. As much as I despise you, I can't let you self-destruct."

Jae-wook tensed.

Carrie's expression turned serious. "Alex, I know the only reason you haven't killed yourself yet is because you want revenge on Na-eun. But that kind of hatred won't last. At some point, you'll get tired and decide to end it."

Silence.

His normally neutral gaze flickered with something raw—pain, vulnerability, truth. He turned his face away, but Carrie gently tilted his chin back toward her.

"Alex, it's okay to show pain," she whispered. "Hiding it will only haunt you more. Instead of living for revenge, live for the people who actually care about you."

Jae-wook clenched his jaw.

"I can't keep letting you guys risk so much, what if I loose one of you in the process?" Jae-wook questioned curiously.

"That's why we have each other, to protect each other no matter what. What's friendship without having courage to take risk for each other?" Carrie said and paused taking his hands "hey...please hold on a little longer, don't give up we'll find a way, okay?"

Without warning, Jae-wook pulled her into a tight embrace. He held on as though letting go meant losing everything. Uncontrollable tears slipped down his face.

Carrie held him, gently rubbing his back. They stayed like that for what felt like hours, in the silence of the night, where no one else could see them break.

And for the first time in a long time, Jae-wook allowed himself to breathe.