"Retribution"

That morning in class The classroom buzzed with chatter as students gathered in small groups, gossiping enthusiastically. Books, snacks, and papers were scattered across desks, creating a lively but messy atmosphere.

In the back corner, Ji Hwan sat casually with a few classmates, fully immersed in a card game. He threw a card onto the desk with a confident grin. "Try beating that," he challenged.

"Come on, Ji Hwan! Are you cheating?!" one of his friends complained.

Ji Hwan leaned back in his chair, folding his arms behind his head. "Or maybe you just suck."

Laughter and playful protests erupted from the group, with someone even tossing a crumpled piece of paper at him.

Not far away, Ji Yeon sat at her desk, visibly annoyed. She covered her ears with her hands, trying to block out the noise. "Why is everyone so loud this early in the morning..." she muttered, glancing at Ji Hwan and his rowdy friends. "And that idiot's making it worse."

Across the room, another group of students whispered among themselves.

"Hey, did you hear about the donation?"

"Yeah, apparently it's from the Jung family!"

"And word is Tae Min's brother is involved. Crazy, right?"

Rumors spread like wildfire, filling the classroom with wild speculation.

Meanwhile, Ji Hwan remained focused on his game. With a final move, he placed his last card on the table. "Pay up, man," he said, smirking.

"Dude, your luck is ridiculous!" his friend groaned.

Ji Yeon let out a deep sigh, pulling her hoodie over her head. "If the day's starting out like this... I bet it's only going to get worse."

The classroom erupted in chaos as Ji Hwan shot up from his seat, grinning ear to ear.

"YES! I won again!" he shouted, raising both fists triumphantly. Cards scattered across the desk as his friends groaned in defeat.

"Seriously, how does he keep winning?!" one of them complained, shaking his head.

Joo Hyuk, who had been dozing off with his head on the desk, grumbled in annoyance. "Can you not be so loud first thing in the morning? You're so annoying..." He rubbed his eyes, clearly regretting not wearing earplugs.

Ji Hwan smirked at him. "C'mon, don't be salty just because you lost yesterday too."

Before Joo Hyuk could retort, the classroom door creaked open. Seung Woo strolled in, wearing a dark hoodie with the hood pulled up. His hands were tucked into his pockets, and his expression was unreadable. Without sparing anyone a glance, he made his way to his seat.

Flopping down into his chair, Seung Woo swung his legs up onto the desk, his sneakers carelessly thudding against the wood. He pulled out a pair of headphones and slipped them on, immediately drowning out the noise around him.

"Wow," Ji Hwan remarked, raising an eyebrow. "Someone's in a mood."

Joo Hyuk sighed. "When isn't he?"

Seung Woo closed his eyes, leaning back as if he couldn't care less about the commotion.

The classroom, as usual, was a mixture of laughter, complaints, and scattered conversations. But despite the noise, a subtle tension lingered beneath the surface—rumors swirling, friendships tested, and trouble brewing just beyond the school walls.

On the other side, Tae Min's classroom had a completely different atmosphere. The room was quiet but carried a heavy tension. The students sat neatly in their seats, eyes filled with caution. Everyone knew that despite the calm appearance, there was an unspoken authority ruling the class—and that authority belonged to Tae Min.

Tae Min sat casually by the window, arms crossed as he gazed outside with a distant look. His five closest friends—Hyun Ki, Min Seok, Do Yoon, Jae Won, and Sung Ho—were seated nearby, speaking in hushed tones while occasionally glancing at him, as if waiting for instructions.

"Hey, did you hear?" Min Seok whispered to Do Yoon. "There's supposed to be a surprise inspection tomorrow. People are freaking out."

Do Yoon scoffed. "Like it matters to us. As long as Tae Min's around, who would dare mess with us?"

Hyun Ki glanced at Tae Min, lowering his voice. "Still... doesn't the school feel weirder lately? You guys notice it too, right?"

Tae Min heard the whispers but didn't react immediately. Instead, he pulled out his phone and read a new message. A faint smirk appeared on his lips. "Let them waste time on rumors," he murmured. "The more chaos there is, the easier it is to control."

Jae Won leaned forward. "So... when's the next move?"

Closing his phone, Tae Min met each of their gazes. "Relax. We'll strike when the time's right."

The bell rang, signaling the start of class, but no one rushed to open their books. Even the teacher entering the room looked hesitant, clearly aware of who held the real power.

Behind the silence, plans were quietly unfolding. And as always, Tae Min was the mastermind pulling the strings.

On the other side, at Jung Cooperation—the towering building that symbolized power and prestige—Jung Dong Wook sat in his spacious office on the top floor. The large glass windows behind him offered a panoramic view of the bustling city below, bathed in golden hues of the setting sun.

His office exuded elegance: dark mahogany furniture, a meticulously organized desk, and shelves filled with awards, documents, and a few framed family photos. One of them showed a much younger Jung Dong Wook with his two sons—Jung Ha Joon and Jung Tae Min—standing stiffly beside him.

Dong Wook leaned back in his leather chair, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. Classical music played softly in the background, filling the room with an air of calm sophistication. Yet, beneath his composed exterior, his sharp eyes gleamed with calculation.

A knock at the door broke the silence. "Come in," he said, voice deep and commanding.

His secretary stepped in, bowing slightly. "Sir, the financial reports have arrived, and there's also news regarding the upcoming board meeting. Would you like me to prepare—"

"Leave it on the table," Dong Wook cut in smoothly. His gaze shifted to the papers but didn't linger long. "And what about Ha Joon?"

The secretary hesitated. "Young Master Ha Joon... hasn't responded to our calls. It seems he's still at his club, sir."

Dong Wook's jaw tightened, the calm in his expression thinning. "Of course he is," he muttered. "Playing around like a child... Does he really think he can defy me without consequences?"

Silence stretched between them before the secretary cautiously added, "And Master Tae Min… he visited the club earlier."

Dong Wook's brows lifted slightly, though he didn't seem surprised. "Tae Min knows what he's doing. He won't let his brother's recklessness damage our name." Setting the glass down, he stood up, his tall frame radiating authority. "Keep watching both of them. Ha Joon needs to be reminded of his place. If he continues to ignore me... I'll handle it myself."

"Understood, sir." The secretary bowed once more before leaving.

Alone again, Jung Dong Wook turned back to the window, his reflection merging with the city lights outside. "Family or not," he murmured to himself, "no one gets in the way of what I've built."

And with that, he resumed his calm posture—ever the puppet master pulling the strings from behind the scenes.

During lunch break, the cafeteria buzzed with noise as students scrambled for seats and lined up for food. Ji Hwan strolled casually through the crowd, hands tucked into his uniform pockets. Spotting Joo Hyuk, he gave him a small nod, signaling toward Ji Yeon who was walking nearby.

Joo Hyuk understood immediately and approached Ji Yeon. "Hey, let's sit over there," he suggested, pointing to a table across the cafeteria. Ji Yeon gave him a suspicious look but followed anyway.

Meanwhile, Ji Hwan and Seung Woo settled at a table in the corner, choosing a spot less likely to draw attention. Ji Hwan leaned forward, his expression serious. "Bro, just help me out this once. Tell my mom we've got a study group this afternoon."

Seung Woo sighed, taking a sip of his drink. "Study group? You think your mom's dumb? You almost died at training yesterday. You really wanna skip again?"

Ji Hwan rubbed his face in frustration. "Exactly! I'm traumatized, man! My whole body still hurts. Just give me a day to breathe."

Seung Woo shook his head. "I'm not lying to your mom. If she finds out, I'll get dragged into it too."

"Come on, Seung Woo. Just this once..." Ji Hwan pleaded.

"Nope. You made the mess, you deal with it," Seung Woo shot back firmly.

Fed up, Ji Hwan abruptly stood and shouted, "YA! I C*I SEKKIYA! JUST THIS ONCE!"

The cafeteria fell into stunned silence. Dozens of eyes turned toward them, including Ji Yeon, who stared with a mix of shock and embarrassment.

Thinking fast, Joo Hyuk started fake coughing. "A-Ah! Water—I'm choking! Hakk... hakk!" He dramatically thumped his chest, trying to redirect Ji Yeon's attention.

Ji Yeon narrowed her eyes but eventually focused on Joo Hyuk. "Seriously? Drink slower, idiot," she muttered, annoyed.

Meanwhile, Seung Woo lowered his head, his face flushed red. "Fine! Fine! I'll do it! But you seriously just made me wanna bury myself alive," he grumbled.

Ji Hwan plopped back into his seat, grinning ear to ear. "That's what I'm talking about! True friendship right there."

Seung Woo snorted. "Friendship? Feels more like I'm being blackmailed."

Ji Hwan chuckled, satisfied that his plan had worked—even if it meant turning the entire cafeteria into an audience for his little drama.

That afternoon, Seung Woo arrived at Ji Hwan's house. He shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, glancing up at the familiar two-story home. He barely had time to knock when Ji Hwan's mother, Han Mi Jung, called from inside, "Ji Hwan! Seung Woo's here!"

Upstairs, Ji Hwan groaned, dragging himself out of bed. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" he called back. He hurried down the stairs, pulling on his sneakers. Just as he reached the door, his mother stepped in front of them, blocking the way.

Han Mi Jung's gaze shifted to Seung Woo. Her eyes lingered on the boy's black jacket, the silver earring glinting on his left ear, and the small ear piercing above it. She sighed but didn't say much. "Be careful, okay?" she finally said. "And don't stay out too late."

"Yes, ma'am," Seung Woo replied politely, offering a quick bow.

Ji Hwan gave his mom a half-smile. "We'll be back on time."

Once outside, Ji Hwan immediately turned to his friend, eyebrows raised. "Seriously, man? Do you have to dress like some street punk? My mom was totally judging you."

Seung Woo scoffed, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets. "Still better than not helping you. A little gratitude wouldn't kill you."

Ji Hwan clicked his tongue but grinned. "Yeah, yeah... Thanks anyway."

Walking down the street, the cool breeze brushing against them, Seung Woo glanced at Ji Hwan. "So... Karaoke with the class, huh? This your brilliant plan for ditching practice?"

Ji Hwan grinned. "Obviously. Come on—it's better than getting kicked around again. Plus, I haven't screamed into a mic in forever."

Seung Woo chuckled. "Fine. But if anyone sings off-key, I'm leaving."

They both laughed, the earlier tension forgotten, as they headed toward the karaoke place to meet their classmates—ready for a night of bad singing and even worse dance moves.

At home, Han Mi Jung was tidying up the dining table when she glanced at Ji Yeon sitting on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

"Ji Yeon, is your brother really at a study group this afternoon?" she asked suspiciously.

Ji Yeon shrugged. "I don't know, Mom. He didn't say anything about that."

Mi Jung's expression grew more doubtful, but before she could question further, Ji Yeon stood up. "I'll go change," she said quickly. Heading to her room, she couldn't shake off a strange feeling. A study group? Since when does my brother care that much about school?

After changing into something more comfortable, Ji Yeon grabbed her jacket and stepped outside. Looking around, she muttered, "Where the heck did they go?" No texts, no clues—just confusion.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Joo Hyuk lay sprawled on his bed, staring at the ceiling in boredom. His school bag sat untouched on the floor beside him. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. Glancing at the screen, he saw Seung Woo's name flashing.

"Yo, what's up?" he answered.

"Get to the karaoke place now! We're hanging out with the class!" Seung Woo's excited voice boomed through the speaker.

"Karaoke? I don't feel like—" Joo Hyuk started but stopped mid-sentence. Through the call, he heard a terribly off-key singing voice—undoubtedly Ji Hwan's.

For a moment, Joo Hyuk just sat there, blinking. How can someone be that bad at singing? he thought. But as annoying as Ji Hwan could be, his ridiculous antics always managed to lift the mood.

Letting out a short laugh, Joo Hyuk shook his head. "Bhicina... this guy, seriously..." he muttered under his breath. Without another thought, he grabbed his jacket. "Alright, wait for me. I'm on my way!"

With a newfound burst of energy, he dashed out of his room, ready for an evening filled with laughter, terrible singing, and whatever chaos Ji Hwan would undoubtedly stir up.

On the other side of town, in a quiet corner of the school, Tae Min leaned against the wall, casually scrolling through his phone. Students passing by glanced at him but quickly looked away, not wanting to get involved with him or his gang.

Soon, one of his henchmen, Park Min Soo, approached with hurried steps. "Tae Min," he called out in a low but firm voice.

Tae Min glanced up lazily. "What is it?"

Min Soo pulled out his phone and showed him a map. "We've located Ji Hwan. He's at a karaoke place downtown."

A sly smirk appeared on Tae Min's face, his eyes glinting with calculation. "He's really just relaxing, huh?" he muttered. After a brief pause, he pocketed his phone and straightened up. "Get the others ready. We're going now."

Min Soo nodded. "Got it."

Without wasting a second, Min Soo pulled out his phone to contact the rest of the gang, while Tae Min shoved his hands into his pockets and began walking, his steps steady and deliberate. "This time," he whispered to himself, "he's not getting away."

A few blocks away, the rest of Tae Min's crew—Kang Do Hyun, Lee Kyung Ho, Choi Seok Jin, Jung Woo Bin, and Han Ji Soo—gathered as they prepared to follow their leader's orders. The atmosphere thickened with tension, signaling that tonight wouldn't end peacefully.

At the karaoke room, Ji Hwan was energetically singing into the microphone, completely immersed in the song. His voice wasn't perfect, but his enthusiasm was infectious. Seung Woo sat on the couch, laughing and recording Ji Hwan's ridiculous dance moves on his phone.

"Yah! Ji Hwan, you seriously think you're a rock star?" Seung Woo teased, holding back laughter.

Ji Hwan grinned, out of breath. "Better than you just sitting there like a statue!" he shot back, striking a dramatic pose.

Moments later, Joo Hyuk burst into the room, panting. "You idiots really started without me?" he complained but quickly joined in, grabbing another microphone.

As the next upbeat song began, Seung Woo finally caved and stood up to sing along. Their laughter echoed in the small room, the outside world momentarily forgotten.

Meanwhile, Ji Yeon wandered the streets, her phone in hand as she tried calling her brother. "Pick up, you moron," she muttered. The calls went unanswered. Frustrated, she kicked a pebble on the road. "Where are they?"

Back at the karaoke spot, Ji Hwan flopped onto the couch, sweaty and grinning. "Best idea ever," he said between breaths.

"Yeah, yeah," Seung Woo replied, wiping his face. "But if your mom finds out we lied..."

"She won't," Ji Hwan waved it off. "Relax."

But outside, Tae Min and his gang had arrived at the building. Min Soo checked his phone. "They're definitely inside."

Tae Min smirked. "Let's pay them a little visit."

Without hesitation, the group headed toward the entrance, the lighthearted singing and laughter from upstairs contrasting with the tension rising below.

Not long after the song ended, one of Ji Hwan's classmates stepped out of the karaoke room to grab a drink. Min Soo approached him, gently tapping his shoulder.

"Hey," Min Soo called out casually, "Ji Hwan's inside, right? Tell him to come out for a bit. I need to talk to him."

Without suspecting anything, the classmate nodded. "Oh, okay. Hold on."

He went back into the room, heading straight to Ji Hwan, who was laughing with Seung Woo and Joo Hyuk. "Hey, Ji Hwan, someone's looking for you outside," he said.

Ji Hwan frowned. "Who?"

"No idea. They just asked me to call you," the classmate replied nonchalantly.

Curious, Ji Hwan stood up, stretching slightly. "I'll be right back," he told Seung Woo and Joo Hyuk.

"Don't take forever," Seung Woo muttered, sipping his drink.

Once outside, Ji Hwan spotted Tae Min leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, a faint smirk playing on his lips. Behind him stood Min Soo and several gang members, watching quietly.

Ji Hwan sighed. "What do you want, dragging me out here?" he asked, his tone laced with annoyance.

Tae Min jerked his head toward the alley. "Let's talk. Won't take long."

Though hesitant, Ji Hwan followed them, unaware of what lay ahead.

Back inside the karaoke room, time ticked by, yet Ji Hwan hadn't returned. Seung Woo, who had been relaxed, started to feel uneasy. He glanced at his watch and frowned. "What's taking him so long? It was just someone calling him out, right?"

Joo Hyuk, previously engrossed in picking songs, glanced up. "Yeah... this is weird."

At that moment, the door burst open. Ji Yeon rushed in, visibly worried. "Where's Ji Hwan?!" she demanded.

"He was called out earlier. Why?" Seung Woo asked quickly.

Ji Yeon bit her lip. "His phone's off! I've been trying to reach him!"

Joo Hyuk stood abruptly. "Damn... You don't think something's happened, do you?"

Without wasting a second, Seung Woo pulled out his phone, opening a tracking app connected to Ji Hwan's device. "Let me check his location," he muttered.

A digital map appeared, a red dot marking Ji Hwan's last position. The dot was moving away from the karaoke place. Seung Woo cursed under his breath. "He's being taken toward the back alley..."

Ji Yeon clenched her fists. "We have to go now!"

Without hesitation, the three of them bolted out of the room. The evening sky had darkened ominously, as if foreshadowing the trouble that awaited them.

Ji Hwan lay sprawled on the ground, his face battered and blood trickling from his temple and the corner of his mouth. His breaths came in shallow gasps, pain shooting through his bruised body. Tae Min stood above him, wiping the blood off his knuckles with a cold stare.

His phone rang. Tae Min answered it, his voice calm.

"Did you get the information?" his father's stern voice came through.

Glancing down at Ji Hwan, Tae Min replied flatly, "Yeah, I got some info about his family."

Before the conversation could continue, a rock suddenly flew through the air, hitting Tae Min's head and making him stagger. He ended the call, his eyes narrowing as he scanned for the culprit.

Seung Woo, Joo Hyuk, and Ji Yeon sprinted toward them.

"Let him go, you bastard!" Seung Woo shouted.

Without hesitation, a fight broke out. Seung Woo, using his martial arts skills, blocked an incoming punch and spun, landing a powerful kick that sent one of Tae Min's men sprawling. Joo Hyuk rushed to Ji Hwan's side, helping him sit up.

"Dude, you're wrecked! Stay with me, man!" Joo Hyuk said anxiously.

Meanwhile, Ji Yeon stepped forward, eyes blazing. "You touched my twin brother... big mistake!" she snapped.

She engaged Tae Min, dodging his punches and countering with a swift kick to his stomach. Tae Min stumbled back but quickly retaliated. Ji Yeon defended herself with sharp movements, her martial arts training evident. Despite her skills, Tae Min's raw strength overwhelmed her. A solid punch broke through her guard, sending her crashing to the ground, gasping.

"I won't lose just because I'm a girl…" she muttered, struggling to stand but her body refused to cooperate.

Seung Woo, bruised and panting, fought off two opponents at once, refusing to back down. Tae Min glanced at the time and sighed, raising his hand. "Enough. We're done here," he ordered Min Soo.

They turned and walked away, leaving chaos behind.

Ji Yeon crawled over to Ji Hwan, her face twisted with concern. Without warning, she pinched his ear hard.

"You idiot! Why do you always get into trouble?!" she scolded.

Ji Hwan winced. "Ow—hey! Not the ear! I almost died here, cut me some slack!"

Joo Hyuk exhaled in relief. "Seriously, man... Can you go one day without causing a mess?"

Seung Woo, limping over with a bruised face, managed a tired smirk. "You guys... still joking around? Unreal…"

Despite the pain and injuries, their friendship's warmth shone through the chaos, proving that even in the worst moments, they had each other's backs.