The sleek black car sliced through the morning mist, the familiar cityscape blurring into streaks of color. Inside, Seo-Jun was a study in contrasts: the rigid set of his jaw, the restless energy in his eyes, the way his knuckles whitened as he gripped the wheel. "Ha, this fever has got me crazy. It made me act different than before… especially with..." The thought hung in the air, unfinished, as his mind replayed the scene: Minho's face, pale with worry, the lines of concern etched deep around his eyes. Seo-Jun could almost feel the ghost of Minho's touch, the way his voice had softened, laced with a tenderness that was entirely new. A smirk played on his lips. "He did act all worried about me like he would actually care about me that much." The smirk faded, replaced by a steely resolve. "Don't forget that he is actually here to get information about my gang, nothing more." The image of Minho's carefully constructed facade, the subtle shifts in his gaze, flashed before Seo-Jun's eyes. A dangerous light ignited within him. "Let's see what he is planning to do next."
The car purred to a halt within the mansion's sprawling grounds, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and the distant murmur of activity. The moment Seo-Jun killed the engine, a figure burst from the shadows, a subordinate whose face was a mask of panic. "Boss! Thank God you are here, the goods that were supposed to arrive at Hongseong this morning hadn't arrived at all! The company called us many times, and we eventually found out that the delivery bus arrived at the spot, but the goods were stolen right there and then!" The words tumbled out in a rush, each syllable a frantic plea for order. Seo-Jun listened, his gaze unwavering, as they strode towards the mansion's imposing entrance, the ornate carvings of the gate seeming to mock the chaos that threatened to unravel his meticulously crafted world. "Ha, they can't deal with anything if I am not around." His mind, already calculating, already strategising, dismissed the rising tide of panic. This was his domain, and he would not let it fall.
The man's frantic report was cut short by Seo-Jun's voice, a low, steady rumble that sliced through the chaos. "Provide me with the footage from the delivery bus's camera and give me the exact location of the delivery address. Send one team to go and investigate on the spot." The words were clipped, precise, each one a command. The man, jolted back to attention, snapped, "Yes, boss!" and immediately turned, his footsteps echoing as he hurried to obey.
Seo-Jun watched him go, a flicker of amusement playing on his lips. He turned towards the imposing oak door of his office, the polished wood reflecting the harsh light of the hallway. As he reached for the handle, a slow, predatory smirk spread across his face. "Today is shaping up to be an interesting day." he murmured to himself, the words a promise, a threat, and a hint of the storm that was brewing within. He pushed the door open and stepped inside, the heavy wood closing behind him with a decisive thud, shutting out the world and sealing him within the heart of his empire.
Meanwhile, Minho, clad in black, moved through the shadows in Seo-Jun's house like a wraith. He descended the stairs, his face a mask of determination. In the living room, Lily was engrossed in the flickering screen of the large television, her attention utterly consumed. Minho's voice, devoid of warmth, cut through the air. "Lily, I'm going to the shop for groceries. Do you want anything?"
Without turning, her voice sharp, Lily dismissed him with a curt, "Oh, no, thanks. Bye!"
"Bye." Minho replied, his tone flat. He reached the door, and as he stepped outside, the transformation began. A black mask and hat concealed his features, erasing his identity. He moved towards Seo-Jun's mansion, a predator stalking its prey.
After thirty minutes, he stood before the imposing structure, a fortress of stone and secrets. He circled the perimeter, his gaze scanning for an opening, a weakness in the defences. "There must be a way to get inside without being seen... But I should be careful, it's full of security... Thank God, the mansion is enormous and no one is in this part here," he muttered to himself, the words a desperate prayer.
At the rear of the mansion, he leapt over a fence, landing silently. "Okay, now I have to find a way inside the mansi-" The thought was cut short as he collided with a mountain of a man. A security guard, his face a thundercloud, turned, his eyes narrowed with fury. Minho stumbled back, his heart hammering against his ribs, his thoughts a jumble of slight fear and frustration. "You have to be kidding me!" he thought, the words a silent scream.
The security guard lunged, his fist a blur of motion, but Minho was quicker. He ducked, the blow missing its mark, and retaliated with a swift punch to the guard's face, breaking free from his grasp. The guard roared, his anger fuelling another attack, but Minho's reflexes were honed. A well-aimed kick to the stomach sent the guard sprawling, buying him a precious moment to escape. But it was not enough. Three more figures materialised, their faces grim, cutting off his retreat. "Oh, come on!" Minho spat, his voice laced with frustration, and the fight began anew.
He was outnumbered and outmatched. The security guards, a coordinated force, battered him, their blows finding their mark. He fell, a broken heap, the world tilting on its axis. They dragged him inside, the grand facade of the mansion mocking his defeat. Blood slicked his face, bruises blossomed across his skin. "I am screwed..." he thought, the words a death knell.
They hauled him to Seo-Jun's office, their footsteps echoing in the opulent hallway. "Boss! We found this guy walking around trying to break into the mansion!" they announced, their voices booming. Minho hung limp between them, his head bowed, his consciousness fading. Seo-Jun, seated behind a massive desk, turned, a predatory gleam in his eyes. "First the robbery, now this... Is today a special day?" he mused, a cruel smile playing on his lips. He rose, his movements deliberate, and approached the defeated figure. "What do you want us to do with him, boss?" one of the guards asked. Seo-Jun reached out, his fingers closing around the man's chin, forcing his head up, his gaze locked on the battered face.
The smirk vanished from Seo-Jun's face, replaced by a flicker of disbelief. "Minho?" he breathed, the name a whisper in the sudden silence. His hand recoiled as if burnt, and his gaze snapped to the security guards, a storm brewing in his eyes. Fury, cold and sharp, radiated from him, freezing the air. He turned, his voice a low, controlled rumble, "Let him go."
The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken threat. He turned again, his eyes sweeping over the guards, and added, "Gently." The guards, faces pale with terror, understood the unspoken consequences of disobedience. "Yes, sir!" they choked out, their voices barely audible. The fear was palpable, a tangible thing that filled the room as they scrambled to obey, retreating from the office with a speed that bordered on panic.
Seo-Jun slammed back into his leather chair, the force of it echoing the tempest raging within him. His face, usually a mask of controlled composure, was now a battlefield of conflicting emotions. Anger, a raw, untamed beast, clawed at his features, contorting them into a grimace. "What the hell are you doing here, Minho? You almost got yourself killed, to say the least." he growled, the words a venomous whisper in the otherwise silent office. He ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, the gesture more a sign of agitation than grooming. Then, a wave of confusion washed over him, battling the anger. "And why am I so pissed off about it? He is just beaten up, what is the big deal about it?!" he muttered, the question hanging unanswered in the air.
Outside, the heavy oak doors of the office closed with a decisive thud, shutting out the storm within. The two hulking security guards, who moments before had been all stoic efficiency, now displayed a surprising tenderness as they half-carried, half-dragged the unconscious Minho towards the grand exit. Their hushed voices, a stark contrast to their imposing frames, filled the cavernous hallway. "What should we do with him now?! He is knocked out." one whispered, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance. "Boss said to be gentle with him. You saw the look on his face." the other replied, his eyes darting nervously towards the closed office door. "How could I not! It gave me goosebumps for a lifetime! He had never given us this look ever before." the first guard said, a shiver running down his spine. "Yeah. Let's just leave him here. Put the mask and the hat next to him. When he wakes up, he will find his way back home."
They gently deposited Minho on the cold marble steps of the mansion, his back leaning against the imposing stone wall. His usually pristine attire was now torn and stained, a testament to the earlier struggle. The guards, after ensuring he was as comfortable as possible, exchanged a few mocking glances, a silent understanding passing between them. A low chuckle escaped their lips as they turned and disappeared back into the depths of the mansion, leaving Minho alone in the growing twilight.
Minutes later, a groan broke the silence. Minho's eyelids fluttered open, his vision blurred and disoriented. Confusion clouded his gaze as he struggled to comprehend his surroundings. The ornate carvings of the mansion, the fading light of the setting sun, the cold stone beneath him – it all seemed surreal, a distorted dream. He blinked, trying to clear his vision. "I am... still alive?... How is this possible?!" he rasped, the words a mere breath against the vastness of the scene. His hand instinctively went to his side, where a dull ache throbbed, a painful reminder of the events that had transpired.
He pushed himself up, each movement a fresh wave of pain, and stumbled away from the cold, unforgiving stone. "They for sure dragged me to Seo-Jun... He probably didn't recognise me and didn't think of me as a threat..." he thought, his voice a raw whisper against the rustling leaves. A bitter laugh escaped his lips, a sound devoid of humour. He had underestimated Seo-Jun, underestimated the lengths he would go to protect his carefully constructed world. "Phew... this was a close one. Let's get out of here before they come back!" he muttered, the urgency spurring him onwards.
As he limped along the deserted road, he pulled out his phone, the cold glass a small comfort against his bruised cheek. He activated the front-facing camera, the screen reflecting his battered visage. Blood, dark and clotted, trickled down from a gash above his left eyebrow, mingling with the swelling of a black eye. A purplish bruise blossomed on his forehead, a testament to the force of the blow. "Wow, they really beat me up..." he mumbled, the words a mixture of disbelief and self-deprecation.
Finally, he reached the familiar haven of Seo-Jun's house. The door swung open to reveal Lily, her face etched with a mixture of relief and concern. "You are back! You know, I was starting to get worried. It took you quite a long time-" she began, her voice laced with a hint of reprimand. But then, her words caught in her throat. Her eyes widened, her expression transforming from concern to shock as she took in his appearance. "OH MY GOD! What happened to you?!" she cried, her voice a mixture of fear and outrage.
Minho flinched, the sudden shift in her tone was a jolt to his already frayed nerves. "Nothing, I just fell..." he mumbled, attempting a reassuring smile that felt like a grotesque parody of itself. But Lily was not fooled. Her face hardened, her eyes narrowed. "Where did you fall to be hurt this badly?!" she demanded, her voice sharp with a protective instinct. She rushed forward, her hands hovering over his face, gently probing the extent of his injuries.
"Down the stairs. But it's nothing really, I am fine." he insisted, the lie tasting like ash in his mouth. He forced a smile, despite the searing pain that radiated through his face. But Lily was not appeased. Her face, usually a picture of warmth and affection, was now a mask of controlled fury. "No, you are not fine! Go sit on the couch and wait for me to treat your wounds! And don't you dare move!" she commanded, her voice low, but with an undeniable authority that brooked no argument.
Minho resembled a startled fawn. Lily's voice, a low, sharp command, had him flinching, a stark contrast to the fearlessness he'd displayed earlier, facing down security guards twice his size. "Yes, ma'am!" he squeaked, the words a testament to her unexpected authority. He retreated to the couch, a silent surrender, while Lily, the picture of efficient concern, rummaged in the kitchen for the first aid kit. Her voice, laced with a familiar blend of exasperation and care, echoed from the kitchen, "You should be careful next time! Look where you are going!" Minho, cradling his bruised face, mumbled a defeated, "I will."
The click of the door heralded a new arrival, a voice, laced with a familiar weariness, called out, "I am home. I forgot to take something." It was Seo-Jun. Minho's heart hammered against his ribs. He turned his face away, a silent plea, a desperate attempt to remain unseen. "Oh, no! Fuck! If he sees me now like this, he will get suspicious, and he will recognise me for sure!" he thought, the words a frantic whisper in his mind. Seo-Jun, his expression a mask of frustration, sighed, muttering to himself, "Why did I even bother to come here? Checking if he is okay is getting too much." He was a step away from the living room when Lily emerged from the kitchen, the first aid kit clutched in her hand. "Jun! You are here, perfect timing! Come and have a look at Minho. He fell down the stairs while he was out shopping, and now he is full of bruises! How clumsy!"
Minho squeezed his eyes shut, a silent prayer escaping his lips. "No, Lily! I am dead for sure this time..." The world seemed to tilt on its axis, the carefully constructed facade threatening to crumble under the weight of the impending revelation.
Seo-Jun's expression remained an icy mask. The initial flare of annoyance had vanished, replaced by a dangerous, almost predatory curiosity. "Did he?" he drawled, the words laced with a mocking amusement that sent a shiver down Minho's spine. "Let me see."
He moved with a practiced grace, a predator stalking its prey. Minho, shoulders slumped, was a picture of dejection, his gaze fixed on the unforgiving ground. Seo-Jun reached out, his fingers surprisingly gentle as he tilted Minho's chin upwards, forcing him to meet his unwavering gaze. His own face remained an inscrutable landscape of cold calculation.
Without a word, Seo-Jun turned his back on Minho, striding towards Lily, who was hovering nearby, her concern etched on her features. He plucked the first aid kit from her hands, his voice a low command, "We are out of bandages. Can you go and grab some?"
Minho's jaw dropped, a silent "What?" forming on his lips. Relief, sharp and unexpected, flooded through him. He was unseen, unrecognised. A chance. "He didn't recognise me… Well... that's good," he thought, the words a desperate prayer.
Lily, oblivious to the silent drama unfolding, beamed a bright smile. "Of course! I'll be back in a flash! Hang in there, Minho!" With a flurry of movement, she was gone, the door slamming shut behind her.
The silence that followed was thick, heavy with unspoken words. Minho risked a glance, his stomach twisting with a familiar dread. Seo-Jun was advancing, his movements slow, deliberate, like a hunter closing in.
"Have I underestimated your determination," Seo-Jun began, his voice a low, chilling whisper, "or overestimated your intellect?"
Minho's head snapped up, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and confusion. The question hung in the air, a cruel puzzle.
"W-what?" he stammered, the single word a fragile shield against the storm that was about to break.