The silence hung thick in the air, a palpable weight between them. Then, Minho shook his head, a slow, deliberate movement that seemed to gather his thoughts. His voice, when he finally spoke, was firm and resolute. "No, Lily, you've got the wrong idea here-" he began, but the sentence was swallowed by a sudden, jarring sound. The insistent ring of his phone, a discordant note in the quiet room, sliced through the air. Minho's brow furrowed in confusion as he reached into his pocket, pulling out the phone. His eyes scanned the screen, and a flicker of surprise, quickly masked, crossed his features. It was Jin. His expression hardened, his jaw clenching almost imperceptibly. Turning back to Lily, his voice was laced with a new urgency, a carefully controlled tone that couldn't quite hide the underlying tension. "I'm sorry, Lily. I have to take this call." he said, the words clipped, almost rushed. Without waiting for her response, he pivoted, his movements sharp and decisive, and began to move away, a sense of controlled chaos emanating from him. Lily watched him, a question mark forming on her face. Her thoughts raced, "Who was that? What could have possibly caused such a sudden shift in his demeanour?"
He ascended the stairs with a speed that belied his earlier composure, disappearing from view and into his room. The door clicked shut behind him, a definitive barrier against the world. He answered the phone, his voice a low, frustrated whisper, "Jin?! What is it? Why are you calling me? I almost got caught-" The words were abruptly cut off by Jin's voice, a low, serious rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very air. "Minho, I can't buy you any more time. Jae wants something, and he wants it now, or he'll pull you from the mission." The words were like a physical blow. Minho's eyes widened, a flicker of pure shock and disbelief crossing his features before he could school them. His voice, when it came, was a sharp, involuntary shout, "WHAT?!" He quickly regained control, his voice regaining its edge, though the underlying tremor was still detectable. "No, he can't do that!" Jin's response was a stark, chilling reality. "He can, and he will, if you don't send us something by... tonight." The word hung in the air, heavy and ominous. Minho's voice rose again, a mixture of shock and desperation, the carefully constructed facade crumbling. "TONIGHT?! But that's impossible! I don't have anything!" The weight of the situation, the impossible deadline, seemed to press down on him, threatening to suffocate.
The phone pressed to his ear, Minho could hear Jin's voice, a low, frustrated rumble. "I tried to reason with him, but he won't listen." The words were a death knell, the finality of the statement hanging heavy in the air. Minho was silent, his mind a whirlwind of frantic calculations. He had to find a way out of this, a way to salvage the situation, to navigate the treacherous currents that threatened to pull him under. His thoughts raced, each possibility weighed and discarded in rapid succession. Time was a relentless enemy, ticking away with each passing second, the pressure mounting with every beat of his heart.
Then, a thought, a flicker of an idea, sparked in the darkness. Unexpected, risky, yet it might just be the only lifeline he had. He hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing down on him, the potential consequences a chilling reminder of the stakes. A sigh escaped his lips, a release of the tension that had been coiled within him. He steeled his resolve, his voice firm, resolute, as he spoke into the phone, "I will be in the mansion in half an hour."
A gasp, a sound of utter disbelief, crackled over the line. "Wh-" Jin began, but the word was cut short. Minho had already ended the call, the line going dead. He moved with a sudden, decisive energy, his movements precise. He began to dress, the familiar routine a grounding ritual amidst the storm of his thoughts. After finishing dressing up, he walked into the living room, his gaze sweeping over the space, finally landing on Lily, who was sitting on the couch. "Lily, I am going to the mall really quick." he announced, his voice even, carefully controlled.
Lily turned, her eyes meeting his, a mixture of concern and a hint of exasperation in her expression. "Oh, okay. But look where you are going this time!" she said, her voice serious, her words a gentle reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond the familiar walls of their home. He opened the door, the world outside beckoning, a mixture of peril and possibility. "Okay." he replied, his voice low, a promise whispered into the air. With that, he stepped out, the door closing behind him with a soft click, sealing him into the world, and the dangerous path that lay ahead.
Moments later, he was already in the Phoenix's mansion. The heavy oak door of the meeting room seemed to amplify the silence as Minho and Jin entered. Minho stood in the centre, his posture rigid, as he spoke to Jin, who was seated nearby. The words hung in the air, and when Minho finished, the reaction was immediate. Jin's face paled, his eyes widening in disbelief. He nearly stumbled, catching himself before he could fall, and then, his voice a raw shout, he demanded, "YOU WANT WHAT?!"
Minho's response was swift, a sharp defence against the implied accusation. "Think about it!" he urged, his voice steady. "There's no point in continuing to pursue this. He doesn't do anything illegal. So, instead of trying to imprison him for something he hasn't done... why can't we work together? Let's unite both teams."
Jin stared, his jaw slack, the proposal hanging between them. Frustration coloured his voice as he asked, "Is he threatening you? Because if he is, I will kill him myself."
"No!" Minho snapped, his voice cutting through the air. Then, a blush crept up his neck, and he murmured, looking away, "I just... think logically..."
Jin saw the blush, the averted gaze, and the pieces clicked into place. "You developed feelings for him, didn't you?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of sadness.
Minho's face flushed crimson. "WHAT?! ME?! NO, OF COURSE NOT!" But the denial was weak, and Jin knew it. He looked away, a flicker of hurt in his eyes, and thought, "He's… always been a terrible liar..."
Then Jin shook his head, the ghost of heartbreak momentarily clouding his features, but he quickly pushed it aside, focusing on the proposal. "Fine, fine." he conceded, though his voice held a note of doubt. "But I'm not sure this will work. Jae will never back down."
Minho's blush vanished, replaced by his usual serious expression. "I know…" he said, his voice firm. "That's why I'll speak to my father directly."
The reaction was immediate again. "WHAT?!" Jin exclaimed, his voice echoing in the room. "I've got this. Don't worry." Minho replied, and with those words, he turned and walked out of the meeting room, leaving Jin behind. As he strode towards his father's office, his mind raced. "I can do this... it's the most logical solution. If my father agrees to work with Seo-Jun, Jae will have no choice but to surrender. This is the only way to ensure Seo-Jun's safety."
He reached the office door, his hand hovering over the handle. "I have to do this... Seo-Jun protected me... I have to protect him too." With a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped inside.