Chapter 106
In the first floor of the Square, Boss’s office was the only place where sunlight didn’t reach, as usual.
Angel felt a crushing pressure in the darkness that filled the vast room.
Barely managing to steady his breath, he raised his head.
At the edge of Angel’s vision, a man was seen reading documents.
The Boss of Baekcheon, a man whose overwhelming presence made it seem like he was seated on a throne.
His calm expression was hard to believe just ten days after receiving a serious injury, as he quickly signed the documents with a lavish pen that glistened with gold.
Only then did he finally lift his gaze from the papers and meet Angel’s eyes. Angel instinctively clenched his fist.
“Angel.”
His deep voice spoke Angel’s name, more like a self-reflection than a call.
Tense, Angel swallowed dryly. His throat felt unbearably dry.
From the start, his plan to repay the one who killed his sister involved his own death.
Survival wasn’t something he had expected or desired.
But in this unexpected situation, it felt as though there was no time to even die.
Angel faced his unreadable, emotionless expression and reflected on the past.
When he took the bullet instead of Yeonbyeol and let her go.
As Yeonbyeol disappeared from his sight, Hawoon crumbled like a broken puppet, his life barely clinging on from the near-fatal bullet wound.
In that moment, hesitation gripped him. Despite knowing the truth, his hands trembled as he sought someone else to blame.
“What are you doing? Get a grip! If the Boss dies, so will you by my hand!”
At that moment, Cityu returned after fully dealing with Taejun and shouted, snapping him back to reality.
A firm resolve flashed through his mind, a clear goal not to be lost.
If there was still a chance, he wanted to say he was sorry.
He knew that mere words wouldn’t change anything, but the overwhelming desire to express it consumed him.
After providing emergency treatment, Angel rushed Hawoon to the hospital. Living his life seeking revenge, he had saved him.
He had no regrets about that decision. For the first time, it felt like the right choice. In fact, it was a relief, countless thoughts filling his mind.
“Repay the debt with your life, not your death. Let’s meet again like that.”
It was truly a relief to have met you.
For the first time since his sister’s death, a genuine, freeing smile had emerged, sparking a new hope.
If by some miracle, there was still a chance left, he wanted to step away from the wrong path and walk a proper one.
He wanted to erase the wrong answers and find the correct ones.
At this moment, his mind was consumed by the desire to live. Angel felt like someone else.
“…Are you really going to let me go?”
Angel asked Hwahn, his voice laced with uncontrollable desperation despite knowing better.
Even if the Boss saved him, Angel’s past deeds were far too heavy to be simply overlooked.
If Hwahn decided to kill him here, there would be no escape.
Hawoon looked at Angel intently and then finally spoke.
“Yes.”
Angel, doubting his own ears and his sincerity, watched as he retrieved an envelope from his drawer.
He then once again gazed at the face that mirrored the girl from his memories.
Understanding the weight behind that gaze, Angel hesitated but finally took the letter.
“It’s from your sister.”
For some reason, Hawoon observed Angel with a face that almost seemed on the verge of tears.
The reason why he had kept that letter all this time wasn’t out of guilt or unnecessary sentiment.
Though unwilling, there were times when killing was inevitable in their ruthless world.
Yet, this particular killing left its mark.
“Please, kill me.”
That plea had been inscribed into the letter, a weight unlike any other.
Why?
Was it out of pity or some pathetic sense of shared hardship?
No, the girl wasn’t like him. Unlike him, she had someone precious left in her life, someone she wanted to protect.
“My brother… He’s the only family I have, and I have to protect him. Please, just once.”
Why?
“…..”
“…Why do you think like that? If you die here instead, would your brother be happy? How can you be so selfish? Don’t you think about the one left behind…”
It was the first time Angel had expressed such deep anger since turning sixteen.
The mother who embraced him was the same one who died in place of him—silently slipping away without leaving a trace.
It was laughable.
How he was angry, merging his mother’s sacrifice with the girl who had killed his father, for that reason.
“That’s how much I love you.”
“…What?”
“That’s how much I love and trust you. Even without me, even if it hurts a lot, I’ll strive to live better. I believe you’ll understand my heart.”
The answer was why, in the end, he was holding onto the letter left by that girl instead.
“My sister… I’m sure she didn’t even leave a will… She couldn’t have…”
Angel spoke hesitantly, unable to tear his gaze away from the letter.
“She left it for you.”
His voice was gentle as he looked into Angel’s tear-filled eyes. Unable to hold back, Angel finally broke into silent tears.
Hawoon, observing the scene, felt a strange mix of emotions—humor and a strange sense of lightness. It was an unfamiliar sensation, a feeling of lightness he hadn’t experienced before.
Perhaps he had been regretful all along.
Losing control to anger and killing that girl as per her wishes was something he regretted.
There must have been another way. And he could have found that solution.
But blinded by rage, he hadn’t been able to.
That realization made Hwahn willingly acknowledge that the sins Angel committed were ultimately his own sins, born from his own mistakes.
—
At the fountain, sunlight beautifully poured over the water.
The breeze from the sea rustled the green leaves.
The Square garden was so picturesque that one couldn’t help but think it wasn’t the typical setting for a criminal underworld.
I sat on a bench beneath the tree’s shade. Yet, despite the beauty around me, my mood was troubled.
After pouring out my feelings and gathering the courage to confess, Yugyeom, like a deflating balloon, fell apart right in front of me.
Carrying the frail Yugyeom on my back to seek Angel, I was startled to see Chan appear with a first aid kit.
Ignoring the need for treatment, Chan had been searching for Yugyeom instead.
How ridiculous it felt.
“Just one more lie…”
I threatened Yugyeom, sitting beside Chan, who was receiving treatment.
However, instead of heeding my warning, Chan started glancing at me cautiously.
“Promise.”
Yugyeom looked at me with a gentle smile, but didn’t respond verbally. His eyes were still slightly red.
“Not with your eyes, but with your mouth and hand.”
With a firm grip, I held out my pinky finger to Yugyeom.
“Promise you won’t lie.”
Hurrying him to repeat after me with a glare, Yugyeom chuckled softly.
Completing the task of changing Yugyeom’s bandages, Chan quietly began to distance himself.
I grabbed Chan’s arm, pulling him back to his seat beside me. He shot daggers with his eyes, giving me the silent treatment.
“Will you promise too?”
Yugyeom rested his chin on Chan’s head, addressing him.
Startled, Chan quickly stood up and, before I could hold him back, bolted out like a bullet. I watched as Chan disappeared into the distance.
When Chan completely vanished from sight, I realized only Yugyeom and I were left alone.
Turning my head, I faced Yugyeom, and an awkward silence filled the space.
Flustered, I brushed my hair back and looked away.
“Will you promise?”
Yugyeom grabbed my wrist, pulling my attention back to him. He placed my hand gently over his chest.
“Promise you won’t lie.”
“…”
“Even with what I said earlier.”
I could feel Yugyeom’s heart pounding under my palm, thumping wildly.
I laughed softly, as if my breath had deflated. I pulled my hand back and rested it on my own chest, responding,
“Promise.”
My heartbeat raced faster than Yugyeom’s.
Yugyeom’s face, once smiling, subtly contorted.
A slight change, almost unnoticeable, yet I caught it immediately. He was feeling uneasy.
“Really?”
Yugyeom urged, pressing further.
“Do you really love me?”
I felt my face flush deeply in response to his question.
I knew I needed to give him a certain answer, to put his unease at ease, but my mouth wouldn’t move as easily as my thoughts.
Was I embarrassed now?
I had no idea how red my face had become, so I bowed my head deeply.
Even if I tried to hide it, it wouldn’t work, but I still covered my face with my hands. The fiery heat radiated through my skin.
It was only natural. It was my first love and my first confession.
As the cool breeze slowly cooled the burning sensation, I realized that Yugyeom hadn’t said a word.
Had I been avoiding the answer and lost myself in strange thoughts?
I quickly raised my head in a panic.
Our eyes met again, directly this time.
“I don’t think I need to hear the answer.”
Yugyeom was smiling. I felt almost dazed looking at his smile, as if a blooming rose had blossomed before me.
“To be honest, I thought about it in that fire. If I make it out of here alive…”
He gently cupped my cheek. The light touch of his breath was like a whisper, steadily lowering until it almost reached my heart.
“I’ll stop caring about anything else and just love you.”
Our eyes met once more. His warm, joyful gaze was full of promise.
With that tender confession, his lips brushed against mine.
