Chapter 116
Jiwoon received a bright pink cocktail from the bartender and handed it to me. I took the cocktail and asked,
“Why are you here?”
With the time already tight, why would I get caught up with Jiwoon again? I needed to make small talk and slip away.
I didn’t drink the cocktail; instead, I glanced at the decorative garnish on top before turning to survey the area around us.
The cocktail bar, where Jiwoon had practically dragged me to, was quite distant from the stage, meaning there were fewer people there.
“I’m here to have fun.”
Jiwoon smiled as he said it. I downed my glass in one go and gave him a once-over, from top to bottom.
“…Yeah, you do look like you’re having fun.”
He always had a unique sense of style, but today’s outfit easily took the cake.
Blood-red hair that wasn’t quite orange or scarlet, but deep red like blood.
Underneath a gray checkered jacket, he wore a burgundy shirt paired with a horizontally striped tee.
Ruby earrings sparkled with every movement, reflecting the dim stage lights. Altogether, his outfit and accessories were worth a few hundred thousand dollars in designer pieces.
“Why do you look so plain?”
“Because my face isn’t plain.”
I smiled confidently at Jiwoon’s remark. His bewildered expression at my cheeky response made me grin even wider.
“After dying and coming back to life a few times, you’ve just gotten more shameless.”
I shrugged and replied nonchalantly.
“Well, you said you had no time for me when I was dying, but somehow you’ve got time to dress up and party.”
Jiwoon adjusted his empty glass. A ring on his right pinky finger matched the ruby earrings perfectly.
“I was really busy.”
“That’s a lie.”
“I don’t lie.”
“Hey! Don’t—no! Don’t! Ow!”
Despite my resistance, Jiwoon smacked my forehead hard.
The loud smack resonated painfully in my head.
“Hey!”
I shouted and jumped up, causing Jiwoon to retreat slightly.
“Sorry, sorry. Don’t kill me.”
His sheepish smile didn’t seem genuine at all. I clenched my fists in frustration.
“Hey! No more! Stop! Ouch!”
“Not stopping,”
“Ow!”
“Until I say.”
“Ack!”
I retaliated, matching his intensity, no, doubling down on it. A triumphant smile spread across my face as I sat back down.
Jiwoon slumped onto the bar table dramatically, pretending to cry. I grabbed his red hair and pulled it hard.
“I’ve been wanting to ask this for a while. What’s your criteria when choosing hair color?”
Without resisting, Jiwoon let me pull him closer, his head turning to face me.
“Change in mood,” he said softly, his eyes looking a little tear-streaked.
“And what mood is this?”
I tugged at his hair harder, forcing him to sit up straight.
He brushed my hand away, shaking his hair off casually, then looked down at me.
“If I tell you, it won’t be fun.”
The playful glint returned to his eyes, like nothing had happened.
“Remember? Back when we went to the casino, I said I’d answer whatever you asked.”
“Are you using that now?”
“Not really. I wouldn’t waste it on some quirky hobby of yours.”
I studied Jiwoon’s eyes carefully, but the dim lighting made it hard to discern the exact color.
I leaned in slightly towards him, wondering what color lenses he was wearing today.
At that moment, Jiwoon wrapped his arms around my neck, pulling me toward him.
“…!”
In the blink of an eye, his face was right in front of mine.
Frozen, I stared wide-eyed as Jiwoon’s playful smile widened.
“Does this help?”
He smiled mischievously, squeezing his nose and laughing.
I tried to pull back, but it was too late. His gaze was intense, his eyes glowing red in the dim light.
Sighing, I gave up. Jiwoon let me go, but the chair beneath me wobbled slightly as I struggled to keep my balance.
I managed to grip the table in time, preventing myself from falling.
Once I regained my composure, I looked up to see Jiwoon ordering another cocktail from the bartender while watching me with interest.
“So, you just wanted to see me?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. Why are we suddenly talking about this? It’s annoying.”
“Really?”
Jiwoon took my untouched cocktail to his lips, his eyes shining with a color similar to the drink.
“I killed the bastard who used to torment you.”
Whispering softly, Jiwoon lowered his gaze to my arm, which bore a scar from a bullet graze.
I immediately recognized who he was referring to. It was a fact I had briefly forgotten—Jiwoon had killed Kang Taejun.
“…Was Kang Taejun killed right there?”
Was it Jiwoon who became the variable in my future, altering the outcome by killing Kang Taejun?
If so, the story that follows will undoubtedly shift drastically.
“It was a pity. If the Boss hadn’t gotten hurt, I would’ve kept him alive just to torment him longer.”
Jiwoon genuinely seemed regretful as he spoke.
“I truly regret it. To dare touch the Boss, Baek-cheon, and then die so easily.”
His voice was low and intense. Running his fingers over the ruby-studded earrings, he muttered quietly, his expression tinged with anger.
Seeing Jiwoon smile mischievously most of the time, this cold, serious expression was rare.
In moments like this, Jiwoon really seemed like a devoted member of a criminal organization.
Hadn’t he been the one who spread vicious rumors about the former casino boss before killing him?
Lost in thoughts about Kang Tae-jun’s death and Jiwoon, I shifted my gaze around the room and spotted something familiar.
A man dressed in a black suit with a face I recognized instantly.
‘Utopia.’
It was the same man who had been by Yoo-hwa’s side in the casino.
‘He’s here for Jeong-hui.’
Desperate, I quickly rose from my seat. This was a godsend opportunity I couldn’t afford to miss.
“Where are you going?”
But before I could take a step, my wrist was grabbed. My head spun, and I couldn’t come up with a way to shake Jiwoon off.
“Do you know him?”
“Yeah, totally my type over there?”
The words tumbled out of my mouth, completely ineffective.
Is this the best I can do? Is this really the best? I berated myself internally, squeezing my eyes shut.
“Yeah? Then you should go quickly.”
“I know it’s ridiculous, but it’s not a—”
I sensed something off and opened my eyes.
“…What?”
Jiwoon gave me the most gentle and understanding smile.
“Finding someone to match your quirky taste is like picking stars from the sky. Go ahead, find him.”
Releasing my hand, he even gave me a gentle nudge. I was pushed forward in shock and irritation.
But deep down, I believed this chaotic moment and the chance it presented were gifts from fate.
It was faster and simpler this way.
“Yeah! I’ll be back!”
I awkwardly smiled and nodded. The situation was absurd, but my priority now was to follow the Utopia member.
Jiwoon didn’t seem to be pursuing me anymore, believing my ridiculous excuse.
I shook off my lingering unease as I followed the Utopia member further into the crowd.
We pushed through the throng, walking confidently toward the cocktail bar near the central stage.
Compared to the quieter area Jiwoon and I had been in, this place was chaotic and packed with people.
The man sat at the cocktail bar. I settled two seats away from him. As I ordered a cocktail from the bartender, I glanced at the empty seat next to the Utopia member.
‘When will he arrive?’
My fingers drummed nervously on the table.
All I knew was that this transaction had been recorded by Yugyeom, but I had no information about how the deal was carried out.
“A Sweet Martini, please.”
The bartender placed the cocktail in front of me. I reached out for it, but my gaze lingered somewhere else.
The glass slipped from my fingertips before I could properly grasp it.
Clash!
The glass shattered into pieces as it hit the floor. I quickly lifted my head.
Between the crimson lighting, our eyes met. The bartender smiled faintly.
The way to identify Utopia members is simple.
Their wrists bear the symbol of red smoke. Though I’ve never seen it up close, I instinctively knew what was before me—the bartender’s wrist bore the mark of Utopia.
“Ah…!”
A sudden, sharp pain shot through my head. I clutched my head tightly as I staggered off the chair. The world spun around me.
Maybe this fate won’t change.
The future I saw.
The sad ending with Yugyeom’s death.
“Are you okay?”
The bartender reached out, but I instinctively swatted his hand away.
Clinging tightly to the table, I bent over, panting heavily, trying to regain my composure. Our eyes locked again, and he looked into mine with piercing clarity.
I needed to keep my composure.
But at that moment, everything felt like it was flashing white in my mind.
Bang!
A sudden loud gunshot rang out. I turned toward the sound, remembering where I had lost Yugyeom’s hand.
