Chapter 119
Blood continued to drip onto the ground beneath Yugyeom, pooling around where he stood.
Like red paint splattered on a blank canvas, every trace was unmistakably vivid.
Thud. The bloodied white jacket fell to the floor. Yugyeom pushed his soaked hair back, smearing his fingers with crimson.
For a brief moment, the smile on his lips vanished, as if it had been an illusion that flickered with the blinking streetlamp.
At that moment, Baek Hawon pulled me forcefully backward. Unable to resist, I was dragged along helplessly.
The back of my head struck his firm chest.
“I told you.”
His voice, low and steady, resonated in my ear. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Yugyeom as his words continued.
“If I hear what you’re about to say, I can’t let you go now.”
Baek Hawon gripped my hand tighter, though not painfully—just firmly enough to prevent escape.
“So, you’ll have to handle this.”
Only then did I manage to turn my head up to face him.
But before our eyes could meet, he moved again without releasing my hand.
“Boss!”
I called out loudly, planting my feet firmly to halt my steps. Baek Hawon stood still, turning his body slightly to face me.
“You must know what my words mean,” I said firmly.
Refusing everything he was offering, or planning to offer, felt final and necessary.
Yet, his actions were dismissing my words as though they meant nothing.
“I meant that I will no longer stand with you. So let go.”
I emphasized my words, giving them weight.
However, his expression remained unchanged, calm as ever.
“Stop stubbornly clinging first.”
He smiled mechanically.
When I twisted my captured hand, Baek Hawon released it with ease.
“Get in my car.”
Though his grip loosened, his words held a weight I couldn’t ignore—tightening my resolve.
“You’ll have plenty of questions on the way back.”
I could feel the sharp barb in his words, but I stood frozen, unable to move. He continued, eyes fixed on the lifeless bodies.
“Unless you want me to interpret your words as you trying to distance yourself from this entirely, don’t turn your back on me here.”
His monotonous tone carried an oppressive force.
This was the situation I had been desperately trying to avoid.
Did he really think I was trying to distance myself because I feared being implicated in the betrayal?
In this moment, I couldn’t step forward or retreat.
“Let me go.”
Before I could sense anything, a hand swiftly encased my wrist from behind, pulling me gently yet firmly backward.
“I’m part of his crew.”
Yugyeom spoke with a smile directed at Baek Hawon, his gaze shifting down toward me. Just before our eyes would meet, I instinctively diverted my gaze.
“And we have an agreement.”
You could not see, but you could feel the gaze. The fingertips held by Yugyeom tingled sharply.
Then, once again, they locked eyes, and the intense atmosphere from Baek Hawon startled you. The dark eyes looking at Yugyeom sank deeply.
Neither seemed to have any intention of backing down.
You swallowed dryly. What should you do in this situation?
“Boss! Cha Yeonbyeol! Yugyeom!”
Suddenly, a booming voice shattered the heavy silence. You turned your head towards the direction of the voice.
A red aura appeared through the shadows of the alley. It was Doshiyu.
“Oh… this place is really chaotic.”
Doshiyu sauntered forward, leading a few more members. Had Doshiyu ever seemed this welcome?
You quickly released Yugyeom’s hand.
And, to avoid being caught by anyone again, you took a few steps back from the spot where you had been stuck between Baek Hawon and Yugyeom.
“Those from the outer council and one Utopia we had waiting outside. But still…”
One of Doshiyu’s followers approached Baek Hawon closely to report the situation.
“The crazy guy who shot in the club couldn’t be caught. There were too many people. They said a skinny young man.”
Doshiyu interrupted mid-report, cutting in.
“The boss had people posted at the entrance, and if they haven’t come out yet, they’ll show up soon.”
Doshiyu let out a deep sigh, a hint of despair evident.
“Came here for a bit of fun, and this mess happens. Bad luck for us, poor Doshiyu. With the boss showing up and everything! Fate, I tell you.”
He rambled to himself, appearing slightly unstable.
Now that you thought about it, his face was flushed—drunken from the cocktails he had been sipping.
Then, Doshiyu’s crimson eyes turned to you. You tried to evade the creeping sense of danger in his gaze, but it was too late.
“The guy you were saying was your type…?”
Doshiyu leaned towards you and whispered. Clenching your teeth, you spoke firmly.
“If you’re going to spew nonsense, why don’t you go after the guy who shot?”
As you attempted to push Doshiyu away, he was shoved quite forcefully.
Doshiyu stumbled back, unsteady.
You looked between your untouched hand and Yugyeom’s protective arm around you.
The blank expression on Doshiyu’s face turned into a sudden laugh.
“Sorry for touching you?”
Laughing almost breathlessly, Doshiyu and Yugyeom exchanged amused glances, both sporting subtle smiles.
The sharp edge in Yugyeom’s eyes was unmistakable.
“Even with a past as comrades, manage your expressions better.”
You tilted your head slightly, observing Yugyeom and Doshiyu.
Why was their relationship so tense?
“Miss, come with us. Doshiyu, you come too.”
Baek Hawon unbuttoned a couple of his dress shirt buttons at the collar.
In response, Doshiyu shook his head vigorously.
“Unfortunately, I need to stick by the boss’s side. If I leave him alone here, I might get shot by Jin-hwan.”
Doshiyu smiled broadly, but it didn’t seem very sincere.
“You’ve got a boss like that, and you send away the few people you’ve got and wander around alone?”
Even for someone as strong as Baek Hawon, wandering alone in this territory, where betrayals were common, was a dangerous prospect.
“Or maybe we all go together?”
Baek Hawon stared at Doshiyu with an unreadable expression. The decision didn’t take long.
“Go now.”
At his command, Doshiyu silently rejoiced.
Baek Hawon took the lead, followed by Doshiyu and the other members of his crew.
Yugyeom, without a word, turned and moved away in the opposite direction.
I hesitated briefly as I watched Yugyeom’s retreating figure, then followed behind the members of Baekcheon’s group.
‘Is he avoiding talking to me for now?’
He smiled, but his anger was unmistakable.
As I thought about Yugyeom, the group ahead of me quickly grew distant, and I hurried my steps to keep up.
Stepping out from the alley, the surroundings immediately became chaotic.
In front of the club entrance, it seemed like everyone who had been inside had come out. The crowd was larger than when they had first arrived.
Thanks to this, I kept bumping into shoulders with every step I took.
When men dressed in black suits passed by in a line, others cleared a path, but since I didn’t seem to belong with them, I was the exception.
To stay closer, I began almost running to catch up with the group.
Just as I thought it best to stay right behind Baek Hawon, a cold hand grabbed mine, pulling me tightly.
The familiar warmth was not surprising. I knew exactly whose hand it was.
“Yugyeom?”
I hadn’t realized he was following behind.
Before I could turn around, Yugyeom silently embraced me from behind.
His embrace, secure and unwavering, felt like the only world that mattered.
Baekcheon’s people had disappeared from view. But I didn’t feel the urge to escape from his embrace to chase them down.
“Congratulations.”
Yugyeom buried his head into my shoulder. His hot breath touched my skin.
“If you wanted to drive me crazy, you succeeded.”
The cold hand gripping mine trembled slightly.
“…I didn’t intentionally let go.”
Even if it was an excuse, I had to say it. Yugyeom’s image beneath the flickering lights etched itself deeply into my memory.
Seeing you stand there, so vulnerable, felt like my heart was crashing to the ground.
“I just wish I could be satisfied with the current version of me.”
Since I couldn’t see his face, I couldn’t tell what expression he had.
“I don’t know if I’ll be able to stand here next time we miss each other again.”
His voice sounded fragile, and it unsettled me. I tried to turn my head to face him, but Yugyeom held me even tighter.
“So, just let me hold on like this. Don’t let any other thoughts creep in.”
The metallic smell of blood lingered in the cold embrace. Yugyeom, keeping me tightly within his grasp, whispered low.
“If I can’t handle this, you’ll run away.”
