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Donghyuck barely slept that night. The looming threat of Jaebum's ultimatum gnawed at him, and every time he closed his eyes, he saw Mark's face—innocent and unaware of the danger that now surrounded him. By morning, Donghyuck had formulated a plan, but it was risky. He had to be careful, calculating, and above all, he had to keep Mark safe.
The next day at university, Donghyuck's mind was elsewhere. He went through the motions of attending classes, but his thoughts were consumed by the gang's predicament and Jaebum's threat. He knew he needed help, and there was only one person he could trust implicitly with this information—Jeno.
After class, Donghyuck found Jeno hanging out near the campus café, chatting with some friends. He signaled Jeno, who immediately sensed the urgency in Donghyuck's eyes. They slipped away to a quiet corner of the campus where they could talk without being overheard.
"Jeno, we have to do something about Jaebum. He's demanding an outrageous sum, and if we don't pay, he's going after Mark," Donghyuck said, his voice low and urgent.
Jeno's expression turned serious. "Damn, that's worse than I thought. What's the plan?"
Donghyuck explained his idea. It was risky, involving a heist on one of Jaebum's stash houses to gather enough money to pay him off. It was a bold move, but it was their best shot at buying some time and keeping Mark out of danger.
"We hit his stash, get the money, and use it to pay him off. But we need to be smart about it. No mistakes," Donghyuck emphasized.
Jeno nodded. "Alright. I'm with you. Let's gather the crew and plan this out."
That evening, Donghyuck and Jeno assembled their trusted members at the warehouse. The air was thick with tension as Donghyuck laid out the details of the heist. The plan was met with mixed reactions—some were eager to take action, while others were wary of the consequences. But in the end, loyalty to Donghyuck and the gang's survival won out.
As the night of the heist approached, Donghyuck's nerves were on edge. He couldn't shake the feeling that something could go wrong. Yet, he knew they had no choice. Jaebum's deadline was looming, and they had to act.
The heist itself was a blur of adrenaline and chaos. They moved under the cover of darkness, breaking into the stash house with practiced precision. The operation went smoothly at first, but just as they were about to make their escape with the money, the sound of sirens shattered the night.
"Cops! Move, now!" Donghyuck shouted, his heart racing.
They scattered, the sound of footsteps and shouts filling the air. Donghyuck clutched the bag of money tightly, his mind focused on getting out alive. He could hear Jeno calling out to him, but the noise and confusion made it hard to tell where anyone was.
Just as Donghyuck thought they might make it, a blinding light flooded the alley, and he found himself face-to-face with a police officer. The officer's gun was drawn, and Donghyuck's mind raced for a way out.
"Hands up! Drop the bag!" the officer shouted.
Donghyuck hesitated for a split second, then dropped the bag and raised his hands. The officer moved in, but before he could cuff Donghyuck, Jeno tackled the officer from behind, knocking him to the ground.
"Run, Hyuck! Go!" Jeno yelled.
Donghyuck didn't need to be told twice. He bolted, his heart pounding as he sprinted through the dark alleys, the sounds of pursuit echoing behind him. He didn't stop until he was sure he had lost them, collapsing in a secluded spot to catch his breath.
It wasn't until hours later that he finally made it back to the warehouse. His crew was already there, their faces tense with worry. Jeno arrived shortly after, bruised but unharmed, and they took stock of what they had managed to salvage.
They had the money, but the heist had come at a cost. The police presence meant they were now on high alert, and Donghyuck knew it was only a matter of time before they came knocking on his door.
The next day, Donghyuck's anxiety only grew. He had the money to pay Jaebum, but the risk to his gang and Mark was higher than ever. He had to act fast and smart.
Meanwhile, Mark noticed Donghyuck's absence from their usual classes. His concern grew with each passing hour, the worry gnawing at him. He tried texting and calling Donghyuck, but received no response. Mark decided he couldn't stand the silence any longer and went to Donghyuck's apartment after classes.
Standing outside the door, Mark took a deep breath and knocked. There was a moment of silence before Donghyuck opened the door, his face pale and tense.
"Mark, what are you doing here?" Donghyuck asked, his voice strained.
"I've been worried about you. You haven't been answering my calls or texts. What's going on?" Mark asked, his concern evident.
Donghyuck hesitated, torn between wanting to protect Mark and the need to be honest. "It's complicated, Mark. You shouldn't be here."
Mark stepped closer, his eyes filled with determination. "Donghyuck, I care about you. I want to help. Please, just talk to me."
Donghyuck's resolve wavered as he looked into Mark's eyes. He knew he couldn't keep Mark in the dark forever. "Alright. Come in. We need to talk."
As Mark entered the apartment, Donghyuck closed the door behind him, feeling the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold. The walls of secrecy and danger were closing in, and Donghyuck knew that the time had come to face the truth and the consequences of his double life.
