killer affection | jaywon

06

Jungwon paused at the door, Jay’s words hanging in the air between them. There was a weight to them, a promise that felt both reassuring and terrifying. Jungwon didn’t turn around, but he nodded, acknowledging the trust Jay was placing in him a trust that he wasn’t sure he deserved yet.

“Let’s hope not” Jungwon replied quietly before stepping out of the room.

As he walked back to the guest room, the mansion felt different. The coldness of the place hadn’t changed, but there was a strange warmth in knowing that, for now at least, he wasn’t alone. The thought made him uneasy, but it was a discomfort he was willing to tolerate, if only to see where this new path would lead.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. Jungwon spent most of it resting, his body still recovering from the injury. Sunoo checked on him periodically, bringing food and offering small talk that Jungwon didn’t know how to respond to but appreciated nonetheless. The other boys kept their distance, but Jungwon could feel their eyes on him, watching, judging, waiting to see if he was truly a part of their group or just a ticking time bomb.

By evening, Jay called a meeting in the living room, gathering everyone together. Jungwon joined them, his arm still in a sling, but his mind sharper than it had been in days. The tension in the room was thick, but it was clear that Jay’s decision to bring Jungwon into their fold had been made, and there was no turning back now.

Jay stood at the center of the room, his usual confidence tempered with a seriousness that commanded attention. He looked at each of his friends his family before his gaze settled on Jungwon, who stood slightly apart from the group.

“I know some of you have reservations” Jay began, his voice steady. “and I don’t blame you, but I’ve made my decision. Jungwon is with us now, and we need to trust each other if we’re going to succeed.”

Jake, who had been leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, frowned but nodded slowly. “I still don’t like it, but if you think this is the right move, Jay, I’ll back you.”

Heeseung, ever the voice of reason, added, “We’re in this together. If Jungwon’s on our side, then he’s one of us but he needs to understand what that means.”

Jungwon didn’t flinch under their scrutiny. He knew he was the outsider here, the one who had to prove himself. But he also knew that this was the best chance he had to get the revenge he’d been seeking for years.

“I understand,” Jungwon said, meeting Heeseung’s gaze directly. “I’m not here to make friends I’m here because I want the same thing you do to take down Park Jaehee if that means working with you, then so be it.”

Jay nodded, satisfied with Jungwon’s response. “good because from now on, we’re not just surviving we’re planning, we’re preparing and when the time is right, we’re going to take my father down, once and for all”

The room fell silent, the weight of Jay’s words sinking in. They all knew what was at stake, how dangerous this path was but they also knew that it was the only way to break free from the shadows that had controlled their lives for so long.

Sunghoon, who had been unusually quiet since the incident in the alley, finally spoke up. “I’m in I messed up before, but I’m not going to let that happen again.”

Ni-ki, the youngest and often the most impulsive, nodded eagerly. “same here Whatever it takes, Jay hyung”

Sunoo smiled softly at Jungwon, his earlier words of welcome now backed by a quiet determination. “we’re all in this together.” (highschool musical reference)

Jungwon felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. He had spent so long fighting alone, building walls around himself to keep everyone out. But now, for the first time in years, he was part of something bigger than his own pain. It scared him, but it also gave him a sense of purpose that went beyond just revenge.

Over the next few weeks, Jungwon slowly integrated into the group. The initial tension between him and the others didn’t disappear overnight, but it began to ease as they worked together, planning their next moves against Park Jaehee. The boys quickly realized that Jungwon’s skills as an assassin were an invaluable asset, and his knowledge of the underworld filled in gaps they hadn’t even known existed.

Jay, true to his word, treated Jungwon as an equal, involving him in every discussion and every decision. It was a level of trust that Jungwon hadn’t expected, and it made him more determined to prove that he belonged. He found himself spending more time with the group, particularly with Jay, whose sharp mind and unyielding determination fascinated him.

Late one night, as they pored over maps and documents in Jay’s office, Jungwon finally allowed himself to ask the question that had been gnawing at him since the day Jay had saved him.

“Why did you really save me, Jay?” Jungwon asked, his voice quiet in the stillness of the room. “You could have left me there to die. It would have been easier.”

Jay looked up from the papers spread across the desk, his dark eyes meeting Jungwon’s. For a moment, he was silent, as if considering his answer carefully.

“Because I saw myself in you,” Jay finally said, his voice soft but unwavering. “I saw someone who was driven by something more than just anger. Someone who was lost, looking for a way out. I’ve been there, Jungwon. And I knew that if I didn’t reach out to you, you’d end up like me—chasing shadows, destroying yourself in the process.”

Jungwon was silent, the weight of Jay’s words sinking in. It wasn’t the answer he had expected, but it was the one he needed to hear. For so long, he had defined himself by his need for revenge, by the pain and anger that consumed him. But now, sitting across from Jay, he realized that maybe there was another way—a way that didn’t end in more bloodshed and more pain.

“I don’t know if I can ever be like you,” Jungwon admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. “But I want to try. I want to find something more than just revenge.”

Jay smiled, a genuine smile that softened his usually guarded expression. “That’s all I’m asking for. We’ll figure it out together.”

The weeks turned into months, and the group’s plans began to take shape. Jungwon became an integral part of the team, his sharp mind and deadly skills complementing the others’ strengths. The trust between him and the others grew, especially between him and Jay, who became not just an ally, but something more though neither of them would admit it out loud.

The night before they were set to execute the first phase of their plan, Jungwon found himself standing on the balcony of the mansion, looking out at the sprawling city below. The wind was cool against his skin, and for the first time in a long time, he felt at peace.

Jay joined him a few moments later, leaning against the railing beside him. They stood in silence for a while, the unspoken bond between them stronger than ever.

“Tomorrow’s the beginning of the end,” Jay said quietly, his eyes focused on the city lights. “Are you ready?”

Jungwon nodded, his resolve firm. “I am. But this time, it’s not just about revenge. It’s about something more.”

Jay turned to him, a small smile playing on his lips. “You’ve come a long way, Jungwon. I’m glad you’re with us.”

Jungwon met his gaze, a rare smile of his own tugging at his lips. “Me too, Jay. Me too.”

As they stood there, side by side, the weight of the past lifted just a little. The future was uncertain, and the road ahead was dangerous, but they were ready to face it together.

Because in the end, it wasn’t just about revenge. It was about finding a new purpose, a new family, and a new life one that they would fight for, no matter the cost.

And for the first time in a long time, Jungwon felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.