Unevitable | Ryeji |

Chapter 30: Inescapable Convergence

Ryujin's POV:

As I watch Hyunjin prepare to leave, a heavy weight settles in my chest. I can see the determination in his eyes, the cold resolve that has always made him such a reliable partner. But this time, something feels different. The lines between our mission and our personal lives have blurred beyond recognition. I know he's about to carry out a plan we both agreed on, a necessary step to keep everything from falling apart.

But this isn't just any target. Felix isn't just another obstacle; he's the one person Hyunjin has ever truly cared about, perhaps even loved. And now, Hyunjin is about to silence him forever.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" I ask, my voice betraying the slightest hint of concern. He glances at me, and for a brief moment, I see the conflict in his eyes before it's buried beneath that familiar mask of indifference.

"I have to be," he replies, slipping on his gloves with an air of finality. "There's no other way."

I nod, even though every instinct is screaming at me to stop him. I know that hesitation, second-guessing, could be fatal for us both. We've come too far to let emotions derail our plan now.

"Be careful," I say softly, knowing that these could be the last words I speak to him as the person he was before this night. He gives me a small, almost imperceptible smile-one that doesn't reach his eyes-before turning towards the door.

As he walks away, I feel the walls closing in around me. The silence of our hideout is deafening, and I'm left alone with my thoughts, the weight of our actions pressing down on me harder than ever. I told myself this was all for the greater good, but with each step Hyunjin takes towards the point of no return, I'm less and less certain of that.

For the first time in a long time, I wonder if we've made a mistake-one that we can never come back from.

I'm lost in the maze of my thoughts when a sharp knock on the door pulls me back to the present. I quickly compose myself, knowing it can only be one person. "Come in," I call out.

The door creaks open, and Winter steps inside, her expression a mix of urgency and concern. "Ryujin," she says, her voice low but firm. "Felix isn't on duty tonight."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. For a moment, all I can do is stare at her, the implications swirling in my mind. "What do you mean he's not on duty?" I finally manage to ask, my voice tighter than I intended.

"He was scheduled, but something changed last minute. They sent someone else instead," Winter explains, her eyes locking onto mine, waiting for my reaction.

I curse under my breath, pacing the room as I try to piece together what this means. If Felix isn't there, Hyunjin's entire plan is thrown into chaos. Worse, he could be walking into a trap or a situation we haven't accounted for.

"Did Hyunjin already leave?" Winter asks, a hint of worry creeping into her voice.

"Yes, just a few minutes ago," I respond, running a hand through my hair in frustration. This wasn't part of the plan, and now everything feels like it's unraveling.

I grab my phone and quickly dial Hyunjin's number, my heart pounding as I wait for him to pick up. Each ring echoes in the room, the tension mounting with every passing second.

Finally, he answers. "Ryujin?"

"Hyunjin, listen to me. Felix isn't on duty tonight," I say, cutting straight to the point. "You need to abort the mission."

There's a brief silence on the other end, and I can almost hear the gears turning in his head. "Who's on duty then?"

"I don't know, but it's not Felix. We need to regroup and figure out what's going on," I insist, hoping he'll listen.