𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐘𝐎𝐔 | 𝐖𝐎𝐎𝐒𝐀𝐍 ✔️

# 9 | SOMETHING FAMILIAR

SAN

The quiet hum of the city filled the air as San walked along the streets of downtown, the sounds of traffic and distant voices blending together in an almost soothing rhythm. The night had fallen, and the city's lights illuminated the path before him. But as usual, his mind was far away from the streets, from the noise, and even from the sprawling city itself.

He had spent the rest of the gala in a haze, surrounded by people who spoke in half-truths and played games of power that San had grown too accustomed to. And yet, his thoughts kept drifting back to Wooyoung and that peculiar sense of familiarity that had gnawed at him since the first time they met. It wasn't just about how Wooyoung looked, or the way he carried himself, but something deeper—an impression, like a fleeting memory from a past life.

The gala felt like a world he was supposed to belong to, but it was in moments like these, when he walked alone through the city, that the true weight of his position settled in. The power he wielded came with its own set of chains. No matter how hard he tried, San couldn't shake the feeling that things were shifting around him, slipping just beyond his control.

That's when he saw the man again.

San had just stepped out of the elevator on the street level of his building when a shadow in the distance caught his attention. He paused, eyes narrowing as he recognized the tall, dark figure standing in the corner of the alley just across the street. It was the same man—the one who had been at the club, watching him from a distance, like a ghost with intent.

The stranger was standing there, in the darkened street, just a little too still, his hands in his coat pockets. His face was obscured by the shadows, but San could feel those piercing eyes on him. There was something unsettling about the man, something familiar yet wrong. A sense of danger clung to him like smoke.

San's breath caught in his throat for a moment. He had been trying to push the memory of the man from his mind, but there he was again—just as unsettling, just as out of place.

He didn't hesitate this time. The man was not just a random passerby; he had been watching him for a reason, and San needed to know why.

Slowly, San approached, his instincts sharper than ever. He didn't want to act rashly, not in a situation like this. But the man was a mystery, one that San couldn't afford to leave unanswered.

As he drew closer, the stranger finally stepped out of the shadows. He was taller than San had remembered, his face still partially hidden under the brim of a worn-out hat. But as San came closer, he could see his features more clearly. Sharp jawline. High cheekbones. There was something unsettlingly familiar about him, but San couldn't quite place it.

"San," the stranger said, his voice low and smooth, like it belonged to a man who had spent too many years hiding in the shadows. "It's been a while."

San stopped in his tracks, his hand tightening on the strap of his briefcase. He wasn't used to being caught off guard. This man... he was too familiar. And yet, every time he tried to place him, the memory slipped through his fingers.

"Who are you?" San asked, his voice steady but edged with suspicion.

The man raised his head slightly, his dark eyes gleaming with an almost unreadable expression. "You don't remember me?" He smiled, but it wasn't a pleasant smile—it was one that felt like it had been crafted to unsettle. "That's unfortunate."

San's pulse quickened. He stepped forward, narrowing his eyes. "I'm not in the habit of forgetting faces. So why don't you tell me who you are and what you want?"

The stranger's smile widened. "Let's just say I'm someone who's been keeping an eye on you. We both know how important your little security empire has become, San. You're more powerful than you realize. People are starting to talk, starting to notice."

San remained silent, his gaze sharp as he took the stranger's words in. This man knew too much. He was talking about things that San didn't share with anyone—things that were supposed to stay behind closed doors, in the backrooms of deals and whispered conversations. The type of power San had built through his security company wasn't something the world should know about.

And yet, here was this stranger, someone who knew things he shouldn't.

"Do I look like I care about rumors?" San's voice was low, but filled with a dangerous calm. "I'm not afraid of the spotlight, but I don't like people spying on me."

The stranger chuckled, his voice smooth as silk. "Oh, it's not spying. It's simply... paying attention. I know you have plans, San. Big plans. But you should be careful where you tread. Not everyone will be as kind as me. You've made powerful enemies. I'm sure you know that, though."

San felt a flicker of tension in the air between them. He was used to being in control of situations like this, but there was something about this man—something intangible—that made him uncomfortable. The familiarity in his voice, the confidence in his stance, it was as though he'd been waiting for this moment for a long time.

"What do you want?" San demanded, stepping closer.

The stranger tilted his head, a half-smile playing at the corners of his lips. "For now, nothing. But you'll see me again. We'll cross paths soon enough."

Before San could respond, the man turned and walked away, his footsteps quick and sure. San stood frozen for a moment, watching him disappear into the darkness, the chill of the night suddenly settling around him. His heart was beating faster than usual, the adrenaline from the encounter still fresh in his veins.

San knew that this wasn't over. The man knew too much, and he was clearly dangerous. San had built his empire through hard work and careful calculation, but he had never faced an enemy like this—one who moved like a shadow, slipping in and out of his life with unsettling ease.

As he turned to walk away, San's thoughts drifted back to Wooyoung. The familiar feeling of having seen him before, the odd connection that lingered in the back of his mind—it all seemed more important now.

Maybe this man, this shadow in the dark, had something to do with it. And maybe, just maybe, Wooyoung was more involved in all of this than San had originally thought.