Choi San, a revered and feared mafia boss, reigns over Seoul's underworld with an iron fist, his influence extending seamlessly across both legal and illegal domains. But his empire is shaken to its core when his beloved daughter, Eun-ji, is kidnapp...
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The next few days blurred together in a haze of sun, water, and quiet moments of reflection. I was lounging by the pool, the sun warm on my skin as the gentle ripple of water created a soothing background. For the first time in what felt like forever, my mind wasn't consumed by chaos. I felt calm, at peace even, as I ran my fingers through my hair and let the world slow down around me.
Yunho and Mingi stepped out of their mansion, looking as relaxed as ever. They strolled over, drinks in hand, and plopped down beside me with the kind of ease that only comes from knowing someone for years. Yunho handed me a drink, and I smiled softly, taking a small sip. The cool liquid was refreshing, but it was the company that brought the real comfort. Despite the distance I'd put between myself and the crew, being with them now—no expectations, no pressure—felt good.
"You look like you're finally breathing again," Mingi said, stretching out beside me, his voice light and easy as always. He didn't pry or ask any questions. He didn't have to.
"I guess I am," I admitted, leaning back and staring up at the sky. It felt strange, this peace. For so long, I'd been filled with so much anger and hurt, especially when it came to San. But now, after these few days away, after having the space to clear my head, even thinking about San didn't make me angry anymore. My reaction had been valid. I knew why I'd felt so hurt, so betrayed. But in the quiet of my own thoughts, I could admit to myself that I'd said things that had hurt him, too—things I didn't mean, not really.
Yunho, always the more perceptive one, took a sip from his drink and leaned forward, giving me a knowing look. "You've been thinking about it, huh? About what happened with San?"
I nodded slowly, letting out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding. "Yeah... a lot actually. I was so angry with him. With everything. But now, I can see it more clearly. He wasn't a monster. He didn't lie to hurt me. He just... he didn't know how to tell me the truth." I paused, running my hand through my hair again, the memory of that night surfacing. "The night we spent together—it wasn't a mistake. He wasn't trying to deceive me, and I know that now. He could've done worse, but he didn't. And... part of me hates that I said things that hurt him."
Mingi, always laid-back but wiser than people gave him credit for, nodded slowly. "Yeah, man. I get it. It's easy to let the anger take over when you're hurting. But you said those things because you felt betrayed. That's valid. Doesn't mean you meant them, but you were in pain. You were just protecting yourself."
"Exactly," Yunho added, sitting up slightly. "You were both thrown into a situation neither of you was prepared for. And then... she came back." He didn't have to say her name. We all knew who he was talking about.
I sighed, my eyes drifting to the water, watching the sunlight dance across its surface. "That's what hurt the most. When she came back, it felt like she took away the one thing I had, the one safe space in all this chaos. Being with San, it was like having a haven in the storm. And then she came back and shattered it like it was nothing."
