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 day came faster than I expected, and as we gathered our things to head back to the city, I didn't realize how nervous I would be. The idea of going back to the Midnight Reapers, to the team, felt like a huge weight settling in my chest. Despite everything that had happened, the days I spent away made me miss them even more. It hit me harder than I thought, the realization that being without them wasn't the same. They were family, and no amount of running from it could change that.
Yunho and Mingi finished packing their last suitcases, tossing them into the trunk of the car with playful smirks on their faces. They seemed so relaxed, like this was just another day, but for me, it felt like the beginning of something new—something I wasn't sure I was fully prepared for.
I stood there for a moment, glancing down at myself. My new haircut, my updated outfit—it wasn't a huge transformation, but it was enough to make me feel like I was coming back to myself. Like I was stepping into this next chapter with a little more confidence, a little more me.
With a deep breath, I approached the car, sliding into the back seat. I slipped on my headphones, letting the soft melody of a ballad fill my ears, creating a barrier between me and the nerves gnawing at the edges of my mind. The familiar hum of the engine settled me as Mingi got behind the wheel, and Yunho slid into the passenger seat beside him.
I leaned my head back, humming along to the song as I took a few deep breaths, trying to calm myself. The car started moving, the road stretching ahead of us, and I couldn't help but let my mind wander to what it would be like to see the crew again. Seongjun, Yeosang, Jongho, San... my chest tightened at the thought of him. The distance I had put between us felt necessary at the time, but now it just felt like something unresolved, something I'd have to face sooner or later.
Yunho glanced back at me in the rearview mirror, his expression calm but reassuring. "You good back there?"
I nodded, pulling one earbud out. "Yeah, I'm good. Just... nervous."
Mingi chuckled from the driver's seat, his eyes focused on the road ahead. "You? Nervous? The mighty Wooyoung?"
I couldn't help but laugh softly. "Yeah, turns out even I can get nervous about stuff like this."
Yunho smiled, turning slightly in his seat to look at me. "You've got nothing to worry about. They're your family, remember? No matter what happened, they're going to be happy to see you."
I let his words sink in, feeling a little of the tension ease from my shoulders. "I know. I just... I wasn't sure I was ready to go back, but now I feel like I need to. Like it's time."
Mingi nodded, his voice more serious this time. "You've had your time to figure things out. Now you're coming back stronger. We're with you, no matter what."
I leaned back into my seat, closing my eyes for a moment as the soft music continued playing in the background. The rhythmic motion of the car lulled me into a sense of calm, and for the first time in a long while, I felt at peace with my decision.
