The Whispers (Underworld 6) VK

40: Not Going Anywhere

Hansol pocketed his phone with a tense sigh, his mind racing with everything Seungcheol had told him. This wasn't just an idle threat; it was personal, a direct attack on his family, on the people he loved. Hansol felt the weight of the threat pressing down on him, anger and frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Next to him, Chan had been watching him intently, picking up on the shift in Hansol's mood. As soon as the call ended, he nudged Hansol gently, his eyes wide with concern. "What happened, hyung? You look like you just saw a ghost."

Hansol glanced toward the front of the café, where Seungkwan and Moonbin were busy chatting as they waited for their coffee. He turned back to Chan, his expression serious. "Listen, we need to talk before they get back."

Chan's casual curiosity was quickly replaced by worry. "Hansol, what's going on?"

Hansol lowered his voice, his gaze intense. "Someone sent hyung a threat. A letter that was... a warning. It wasn't some random threat either, Chan. They know things about us—about our family, our connections. They're watching us." He clenched his jaw, his voice trembling slightly. "They mentioned Seungkwan, too."

Chan's eyes widened, and he felt a chill run down his spine. "What... What did they say?"

"It's vague, but the message was clear. They want to tear us apart, starting with our families. This 'ZY' person, whoever they are... they're coming after us, and they don't care about playing fair." Hansol's fists tightened as he spoke. "They called Seungkwan my 'lifeline,' Chan. I don't even want to think about what that means."

Chan's face darkened, the worry in his eyes quickly morphing into anger. "Are you serious? This ZY person thinks they can mess with us? And Seungkwan?" He exhaled sharply, his voice laced with disbelief. "Do they even know who they're dealing with?"

"I don't think they care, Chan," Hansol replied bitterly. "They're already bold enough to send threats to Seungcheol hyung. They want us to feel vulnerable, like we're constantly being watched. They want us to make mistakes."

Chan crossed his arms, his gaze hardening. "So, what do we do?"

Hansol thought for a moment, glancing back toward Seungkwan and Moonbin. "For now, we don't tell them. Seungkwan doesn't need to know he's part of this mess. He'll be safe as long as he's with us, and I'll make sure it stays that way."

"But hyung... what if things escalate?" Chan's voice softened, the weight of the situation settling heavily on him. "What if this ZY person doesn't stop?"

Hansol met his gaze, the fire in his eyes unwavering. "Then we protect him, Chan. All of us. We keep Seungkwan out of this darkness as much as we can." He looked away, his expression tight. "He doesn't deserve to be dragged into this nightmare."

At that moment, Seungkwan's laughter echoed from the front, and Hansol turned back, watching him with a sense of bittersweet affection. The thought of Seungkwan getting hurt because of him, because of some twisted game they didn't even know the rules to, made his stomach churn.

Chan placed a reassuring hand on Hansol's shoulder. "We've got his back, Hansol. And yours, too. No one messes with our family."

Hansol offered him a faint smile, grateful for the reassurance, even as the tension remained. "Thanks, Chan. I just hope that's enough."

Hansol quickly put on a forced smile as Seungkwan and Moonbin walked back to the table, carrying trays loaded with coffee cups and pastries. But the tension still clung to the air, thick and nearly tangible. Chan straightened up, trying to mirror Hansol's attempt at casualness, but the stress in their eyes was hard to miss.