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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A few days had passed, and I found myself alone in my old house, the quiet pressing in around me like a weighted blanket. I hadn't been back here in months, but tonight, I couldn't bring myself to join the others. They were all at San's mansion, celebrating, partying the night away. It was San's idea, one last hurrah after everything we'd been through, a way to mark the beginning of something new. Eun-ji was safely with a babysitter, far from the drinking and noise—San had made sure of that.
But even with the whole crew there, with people who'd become like family, I couldn't bring myself to go. The thought of seeing San, of being around him while still feeling this distance, this uncertainty, was a little too much. I sat on the old sofa, staring into the dark, the urge to go to him twisting in my gut, fighting against the part of me that wanted to hold back, to give him the space I'd promised.
Then, my phone buzzed.
I ignored it at first, assuming it was just someone at the party sending some random photo, but when it buzzed again, and then again, curiosity got the best of me. I reached over, unlocking it to see a message from Yeosang, his name glowing on the screen. The message preview made my stomach tighten before I even opened it.
Guess who's Mr. Popular tonight...followed by a winking emoji.
I tapped the message, and a photo loaded almost immediately. It was a shot of San, standing with two guys I vaguely recognized from the Reapers, their faces too close, their grins too casual. San looked as relaxed as ever, his head thrown back in laughter, one hand resting on his hip as he talked with them. There was something in his posture, the ease of it, that made my chest tighten, and the winking emoji at the end of Yeosang's message suddenly felt like it had a bite to it.
Was he trying to rile me up? Did he think this was some kind of joke?
The irritation surged up before I could stop it, a flicker of jealousy twisting in my stomach. I hadn't been there to join in, to be by San's side, and yet here he was, laughing, relaxed, surrounded by people while I sat alone, trying to convince myself this distance was for the best.
Before I knew it, I was on my feet, pacing. I knew I was overreacting. San was allowed to laugh, to enjoy himself, to have a life that didn't revolve around whatever I was going through. And yet, every part of me wanted to get in my car and drive to that party, to make it clear to everyone there, to those two guys standing too close, exactly where things stood.
My phone buzzed again. Another message from Yeosang.
Looks like someone's got competition. Or are you gonna do something about it?Another winking emoji.
I clenched my jaw, feeling that last spark of restraint slip away. Grabbing my keys, I gripped my jacket, heart racing as I headed for the door. I was done with waiting, done with wondering. Tonight, I was going to make it clear to San—and to myself—where we stood.
