Annyeongz One-shots

129. Reality

The continues of still him part 3

The walk back to the stall was silent.

Not peaceful silence.

The kind that feels heavy in the chest.

Jungwon followed behind Yujin, hands shoved into his pockets, still bruised, still irritated. Every few steps, he kicked small stones off the pavement like he was trying to release anger somewhere else.

“Seriously,” Jungwon muttered under his breath. “This is so embarrassing…”

Yujin didn’t respond.

He kept walking.

Calm pace.

Controlled breathing.

But his jaw was slightly tighter than before.

Jungwon continued anyway.

“I’m not working at some roadside stall like a slave,” he scoffed. “You’re actually serious?”

Still no answer.

“Hyung, just let me go home—”

“Stop talking.”

Yujin’s voice was low.

Not loud.

But sharp enough to cut through the air.

Jungwon fell quiet for a moment.

But not for long.

“Why? So I can sit there and rot while you act like everything is fine?”

That one.

That one line.

Something in Yujin finally flickered.

Not anger exploding.

But something controlled snapping slightly at the edges.

He stopped walking.

Jungwon almost bumped into him.

Yujin turned his head slowly.

“Enough.”

Jungwon looked back at him, annoyed.

“What?”

Yujin stared at him for a long moment.

Then exhaled slowly.

“…You don’t get to talk about rotting,” he said quietly. “Not when I’m the one cleaning up everything you leave behind.”

Silence.

Jungwon’s expression shifted slightly.

But he still didn’t back down.

The rest of the walk continued in tense silence until they finally reached the stall.

The familiar smell of tteokbokki sauce, oil, and steam hit them instantly.

Minjun looked up from behind the counter, surprised.

“Oh… you’re early today—”

Then he saw Jungwon.

And paused.

Yujin didn’t explain anything.

He just walked straight behind the counter and put his bag down.

Jungwon stood at the entrance, looking around with disgust.

“This is it?” he said loudly. “You actually work here all day?”