[18+] ADULT'S PLAY | ʜɪᴘ ʜᴏᴘ ᴜɴɪᴛ

vi. (edited)

Mingyu flips the sign on the Honeybee's glass door and steps back into the cafe.

"Mingyu, check this out," Vernon calls out, catching Mingyu's attention. Vernon leans against the order counter, engrossed in his phone.

"What's up?" Mingyu asks, approaching Vernon.

"I can't believe they're leaving us out. Seungcheol, Wonwoo, and Sohye are in a private game right now," Vernon exclaims, his tone laced with disbelief.

"What?" Mingyu responds incredulously, halting in his tracks as he processes Vernon's words.

Vernon shows his phone to Mingyu, who peers at the screen in astonishment.

Mingyu quickly make his way to the staff room and grab his belongings.

"Come on, let's go!" he urges Vernon, rushing back to the main area of the cafe.

Vernon follows closely behind, his voice filled with urgency. "What's going on? Where are we headed?"

My gaze shifts between Seungcheol and Wonwoo as we stand in one of the rooms on the fourth floor of the club. Tension hangs heavy in the air, thick with unspoken words and simmering animosity.

"Can you two please stop?" I interject, unable to bear the weight of their silent conflict. Their glaring match feels like a battle of wills, and my head is already throbbing from the alcohol I consumed earlier.

Ignoring me, Wonwoo directs his intense gaze at Seungcheol. "Cancel the game," he demands, his tone edged with frustration.

Seungcheol meets his gaze squarely. "You know we can't just cancel a private game without consequences. There are penalties," he explains calmly.

Wonwoo's jaw tightens, his frustration palpable. "Who cares about the penalties now? Just cancel the fucking game," he insists, his voice laced with anger.

I'm taken aback by his sudden outburst. It's the first time I've heard Wonwoo curse, and it sends a chill down my spine.

"Everyone, let's just take a moment," I gesture with my hands, trying to diffuse the tension.

"What's the big deal about this private game anyway? Isn't it just like any other game, but with fewer players?"

Both Seungcheol and Wonwoo turn their focus towards me, their eyes piercing through the air. I can't help but flinch under the weight of their gazes.

"That's a risky assumption, Sohye," Wonwoo warns, his tone sharp as he narrows his eyes at me. "Did you even bother to read the contract?"

Seungcheol nudges Wonwoo lightly at his side. "Come on, Wonwoo, ease up. Let's just take it easy today."

Wonwoo tears his gaze away from me, shifting his attention back to Seungcheol. "You guys go ahead. I'm sitting this one out."

"Hey!" Seungcheol exclaims, a hint of frustration in his voice as Wonwoo retreats to the other side of the room, sinking into one of the couches wearily. "That's not fair. You accepted the invite, so you should play along. Why accept it if you're not going to participate?"

"It's better than random strangers accepting it," Wonwoo mutters under his breath, but Seungcheol doesn't seem to catch his words.

I narrow my eyes at Wonwoo, trying to decipher his thoughts. What's Seungcheol's motive for inviting both of us to this private game? Did Wonwoo take it personally when I rejected his invite but accepted Seungcheol's?

"Hye, are you hungry? Do you want to cook with me?" Seungcheol suddenly asks. I raise a brow. Didn't we just have a full meal a few hours ago?

"Yeah, sure. We can eat first, I guess," I reply.