x
~.::.~
The air was rank with blood and sweat. A young man turned over on the ground after his thorough beating, streaks of blood and saliva spattered on his face. His tattered lip hung crooked as he glared at his attacker — his brother, otherwise known as The Big Boss. The men on the sides watched with indifference as they always do during these types of beat downs.
"I decide who's heads get cut. Don't you dare lie to me again. If you see him again, I'll know. I always do." The older man had a hardened look with a scar on his cheek to match. Another man stepped toward him with a towel. He took it and wiped the blood off his hands. "If you do and your next move isn't to bring him straight to me, this will be the last beating you'll ever get."
"Hyung!" The man on the floor growled but it was weak.
"Don't call me, hyung. I stopped being your brother a long time ago, Jei." The man turned and swaggered away. The other men in the room followed him out, leaving the battered Jei alone on the cold ground.
~.::.~252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuypodMA1j6
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSTCdHppYH
YOONGI
A muffled voice seemed to call out to me in the dark. Though I couldn't care less. It was interrupting my sleep flow. There's no way it was time to wake up already. When the voice died out, silence fell again and my body floated back into the weightless plane of slumber.
"YAH!"
Something hit me on the head with a loud whack. Something wooden telling by the high pitched clunk it made against my forehead. I flinched awake and brought my arms up to shield myself. I groaned angrily at the intruder whom I would've seen if I had bothered to open my eyelids. But there was no need.
"What the hell? You bastard!" I mumbled groggily.
"Get up! We made breakfast- well, my uncle and Yurim did."
Yurim. Slowly, the morning air stirred up just enough energy in me to open my eyes. I clicked my tongue and glared at the wooden back scratcher in the guy's hand before rubbing the new bump on my head.
"Why are you sleeping out here, anyway? Do you sleep-walk?" Hoseok asked.
I ignored him as I reluctantly sat up in a heap of blankets and pillows; in the middle of the structure behind the house. It was a dojang where Hoseok and his uncle must've trained. It wasn't insulated, but at least I was able to get some peace and quiet from my thoughts last night.
The couch I was expected to sleep on was right outside her door. It was distracting. Especially after what happened by the bridge.
"What's for breakfast?" I asked, hoping he'd forget his inquiry.
"Let's go see."
Before stepping back into the house, I quickly brushed my fingers through my bed hair. I hoped stubborn strands weren't sticking up by the time I stepped in and saw Yurim in the kitchen.
She was back in her own clothes again. Those white jean shorts and the pink flouncy blouse that glided around her figure whenever she moved. Her hair was pulled up into a ponytail, calling my eyes toward her ivory skin peeking out from her neckline.
I pried away my gaze and expelled a breath to regain sense. I had to remember that she meant to look cute for someone else. The thought brought me back to what she said about Jin. How she said it. From then I knew she really did mean it when she said that kiss with Hoseok was just an act to protect him. She was already sold on someone else. Always had been.
The muscles in my jaw tensed. Even when he wasn't here, he found ways to ruin my day.
With an irritated huff, I pulled out one of the dining chairs to sit down. Only Yurim and I had both reached for the chair at the same time. Her warm hand tightly grasped onto mine.
My chest burned and something in my stomach did a weird flip. Much like how it did when I saved her from falling.
Even Yurim's reaction gave a sense of deja vu. Her eyes had gone wide and her body went stiff as a board. There was even a moment where we just stared at each other, startled. However, this time I was determined to actually manage a word or two. Except, when I opened my mouth to say something, she just rushed away and busied herself in the kitchen again.
I stood stunned for a moment before rubbing my neck, feeling awkward. Awkwardness and dread.
All I wanted last night was to get her to stop being mad at me. Now, all because of last night, she had another reason to avoid me.
Now, because of last night...
I was in deeper trouble than ever.
Later in the afternoon, multiple voices bellowed advertisements throughout a farmer's market. People shuffled past in various directions, deep in conversation. It was busier than I thought it'd be.
I didn't normally come along with my grandmother to shop for her must-have veggies, but I thought it might be a good opportunity to spend a little time with her. Something I'd never done much of before, but things were different now.
The past couple of days have been...interesting. Ever since Namjoon and Jungkook were arrested, I've felt lighter. Like more things were possible now. And that included having a better relationship with the only family I had left. The only family I've had since my parents died, that I've refused to let heal me.
"Yoongi-ah," called Halmeoni. I blinked out of my thoughts to look at her. "Here, hold this."
The old woman handed me another bag of veggies to hold as she paid the vending lady.
"Is this your grandson?" The lady asked. Halmeoni answered with a humble affirmative. The woman smiled. "He's so helpful! I wish my son were more like that." She then faced me. "I bet you have a lot of girls who chase you at school! You definitely have the looks."
I scoffed, if only you knew...
I stood there silently, unsure if I should let her think it was true or admit that the girls at school were more likely terrified that I'd throw them off a building if the mood suited me.
"He has his own girl at the moment."
An eyebrow of mine turned up at my grandmother which she hadn't detected despite spouting something completely false.
"Ah, I should've expected." The other woman said before bidding us farewell. I waited until we were several steps away until I spoke up.
"Why did you tell her that?" I asked.
"Is it not true? That girl, Lee Yurim, don't you like her?"
I let out a heavy sigh, as though a deep breath might work out the sudden dent the name made in my chest.
Like. It was an easy and non-intimidating word. Simple and unfettered. It still left room to change one's mind. There was still freedom in the word, like.
I wished I liked her.
"Why would I like someone who's already seeing someone?" I watched the people around us. Everyone in their own bubbles called life. Bubbles I never knew how to enter without it popping.
To my relief, my grandmother said no more about the subject of Yurim.
Halmeoni must've sensed that I was trying to change, since our conversations lasted longer than a few words these days. Skeptical as she was in the beginning, I could practically feel a new hope radiating from her now every time she looked at me. I'd be lying if I said that I found it annoying. However, we were both still new at this talking thing so she didn't push most times.
The last two stops were mostly social catch ups with people she knew. One of them, Mrs. Kang, used to live on our street before moving. Every morning she and her four year old son walked past our house on the way to his school. They'd wave if ever we happened to be outside at the same time. They were nice and we even had them over for dinner a couple of times. When my parents couldn't drive me to school, I looked forward to walking with them.
That all changed after mom and dad died. When Mrs. Kang and her son waved at me, I'd pretend they weren't there. When I walked to school, I simply pulled my hood over my head and ignored them.
"So, we meet again!" she beamed at me.
Halmeoni looked curiously between us. "Again?"
"That's right, Yoongi was in my neighborhood Yesterday. Said he was studying at a friend's. He stopped by and dropped off some goodies for Kyung Soo's birthday. We were so surprised!"
In the middle of her smile, Halmeoni looked at me, a look of tamed astonishment on her face. I quickly turned away from her, fearing my cheeks had tinted pink. I wasn't used to her proud glances yet.
"It had been a while so I thought I'd say hi." I explained shyly. In all honesty, when I saw her and her husband through their shop windows, I was reminded of how much of a jerk I was back then. I felt guilty. And in the spirit of new beginnings, I thought it was the thing to do.
After the encounter, it was time for us to go home which was a relief. The number of people and meetings, however simple and friendly, were exhausting.
"What made you go see them?" She asked. "Really."
"Why? Are you suspicious of me?"
"That's right! You rascal," she shook her head with a grin. "My grandson isn't the type to go out of his way to talk to someone just to catch up with them. He barely talks to his own grandmother," the woman patted her chest before unexpectedly whacking my arm. I looked at her, stunned but I could only chuckle at the half serious, half playful gesture. She hadn't been light hearted with me in years. That was too bad because I remember the old woman having the most crass sense of humor. It felt like forever since I had seen that mischievous twinkle in her eye.
I then sighed, thinking of how to answer her.
"The Kangs have been doing well in their business. I wanted to get an idea of what they think about starting a chain." I diverted. It was actually the truth. Though, I only knew about their success after the guilt driven visit.
"Is this about your father's properties we've been losing?"
Halmeoni took ownership of dad's properties when he passed. The passive income they've generated was the biggest reason why we've continued to live so comfortably. She's had to sell two earlier this year. Now two more properties had been sitting unoccupied for almost two months and we weren't sure how long we could manage to pay their expenses. Another tenant who had been in business with my dad for ten years is selling his business and the new owner wants to move to a different location, soon to leave another vacant property to add to our expenses.
Not only was all this pushing us in hot water, but losing my dad's properties felt like losing parts of him. He took me to see some of them when they were brand new and renovated. They were part of my childhood.
"Maybe you shouldn't be working through it by yourself," I suggested.
Another new thing I was getting used to was thinking of my future. I'm not sure what I really wanted to do, but taking after my dad didn't sound like a bad idea.
"Already decided a career? Don't you think you should focus on passing the CSAT first? After all the classes you skipped..."
"Don't worry, I'm smarter than all the kids at my school combined." I mused.
"Ha! I see your arrogance is permanent," Halmeoni shook her head and clucked her tongue. "You better do well. Be an investor if you want, just make sure you get married before I die."
My strides faltered as well as my smile, leaving the old woman strolling ahead of me. The loneliest vision flashed in my mind of a world without her. Without a family. Where Yurim was married to Jin and Hoseok became a chairman of his Uncle's security company. I wasted so much time being an angry, bitter jerk. Who knows how much longer I'll have her for?
I continued forward, catching up to her easily.
"Fine. Whatever you say, Halmeoni."252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV1SxHawTp
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fw73xWDQw
YURIM
The sun was shining in a cloudless blue sky. The birds were singing merrily as they played their game of tag through the nearby trees. The wind's soft breezes danced around me in the afternoon air. This was always a perk to my family's business.
It was the perfect day which offered some degree of comfort for a troubled mind. Unfortunately, the moment I reveled in the sight and peacefulness around me, crushing reality bore down yet again.
Memories and reminders never rested.
The state Hoseok arrived in last night still bothered me. Covered in cuts and bruises and of course the disturbing story of what happened to his back.
We were lucky his Uncle and Heejae managed to find him. But did this mean Jei would never find him again? Clearly, my best friend's rescue wouldn't have been a pleasant experience. We didn't know how long this gang planned to stick around or what they even wanted. Well, Jei did mention a job but what normal person could decipher that man's asinine language?
When I got to work today, the charred remains of the main office stood as a reminder of my family's brand new financial burdens. The area was blocked off and covered to protect from the elements.
Although it earned great sympathy from our regulars, it also proved to be a deterrent to others. I wasn't meant to hear, but mom told dad that she'd noticed visitation numbers decreasing over the past week. Not that I needed to overhear their conversation to know that. Anyone with eyes could see that there were significantly less people around.
In addition to those worries, exams were rapidly approaching. More than ever, I needed to do well.
"Yurim-ah~!"
I turned toward my mother's voice.
"You're drowning the flowers!"
My eyes dropped down at my hands which were lifelessly holding the garden hose. Water showering (and flooding) the flowers in front of the main office. I jumped and let go of the trigger on the nozzle.
"Sorry!" I ran over to the spigot and turned the water off.
"Your head is in the clouds today." The woman rested her hands on her hips. "I asked Seungi to come in early today so you can study." I frowned at the thought of not doing my part in supporting the business. The least I could do was finish a shift.
"You didn't have to do that, mom." I fiddled with the nozzle.
"Exams are getting closer. You should be studying more."
True enough, but recently I've been feeling as though she and dad kept extra quiet about the business. I was expected to run it after them, wasn't I? Why couldn't they depend on me more?
After she left, I proceeded to recoil the garden hose neatly. I looked over at the flooded flowers again. Purple, pink and white were their color scheme. Mom's favorite. The white ones reminded me of the flowers behind the Jung's house.
Suddenly, a flurry of images bombarded my mind - snapshots of Yoongi I had unintentionally taken last night. Him looking over the garden, his smile, the look in his eyes when he caught me. Even the sound of his voice plays clearly in my memories.
I hissed at myself as I rubbed the images from my head.
"Oh, um, are you okay? Are you feeling sick?"
The voice wasn't my mother.
I turned toward them then my eyebrows shot up. "Oh, Jimin-shi! What brings you here?"
The handsome boy dressed simply today — distressed jeans, a black t-shirt with a french tuck, and a pair of sunglasses which held the blonde hair off of his forehead. A simple and uncomplicated look, but somehow he made it look stunning.
Naturally, I looked around him to see if anyone else had come with him. Someone such as Kim Seokjin.
"I came as a favor for Jin," he gave a knowing smile as though he knew who I was searching for. "He asked me to see how you were doing, since he's a bit...trapped at the moment."
I almost grimaced but managed to keep my face in check in front of him. After my embarrassing blunder with Yoongi this morning and a whole tidal wave of confusing feelings, I couldn't trust myself to respond to Jin's texts. He must've thought something bad happened. Especially after my hesitation to go to Hoseok's house that morning.
"That's really nice of you!" I smiled, genuinely impressed by his kindness. Jimin's eyes shyly diverted his gaze. "I'm..." I thought about lying but wasn't sure if I could manage to pull it off. Plus, I didn't think it fair to return his considerate gesture with a lie. "I'm working hard," I chuckled weakly as I set the neatly rolled hose down.
"I see that," he regarded the jumpsuit that I forgot I was wearing. My parents required us to wear it while doing outdoor chores. At that moment I was glad Seokin hadn't come in place of his friend. The oversized attire didn't exactly compliment my body. "He wondered if everything went well yesterday with the study session."
I nodded a bit too quickly. "Mhm! It went very well. We studied a lot. I'll be getting in more study time today, actually."
"With Hoseok?"
"Oh, well, no. Not this time. I'm sure he and his Uncle are sick of us by now anyway." As soon as I said it, I wanted to walk off a cliff.
"'Us?'" His eyes gleamed with curiosity.
"Um..." I chewed my bottom lip, not seeing a way out of this one. I noticed Jimin squinting in the sunlight and saw it as an opportunity to change the subject. "Should we move toward the shade?"
Jimin seemed grateful that I had noticed and thought to move. We migrated to the bench in front of the main building. Where Jin kissed my cheek. However, the change in topic wasn't enough to make him forget my mistake.
At first he suspected I was talking about my sister. I was tempted to use her as a scapegoat, but one, I didn't want to lie and two, if he found the lie, what would that say about my thoughts about that day? I took a breath as I gathered my courage to tell him the truth.
"Was it Yoongi?" he guessed first.
I caught my breath while I sat frozen. "H-How did you know?"
A smile stretched onto his face. "It wasn't a difficult guess. It seems you and Hoseok-shi are becoming more familiar with him these days."
"Yeah...I guess that's true." I stared at the gravel, my tone too distant for my liking.
Apparently, our run-ins with Yoongi was even noticed by Jimin. And then I remembered him telling us about his bad experience with him in middle school. Since then he never cared to associate himself with him again. "It must seem strange that we're..." I was going to say 'friends' but the word felt forbidden where Yoongi was concerned, "...familiar with a person with a history like his..."
"Well, I don't doubt a person can change, but Yoongi is a special case," he sighed, "but maybe I'm just holding a grudge."
I turned to him. Now I was curious. "What exactly happened?"
With another deep sigh, Jimin explained that they fell out not long after Yoongi's parents died. He wanted to let the teachers and their classmates know that he was going through a rough time. He only wanted to let everyone around him know to be considerate of his circumstances. Except Yoongi, in his pride at the time, thought it made him look weak and pathetic in front of the whole class. When he finally confronted Jimin about it, he lost his temper and nearly tossed him off from the fourth floor.
"The look in his eyes was the scariest thing I had ever seen," Jimin solemnly reminisced. "There was a moment, through the anger, I could see him thinking about letting go — imagining it and wanting it." He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
At first it was hard to imagine Yoongi doing such a thing. And then I remembered the night of the fire. The merciless, far away look in his eyes as he endlessly beat Namjoon's face. Or even the look he had when he pushed me and smashed my gift to him on the ground after our middle school graduation.
"I'm sorry that happened to you," I said. Immediately, the kind boy replaced his glum expression for an embarrassed smile.
"It's alright. If I hadn't moved on, I wouldn't have met the good people I know today."
I admired his comforting smile and humble words. That was a good perspective to have. My attitude after my terrible experience with Yoongi turned out to be bitter and hopeless — forever plaguing my mind with doubts and insecurities about making friends.
"What's on your mind?" He asked. I chewed at my lip. Jimin's friendly query was all too inviting.
I hesitated, unsure if I should open up to him even though my heart was dying to explode. Hoseok was usually the box which I poured all my thoughts and feelings into, but he needed to focus on healing and staying safe from Jei. My family wasn't an option when they had other worries to tend to. And I definitely wasn't going to talk to Seokjin about my confusing feelings regarding...
Without it being my intention, things began spilling from my mouth. Luckily not everything. Only the fact that my family was struggling with paying for repairs and reconstruction, the upcoming exams, and my strange encounters with a person I didn't name.
"Did this person try to kiss you when he took you to this garden?"
"N-no." I tucked my hands between my knees, my face ducked in embarrassment.
"Hmm. But you dreamed of this person twice?"
I nodded.
"He makes you nervous whenever you're with him? Your heart beats fast when he looks at you?" My head ducked lower and lower with each question to hide the blush I felt coming on. I nodded again, earning a light chuckle from the boy next to me. "Well then, it looks like your problem is simple. You're in love with this person."
I shot up to my feet. "W-W-WHAT?"
Jimin flinched and leaned away, a look of bewilderment on his face. After a beat his face transformed into one of amusement. Regretting my embarrassing over-reaction, I sat down again. My hands clasped in my lap.
"What I mean is, isn't that a premature conclusion?" I worked to keep my voice calm and feminine — if that was possible.
"Spotting love isn't that complicated," he laughed.
"Really? Then why do I feel so confused?" I shifted in my seat then felt a hand lay on my head. I looked to the boy next to me.
"Yurim-shi, you're so cute!" he smiled before proceeding to explain, "maybe you're so used to seeing this person in a certain way that it's hard to recognize that they've become more to you now."
I picked at the sleeves of my baggy coveralls, thinking of Yoongi. There was no way I could be in love with him. Love was supposed to be light and fluffy. It was supposed to be easy and exciting, not frightening, painful, or full of doubt!
Yet, Jimin's words did resonate with me. It made total sense that I could have gotten used to seeing Yoongi in a certain way. After being on the same side and showing that he didn't want to hurt me, maybe I've been unfairly hanging on to his past self.
"Now I know why you and Jin are friends. You're both gurus in life," we both laughed. "Thank you for letting me vent to you. I really needed it."
"Seokjin really likes you, so that makes you my friend too. You can talk to me anytime, okay?" he gave me soft, reassuring eyes as he patted my shoulder.252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vdf6esqP2
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6orbycuiz
HOSEOK
Buildings and people blurred by as I leisurely stared out of the window of the bus. I wasn't going anywhere in particular. There was no preconceived plan to stop. I just needed a place to think. What better place to do that than in a moving vehicle where I didn't have to feel stuck? Definitely not at home where my uncle preferred I stayed, but I wasn't going to let him put me under house arrest like Jin.
This morning after Yurim and Yoongi left, I finally confronted him about the fact that he knew that Jei had been involved with this whole situation regarding the Kims — and didn't tell me. The reason, as one would guess? To protect me. As tempting as it was to close my eyes and duck my head until all traces of those people were gone, I was never much for staying put. Don't get me wrong, it terrified me that they knew I was here. But it scared me even more that Jei (and who knows who else) had seen Yurim.
That's why I hated that my uncle kept things from me. I wouldn't have pushed her into Jin's life if I had known. Granted, at that time the gang wasn't even involved yet, but maybe knowing when my uncle knew would've made a difference. I could've canceled that weekend at the spa. Then maybe they wouldn't know about it. I knew they must've kept tabs on it as a place Jin frequents even before my uncle told me about the envelope of burnt debri. And I knew they weren't blind to Jin's and Yurim's involvement with each other either.
But maybe...just maybe after the kiss, Jei would've told his brother she was mine. I wasn't happy about any of them knowing about her but if she's going to be on a watchlist, she may as well belong to one of their own. I may not have been around for the past couple of years but if Jei's brother had any brotherly regard toward me at all, maybe I was still entitled to a few perks. Like an off limits marker on Yurim.
Air hissed from the bus as it made a stop for other passengers. We were stopped in front of a park. The sun and thick white clouds in the blue sky advertised it well. It wasn't a good idea to wander out in the open for the next few days, but my knees were bouncing obsessively. My legs yearned for a quick stretch and stroll through the grass. The wind blowing through the surrounding trees didn't help in fighting the temptation.
The front doors closed. The bus driver started to switch gears.
I jumped up and jogged to the doors, earning a slightly irked look from the man up front. With a gentle push, the doors opened and I walked out onto the sidewalk outlining the park.
It was the early afternoon so it was busy. Groups of friends were scattered on the grass where they had picnics. A couple of guys even looked like they were getting drunk already with the boisterous way they were laughing until they tipped over. Joggers and people walking their dogs strolled past. An outdoor gym area stood to the side where two elderly women exercised side by side. Both seemed to be having a jubilant conversation.
I headed toward the opposite end of the park where there was a large lake at the edge. I leaned on the safety railing looking out onto the still water. It reminded me of a time when Yurim said she had never gone fishing before. I promised I'd take her with me and uncle Kwangsoo on one of his fishing vacations. Neither of us were experts but we enjoyed the peace and quiet of the wilderness. And I knew she would too. It would feel like camping which was another thing she's always wanted to do.
I found myself smiling out at the lake. She's probably worrying about a lot right now as it was her signature Yurim thing to do.
"Long way from home," said a low raspy voice. A prickling sensation traveled up my spine at the sound. A deep, empty hole felt like it had just formed in my gut.
I turned to find a man with a shaved head, in his late twenties. His face rested in a scowl. A scar dipped from under his earlobe to the middle of his left cheek. The ink on his shoulder peeked out from under a blood red track suit with black stripes. A small, black bag slung around his torso.
"Woo-bin." I swallowed before returning my glazed eyes to the water. "What's with the tracksuit?" I made an attempt to appear unaffected by his presence but my throat had suddenly gone dry.
The man lifted his arms into a stretching routine. "You know I like to blend in. Besides, that's the beauty of being the big boss, Hoseok. I can do whatever I want."
"Including keeping your mutt brother on a tight leash?"
"Yeah, well, mutts will be mutts," he leaned his back on the railing. "I didn't order him to remove your head, you know."
"Did you follow me out this far to tell me that?"
"No," Woo-bin took out a cigarette and lighter from his bag and lit it up. Facing the water now, he exhaled a cloud of smoke. "I'm giving you a chance to come back."
"No, thanks." I retorted hoarsely. I actually didn't mean to answer aloud, but it was too late to take it back. I meant it though.
"You don't get it." The man looked at me, "up until now you've been honorably pardoned — caught by the law in service to the gang. Now that everyone knows you're out and able, you're expected to come back. If you don't, that's willful abandonment. I'm giving you a chance to come back while in everyone's good graces."
The hollow feeling in my gut deepened. Either I join back now and continue my pathetic old life where I left off or get caught later and be forced to join back anyway, only with a status lower than the dirt. It was hardly a choice.
The new life and relationships that I worked hard toward establishing, I could already start to feel it slipping away; my uncle, Heejae, the Lee's — hell, even Yoongi. I wasn't ready for this. The lake and the glittering sunlight that danced upon it blurred behind the pool forming in my eyes. I couldn't stop it. My grip tightened around the metal railing.
"You can't do this to me!" I snarled. "Damn it, why didn't you guys just stay South! I finally found something here. Something good!"
"Yeah, I heard about that weekend in the mountains with your friends and...closer friends," he looked to be hiding a smirk. My jaw tensed. "You're even attending a private school now — not that I ever saw a difference in those places other than in people's wallets." He sucked in a mouthful of smoke and let it sit for a second before releasing it. "I was actually impressed with the life you found, you know. Felt proud even. To tell the truth, I wasn't even surprised. You were a smart kid, had a reliable sense about people. Of course you managed a good life." Then he clicked his tongue and sighed, "and then I felt a-whole-lot of pity for you...because rules are rules."
I blew a bitter scoff his way. "What happened to 'the big boss can do anything he likes'?"
"Almost anything. Show everyone the rules benefit them nothing and they won't hold themselves to any rules either. And there's more of them than there are of you," his tone had traces of resentment. "No, I can't sweep the rules under the rug this time. Not even for you."
"Afraid for your throne," I spat.
"Better me than anyone else. At least I'm trying to build something instead of creating enemies just to brainwash members into thinking they're fighting for a cause. You know that's what Moon did." A long piece of ash fell from the end of his cigarette which reminded him to take another drag. "Pitting people against someone else gives them a false sense of purpose. Makes them feel they're doing their part for the gang by hating and fighting people. Anger and hate are easy to feel and conveniently easy to manipulate. Anger and hate as a collective keeps you loyal and Moon knew that."
The two of us stood in silence for the remainder of Woo-bin's cigarette.
What he said made sense. Moon was a crazy guy, always stirring us up against other gangs. Maybe Woo-Bin would be a better leader. Maybe he was admittedly more inclined toward order than chaos. Maybe he had a better sense than anyone else. Frankly, I didn't care at the moment. He was still expecting me to choose between my family and him. He wanted me to be thinking about it. He wanted me to weigh my options now.
As terrified as I was to finally face this moment, I was still a stubborn bastard and refused to give him what he wanted. I wasn't going back, so I sure as hell didn't need to think about it.
When the stick in his mouth shortened to a yellow stub, the man flicked it into the water and looked at me. I continued to brood and refused to meet his eyes like a subordinate. He sighed.
"I'll give you 'til tonight. Meet the guys across from your school or regret not doing so. You always did the smart thing, Hoseokie. I don't doubt you will this time." After projecting a thick, hawking blob of spit into the water, he finally swaggered off.
"Wait!" Woo-bin stopped and looked over his shoulder. I knew it was pointless to ask but I had to give it a try. "Jei mentioned a big job. What was he talking about?"
The man waved me off and continued to walk. "Meet us tonight and maybe you'll find out."
252Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2g0ng1aiR
