. A Tense Exchange
[O]utside the club, the night sky had turned a deep black, adorned with emerging stars. Min-ho and Lee Ju-hee, both walked in silence.
As they neared the curb, Min-ho's car came into sight. He took the lead, effortlessly unlocking the car with a simple press of a button on his key.
Courteously, he opened the door for Lee Ju-hee, allowing her to effortlessly slide into the passenger seat before gently securing it with a faint, discreet click.
Then transitioning smoothly, Min-ho settled into the driver's seat, taking a moment to adjust the rearview mirror before igniting the engine.
Finally breaking the silence, Min-ho's voice filled the car. "So, that guy we saw back there... He's Yoo Jin-ho, the infamous Reaper, huh?" He kept his eyes on the road, skillfully maneuvering through the quiet streets.
Lee Ju-hee casually turned her head to peer outside, her expression calm. "Yeah."
"He looks kinda dumb."
"Don't judge a book by its cover. He's actually pretty strong."
Min-ho's fingers unconsciously tightened around the steering wheel, a brief clench before he relaxed. "Gotcha," he replied, his tone carefully neutral.
A moment of quiet hung, loaded with unsaid thoughts. Lee Ju-hee's eyes remained glued on the outside, her fingers tracing absent patterns on her lap. In the dim light, Min-ho sneaked a look at her, the shadows giving her profile a mysterious vibe.
He hesitated, then broke the silence again. "So, is there something between you two?" His question emerged unexpectedly, causing her head to whip toward him.
"What do you mean?" She retorted.
Seriously, was he insinuating something? Her glare could've set fire to his seat.
"I saw the way he was checking you out earlier," Min-ho said casually, his jaw tense. "Definitely didn't seem innocent. Looks like he's got a huge crush on you, huh?"
"No way!" Her complexion suddenly turned pale, a queasy expression on her face.
"Unfortunately, not kidding," Min-ho sighed before continuing. "So, is that why you were so into using a honeytrap?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Well, you know, it might not be a terrible idea after all."
"What in the world—"
"I mean, I guess I see your point. Not sold on the whole honeytrap thing, but getting close to him and gaining his trust could work." Min-ho reluctantly confessed, his jaw tensing again, followed by a disapproving click of his tongue. "He might be tough, but he's not exactly poker-faced when it comes to feelings. Your buddy's not the sharpest tool!"
"Cut it out! He's not… my buddy!"
"Hmm."
"What made you change your mind?" Lee Ju-hee inquired.
He let out another sigh before explaining, "I'm just going with Ri Chul-moo's flow here. No info on this supposed council, assuming it even exists. Our only clue is, well… your friend."
"I see... and seriously, he's not my friend."
"Oh, he will. Soon enough!"
***
Gazing at his mobile screen for what felt like an eternity, Yoo Jin-ho finally tapped his thumb onto the display, his eyes flickering down to the new name now nestled in his contacts.
The night loomed ahead, a stretch of time without clients to occupy his attention.
In that quiet moment, Flame strolled over, shattering the silence with his presence. "Hey, Poison, got someone asking for you," he quipped, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips. "Your buddy's got guts showing up solo at a host club."
Yoo Jin-ho's brow arched with curiosity. "W-Who?"
"You'll see when we're there! C'mon, speed it up!" Flame nudged.
Flicking the cigarette away and stomping it out, he followed Flame's lead, stepping into the club's dim allure. Heading toward the bar, he locked eyes with a familiar face.
The man before him had transformed, radiating an even more captivating aura. His hair was styled into a fade, with his bangs now dyed a deep burgundy hue. Adorned in a refined black suit, he exuded a natural, self-assured grace that effortlessly drew eyes his way.
With an air of nonchalance, Yoo Jin-ho broke the ice, his words carrying a chilly indifference. "What brings you here?" he inquired, recognition flashing in his eyes as he settled onto a barstool adjacent to his unexpected company.
Flame transitioned smoothly into his place behind the bar, ready to oversee the orders.
"Hey, grab a beer for him!" The guy with the burgundy hair motioned toward Flame, who acknowledged with a nod before heading to pour a glass of beer for Jin-ho. "Su-min spilled the beans about your breakup!"
"Cut to the chase, Yo-han."
"I'm genuinely concerned," he admitted, his expression neutral as he lit a cigarette and extended the pack towards him. Jin-ho brushed off the offer with a casual gesture. "Where are you crashing these days?"
"Was this the old man's idea?"
Letting out a sigh, he exhaled a plume of smoke and wearily rubbed his brows with his thumb. Yo-han confirmed, "Yep, it was. Quite a task to hunt you down."
"Well, I'm holding up fine, as you can see." A hint of bitterness tinged his words.
"Why didn't you call me, Jin-ho?"
"Didn't really think it was necessary!" He wasn't being straight up.
Truth was, he'd needed help more than anyone, especially after the breakup with Sung Su-min. But dealing with her had always made him feel like second best to Kae Yo-han. Reaching out to him would've felt like confirming he was a total loser.
Yo-han gave him a careful look and said, "Just so you know, I turned her down!"
"Tsk! Not my problem, man!" Jin-ho felt a surge of anger, wanting to clock him hard and let out all the built-up frustration.
Sure, Yo-han might have rejected her, but he did mess around with her behind his back.
Flame came back, putting the beer in front of Jin-ho. Once he was out of earshot, Yo-han leaned in. "You should come back!"
"Nah, I'm holding my own just fine!"
"P'il Jung-woo won't be exactly thrilled about your choice, though."
Jin-ho brushed it off casually. "Yeah, I'm aware. But going back to that life? Not on my radar."
They both understood the reason he had walked away from being Reaper. It had been a pivotal moment in his life.
After a moment's silence, Yo-han mentioned, "There's buzz about a possible gang war brewing. Hope you're steering clear of that chaos."
"Hah? I haven't been in the arena or dealing with the council for ages! What makes you think—"
"Vortex is dead! They're trying to pin his murder on you! And word is you had a fight with Han Si-hyun recently, right?"
Jin-ho leaned back, taking a slow breath. "Yeah, I did have a spat with Han Si-hyun. But come on, if I'd offed Vortex, trust me, Han Si-hyun wouldn't be walking around."
Yo-han studied Jin-ho's face for a bit before giving a satisfied nod. "Gotcha! Jung-woo and I will figure out a way to keep you out of this mess. But seriously, if things go south, think about making a comeback. We've got your back."
Jin-ho's eyes flickered, a blend of old memories and thoughtfulness in his gaze. "We'll see," he replied casually. "For now, I'm good doing my own thing."
With a brisk nod, Yo-han straightened in his seat. "Sure thing. Just know the offer's always there."
Jin-ho was about to say something when the phone resting next to Kae Yo-han's drink on the bar counter buzzed. The name 'Sung Su-min' popped up, and a pang hit Jin-ho, his chest tightening and jaw tensing involuntarily.
Yo-han dismissed the call like it was nothing, refocusing on Jin-ho with his usual blank expression.
That blank, emotionless look of his reminded him of a certain someone who had a knack for nagging him constantly. The ache in Jin-ho's chest eased, the fleeting pain dissipating.
"Why the smile?" Yo-han frowned, clearly puzzled. His girl/ex-girl was ringing up another dude, yet here Jin-ho was grinning.
"Oh, that?" Jin-ho seemed momentarily caught off guard by the question.
"Yeah, the smile. What's up with that?"
"Ah!" Jin-ho's expression shifted, as if he had a bigger story behind his smile, but he held back. A somber thought brushed his mind, though—what if Lee Ju-hee was also into Yo-han's type?
Recalling an excuse, he said, "Anyway, got things to handle! Catch you later!"
With that, Jin-ho rose from his seat, leaving the beer untouched.
***
A/N: Officially Introducing Kae Yo-han: