/\/\/\
The group went through the plan in a very meticulous manner, before Daechul was completely confident in the execution. It was decided that the party will take place in three days, giving plenty of time for everyone to invite as many people as physically possible and to stylishly decorate the Go house. After all, Daechul and his family were the wealthiest people in half of South Korea, so the guests will surely be hoping for an out of earth experience, even if their initial plan would be to get thoroughly smashed.
After the details were settled, Daechul was able to end the meeting on a professional and serious note, seeing how important the operation was. Much too essential for it to be half-assed. He was desiring to finally meet his father's killer, and end it once and for all. Although hope was a foolish emotion in his mind, Daechul couldn't help but keep on doing that. It was a moment long overdue.
When Sunmi and Jongil finally excused themselves, promising to be in contact with each other, it was already evening. The forest looked gloomy and dangerous, with heavy mist coating the trees and grass. It was almost a full moon, the natural earth satellite shining its bright glow on the peaks of the pine trees. The smell of the forest was earthy, damp with the mist, although refreshing.
Daechul stepped outside and imately fished out his box of cigarettes, eager to loosen up a little. He was a boss with so many people in his command. A lot of lives depended on him, and it was a big responsibility. He had to collect himself and keep on doing his job. Stress was a no go for that.
He was almost finished with the nicotine stick, gazing at the nocturnal nature surrounding the building, when Daechul was approached by Kimoon.
"Are you good? You only smoke when you're stressed", quietly said.
Daechul nodded, deep in thought.
"Yeah, everything's alright. Just thinking."
Kimoon hummed, seemingly satisfied with the answer.
"How is your wound? The meeting was long, maybe visit Seojun for more medicine?"
Daechul shook his head and puffed the last smoke, throwing what's left on the ground and crushing it with his combat boot.
"It's not painful enough for that. My pain tolerance comes in handy sometimes."
Both men chuckled.
"Are you sure that you want to proceed with the plan? You're the leader, what you say goes, so…"
"No, the plan is good. I trust Sunmi thought of every possible scenario before suggesting it to us. I just worry about the execution. A lot is at stake."
Kimoon nodded in understanding.
"Of course it is. Sungwoon was a man worth retaliating for."
"Yes, he was."
Both men stood still for a while, just staring before themselves, as if going through the memories, containing Hyun Sungwoon. A loving father. Friend. Boss.
"What do you plan to do to Chungee when you capture him?", Kimoon curiously asked.
"I have a lot of ideas. Maybe I'll choose one of them, or do it all after one another, who knows", Daechul shrugged his broad shoulders.
Kimoon laughed, knowing that his friend will completely lash out, not holding back even a bit. No remorse will be involved.
"Of course you do."
"Are we finished yet, Daechul?"
The man in question turned around to find Kangmin, Ilsung and Jinwoo stepping outside.
He nodded.
"Yeah. Let's go."
/\/\/\
When the five got back to Won's, the house was already sleeping. While Kimoon, Kangmin, Ilsung and Jinwoo also decided to retreat to their rooms, Daechul was feeling hungry, so he headed to the spacious kitchen, in search of something filling. After a few minutes of going through the produce, Daechul found a big plate with leftover lasagna, and settled with that. He put the meal into the microwave for a quick warm up and made himself some ice water to go with it.
Daechul was no cook, even if his late father had a passion for cooking. He still remembers evenings spent on improvising and cooking something new each time. Sungwoon's mother, Daechul's grandmother was a chef, she owned a few high-end restaurants, and taught him everything that she knew. After her son died, she sold her business and resulted in living a solitary life, mourning her only child. And when the news of Maya's marriage reached her ears, the woman cut all ties with the family. angry and betrayed, just how Daechul had felt.. Daechul hadn't heard from her since.
When the microwave beeped, signalling the finished warm up, Daechul got up to retrieve the plate and started eating his meal. The lasagna was delicious, reminding him of Sungwoon's cooking once more and making him even more nostalgic.
The man was almost through with it, his hunger tamed, when he heard some kind of movement, coming from the staircase.
Seconds later a sleepy Minsoo emerged, rubbing his eyes with his small fists. Daechul's eyes found his lithe form barely hidden from prying eyes with a short-sleeved white t-shirt and small, tight-fitting grey shorts, dangerously short. He wanted to kick himself and tried to go back to eating, and not behaving like a creep.
The man was filling a cup with water from the fridge dispenser, when Daechul decided to finally make himself known.
"Why are you not in bed, Minsoo?"
Minsoo flinched in fright, snapping his head in Daechul's direction.
"Oh, I didn't see you here, Daechul."
Daechul chuckled, not at all offended.
Minsoo took a seat, opposite from the man, and started sipping his water, while Daechul finished his lasagna.
After a few minutes of comfortable silence, Minsoo cleared his throat.
"So, I just talked with Kimoon. He told me about your plans."
Daechul furrowed his eyebrows, but nodded anyway, trying to guess why he was talking about that.
"And?"
"And I want in."
Daechul almost choked on his ice water.
"What?!"
Minsoo laughed, clearly amused.
"Relax, I didn't mean it like that. I know you are organising a party so I just wanted in on the fun, you know. I also have a few friends that would like to come too."
Daechul shook his head.
"We aren't doing that with the purpose to get drunk, Minsoo. It is too dangerous for you to be there. Absolutely not, no."
Minsoo pouted, looking actually sad.
"Please, Daechul. I will behave. I just want to get loose a bit. I won't drink much", he pleaded, looking like a kicked puppy.
Daechul quietly cursed in disbelief.
"Alright. But there will be rules. Break at least one and I will personally drive you home, understood?"
Minsoo squealed in happiness.
"Why do you want that so bad?", asked Daechul.
Minsoo got silent, albeit looking sadder than before, shrugging his shoulders, water long forgotten. Daechul almost felt bad for him, because Minsoo rarely looked this dejected and reserved.
"Well, you know. These past days weren't the most rewarding for me. After all that family drama I crave some fun. I want to enjoy myself. "
"You and Doyun didn't make up yet", both knew it wasn't a question, rather a statement.
Minsoo wordlessly shook his head, turning his gaze somewhere on the opposite wall.
"Even though I am not his biological son, we are both equally stubborn. I refuse to back down from a fight, and he gladly argues back."
Daechul nodded. It only seemed fitting. Doyun always was headstrong in his opinions, pushing others behind himself, because he genuinely believed being right. And Minsoo, well, seeing how he reacts under pressure, Daechul would agree that his temper too, was very willful.
"Doyun loves you. It's hard for him to show that, he's always been awkward with his emotions, but that doesn't mean that his intentions are somewhat bad."
Minsoo nodded that.
"I know that, believe me. But it's hard to keep my feelings aside just because he thinks that it could protect me."
Daechul smiled.
"I understand that it could be frustrating. Sometimes it feels as if your own parents don't really know you are, and their help seems unreasonable. I went through that when my mother remarried. It felt as if the world was ending, and when I think of my late father, sometimes it still feels like this. But you learn to compromise. After all, you are a family and you love each other. You will learn that soon, Minsoo. Just give Doyun some time. His five was shot when Kimoon was just a little boy. I don't think he fully learned to live without her. "
Minsoo was silent for a few minutes, deep in his own thoughts.
"You know, I said it before and I will say it again. You are a big softie, Daechul. I can see you pretending so hard to just not care, but jumping to help as soon as something like this happens. Why are you trying to hide it so bad?"
Daechul sighed.
"My line of work is too dangerous for sentiments. As soon as you fall in love, it starts to get distracting and clouding your judgement. Dara was killed because of that. My father too. You remember that and you start to despise that feeling. My father was killed because he fell in love."
"But how is that related, Daechul?", wondered Minsoo.
"He started to get side tracked in his work. Choosing to spend spare time with my mom, rather than going over things that needed attention. He failed to notice that he was followed. Sungwoon was a good leader, but even that meant nothing when we found his lifeless body."
Minsoo nodded, a sad smile on his pretty face.
"I'm sorry. I know it could be difficult to talk about that."
Daechul hummed, getting up from the table and taking care of his plate and silverware.
"Well, I'm going to sleep."
He didn't wait for Minsoo's response, disappearing out of the room.
/\/\/\