I PRESENT TO YOU: ANOTHER ART BY @Discipline
[IMAGE]
Featuring: Jiho (Left) and Jang (Right)
ENJOY THE CHAPTER!
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"It's NOT HIM, Eunhee."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you!?" she howled, hastily pulling her clothes from the floor and slipping into her shoes. Her words struck like a whip, causing Daniel to flinch.
It was early noon. Eunhee had just seen the ListaGram post—a picture of two dashing boys named Jiho and Jang, who had reportedly left the quarantine zone the night before. The face was sharper, the body more toned, but it was unmistakably Jiho's.
With trembling hands, she dropped her phone, letting it clatter to the floor, and rushed to dress in a frenzy, her mind racing.
"STOP!" Daniel barked, gripping her arm firmly just as she reached for the door.
"Let go of me," she spat, her tone sharp and defiant as she glared up at him. "I'm GOING to him."
Daniel's jaw tightened as he held her gaze. "...Think about it," he said, his voice low and steady. "If Jiho was alive, what's the FIRST thing he'd do once he got out of the quarantine zon—"
"I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!" Eunhee screamed, yanking her arm free with such force that her shoulder wrenched painfully.
"Everything you're saying is a lie anyway!" she shouted, her voice cracking as tears burned in her eyes. "YOU WANT him to STAY DEAD!"
Daniel's jaw clenched as her words landed. Her voice rose again, unwavering in its conviction. "Jiho is ALIVE. You saw that photo as well as I did. I'm SEEING HI—"
"HE'D SEE HIS MOM FIRST, WOULDN'T HE!?" Daniel's voice exploded, cutting through hers like thunder, the weight of his frustration finally breaking free.
A tense pause settled between them. Eunhee looked down, a deep frown etched across her face.
"… He'd run STRAIGHT to her," Daniel repeated, his voice steady but firm. "And she'd call me, you, your parents—or even my deadbeat father—the moment she saw him, wouldn't she?!"
Eunhee's body loosened slightly as her mind raced, sifting through countless arguments.
"… He could've told her not to tell us. What would he want to do with you…" Her voice wavered, her lips pursing as her gaze fixed on the floor. "Or me, anymore? Being who he is, he must've told her about—"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I KNOW!" Daniel cut in, his frustration bubbling over as he turned on his heel, pacing and rubbing his temples.
He fell silent, his thoughts spinning. A faint, almost imperceptible pinch gripped his chest as he considered the possibility—what if Jiho was alive?
"It's just… It's more like it isn't him," Daniel continued after a moment, his voice quieter. "You saw it too. He looked more built. And that dude next to him—they looked close. Jiho isn't the type to make friends so fast,"
"You can't tell that from a photo—"
"IT'S NOT HIM!" Daniel snapped, cutting her off before she could finish. His voice echoed in the heavy silence that followed.
Another pause.
"And even if it IS him…" Daniel began again, his tone softer this time, almost reluctant. Eunhee's head shot up at his words.
"You still want to see him? He'd definitely hate both of us now. Don't go. Save yourself the heartache. If he hasn't contacted us by now, it's because he doesn't want to. Period."
He hesitated, swallowing hard before continuing. "It's either finding out he hates you…"
Daniel glanced at Eunhee, noticing her expression falter. A faint sense of relief flickered within him.
"Or finding out he's really dead. You want that?"
Eunhee said nothing, staring at the floor as his words weighed heavy on her.
'He's… right. It's either he's actually dead… or he hates us. Hates me,' Eunhee thought, biting her lip.
'But… I… I need to see him. I want to see him, even if he doesn't let me speak. Even if he hates me, I want to apologize…'
Her gaze slowly lifted toward the door, determination flickering in her eyes—until a knock echoed from it.
"H-huh?" Both Daniel and Eunhee gasped at the sound.
The knock was light, almost hesitant, like a tender hand gently rapping against the door.
Daniel froze, a sudden memory surfacing: how Jiho always knocked, no matter how many times he told him to just walk in. The air grew thick as both of them held their breath.
Neither dared to approach the door.
'J… Ji…ho…?' Eunhee thought, her heart racing.
Daniel's eyes widened as he stared at the door, unsure of what to do.
"Heya," a feminine voice called out, casual and informal. "Anybody home? Some dude named Daniel, maybe? I heard Eunhee might be at your place, so I came to check it out. Open the door!" The persistent knocking broke the tension like a burst balloon.
Both Daniel and Eunhee exhaled, relief mingling with exhaustion.
"… I'll get it—" Daniel began, but Eunhee cut him off with a sigh.
"It's fine. I know who it is."
"…?" Daniel hummed in confusion, watching as Eunhee walked to the door and opened it.
Behind it stood a tall woman in her twenties, her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders and her deep brown eyes gazing down at Eunhee with faint disinterest. She wore tight skinny jeans and a loose, oversized white shirt that draped effortlessly over her frame, giving her an air of casual elegance.
'Holy shit...' Daniel thought, his breath catching as he took her in. 'She looks like a supermodel. She knows Eunhee?'
"Heya, little brat," the woman said, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.
"Hello… Misaki," Eunhee replied softly.
"Misaki? Who's she, Eunhee?" Daniel asked, his confusion evident as he looked between the two women.
"She's Misaki… my… distant cousin," Eunhee said, her voice quieter now.
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"Is the food to your liking, Jang?" Ji-yeon asked warmly, her voice gentle as Jang stood frozen at the table. His legs pressed together, shoulders hunched timidly.
"Y-yes, ma'am. It's delicious... T-thank you." He stammered, avoiding her gaze as he fidgeted with his fingers. His awkwardness drew a soft chuckle from Ji-yeon.
Jiho glanced at Jang as he ate, his expression deadpan. His mind drifted to the night before.
"Your mom is so fucking hot, bitch. I'm gonna make her my woman. I'll be your daddy. Just you fucking wait," Jang whispered, sprawled on the futon next to Jiho's bed.
Jiho lay flat on his back, staring at the ceiling, his face blank. "Sure you are," he muttered.
"You bastard, is that why you're so calm? You think I got no rizz, huh?" Jang hissed, his whisper sharp as he glanced nervously at the door.
"Oh, no," Jiho sighed. "We've only known each other for a few days. Maybe you've got a hidden side I don't know about."
"The fuck's a 'hidden side' supposed to mean?" Jang shot back, his whisper growing more aggressive.
"I'm calm because," Jiho said, exhaling slowly, "if you try something funny, I'll just kill you." His voice was casual, almost indifferent, as if stating a fact.
Jang froze, a chill creeping up his spine.
"If something happens to her that I don't approve of—if she's uncomfortable with you in any way imaginable—you're dead. Simple." Jiho turned his head slightly, his gaze locking onto Jang. There wasn't a trace of anger, only an unsettling calm.
"Whether I owe you something. Whether you saved my life or helped me before. Whether I've known you for ten years and you're my best friend—or even if you're my father." Jiho's voice dropped lower, each word deliberate, weighted.
"If you," he said, his eyes unblinking, "hurt her—"
"Or do something behind my back with her—"
"In any way—" A faint growl edged into his voice, his expression tightening as a flicker of memory crossed his mind—How Daniel slapped him and walked away with Eunhee.
"You. Are. Dead."
Jiho leaned in closer, his glare cutting into Jang.
"Are you going to do something with her, Hyung?"
"J-Jesus fuck, man, back off!" Jang snapped, leaning away slightly. He forced a laugh, but it came out strained. "You don't get jokes, huh? Shit. Isn't she like past 45? I'm not even INTO her."
'The fuck's HIS problem!?' Jang thought, a pang of frustration mixing with unease in his chest.
Jiho's expression darkened.
"Not that joke. NEVER," Jiho emphasized, his tone cutting through the silence.
"I get it, I GET IT! Shit, fuck… Let me sleep," Jang muttered, rolling his eyes as he closed them.
'But damn… This futon must cost like 10,000 won, huh…?' he thought as he shifted into it.
'It's so… comfortable… I'm… sinking…'
Slowly, he drifted off, memories from his past pulling him under.
"GIVING YOUR FATHER TROUBLE!!" her voice roared as the shoelace struck Jang's head.
"HURTING OUR FAMILY'S REPUTATION BY REPORTING Joon-Seok TO THE PRINCIPAL!" Another strike, harder this time, sent Jang curling into a ball on the floor.
"WHY!? WHY!!!? WHY ARE YOU MY FUCKING SON!?" she howled. "IF YOU JUST ENDURED IT AND KEPT YOUR MOUTH SHUT, EVERYTHING WOULD'VE BEEN FINE!"
"NOW YOUR FATHER IS BEING THREATENED WITH RESIGNATION BECAUSE OF YOU!"
"YOU TRASH!"
Jang stirred awake, his body tense even in the warmth of the futon as he recalled the memory from earlier.
"Haaah, what a wonderful sight," his voice rang out as he entered the house, sneering at the sight of Jiho and his mom embracing. His head held high, his smirk reeked of arrogance.
"But I still need my reward."
"W-who are—" Ji-yeon turned to him, startled. Jiho quickly intervened.
"It's okay, Mom. That's just how he is… And this is Jang. He helped me leave the quarantine zone," Jiho said, his voice tinged with frustration as he shot Jang a pointed glare.
"Yeah, that's fucking right," Jang said, puffing out his chest. "I helped him. And I'm here for my rewar—"
He froze mid-sentence, feeling a soft hand gently clasp his.
"What the fu—" Jang started, but his voice trailed off as he looked down. Ji-yeon stood before him, her teary eyes locking onto his.
"…!" Jang's breath hitched as an unfamiliar tightness gripped his chest. He shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
"Thank you… oh, thank you," Ji-yeon sobbed, lowering her head as she held his hand firmly. "Anything you want, I'll give you. Anything… You brought my baby back to me."
"M-MOM! D-don't—" Jiho stammered, his face reddening.
Jang quickly pulled his hand away, looking off to the side as beads of sweat trickled down his face.
"... J-just… a place to sleep for the night or something. I'm not after money or… or anything like that. O-only if you… allow it… I don't give a fuck," Jang muttered, scratching his arm and fidgeting under the weight of her gratitude.
Jiho sighed in relief as he watched the exchange.
"Of course!" Ji-yeon said, her face lighting up. "Stay for dinner! I'll prepare a futon for you!"
Jang clutched the futon tightly, curling into it as he buried his face in its softness.
'… She…' His lips pressed together, trembling slightly.
'… Someone like that… actually exists…'
Tears traced silent paths down his cheeks as he clenched his teeth, the warm image of Ji-yeon contrasting sharply with the cold memories of his own mother.
'I could literally hear him crying last night… Was I too harsh on him?' Jiho wondered, his gaze lingering on Jang as they sat next to each other during lunch.
"Jiho," Ji-yeon said softly, holding out her phone. "I thought you should do the honors."
She smiled warmly. "Call them. They're devastated—Eunhee and Daniel."
"...." Jiho remained silent, his gaze fixed on the phone in her hand. The air grew heavier as Jang's eyes shifted to Jiho, pausing mid-bite.
"Jiho?" Ji-yeon asked, her voice tinged with concern as she noticed his hesitation. "Is something wrong?"