The next day, the atmosphere at Yulhan's house was awkward at breakfast. His father, who usually joked casually, only exchanged glances with his wife, who had a confused look on her face. Yulhan, who was usually cheerful, looked a little tense. He couldn't shake the worry about what Eunyeon was facing.
"What's wrong, Yulhan?" he asked, trying to break the silence. "You look like you didn't sleep all night."
"It's okay, Father," Yulhan replied quickly while stuffing rice into his mouth. However, his eyes kept glancing at his cell phone, making his lie easy to read.
His mother, who had noticed her son's behavior, just smiled a little. "If you need to talk, don't hesitate. We're here for you," she said gently.
Yulhan nodded slowly, even though he knew that there was no way he could tell her what was going on with Eunyeon.
Meanwhile, at Eunyeon's house, the atmosphere was different. He was getting ready in his room when there was a knock on the door from his father.
"Eunyeon, are you awake?" his father's voice came from behind the door.
"I am, Dad," Eunyeon replied as he put on his jacket. He opened the door, and his father walked in while glancing at his ear.
"That piercing... it's new, isn't it?" his father asked, pointing at the piercing in Eunyeon's left ear.
Eunyeon sighed, ready to receive a reprimand. "Yes, Father. But I can explain—"
However, instead of getting angry, his father smiled. "Just relax, I don't mind. It's just... it looks quite bold for your style."
Eunyeon was silent for a moment, a little surprised by his father's calm response. "So, you're not angry?"
"Why should I be angry? You're old enough to make your own decisions," his father replied as he patted Eunyeon's shoulder. "Just don't let your new style make you forget who you really are."
Those words made Eunyeon smile slightly. "Thank you, Father. I'll remember."
For the first time, Eunyeon decided to go to school without being dropped off. In the garage, he stared at his motorcycle—a black sports bike that he rarely used. There was something inside him that said he needed to prepare himself for any eventuality.
He put on his helmet, started the engine, and rode out of his house with confidence.
When Eunyeon arrived at school, the sound of his sports bike attracted the attention of many students, including Yulhan who was waiting at the gate. Yulhan looked at Eunyeon with raised eyebrows, impressed by the unusual sight.
"You really know how to make a first impression," Yulhan commented as he walked over to Eunyeon who had just gotten off his bike.
Eunyeon only smiled slightly. "Sometimes, change is necessary."
However, before they could continue their conversation, five bullies—Minsik, Taegyu, Beomhwan, Kangjoon, and Yeojin—appeared near them, watching from a distance with suspicious glances. It seemed like they were not happy with Eunyeon's presence that was stealing the show.
"Looks like they still haven't learned not to interfere," Yulhan muttered in an annoyed tone.
Eunyeon just shrugged. "Leave it alone. There are more important things to deal with."
However, in his heart, Eunyeon knew that this was just the beginning of a bigger conflict. The threat from his past was still looming, and he had to be prepared for whatever was to come.
As Yulhan and Eunyeon were talking, without them realizing it, steps approached from behind. Minsik, who had been watching, finally approached and mockingly said, "You think a new bike can scare us?"
Eunyeon shot Minsik a glare, but before he could reply, Yulhan was already standing in front, blocking the way. "Don't start trouble in the morning," he said in a cold tone.
However, Minsik didn't just give up. "You two must have a big secret, right? Don't think we don't know what's going on behind all this."
Eunyeon instantly felt the tension in the air. Minsik couldn't possibly know about his past, right? But the expression on Minsik's face gave the impression that he did know something. Something bigger than what Eunyeon expected.
"What do you mean?" asked Yulhan, realizing that there was more hidden than meets the eye.
Minsik just smiled widely. "You'll find out soon enough, Yulhan. But don't trust your friend Eunyeon too much. Everything he does, there is a hidden reason."
Eunyeon felt anxious, even his body trembled slightly. What was Minsik trying to reveal? Why did he feel like something was threatening him?
However, before he could respond, the school bell rang, cutting off their conversation.
After school, Eunyeon felt more tired than usual. The tension he felt this morning was still lingering in his heart. Upon arriving home, he went straight to his room and threw his school bag on the bed. As he took off his jacket, his eyes fell on a small envelope lying on his study table.
The envelope did not have the sender's name attached, only a small symbol in the bottom left corner. It was a symbol he had long recognized.
He sat down, opened the envelope slowly, and found a photo inside—a photo of him, Yulhan, and a group of friends, all looking normal. However, on the back of the photo, there was a handwritten message:
"Our secret is not over yet. You won't be able to run away forever, Eunyeon."
His heart skipped a beat. The photo was taken long ago, when they were all still in the same group. And that message... it was a clear threat.
Eunyeon sat in silence, the photo lying in his hands. His heart was pounding, and dark thoughts began to fill his head. Who had sent this photo? Why did they know so much about his secret? The photo clearly showed him and his friends taking drugs—a part of his very dark past. And underneath it all, there was a threatening message.
Not only was it evidence of past mistakes, but it also showed something more horrifying: he and his friends had once been forced to work with influential gangsters. They had been accomplices in a world of crime, and now, they were being targeted again. Eunyeon felt trapped in a circle that was hard to break out of.
He couldn't ignore the message, the clear threat. There was something bigger looming over him, and he knew the time to face his past was approaching. The past he had long wanted to forget was now coming back to haunt him.
With trembling hands, Eunyeon placed the photo back into the envelope and closed it carefully. He tried to calm himself down, but overwhelming anxiety was felt in his chest. What should he do now? Who else knew about his secret? And more importantly, who would want him back in that world?
Shortly after, his cell phone vibrated. A new message appeared on the screen, the sender unknown to him: "I know you received the message. Don't run, Eunyeon. We're always watching."
Eunyeon felt his whole body freeze. No one knew that he received the message, except Minsik. But how did Minsik know so much? Was there someone he was working with? Or maybe there was someone from his past who finally revealed everything?
Eunyeon knew one thing for sure: his past wouldn't leave him alone. He has to get out of the zone, from the world that once ensnared him. But to do so, he must face all the risks that may come his way, including the threat that is haunting him.