The next day, the tension that had been building between Eunyeon, Minsik, and the others only intensified. As Eunyeon arrived at school, his mind was still preoccupied with the strange events that had unfolded over the past few days. The encounter with Seoyun, the mysterious people asking about him, and Minsik's sudden sense of responsibility—everything seemed connected in ways he couldn't fully understand.
He walked into the school building, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in his chest. Yulhan was already there, leaning against the wall near the entrance, his usual neutral expression in place. He didn't look up as Eunyeon approached, but the faint shift of his eyes suggested that he was aware of Eunyeon's presence.
"You seem quieter today," Yulhan commented, his voice as calm as ever, though there was a subtle undercurrent of curiosity in his words.
Eunyeon let out a sigh, not in the mood for conversation. "Just tired," he muttered, brushing past Yulhan and heading toward the classroom.
Yulhan didn't follow immediately. He stood there for a moment, his gaze drifting toward Eunyeon's back. It was rare for Eunyeon to be so off, and Yulhan could tell that something was weighing on his mind. Still, he chose not to press him further. Eunyeon would talk when he was ready.
Meanwhile, in the classroom, Minsik was already there, sitting at his desk. The usual group of friends—Taegya, Beomhwan, Kangjoon, and Yeojin—had gathered around him, speaking in hushed tones. It was clear that the previous day's conversation had left a mark, and their curiosity about Minsik's recent behavior hadn't faded.
Minsik remained quiet as they bombarded him with questions, his eyes fixed on the desk in front of him. He could feel the weight of their stares, their judgment, but he refused to let it affect him. His thoughts kept drifting back to Eunyeon and the mysterious people who seemed to be circling around him. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he knew one thing for sure—he couldn't just ignore it.
Before he could lose himself in his thoughts, the door opened, and Eunyeon walked in, his expression unreadable. The room fell silent for a moment, the tension thick in the air. Minsik glanced up briefly, but Eunyeon didn't acknowledge him. Instead, he took his seat and pulled out his phone, seemingly intent on blocking out the world.
Minsik hesitated for a moment before standing up and walking toward him. "Hey," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "We need to talk."
Eunyeon glanced up at him, a flicker of irritation crossing his features. "About what?" he asked, not bothering to hide his annoyance.
"About the people who've been asking about you," Minsik replied, his tone more serious now. "I don't know what they want, but it's not good. You need to be careful."
Eunyeon looked at him for a long moment, his expression guarded. "I can handle it," he said curtly, clearly not interested in discussing it further.
Minsik didn't back down. "It's not just about you anymore," he said, his voice low. "If these people are involved, it could affect more than just your personal life."
Eunyeon frowned but didn't respond immediately. He felt the weight of Minsik's words, but he wasn't ready to let someone like Minsik dictate how he handled his own problems. Still, something about Minsik's tone—something in his eyes—made Eunyeon pause.
Finally, Eunyeon sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I'll figure it out," he muttered, though his words lacked conviction.
Minsik didn't push it any further, sensing that Eunyeon wasn't ready to accept help yet. Instead, he simply nodded and returned to his seat, though the tension between them lingered.
As the class continued, Eunyeon couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming—something he wasn't prepared for. The mysterious people, Minsik's unexpected involvement, and his own father's cold indifference—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle he wasn't sure how to solve. But he knew one thing for sure: he wasn't going to let anyone else take control of his life, no matter how dangerous the situation might become.
Outside the classroom, the day passed uneventfully, but the weight of unspoken words hung heavy in the air. Every glance, every small gesture felt like it was leading up to something larger—something that Eunyeon couldn't yet understand. But as the sun began to set, he knew one thing: his life was about to change in ways he could never have imagined.
The question now was, would he be able to handle what was coming? Or would he be swept up in a storm of secrets and lies that he wasn't ready to face?
The next day, after the chaos caused by Yulhan a few days ago, Seungho reappeared with a more well-thought-out plan. He had been quietly observing the school from a distance, hiding in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to act. His target now was Eunyeon, who had become entangled in matters that were increasingly dangerous for him.
That morning, Seungho stood in a strategic spot, staring at the school building with a sharp gaze. However, something unexpected happened. Suddenly, from behind, a strong hand covered his mouth. Seungho was startled and tried to struggle, but the calm voice that soon greeted him made him stop.
"Seungho, don't do this," whispered the familiar voice. Seungho recognized it instantly. It was Joonwoo.
Joonwoo, a former member of the group who had decided to leave that world behind, held Seungho firmly. "You can't bring Eunyeon into this. They're forcing him to become one of them, and it's going to destroy him."
Seungho tried to push Joonwoo's grip away, but Joonwoo held him even tighter. "You know, Seungho, it's not like before. I'm out of it now. Don't make things worse than they already are."
"What do you mean?" Seungho asked, his voice growing more irritated, feeling uncomfortable with Joonwoo's warning.
Joonwoo released his grip on Seungho's mouth, giving him space to speak. "They're forcing Eunyeon, making him their pawn. They're going to use him for a bigger plan that will threaten more than just your life. If you drag Eunyeon deeper into their group, we will all be trapped."
Seungho stayed silent, his eyes narrowing as he processed Joonwoo's words. "Do you think I care about that? I already have a plan. They'll regret this."
Joonwoo stared at him intently. "I don't want to see you get caught up in that darkness again, Seungho. Eunyeon doesn't know what's really going on. Don't let him become a victim."
Seungho paused, his eyes blank, feeling a doubt growing inside him, though he didn't want to admit it. "Joonwoo," he said quietly, "you've left it all behind. But I'm still trapped. I have to do this."
Joonwoo sighed, realizing that convincing Seungho wouldn't be easy. "Think carefully, Seungho. If you go through with this, you'll not only hurt Eunyeon, but yourself as well."
Joonwoo gave him one last look before disappearing into the crowd, leaving Seungho to think heavily. Meanwhile, inside the school, Eunyeon couldn't shake the growing feeling of unease. It was as if something was drawing closer, something he couldn't avoid.