Park Moondae was built different. Work moved forward under the ideas he tossed out. Watching Moondae handle tasks better than most office workers, Hajun felt a stream of thoughts cross his mind. How would that guy fare at Depone? On his way to meet Cheongryeo, Moondae caught a sudden chill, though Hajun remained clueless about it.

With both roommates away, Hajun had the bedroom to himself. Seeing no need for earphones, he blasted the sound of their comeback trailer while watching the video. The visuals dripped with heavy budget.

Just then, a shot played of Ryu Cheongwoo in sniper gear tossing his rifle aside as he stood on a rooftop. A pale hand snatched the falling rifle right before it hit the asphalt.

–I will never die Like I did before I’m gonna keep you Alive– Alive– Alive–!

On screen, Hajun caught the rifle and slammed the barrel into the ground. Pulling the trigger, red light washed across the pavement like blood. Following the spreading shade, the camera panned down beneath the asphalt, highlighting Kim Raebin sprawled atop a heap of trash, shattered mannequins, and weapons—

Bzzzzz.

[Alex]

“What now?”

Sprawled on the bed, Hajun sat up. Midnight in Korea meant around seven in the morning in San Francisco. Calling at this hour? Alex kept strict habits, so he probably woke up an hour ago, but did something happen? Guessing the reason, Hajun pressed answer. No need to hold the phone close to his ear—a loud, booming voice rang out.

–[Damon!!]

“What.”

–[Did you keep your dad in the dark about this whole K-pop idol gig?! Why is he calling me to dig into your situation when I’m still trying to process it myself?!]

“Main job, not a gig.”

Hajun corrected him with a gentle tone, rubbing his chin. Is this old man going to fly to Korea next? Clinging to a grown adult son felt sickening. Embarrassing enough to hide his face from his friend.

–[Sigh, anyway, your dad asked how we handled your position at the company… and dug around about your shares too. Through indirect questions, of course. Roundabout questions.]

“And?”

–[I told him it’s personal information, so I can’t share.]

“Good job.”

–[I didn’t do it for praise. This is my company too, you know? What CEO gives that kind of info to an outsider…? Your dad still sees me as a teenage kid.]

“The one wearing tacky horn-rimmed glasses with every shirt button buttoned up to the throat?”

–[Hey.]

Alex grumbled, while Hajun chuckled. Stepping away from the sour topic, Alex shifted the conversation.

–[Look, it’s your family business, so butt in would be overstepping, Damon.]

“Right. Allow me to apologize on behalf of our old man.”

–[No, that’s not it. Truth be told, your dad seems to carry a heart made of ice. Rude of me to say that in front of his son, but…]

“Not at all. You can call him an idiot who failed to keep his pants on.”

–[…]

Silence fell over the line after hearing Hajun roast his own bloodline. Hajun could picture Alex pinching the bridge of his nose without looking.

–[Do… do your fans know what kind of guy you are?]

“Who knows.”

–[…Damn it, I didn’t mean to drag this out. Stop pulling me off track!]

“What did I do?”

Grumbling out of nowhere. Hajun pouted, muttering in his mind before freezing at the next sentence.

–[I just meant… if you ever need them, lawyers sit ready anytime. Just keep that in mind. …Don’t just stand there taking hits.]

“…A single slap across the face was a cheap price to pay.”

A story from his college dropout days. Hajun rubbed his fine cheek with the back of his hand. An old man who handed out warnings no matter how many fights Hajun picked at school raised a hand when he dropped out. Funny thought.

–[Cheap price my foot. As if that expensive face of yours comes cheap. Do you know how many guys ground their teeth wanting to land one hit on you?]

“And your name sat right at the top of that waiting list?”

–[Nope. I reserved a spot where it wouldn’t show.]

“Oh, terrifying.”

Exchanging silly jokes (or maybe real truths), silence settled over the two childhood friends. Across the comfortable quiet, a cup clinked as Alex took a sip of coffee. After a short pause, he spoke up.

–[Truth be told, I thought about reporting him behind your back back then.]

Crushing a hamster body pillow pulled from the next bed, Hajun tugged on the hamster’s ear, answering only in his mind. Glad you didn’t.

–[But back then we held zero power, and your dad could sweep an issue like that under the rug without effort. Most of all, no evidence existed. Your word was all we had, and you didn’t want that either.]

“Getting wrapped up in rumors drops the stock price.”

–[You don’t even hold C&W shares anymore. Isn’t your dad going too far? The favoritism is…]

Hajun gave a light shrug, though Alex couldn’t see it. He had no desire to scratch Katy’s share. Nor did he want people assuming he reached for David’s cuts.

“Forget it. I refused it myself. I have zero interest in crawling beneath Dad and David just to scrape up that tiny inheritance.”

–[Sigh, right. Good thing you carry a tough spirit.]

“Is that all you called for?”

–[Yeah, you punk. And do I need a reason every time? Can’t you reach out first once in a while? At least… Ah, Lina. Woke up? Hello, Damon? Lina wants to talk.]

A woman’s faint voice drifted in over the line, and soon Angelina took the phone, her gentle, bright voice ringing near his ear.

–[Damon! My goodness, how long has it been! I was about to forget your voice!]

“Hey, Jelly.”

–[That silly nickname feels so nostalgic!]

“Jolly jelly, been well?”

Alex grumbled in the background, asking if calling another man’s wife that sweet was necessary. Letting out a light laugh, Angelina patted her husband’s shoulder with a playful remark.

–[Seriously, picking Damon of all people to get jealous over?]

–[W-Well, that guy was always popular…]

His friend’s mumbling voice carried the warmth of someone wrapped around his wife’s finger with a smile. Hajun let out a smirk.

“Can’t help being charming.”

–[Arrogant punk. Yeah, good for you.]

–[Boys, stop fighting!]

“Haven’t heard that name in a while.”

Boys. Being older, Angelina often called Alex and Hajun by that name. Having an older sister would probably feel like this. Letting out a small chuckle, Angelina exclaimed as a thought struck her.

–[Ah, right! I’ve been enjoying your songs so much these days!]

–[Lina turned into a full fan of yours.]

“Oh?”

Without hanging up, the three friends chatted away, feeling like they had returned to their teenage years. Mentioning the new music video and asking if they were releasing a game, Angelina seemed like a genuine TeSTAR fan. At this point, Hajun couldn’t resist asking.

“Jelly, who’s your favorite in TeSTAR?”

–[Damon, you of course.]

“Don’t lie.”

–[Ah, sharp as ever! Truth be told, I can’t pick! Raebin is adorable, Little Sejin’s hard work steals my heart, and Moondae… his vocals are incredible! I could fall for him.]

–[Honey…]

Behind Angelina’s excited tone, Alex let out a mournful murmur. Hajun nodded at the predictable choices. Angelina’s taste leaned toward nerds as expected.

Ending the call, Hajun checked the time to find it past two in the morning. Still zero word from his roommates. After a moment’s thought, Hajun stood up. Since the managers had off work, he intended to fetch them himself. Ryu Cheongwoo, crossing the hallway on his way back from the bathroom, spotted Hajun and asked.

“Still awake? …Where are you heading?”

“To pick up the guys. Do you know where Lee Sejin went? Moondae said he went to meet Cheongryeo.”

Hajun scowled, wondering what that guy had to talk about at this hour. Cheongwoo answered his question.

“Sejin? He said he was stepping out for a walk this evening… Hasn’t he returned yet?”

Cheongwoo reached for his jacket, offering to help look for him. No need for that, though. A sound echoed from the entrance as the front door opened, and Lee Sejin stepped inside. Catching sight of Won Hajun and Ryu Cheongwoo standing in the dark, he flinched.

“W-What’s this… You guys aren’t sleeping?”

“Why aren’t you back at this hour? A guy with weak spiritual energy like you!”

Bring a ghost back and you’re dead, Hajun waved a fist through the air. Stay inside a safe dorm at night! Cheongwoo patted Hajun’s shoulder to calm him down, though it showed little effect.

“The others are sleeping, Hajun. You’ll wake them.”

“Why do you think I inspect this place and coat it in my aura… Did you cry?”

“…!”

As Hajun reached out, Lee Sejin flinched and pulled back. Ignoring the reaction, Hajun placed a finger over Sejin’s reddened eyes.

“I-I didn’t cry! Move your hand.”

“You cried.”

“…I said I didn’t.”

Hajun ignored Sejin’s stubborn protests. Pulling his hand back, Hajun spoke to Cheongwoo.

“I leave this to you.”

“…Right, drive safe.”

“Find out where, with whom, over what, and why he cried before I get back with Park Moondae.”

“What? Wait, Hajun…”

That’s an interrogation… Cheongwoo, who had been tending to Sejin, trailed off. Sejin glared at Hajun before turning on his heel and heading inside. Looking back and forth between Sejin’s back and Hajun’s blank face, Cheongwoo let out a deep sigh.

“Phew… I’ll talk to Sejin.”

“Yeah.”

“My way.”

“Whatever works.”

Pulling his cap low, Hajun offered a nod and stepped out the door.

Heading down to the parking garage, Hajun crossed paths with an unexpected figure. Or maybe not that unexpected? A first meeting, yet a familiar face. Approaching a middle-aged man lingering around the luxury cars, Hajun offered a sudden greeting.

“Hello.”

“Whoa, startled me! Who are you?”

“Lee Sejin’s father?”

Same genes at a glance. Though his impression differed—not just from age, but a different face reading as a whole. Even twins could carry different facial features, so no surprise there, but the gap ran wide.

“I am, but who… Ah! Our Sejin’s friend?”

“Yes. Won Hajun.”

“Ah, right, the tall guy who joined last!”

A scammer’s face at first sight. The only blessing left in his fate was his child’s luck. Smelled like daddy issues already.

“My goodness, tall indeed. Let me see your face! Wow, handsome! Wait, didn’t he mention a rich friend? Are you the owner of this car?”

Gaining certainty that this man caused Sejin’s tears, Hajun let out a smile. Addressing the man who hid greed behind cheap flattery, Hajun answered.

“No, the one next to it.”

“This one? Wow, riding in style~ Thought your taste would be fancier though? Heard you were a chaebol young master. Quite humble~”

Sejin’s father placed a hand on the hood, touching it as he pleased. Watching him, Hajun raised the corners of his lips. Maybe this moves fast.

“Want to take a seat inside?”

“Oh my, can I? Just a short sit then?”

“Go ahead.”

“When will our Sejin make enough money to buy his dad a car like this~”

Giving up the driver’s seat, Hajun climbed into the passenger side. Closing the doors, only the two remained inside the tinted car. Couldn’t get any easier. Looking around and touching buttons, Sejin’s father asked.

“So why is our friend down in the garage at this late hour? Heading somewhere busy?”

“Picking up a member still at the company.”

“No way~ Leave tasks like that to a manager! If you ever need a manager, I can do it, deal?”

“Haha.”

Letting nonsense pass through one ear, Hajun cut his laugh short. Starting the car on his own, Sejin’s father began driving, claiming he would just take a quick loop around the garage.

“Rides smooth as silk~”

“Mind if I ask something?”

“Huh? Sure, what is it?”

“What did you talk about when you met Lee Sejin earlier?”

Glance. The man checked Hajun through the rearview mirror.

“With our Sejin? Nothing much~ Why, did Sejin say something?”

“Yes.”

“…What did he say?”

“He shared something terrible.”

“…!”

SKRRRT.

Slamming the brakes, Sejin’s father snapped his head toward Hajun. Trying to read Hajun’s face for a moment, he offered a fake smile and spoke.

“Don’t mind whatever he said~ It’s all lies! I adore our Sejin. Guess he still holds a grudge over his mother and me separating when he was young.”

“Is that so?”

“Sure is. I didn’t reach out to Sejin for money~ Never hit him either. Sejin has a bit of… delusions? Things like that…”

“…You hit him.”

Hajun raised his hand and drew a horizontal line across the rearview mirror. An action to open a ‘gate’. A move he hadn’t performed in quite some time, yet executed with effortless skill as always. Following Hajun’s finger without thinking, Sejin’s father found himself swallowed into the void the very next second without knowing why.

Shifting the gear to neutral and turning off the engine, Hajun took a glance around the garage before following right behind him.