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The walls of the club were buzzing with the music, the different lights casting silhouettes of everyone in the dance floor. The place was packed, the bar full and the atmosphere fun. The seats on the side filled with people drinking and enjoying the night.
Seongje didn’t pay them any mind. He made his way to the back of the club, with the music slowly fading behind him. The guard on the door opening the door the moment he saw him. Seongje ignored him, as he made his way inside. The door closing behind him, cutting off the music completely.
The kid on couch stood up immediately bowing his head, the other two in the room followed him “We- we didn’t think you would come here today”
Seongje didn’t answer.
“I will get the money tomorrow, I swear. Just give us a little bit more time. We- “
Gosh, why am I here?
“…it's just that a few boys from our neighborhood caused us some trouble and- “
He took a cigarette out of his pocket, lightening it. Not even listening to the stuttering explanation, he didn’t give a fuck about.
“…I will have the money tomorrow and it will never happen again. “
Seongje took the first drag off the cigarette, the room had fallen silent “You know I don’t like this city. Not my vibe, not much of my scene” he took a second drag “Its boring” he took a step forward “And now you are telling me that I needed to come here, because you couldn’t stop a few street kids?” his voice low, threatening.
They flinched. Weaklings. He couldn’t stop the grin overtaking his face, stepping closer. “I-I-I’m sorry. I will get everything I swear-“ Seongje shushed him.
“Oh, I believe you.” He flicked the cigarette away “But you still need to learn a lesson, don’t you? I need to make sure this doesn’t happen again”
“No please- “Seongje interrupted him with a punch to the face. At least he gets to beat somebody up. His signature laugh and the noise of the punches, swallowed by the music outside.
Beating up people is always so exhausting, Seongje thought to himself as he ate the instant ramen outside the convenient store on a bench. His knuckles wrapped in bandages. At least he is in a good mood after seeing some blood.
The night air had a slight chill to it. He watched the cars outside the store for a minute before taking his phone out and texting:
`It’s been taken care of. They are getting the money, tomorrow.`
`Good, stay for the night and take the money directly. I don’t want any hindrances, again. `
He sighed. Na Bakjin, really is making me stay in this shithole. But instead of complaining he just send a quick affirmative back.
With the way these idiots just lost the money, Seongje isn’t surprised that Baekjin wants him to handle it personally.
He is eating the last scrapes his noodles when he notices a boy at the entrance of the convenient store, lurking around. He was a few inches away, clearly looking for somebody inside.
“Ah, there he is” he says as another came out of the store. Towering hovering over the shorter one with his hands in his hoodie. Seongje watched the scene with detached interest.
“So, you are the boy who annoyed Yeong Bin?” He continued. The kid didn’t answer for a minute, then “Who are you?”
“Just one of his friends and I don’t like it if one of us has a problem, you know?” Again, no answer. Seongje scoffed internally, shortie is gonna get eaten alive “I am here to teach you a little lesson. This time one that sticks”
He slowly moved closer to the boy and Seongje could see how he slowly took his hands out off his pockets. Probably to defend his face but than he noticed how they were closed in fists with one of them gripping a pen, staring unflinchingly.
Seongje smirked. Looks like the kid does have some spunk.
Before they could continue, Seongje cleared his throat, swallowing the last of his noddles. Both heads turned to him “How about you go on your way. This looks like it's about to get ugly and its such a beautifully night, we wouldn’t want that to end with brutality, no?” Totally ignoring the fact that he had just beat three people to bulbs.
Seongje could see his confidence shrinking with now having to face two than one. His lips turned upwards for a moment, his eyes glinting murderously. The bully gulped, looking between him and shortie. He slowly moved away, giving the other boy another look as if to say ´We will see each other again´ than walked away.
Hah, sometimes threatening people was as much fun as playing with them.
Pencil boy was not moving, still looking at him. Seongje didn’t pay him any mind, standing up and throwing his trash into the nearby bin. Just as he walked away did, he call out “Yah”
He turned back around “Do you know any Motels around here?”
The boy stared confused “What?”
Seongje just raised his eyebrows expectantly “I need a place to stay for the night. You know any?”
He looked down for a moment, thinking. For a moment it looked like he wouldn’t answer, then he looked back up, he said hesitantly “There is a little Motel across my house”
“Great, Let’s go” Seongje said, he took a few steps and then looked behind him. The boy was still standing there “Are you coming, puppy eyes? I don’t exactly know the way”
With that they made their way to the bus station.
“This is the motel” Yeon Sieun stated, as he found out what the boys name was. The building was old, a few stories high, nothing special and it didn’t look like they would ask too many questions about a teenager staying for the night, perfect.
“You live there?” Seongje asked as he jerked his head at the building on the other side “Hmm” confirmed the shorter boy.
“What was with the boy that provoked you anyway?” he asked curious.
“Just a guy from my school”
“You are not very talkative, are you?”
“Why are you even talking to me?”
“Boredom mostly. Why didn’t you already walk away?”
“Because I wanted to thank you”
Seongje blinked “Huh?”
“Thank you, for helping me”
Seongje looked at him for a moment.
“Sentimental aren’t you, ha?” he took a last drag out off the cigarette “Anyway I will see you, puppy eyes” and without waiting for a reply he made his way inside the building.
Sieun stood they're for a second “puppy eyes?” He mumbled to himself, before shaking his head and walking away
Seongje spend most of the day wandering around the city. He had nothing better to do and had given the boys a whole day to get the money, he would meet them later today.
After a few hours of playing in a random Internet café he made his way in the direction of the motel when he noticed the boy from yesterday across the street. He was wearing his school uniform, as he probably made his way home.
Before he could walk further, Seongje shouted across the street “Yah!” the boy and a few other bystanders turned around, Seongje didn’t pay them any mind.
He waved at him. After a few moments of hesitation Sieun waved back, slowly “You know a good place to eat?” he shouted. Sieun didn’t answer back but he could see him mouthing "What".
Seongje just let out a laugh “I’m starving! Let’s find a good place to eat” he made his way to the streetlight a few feet away, he could see Sieun do the same, waiting for him on the other side. Seongje grinned. Well a few hours of entertainment before he would make his way back wouldn’t be amiss.
Sieun led the way silently to a restaurant silently. Seongje didn’t mind, he didn’t need someone talking his ear off and there was something oddly interesting about the boy that didn’t look away.
He didn’t look away. And wasn’t that the thing? Seongje was known for his three seconds rule, so why didn’t he already do something about it? Maybe it was the sadness in Sieuns round eyes or the fact that there was more behind them, he saw it the first time when he took his pen out. In the end it was boredom that fed his curiosity.
The restaurant they arrived at wasn’t big, the round tables nearly filling the whole place, giving a hard time walking around when the chairs aren’t rightfully put back. “Ah, Sieun-a didn’t expect you here today” a boy their age came in their direction, one hand filled with plates, a waiter than.
“He wanted to eat” Sieun pointed his head at Seongje, who looked at the boy. He was slightly taller than him black hair, brown eyes “Oh, look at you making another friend, I see” the boy teased, stretching his free hand out “I’m Ahn Suho, nice to meet you”
He took the hand, both giving a steady handshake “Keum Seongje” he introduced himself.
“You guys take a free table. I will get the food, need to make a break anyway. You don’t have anything against me joining you, right?” Suho asked. Seongje shrugged not really caring, just wanting to eat and Sieun also shook his head.
They both sat down while Suho went to the back “Your friend?” he asked
“Hmm” Sieun confirmed.
When Suho came back with the food and they could finally start, he asked “So, how did you two meet?”
“A guy wanted to fight him. I didn’t let the situation escalate” Seongje answered. Wow, that he would ever say something like that. Not letting a fight escalate he scoffed internally.
“Again?” Suho asked looking at Sieun “It was one of Yeong Bins guys” the other exclaimed.
“Man, that guy just doesn’t know when to let go” Suho sighed. Seongje looked between the two “So this Yeong Bin is giving you trouble?” he asked curious.
“Yeah, he has some issues with Sieun since he couldn’t beat him in a fight. Man is a bully, takes it a bit seriously, you know?” Suho explained
“Hmm, and now he send a guy again to beat you up yesterday?” he asked looking at Sieun. Who just shrugged his shoulders “I would have handled it, you know?”
Seongje laughed “Oh, I know. I saw the way you held that pen” Sieun looked down, slightly embarrassed.
“Oh you have no idea, you know how- Wait, wait. Try this its good- “Suho cuts off before dropping the food on his hand, before Seongje could say anything, he continued “So there was this group…”
With that the taller boy told the story of how they got involved with a gang, were in trouble, and about how they took them out. Seongje listened attentively while eating.
“So, you are a MMA fighter?” Seongje eyed Suho up and down. The other shrugged “I retired”
Seongje smirked “Why? Not good enough”
“I could beat your ass” Suho laughed and Seongje couldn’t help but snort “In your dreams”
Sieun just looked between them, if you looked closely, you could see the amusement in them. Before they could continue though, a girl came though the door.
“Ah, Yeongi” Suho called her out. She had black hair with pink highlights and dark eyes “You are right on time”
“I’m always on time” the girl said as she sat down on the table and immediately turned to him “Who are you? I haven’t seen you around here”
“Keum Seongje” he introduced himself.
“Yeongi” she said “So where are you from? Do you also go to school with these two” pointing at the other boys.
“No, I’m from Ganghak High”
“Isn’t that in Yeongdeungpo? Pretty far from here” Suho asked. “So that’s why you stayed at the motel” Sieun added thoughtfully.
“I have few things that I need to do here so…” he shrugged “I stayed the night because it would have been pointless to make the long Ride back, when I needed to come back the next day anyway. I will take the Train back tonight”
“Aren’t your teachers saying anything?” Yeongi asked
“Nah” Seongje waved her off “I just said I was sick” and he had all the teachers in his pocket anyway.
“What about you? You work here?” He deduced from her Outfit, which was the same as Suhos.
She nodded “Started working here after the whole mess with Kim Gilsu”
“Oh yeah. You should have seen her. Knife in her hand. Threatening people, left and right.” Suho added with a good Impression of that moment.
They couldn’t help but all laugh (well, except Sieun) at his acting. This group has guts, exactly his style.
“Hey, I could beat up every gangster I wanted” Yeongi said with played confidence “And then Im making my own” She puffed out her chest “I will recruit you guys as my lackeys”
“Of course, my Lady. I will be the muscle of the group” Suho exclaimed, a shit eating grin on his face.
Sieun just shaked his head and when Yeongi looked at Seongje “Nah, I will pass”
“What, scared to be a gangster?” she asked
Seongje couldn’t help the laugh that escaped him. For a moment he was surprised himself. Oh, they had no idea “I am more of a gamer”
The conversation continued from then on with Seongje and Sieun mostly listening. When his phone buzzed after a while. Ah, they had the money. Putting his phone back in his pocket, Seongje stood up.
“Well, it was a good meal, but I should get going now”
“What? Why? Stay a little” Yeongi complained
He shook his head “Nah, I still have a few things to take care of before I go”
“Wait. Give me your number” Yeongi stretched his hand out.
With that he left the restaurant with a full stomach and three new contacts, to get the money from these morons. When he got there, they had everything he made his way home satisfied, messaging Bakjin that he had everything.
The bus was relatively empty on his way back; he sat at the far back and leaned his head against the window. It had been quite the entertaining afternoon.
He couldn’t quite explain himself why he decided to stick around. At first it was his boredom that found a perfect subject in the quite boy with expressive eyes, Seongje could see it, the way there was more to these eyes.
And Sieun didn’t disappoint, with the story’s Suho told him. He could believe it. The other boy wasn’t uninteresting either, with his wit and comebacks. Seongje didn’t have much tolerance for people who talked his ear off, since he was the one who usually did the talking but Suho was entertaining. He hadn’t minded. He would actually like to see if he really is a good fighter as he seems.
This, at first bothersome trip turned into a change from his usual days of school, union business, gaming and beating up some idiots. It was enjoyable.
He scrolled though his phone when he noticed that they had also added him on social media. Yeongi even posted a photo of them, at the dinner table. She had tagged him on it with the caption ´new friend´. He let out an amused chuckle.
Seongje himself wasn’t active on social media. He maybe had three pictures posted with only one of them with his face which you couldn’t exactly see because the picture was taken at night. He didn’t really need it. The pictures he made were for him only.