𝑰'𝑴 𝑵𝑶𝑻 𝑪𝑶𝑶𝑳

48

☆Tae-Moon☆
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Time, he seemed to have stopped when Eugene stated those words. The air became still and all Tae-Moon could hear was his own breathing. He sighed softly as he turned his head away.

"My friend, huh? Right, did Goo put you up to this?" He asks. The strange teen chuckles and gestures to his drawing. "If I'm his friend, why would I want him gone? We have a common goal, Mr. Lee." Eugene then smiles once his eyes settle onto the drawing of Tae-Moon's social worker.

"He can't always protect you. Charles Choi's group is above the law, nobody can touch them." He continues. The truthfulness evident in his tone struck fear within him. Tae-Moon plays off his fear with a scoff and gazes back at him.

His eyebrows raise with curiosity. "But you can? A teenager? Right, right." He shrugs him off, continuing to draw. The teen doesn't want to believe a word he's saying. How can this skinny kid put up a fight against those guys? Tae-Moon couldn't even if he's on a bunch of steroids.

Eugene hums thoughtfully and pulls out a card from his suit jacket.

"Just think about it, okay? Aren't you tired of them? Do you not want to seek vengeance for what they have done to you? I'm your only friend in this situation-- that is if you want an alliance. I don't deal these out so easily, by the way."

Tae-Moon glances down at the business card and takes it slowly. His eyes scan it with confusion. It has a logo, business name, Eugene's full name, and his number.

Workers.... I've never heard of such a business...

"I-"

When he looks back, Eugene is standing and dusting his clothes off. He bows politely and swiftly enters the car. His glasses could only be seen. "Farewell Mr. Lee." His blacked-out window rolls up and they drive away.

Tae-Moon is left sitting on the concrete, a dumbstruck etched along his features.

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It was well into the middle of the night when the teen arrived home. He sighs and kicks off his shoes before locking the door behind him. A yelp almost escapes his lips upon tripping over another pair of shoes. His eyes widened and his mind became flooded with thoughts.

They are obviously Mr. Park's well-used dress shoes.

Tae-Moon slowly walks down the hallway, undoing his blazer jacket and tie. His fingers twist the fabric with an anxious movement. It's quiet in the apartment. There's no sound of Mr. Park's groans of old age or frustrated rants about the recent ball game in the air. The atmosphere is only stale.

This causes fear to fester within his body.

What if Goo got to him? What if that Workers guy is right?

Tae-Moon's slow pace became a hurried run. He moves swiftly past furniture, jumping over coffee tables or sofas. Tears gathered in his eyes. It would be difficult to overcome such a tragedy if it were to occur. The thought of Mr. Park dying for him-- a killer-- disgusts him.

The teen held his breath when he entered the dining room next.

His body stops and his head tilts to the side with confusion.