Bittersweet

12_Bittersweet

Blood was pooling on his shoulder, but Mingyu didn't let go of Wonwoo. Now was the perfect time. Having knocked Wonwoo unconscious, Mingyu immediately headed to the car. He laid him down in the backseat, then roughly wiped away the blood and stopped the bleeding. He then joined Jeonghan just in time. However, their fight was already coming to an end.

Both Seungcheol and Jeonghan knew this fight would ultimately be a battle of stamina, so Seungcheol opted for a quick takedown of Jeonghan, while Jeonghan, in turn, planned to dispatch Seungcheol in one fell swoop. Ultimately, Jeonghan raised his gun. Panicked, Seungcheol tried to dodge, but the bullet had already lodged in his leg.





"It was a long fight, Seungcheol."

"Ha. Isn't the gun foul?"

"It's a deal where your life is at stake anyway."





Mingyu approached Jeonghan. "We've safely caught Wonwoo, so let's go back," Jeonghan thought. "Can I just leave Seungcheol like this?" Jeonghan raised his hand again. Then he turned to Mingyu.Cover your ears, Kim Min-gyu.He said that and Mingyu covered his ears and walked away from Jeonghan. Jeonghan looked at Seungcheol. Seungcheol didn't do anything else either. He had an expression on his face that suggested he was accepting his fate.







"Shoot."

"It would be a lie to say it was fun."

"Take it easy and finish it quickly. I think I'm going to die because of that first shot you fired."

"If you don't kill me here, I'll be next, so I'll do that. Rest, Seungcheol."








bang!

A gunshot rang out. Seeing Seungcheol dead, his teammates stopped moving. Jeonghan stood before them, smiling and saying it might be a good time to change the ropes he was holding. He then got into his car. Mingyu got into the car I'd been in. After taking a quick look at Wonwoo, who was still unconscious and motionless, he started the engine.

Now I can finally see the destination.









-










Jeonghan and Mingyu returned to the organization. Wonwoo was lying in the room where he had been injured and resting, and Mingyu was watching over him. Jeonghan asked if it wouldn't be better to rest for a while, but Mingyu insisted that it was okay and stayed by Wonwoo's side.

He knew how precious he was to Mingyu, but he couldn't just ignore his injury. Wonwoo, who always left clean scars thanks to his clumsy knife handling, couldn't cleanly cut Mingyu's shoulder. Jeonghan sighed, wondering who was worrying about whom right now.

Wonwoo opened his eyes, wondering if Jeonghan's feelings had resonated with Wonwoo, or if it was Mingyu's earnest desire. It was a strange place to my eyes. It wasn't the place I'd always returned to, injured. Ah, this was Jeonghan's place. As I thought to myself, "Ah, this is Jeonghan," I glanced to the side, wondering if it was over, only to run into Jeonghan and Mingyu.





"Hyung, are you okay?"

"Thanks to you, I'm okay."

"Thank goodness, everything's okay now, hyung."

"Is it really over..."





Wonwoo's eyes, always gripped by tension, gradually relaxed. Then Wonwoo fell back into slumber. Mingyu panicked and tried to wake Wonwoo, but Jeonghan stopped him. He told him not to worry, that he had fallen asleep because he was relaxed, and that he should just let him get a good night's sleep for the first time in a while. Mingyu asked if he could stay because he was still worried, and Jeonghan put a hand on Mingyu's shoulder.

Seeing Mingyu trembling in pain, he asked if he could stay here, telling him to get some rest while he was still protecting him. Mingyu's lips pursed, glanced at Wonwoo a few times, and then left the room. Now was the time to truly rest. The man who had been so anxious that he couldn't sleep soundly fell into a comfortable slumber.

Jeonghan watched Wonwoo. He thought they'd walked the same path in the past, but it was different. How could they have drifted so far apart? It wasn't like he'd wanted to hold onto that line, but Jeonghan felt sorry for Wonwoo. If he'd helped Wonwoo as a fellow member of the organization long ago, things wouldn't have gone this far wrong. Jeonghan bowed his head in regret.











-











Previously, when Seungcheol was injured and had to rest, Wonwoo's partner was either Jeonghan or Mingyu. Even when he first went to work with Jeonghan, Wonwoo had the same expression he had with Seungcheol—that characteristically dry expression. Jeonghan had also misunderstood Wonwoo because of the rumors surrounding him. When he followed him, thinking he'd do all the work anyway, it sent shivers down his spine.

I knew why he always got so excited about blood. He kept slashing at Wonwoo with that jackknife, so his clothes were soaked with blood. At that moment, Jeonghan seemed startled when he saw Wonwoo's expression. Where was that dull expression from before? He couldn't control his expression at all, and he looked like he was about to cry. Something felt off to Jeonghan. He was clearly the one stabbing, but why did he keep stabbing people with that expression on his face? Jeonghan stopped Wonwoo. Wonwoo took a deep breath and belatedly regained control of his expression.

On the way back, Jeonghan asked Wonwoo.Why do you do that?Wonwoo didn't answer Jeonghan's question. Of course, why would he answer just because they're close? Jeonghan thought, "As expected," and was about to get into the car when Wonwoo hesitated and answered. Jeonghan didn't know what expression to make on his face when he heard the answer.






"Because I'm scared."

"scared?"

"I'm scared of those eyes when I die."






Then why do people kill? I couldn't ask. The reason, after all, was that he was a member of the organization. Jeonghan got into the car. Wonwoo also got in. He took the wheel, started the engine, and Jeonghan asked Wonwoo one last question. Wonwoo pondered Jeonghan's question. Then he answered.





"Isn't it hard?"

"I don't know. It's something I do all the time."

"Your expression looks like you're crying."

"Me?"

"Yeah. You look like you're about to die."




Wonwoo seemed completely oblivious. It seemed like he didn't even know how his own expressions would change. Jeonghan told him to practice his expressions in the mirror later, saying everyone thought he was emotionless. "That's not wrong," Wonwoo replied, turning his gaze to the window. Jeonghan realized then that the emotions he'd taken for granted were difficult for Wonwoo. From then on, Jeonghan kept his mouth shut. He felt there was no need to teach someone who struggled with emotions.

From then on, even when Wonwoo became his partner, Jeonghan didn't ask questions. Wonwoo continued to struggle in his own swamp, but Jeonghan didn't notice. Perhaps if he'd spoken to him one more time, he might have been able to save him. He might have even brought relief to Wonwoo, who had said he was scared.










-









Some time passed, and Wonwoo, who hadn't realized when he'd fallen asleep, opened his eyes with a start. He looked around and saw Jeonghan asleep, face down on the bed. It was a strange feeling to think such a peaceful space existed. Surely, things must be moving at a frantic pace outside, but here, time seemed to stand still.

Wonwoo threw off the blanket I was covering him with and stood up. He then covered Jeonghan and was about to open the door and leave when Mingyu, who had finished his work, burst through the door and came rushing in. Unlike Wonwoo who was secretly surprised, Mingyu was openly surprised and lost his balance and fell over. Wonwoo couldn't hold back his laughter and burst out laughing, embarrassing Mingyu. Jeonghan also opened his eyes at the commotion.

As soon as Jeonghan opened his eyes, he checked the time and asked Mingyu if he was well rested. He said not to worry, as he had finished all his work and rested. Jeonghan told Wonwoo to watch while he worked, and left the room, telling Wonwoo to rest more. Mingyu, who had just gotten up, tried to put Wonwoo back on the bed. Naturally, Wonwoo, pushed back by Mingyu's strength, headed towards the bed, but secretly wanted to wander outside.





"Min-gyu, I want to go out."

"Where are you going with this body? Absolutely not."

"But how did you get that freedom?"

"There's still a lot more to come."





Wonwoo was openly disappointed. Mingyu wasn't going anywhere dangerous, so he wondered if it was really necessary to come out like this. In the end, seeing Wonwoo's open disappointment, Mingyu coughed.Then let's just go out to the front here and come back.He said that and Wonwoo was ready to go out faster than ever.





As I trudged along, following Mingyu, the gazes of those around me were harsh. As if I had done something wrong, I looked at Wonwoo one by one, and Wonwoo lowered his head on his own. Then Mingyu took off the hat I was wearing and put it on Wonwoo. And then to WonwooDon't worry about it and just keep your head down.He whispered. Then he glanced at the other members of the organization who were looking at Wonwoo.

The members of the organization, sensing Min-gyu's presence, turned their heads. However, with the atmosphere looking bleak, Min-gyu decided to make a brief detour to Jeong-han's room. If he took Won-woo away like this, even stranger rumors would spread, and Jeong-han might find himself in an awkward situation.

After a few steps, they arrived at Jeonghan's room. Mingyu asked Wonwoo if he was okay. Wonwoo told him not to worry, but Mingyu wasn't the type to be unconcerned. Without further ado, Mingyu knocked. The door creaked open, and Jeonghan greeted them. Jeonghan asked, "What's wrong?" He hadn't even finished work yet.





"Wonwoo hyung wants to go out. It's too dangerous for me to take him."





Jeonghan pondered it deeply. He figured Wonwoo, who was often referred to as his lover, might hear rumors that he was cheating on him with Mingyu. So, why not take advantage of that? Jeonghan suggested they hold hands and leave. If Wonwoo had to leave anyway, rumors of his breakup with Jeonghan would spread. Since it had come to this, he suggested they just run away.

Wonwoo hesitated to answer. Still, he wondered if there was anything he could do to repay Jeonghan for his help. Jeonghan said he needed to leave quickly before the organization became more bizarre, and that nothing else was necessary. Hearing that, Mingyu no longer hesitated. Hearing that, he took Wonwoo's hand, saying it would be nice if they could at least keep in touch occasionally.





"Let's go Wonwoo hyung. You've been waiting for this so longfreedom"To find."

"...huh."