Yeo-jun walked closer and pressed himself tightly against the wall of the gazebo, trying to quietly slip past from the side.He was now so close to Joon-hyunk that if he even took a breath, his arm might brush against him.As he slowly slid by, Joon-hyunk found him looking as adorable as an innocent child.Yeo-jun's eyes were only focused on Joon-hyunk's arm, which is why he didn't notice the smile on Joon-hyunk's face directed at him.
This was the second time he had gotten so close to Joon-hyunk, and it made Joon-hyunk's heart race wildly again.
And finally, when Yeo-jun passed through the door, he ran quickly inside.
Tae was watching everything from the window.It took everything in him not to react. His fists were clenched tightly with anger.He had clearly told Beast that Yeo-jun couldn't handle physical contact, then why was Beast still doing this to him?
Tae took two steps forward to go to them when suddenly, he heard a voice from behind.It was Yun, Yeo-jun's friend. Tae stopped at the sound.
"Do you like him?"
Tae turned around and saw Yun standing there.
"Do you like Yeo-jun?""Yes, I do.""I'm glad," Yun smiled, "that someone besides me is there to care for him."
"Please take care of him. And especially, keep him away from that man."
"Do you know just a while ago, that man attacked me?""He was asking me about Yeo-jun. But I didn't tell him anything. He seemed really dangerous."
"Just a while ago he was interrogating me about Yeo-jun, and now he's standing near him. I'm really worried about Yeo-jun."
As they talked, they walked downstairs.Just then, Yun's brother called for him, and he walked away.
Tae was just about to go out to the gazebo when Yeo-jun came walking toward him from behind and stood right next to him, as if Tae was his ultimate shield from the world.His hands were trembling badly, and he finally let out the breath he'd been holding.
From Yeo-jun's behavior, Tae was now fully convinced:No matter what happens, Yeo-jun will always come to him.No one can take Yeo-jun away from him.
He looked at Beast with a proud expression—smiling just a little, as if to say:
"No matter what you do, he'll always choose me. People like you may scare him, but they can never earn his love."
Beast took a drag from his cigarette and looked back at him with a mysterious smile.His expression seemed to say:
"You're living in an illusion. Let's see what really happens."
Tae turned back and softly said to Yeo-jun:
"It's gotten pretty late. I'll drop you home and then go myself.""Okay."
Hearing that, Yeo-jun followed him to the car and they drove away.
That day, because of Beast, Yeo-jun was extremely nervous, and so Tae couldn't gather the courage to confess his feelings.But now, a few days later, Tae brought Yeo-jun to a beautiful restaurant surrounded by nature.The atmosphere was peaceful and full of positive vibes.
They were walking through the area, chatting.Yeo-jun was explaining something to Tae when he said:
"You know I never feel comfortable in public places like this. Then why did you bring me here?"
"Because I have a very important reason for bringing you here today," Tae said."It's your birthday treat. I wasn't there on your birthday, so I wanted to make it up to you today."
(And quietly in his heart, he added...)
"...and maybe, finally, tell you how I feel."
But it wasn't necessary to say it yet.
That day, Yeo-jun had been so nervous because of Beast that Tae hadn't gotten a chance to talk about his feelings.But today, he had come fully prepared.
"Don't worry, Yeo-jun," Tae smiled, "I've booked a table far from the crowd. There won't be many people around. And I'll be with you. Don't worry."
Seeing his warm smile, Yeo-jun smiled too.
But today, the place was more crowded than usual—maybe there was some kind of party going on.The music was loud, and people's voices were blending with it.It seemed like some kind of office party.
Yeo-jun saw people enjoying themselves and felt slightly relaxed.
"Maybe," he thought, "I was just overthinking."
Tae was walking ahead, and Yeo-jun quietly followed behind him.He noticed that their table really was away from the crowd, and that brought him a sense of relief.Tae had thoughtfully ordered everything according to Yeo-jun's taste—he was a bit picky when it came to food.
While eating, Tae asked casually,
"So... what's your plan after this? You know, future stuff."
Yeo-jun, who was still in college studying arts, paused for a second.He stirred the vegetables on his plate like they had personally offended him, then softly replied,
"I don't have any real plans until I finish studying. But honestly... I don't want to stay here anymore. I want to leave."
Tae blinked. "Leave? Where would you go?"
"Italy. I want to live with my mom's side of the family."(Though the truth was, that was just an excuse. Yeo-jun didn't care who lived there—he just wanted to escape everything, everyone, and start over.)
Tae, clearly concerned now:
"Why Italy? Why not apply to a good university here instead?"
"I haven't decided anything yet," Yeo-jun mumbled. "You asked, so I answered."
Tae leaned forward, winking playfully,
"If you go to Italy, I'll just follow you there too."
Yeo-jun looked down, face flushed, shyly avoiding eye contact.
But of course, the moment was ruined.
"Hey Tae! When did you get here?!"
A guy from the office party strolled over, beaming.
"Been forever, man! How are you?"
"I'm good, man! You?"
Yeo-jun shrank a little, lowering his head even more.Tae tried to keep the mood light.
"Yeo-jun, meet my college friend.""Humm… okay," Yeo-jun murmured without lifting his head.
The awkwardness in the air was painfully obvious.The guy noticed too.
"It's cool, man. Come on, I'll introduce you to the others. Everyone's here."
Tae looked at Yeo-jun.
"Just sit tight—I'll be right back, okay?"
Yeo-jun nodded, already back to poking vegetables on his plate like they owed him rent.
But from a dark corner of the restaurant, two eyes were watching him—piercing, intense.It was joon hyunk .
He had been trailing yeo jun for days, trying to figure out exactly who this boy was.And now, here he was, sitting quietly, trying to make sense of the world with carrots and peas.
Suddenly, someone brushed past joon hyunk . Even in the dim light, he recognized the guy instantly—Kian.
joon hyunk 's jaw clenched. Rage bubbled up inside him.Before Kian could realize, joon hyunk grabbed his wrist and dragged him into the men's restroom.
"OUT. NOW," he barked at the two guys already inside.Startled, they scurried away.
He slammed Kian against the tiled wall.
"AHHH—joon hyunk ! You're hurting me!"
"What the hell are you doing here?! Why are you following me?!"
"I was just... y'know... hanging around!" Kian whimpered.
beast wasn't buying it. He twisted Kian's arm harder.
"Please—joon hyunk ! You'll break it!"
Another slam. More pain.
"OKAY OKAY! I'm sorry! I admit it! You haven't met me in two weeks, I just wanted to see what you're so busy with!"
Then, with a sarcastic smirk:
"Well, now I see… and wow, your new obsession is adorable."
WRONG. MOVE.
Seok grabbed Kian by the hair and yanked his head back so hard it looked like his face was about to peel off.
"You stay away from him," beast hissed in a deathly whisper near Kian's ear, "He's got nothing to do with you or your games. Get it?"
Kian's eyes filled with tears.
"I'm sorry! I'll stay away! I promise!"
beast didn't release him. But just then...
yeo jun 's voice rang out from outside. Loud. Panicked.
joon hyunk froze. Then dropped Kian like garbage and rushed out.
Outside,yeo jun stood frozen.
tae had been standing with his old friends when suddenly two strangers approached him.They started making rude comments, but yeo jun tried to ignore them, head lowered.
That is, until one of them sat right in Tae's chair and the other leaned in close.
yeo jun felt his breath catch in his throat.His mind stopped working. His hands trembled in his lap.
"Hey, look at his face!" one of them chuckled."Man, people like this shouldn't show up in public with faces like that."
(Tae's face, although soft and beautiful, carried a few scars—enough to invite cruelty.Society had decided that someone like him didn't belong.This is the ugly truth of the world: they never see your goodness or your innocence.They never walk beside you in pain, but the moment you try to rise,they will use their words to tear you down.)
Fear had paralyzed yeo jun .
His face had gone pale, and seeing that, the guys started talking even more boldly.
"If you're alone, you could come with us."
"Hey, won't you tell us what happened to your face?"
One of them, seated across from him, leaned forward and asked.
yeo jun stayed silent, but the man took advantage of it—reaching out and trying to touch him.
As soon as yeo jun felt that hand graze his arm, a strange burning sensation spread through his skin.
Suddenly, a sharp pain surged through his head—like someone had grabbed him with burning hands.
The throbbing in his skull became unbearable.
He yanked his arm back violently, crying out in panic.
"AHHH! My hand—! It's burning—don't touch me! Please stay away!"
He squeezed his head between both hands, then jumped out of his chair, backing away from them in fear.
"FIRE! It's burning! Don't come near me! Don't touch me!"
He closed his eyes tightly and crouched down on the floor, holding his head, still screaming.
His mind was spinning, and in the darkness behind his eyelids, he saw the terrifying image of a hand holding a knife—cutting into his face.
He was terrified.
Still on the ground, he covered his eyes with trembling hands, as if trying to break free from that vision, to free himself from the memory.
The two guys backed away, shocked and uncomfortable.
Everyone in the restaurant had turned to look. The music had stopped.
And then—Tae.
Tae came running over.
He found yeo jun collapsed against the wall, holding his face and screaming.
Tae's fury ignited instantly. He grabbed the guy's collar.
"What the hell did you do to him?!"
"We didn't do anything—this guy's just insane!" the guy shouted, shoving yeo jun back.
"You should take him to a mental hospital. Why bring him to places like this? People like him are dangerous to have in public!"
The second guy joined in, mocking yeo jun while pointing at him.
yeo jun had stopped screaming now and was sitting silently against the wall, shaking.
He looked at the two men with visible fear in his eyes.
But the worst part wasn't their words—it was that they echoed in his mind, over and over.
"He's crazy."
"Take him to a mental hospital."
"People like him are dangerous to society."
Those words kept bouncing around in his head.
His eyes filled with tears.
Not just from fear—but from helplessness.
He really started to believe it.
That maybe they were right.
Maybe that's how the world saw him—just a crazy person who didn't belong.
tae , overwhelmed with rage, shoved one of the guys hard.
But before he could do more, someone grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back.
He stumbled and fell hard onto the floor.
The next moment, the guy Tae had pushed was hit with such force that blood came pouring from his nose and mouth.
It was Joon Hyunk.
He had punched the man so hard that he collapsed on the floor in shock and pain.
He had heard yeo jun's scream and had come rushing in.
The man now lay semi-conscious at yeo jun 's feet.
People stepped back in fear.
Who would dare call yaeo jun "crazy" now—when Joon Hyunk was standing right there?
Another guy tried to attack Joon Hyunk in retaliation. But with effortless precision, Joon Hyunk caught him by the wrist, twisted his arm behind his back, and delivered a brutal kick to his knee.
The man screamed and fell face-first to the floor. The impact dislocated his shoulder completely.
Now, cradling his broken arm, the man cried out in agony.
It had all happened so fast—no one had time to react.
Joon Hyunk picked up a heavy metal stool from nearby.
yeo jun watched him, frozen in fear, still pressed to the wall like a frightened child.
Joon Hyunk could've stopped.
He could've walked away.
But he wanted yeo jun to see the truth.
He wanted him to see the beast inside.
He wanted yeo jun to know what being part of his life really meant.
Today, he was showing him.
No masks. No lies. Just truth.
With both hands, he raised the stool high above his head.
He glanced once toward yeo jun —who looked back with wide, tearful eyes.
Then—CRACK.
He brought the stool crashing down onto the first guy's legs.
The man screamed, writhing in agony.
The sound of breaking bones echoed through the room.
yeo jun squeezed his eyes shut in terror.
Joon Hyunk struck again—this time harder.
The guy went limp, knocked completely unconscious.
Blood poured from his body, staining the white floor deep red.