"I hate this guy so much!"
Minho walked through the quiet streets toward Phoenix's mansion, the night air cool against his face. As he reached the grand entrance, he paused for a moment, taking in the silence that surrounded him. It was around 2 a.m., and the world felt like it was holding its breath. He slipped inside with practised ease, careful to make no sound. The guards, familiar with his presence, bowed respectfully as he passed, their eyes acknowledging his return without a word.
Once in the mansion, Minho's thoughts were consumed by Seo-Jun. He felt a mix of frustration and determination—a need to find a way to spend more time with him. The weight of his feelings pressed heavily on his chest as he went through the corridors, finally reaching his room. He quickly took his clothes off and stepped into the shower, letting the warm water cascade over him, easing the tension in his sore muscles from the earlier intimate moment with Seo-Jun. The soothing rhythm of the water allowed him a moment of clarity, but as soon as he stepped out and dried off, his frustration returned.
Climbing into bed, Minho felt the exhaustion settle in. He closed his eyes, envisioning Seo-Jun's files that were left behind scattered on his desk. Tomorrow, he said to himself, he would wake up early, dive into those documents, and think of a plan—anything to bridge the gap between them. The thought fuelled his determination as he finally drifted into a restless sleep.
The next day unfolded with the sun barely peeking through the windows, but Minho was already working in his office, surrounded by a mountain of documents. He was the first to wake up, the early morning stillness contrasting sharply with the chaotic thoughts racing through his mind. As he sifted through the papers, his frustration grew. "Running a couple of bars... motorcycle legal dealerships… owning a motorcycle track, international business relationships, everything is legal!" he exclaimed, annoyance lacing his voice.
He slammed his head onto the table, feeling the weight of the hours spent poring over the documents without finding any solid leads. Almost in despair, he muttered, "How are we going to find evidence to use against him?!" His forehead pressed against the cool surface.
In the depths of his frustration, he didn't notice Jin's entrance. Jin had walked into the room and approached Minho's desk, standing just out of his line of sight. Leaning in closer, he caught Minho off guard when he spoke, "Since you are slightly closer to him than the team, why don't you try joining his motorcycle team?" Jin chuckled, a teasing note in his voice, breaking through Minho's haze of agitation.
Then Minho smiled brightly, raising his head quickly and shouting, "HA, YES! I can try doing that! Wait..." His excitement was palpable until he suddenly realised that this brilliant idea had come from Jin, not himself. He turned sharply to face Jin, his eyes wide with surprise, and exclaimed, "Jin! I didn't notice you were here."
Jin giggled softly, a playful glint in his eyes, as he settled into the chair opposite Minho's desk. "I just came here to help you." he said, leaning forward slightly, eager to share his news. "Yesterday, I got information about Seo-Jun's racing track schedule. They will be having races every night until next week. And the best part? It's open not only for the folks there and their friends but also for everyone who would like to race. You can go tonight!"
Seeing Minho's smile grow wider, Jin couldn't help but grin back, feeling a sense of satisfaction at being able to assist his friend. Minho's expression shifted from surprise to joy, and he said, "Thank you a lot, hyung, for helping me." The weight of his earlier frustration began to lift. Minho then bowed slightly after thanking Jin, a gesture filled with gratitude that made Jin's smile even brighter. "Don't mention it!" Jin replied, his voice warm and encouraging. "I want you to prove Jae wrong and show him that you are better than everyone else here." The sincerity in Jin's words sparked a fire of determination in Minho, making his heart flutter.
With newfound resolve, Minho stood up from his chair, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I will, I promise!" he declared, his voice steady and confident. Jin giggled, standing up as well, and affectionately ruffled Minho's hair, treating him like a playful, obedient puppy. Their laughter echoed in the room.
However… they remained blissfully unaware that the door had been left slightly opened after Jin's entrance.
Outside, Jae happened to walk past the office just in time to overhear their conversation about Seo-Jun's racing track. A cold realisation gripped him—Minho was planning to go to the track, a move that could ruin their mission. Jae's expression turned serious as he thought, "Ha, I won't let this mission fail because of you." With a determined stride, he walked down the hall, his mind racing with strategies to ensure that Minho wouldn't interfere with their plans.
But Minho, of course, had to shoot his luck and try to get into Seo-Jun's racing team. The racing track was enormous, a sprawling expanse filled with the roar of engines and the excitement of the crowd. It was a hub of activity, with people buzzing about—friends of Seo-Jun, loyal customers, and members of his gang, all drawn to the thrill of the races.
Most of the action revolved around specific teams, and Seo-Jun's was the biggest and most respected. His crew consisted of his closest friends, like Sam, who shared not just a passion for racing but also the connections and financial backing from their well-to-do parents. Seo-Jun was known for being the star racer, the unbeatable champion, often taking the lead in competitions, while Sam would occasionally take the wheel, showcasing his own talent. As for the other teams, they were mostly "rivals", always eager to challenge Seo-Jun's dominance on the track.
And later that night, Minho was on his way to the track, determined that if he got into Seo-Jun's team, it would help with his mission. As he walked, his eyes were glued to his phone, which guided him through the winding streets. He had never known about the existence of this track until a few days ago, so Jin had already sent him the address earlier today, and now he was finally here, his heart racing with anticipation.
Upon arriving, the guards at the entrance gave him a quick nod and let him pass. Stepping inside, Minho was immediately struck by the enormity of the place. The sounds of engines revving and the chatter of team members filled the air. "Wow, this place is huge... larger than I expected..." he said aloud, his voice barely audible over the noise. He took a moment to soak it all in, admiring the rows of sleek motorcycles lined up, the bright lights illuminating the track, and the energy buzzing around him.
As he walked deeper, he spotted Seo-Jun in his racing suit, meticulously preparing for the upcoming race. He was in his team tent, surrounded by crew members who were checking equipment. Minho felt anxious as he watched Seo-Jun, focused and confident. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he whispered to himself, "Okay... Now or never." With a newfound resolve, he straightened his posture and began walking toward Seo-Jun, determined to make his presence known.
Everyone had left Seo-Jun's tent to give him the space he needed to prepare for the race. As Minho approached, he noticed Seo-Jun was facing away from the entrance, completely absorbed in his pre-race routine. Gathering his courage, Minho stepped slightly into the tent and called out, "Hello, sir!" while bowing slightly in respect.
Hearing the familiar voice, Seo-Jun turned around, irritation flashing across his face. "What are you doing here?" he snapped, clearly caught off guard by Minho's presence. Minho felt a twinge of embarrassment. He felt like he was a puppy trailing after Seo-Jun. Undeterred, he quickly replied, "Oh, I heard from a friend of mine that you own this track, and he said if I was interested in competing in motorcycle racing, I should come here."
Minho flashed a grin, hoping to lighten the mood, but Seo-Jun remained stoic, his expression unreadable. "Honestly, I don't want to show off, but I am quite good at racing, you kno—" he began, but before he could finish, Seo-Jun cut him off sharply. "You do not have any business here. Leave."
The intensity of Seo-Jun's death stare left Minho stunned, and frustration began to simmer within him. "WHAT?! He is chasing me away?! Just like that?! This punk!" he thought, feeling his composure slipping. He tried to reason with Seo-Jun, saying, "But, sir—" but Seo-Jun's annoyance flared again, interrupting him once more. "Did I call you to come here?" He turned to face Minho directly, locking eyes with him, his irritation was growing by the minute.
Seo-Jun then turned around completely, his imposing figure casting a shadow over Minho as he took a step closer, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "Do you want to fuck this badly?" he asked, his voice low and playful. Minho's eyes widened in surprise, caught off guard by both Seo-Jun's words and the way his enormous body loomed over him, creating an intimidating atmosphere. He instinctively stepped back, his heart racing, and shouted, "WHAT?! NO! I just came here to race!"
The tension in the air was growing until Sam, who had been nearby, heard the commotion and decided to check on his boss. He strolled into the tent, casually glancing around, and called out, "Boss, you ready? The race will begin in a minute, and I heard strange noises from here." His head was turned outside the tent, scanning for anyone who might have wandered in, but when he finally turned to face the two, he paused.
Seeing Seo-Jun and Minho standing so close together, Sam raised an eyebrow, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Ohhh, is this your new guy you have been screwing with?" he teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm. He waved enthusiastically, adding, "Hi there!"
Sam's sudden reply caught Minho off guard, his cheeks flushing as he instinctively pulled back from Seo-Jun. The tension in the air thickened as he struggled to find the right words to defend himself, but Seo-Jun's voice cut through the moment like a knife. "Get him out!" he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. With a swift motion, he grabbed his helmet, the metallic clink echoing in the tent, and added with a finality that stung, "I don't want to see his face around here." And just like that, he left, the flap of the tent falling shut behind him.
Minho's heart raced with a mix of anger and confusion as he stood there, rooted to the spot. "WHAT?! BUT I HAVEN'T FINISHED TALKING TO YOU YET!" he shouted after Seo-Jun, his voice laced with frustration. But his words fell on deaf ears, Seo-Jun was already gone, leaving Minho to deal with the silence in the tent. The air felt heavy, and the anger bubbled up inside him, threatening to spill over.
Sam, witnessing the whole scene unfold, took a cautious step closer to Minho. "Ha, he's always like this, don't worry." he said, trying to diffuse the tension. "Let's go now. I don't want to kick you out in a bad way." He reached out, gently pushing Minho on the shoulder in a gesture meant to guide him to the exit. But Minho was already consumed by anger, disbelief etched across his face at Seo-Jun's abrupt behaviour. "This bastard! Don't touch me!" he snapped, shoving Sam's hand away as if it burnt. "I will find the exit myself!" With that declaration, he stormed out of the tent, leaving Sam standing there, speechless.
Sam laughed, shaking his head as he stepped out of the tent. "Wow, that's a personality!" he remarked, still processing the intensity of the earlier first encounter with Minho. As he walked away, his attention was drawn to a figure dressed entirely in black, complete with a hat and a mask, standing suspiciously close to Seo-Jun's tent. The man was staring directly at him, and when their eyes met, it was too late for the stranger to make a quick getaway.
"Excuse me, sir! This place is only for contestants, not for outsiders!" Sam called out, his tone firm and authoritative. The masked man responded by bowing slightly before turning and walking away, leaving Sam feeling unsettled. "Strange? Is this guy a creep or what?" he muttered to himself, a sense of unease creeping in. He decided it was best to keep an eye on the mysterious guy for now. With that thought in mind, he continued towards the track, his curiosity piqued.
Meanwhile, the man removed his mask, revealing it was no other but Jae. He quickened his pace, thoughts racing in his mind. "I knew it! There was something else about their relationship. They are not just friends!" he pondered, determination setting in. "I have to keep a strong eye on Minho from now on." As he walked, he recalled the heated conversation he had overheard between Seo-Jun and Minho, which only fuelled his suspicion further. The stakes were rising, and Jae knew he had to dig deeper into what was really going on between them.
Minho was trudging back to his mansion, each step weighed down by the anger still simmering inside him. "I HATE THIS GUY SO MUCH! WHY CAN'T WE JUST KILL HIM AND BE OVER WITH THIS BULLSHIT?!" he shouted, his voice slicing through the stillness of the night. The frustration poured out of him like a dam breaking, echoing in the empty streets around him.
As he walked, the initial surge of rage began to wane, and he started to regain his composure. "He just kicked me out... He will see. I won't call him and pick up on his calls! Let's see how long he can last!" he muttered under his breath, the bitterness lacing his words. The thought of ignoring the incessant calls made his jaw tighten.
He was determined to stick to his resolve, despite the mission.
With every step he took, Minho clenched his fists, feeling the heat of anger radiating through him. The mansion loomed ahead, a stark reminder of the tensions that had erupted between Seo-Jun and Minho.