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“You’re on in ten!”
Jinu gave a curt nod and closed the door. He moved to the closet, retrieving his black robe from the hanger. The fabric slid across his skin as he pulled it on, the silence in the room heavy. The Saja Boys dressed wordlessly, their faces grim, their motions stiff and mechanical.
Baby sprawled on the couch, eyes fixed on the ceiling and lips moving soundlessly. Romance leaned against the corner, examining his nails with his jaw tight. Jinu clutched his hat with both hands, gaze lowered, thumb dragging slowly over the coarse fabric. A clock ticked steadily, each second pressing into the room’s tension. From behind the closed door drifted the muffled roar of laughter and excited voices.
The stillness snapped when Abby slammed his palm against the wall, the bang echoing like a gunshot. “I don’t understand why we don’t just end Rumi’s life after exposing her! We’re throwing away our chance of getting rid of the Hunters for good!”
Jinu did not look up. His thumb kept stroking the hat, deliberate, almost ritualistic. The motion caught the eyes of Mystery, Baby and Romance.
“Jinu! Did you hear me?” Abby pressed, fury sharpening his words.
Jinu’s gaze lingered on the black hat a beat longer. Then, with a measured movement, he set it atop his head. His voice, when it came, was flat and hollow. “I told you. We’re going to break her. Her friends will reject her when they find out she's half-demon, and the Hunters will collapse from within. There’s no point in doing anything further.”
The others exchanged uneasy glances. Abby snarled, stalking forward. “Huntrx will break, but the Hunters will live on! Their existence is a threat to all of us.” His voice dropped to a growl, teeth bared. “Or do you want to see all demons destroyed?”
Mystery’s mouth parted in shock. Jinu, eyes unfocused, kept his stare pinned to the wall. “The honmoon will fall. Gwi-Ma will rule over all. Do you not have faith in his power?” A razor edge cut through his tone. “Gwi-Ma approved of my plan. Are you questioning him, Abby?”
The room shifted; unease rippled through the Saja Boys. Baby shifted his position on the couch. Romance winced at the accusation.
A voice from the hallway reminded them they had five minutes left before stage. Romance broke the tension, voice soft, “Guys, we need to - ”
“He’s not the one I’m questioning, Jinu!” Abby snarled, grabbing Jinu’s shoulders and forcing him to turn. “Damn it, look at me!”
Dark brown eyes locked onto Jinu’s - and flickered into a golden demonic fire that threatened to burn the man in front of him. “Something’s been wrong with you ever since you started hanging around Rumi. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were on her side.”
Jinu’s expression iced over. “Take your hands off me.”
Baby’s baritone rumbled from the couch. “Both of you - stop.”
But Abby yanked Jinu closer, defiant. “If you want to keep your head down, fine. But you won’t stop me from going after her.”
At that, Jinu’s muscles coiled. He shoved against Abby’s chest, breaking free. His voice thundered: “You will not touch her. You will follow my lead!” Purple light erupted around him before evaporating into mist.
Abby laughed, humorless and sharp. “There it is. For a moment I wondered if you even remembered you were a demon.”
Jinu’s jaw tightened. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”
Romance flinched. “Abby, stop!”
Abby stepped closer, menace radiating. “Only a fool believes a Hunter could care about a demon. And you, Jinu, are no fool.”
The purple markings along Jinu’s skin flared. His voice cracked with restrained anguish. “I know she wouldn’t care if she knew the truth about me. But it doesn’t matter. The plan remains.”
Mystery pointed at the door, desperate. “It’s almost time to -”
“Doesn’t it?” Abby roared, cracking his knuckles. “You’re protecting her, denying yourself the truth!”
Jinu’s snarl rattled the air. “And what truth is that, Abby?”
“That she’s been using you all along - just like you claimed you were using her.”
Jinu lunged. His fist swung for Abby's jaw, missing as Abby twisted away. Abby’s kick struck his legs, sending him tumbling - but Jinu rolled with the momentum, slamming into Abby. They crashed atop the table, splintering it into jagged halves.
The door burst open. A stage director froze, eyes wide at the chaos: Jinu and Abby locked in combat, the others struggling to separate them. Jinu tore free, ripping a table leg from the wreckage and hurling it like a spear. Abby batted it aside with a fist. The wooden missile shattered against the doorframe, sending the director yelping backward before slamming the door shut.
Romance and Baby seized Abby’s arms. Mystery blinked in purple mist behind Jinu, restraining his hands.
“Snap out of it!” Baby hissed, ducking a wild elbow.
Jinu wrenched against Mystery’s grip, voice breaking into a scream. “You don’t know anything! You can’t prove it!”
“Oh, I know!” Abby roared, thrashing. “You schemed with Rumi to sever the honmoon! You planned to stay with her and abandon us! You’d give everything to that Hunter and leave us behind!”
“That’s not true!” Jinu’s eyes glistened, his voice trembling.
Abby’s rage flared. “We heard Gwi-Ma! You promised her you’d make us lose!”
“You don’t understand!” Jinu’s voice cracked. “I was going to save you too!”
That silenced the room. Abby froze mid-struggle. The others slackened their grips, staring at Jinu.
Jinu’s breath came ragged, tears brimming. “I told Rumi I would make sure we lost. But I swore to myself - I swore - I would have you all on this side of the honmoon before it sealed.”
Everyone held their breath. The beat of the clock ticking intruded in their space.
Abby slumped to the floor, blank-eyed. Romance eased beside him, hand firm on his shoulder. His voice was quiet, raw. “Jinu… why did you think you could escape Gwi-Ma, when we’ve known for centuries it’s impossible?”
Jinu’s chest heaved. “Because… she made me believe that maybe someone could love me. And when I was with her… I couldn’t hear his voice.”
Silence fell, broken only by the steady tick of the clock.
Mystery frowned. “Why would Gwi-Ma stop whispering in your ear? That doesn’t make sense.”
Baby chewed his thumbnail thoughtfully. “Because Gwi-Ma likes his toys broken.” All eyes turned towards him as he continued, voice low. “The cruelest thing is to give someone hope… then rip it away.”
Jinu’s shoulders sagged. “I was a fool to think I could be free. That we all could be.”
Abby swallowed hard. “I hate myself for saying this, but… I think you were brave for believing. An idiot -” he cracked the ghost of a smile, “- but brave.” He squeezed Romance’s hand, then pushed himself to his feet. “I wouldn’t have had the guts to try defying Gwi-Ma.”
Jinu scoffed weakly. “That’s not bravery. That’s stupidity.”
Romance shook his head. “No. To hope for freedom, for love… after all Gwi-Ma has done? That’s strength, Jinu. I envy you.”
Jinu’s eyes dimmed. “Don’t. It hurts worse when reality sets in.”
Abby shuffled, sheepish. “Look, Jinu, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have attacked you. And I shouldn’t have assumed you’d abandon us.” He smiled faintly. “If we’re doomed to eternity, at least I’ll suffer it with the Saja Boys.”
Jinu’s mouth tightened. “About Rumi -”
Abby waved him off. “I won’t touch her. If her life matters to you, then it matters to me. No questions.” He grinned. “We’ll follow your plan.”
Mystery sniffed. Baby’s head whipped toward him. “Mystery, are you crying?!”
A tear traced down Mystery’s cheek. “Jinu wasn’t going to abandon us. The Saja Boys are still one.”
Abby spread his arms. “Group hug!” The five pressed together, holding tight.
Then, the faint notes of Golden spilled from the speakers. The ticking clock pressed on beneath it, steady and merciless, as if reminding them that no matter what they chose, time - and fate - was already moving.
Jinu stiffened. His eyes hollowed as he pulled back. “Let’s go. Time to end this.”
Abby gave him a friendly punch on the shoulder, smiling. “Let’s do it, boss.”
Together, the Saja Boys left the dressing room in solidarity, closing the door behind them. The last sound that lingered in the empty room was the relentless tick of the clock.