Chapter Text
Tell all of your friends that I'm crazy and drive you mad
That I'm such a stalker, a watcher, a psychopath
And tell them you hate me and dated me just for laughs
So, why do you call me and tell me you want me back?
You maniac
Conan Gray - "Maniac"
Baekjin was nervous and irritable, but no one saw this except for his subordinates. His anxiety didn't manifest outwardly; instead, it reflected in his behavior.
Once cold and calculating, Baekjin had grown extremely intolerant of others' mistakes. Everything annoyed him, and everyone "was just giving him problems," as he told Seongje. Seongje himself was included in that "everyone."
The cause of his behavior was a deep longing. Baekjin hadn't seen Park Humin in over three months. Humin ignored his calls and messages, unresponsive to his requests and threats relayed by his minions. Baekjin fell into such despair that he started lurking around Humin's school, even sending others to do so. However, he forbade them from getting closer to Baku than ten meters. There were other students from Eunjang who could be beaten up in an alley to draw Humin's attention.
Baekjin was obsessed with Humin. And it had never manifested so strongly as it did now, when Baku decided he had had enough and no longer wanted to play by Baekjin's rules.
Lost in thought once again, Baekjin slammed his fist on the desk where he was doing his math homework, growling from the pain that shot through his hand.
Suddenly, Seongje burst into the room.
"Can't you knock?!" Baekjin snapped at him.
"Sorry..." Seongje replied apologetically, raising his hands in a defensive gesture. Baekjin sighed irritably. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," Baekjin mumbled, staring blankly at his notebook. His nose tingled from the sudden onset of tears. He covered his face with a fist.
"Baekjin?...
"Stop hovering at the door!" Baekjin spoke calmly, but anger seeped through his voice. "Say why you're here and get lost!"
"How rude..." Seongje tucked his hands into his pockets and stood still, looking puzzled at the older boy. "Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?"
Baekjin didn’t respond, returning to his homework.
"Still thinking about Baku?"
Baekjin abruptly lifted his head, dropping his pen. He looked like a cornered animal ready to attack, making Seongje flinch.
"Baku?!" Baekjin spat out, grinding his teeth. "What about Baku?!"
Seongje took a couple of steps toward the couch and sprawled out on it. He raised a weary gaze to Baekjin and said:
"Baekjin... You don't care about Eunjang, do you? And you..." he paused significantly and lowered his voice, "no longer want to be part of the Union."
Baekjin's face took on a stunned expression.
"Why are you studying? Everyone knows we have no future after..." he waved his hand dismissively, "all this."
Baekjin's gaze became tense. He clenched his teeth; his hands balled into fists. Seongje sighed. He hesitated for a long time before continuing.
"Baku won't fix anything," he shook his head. "He won't even try. He hates people like us..."
"No," Baekjin said firmly, shaking his head and looking directly into Seongje's eyes. "No! He is my friend. He doesn't hate me! He will become part of the Union, either..."
Baekjin froze, staring at his notebook.
“Either?...”
“Either I’m leaving,” he finished quietly.
“They won’t let you go,” Seongje’s voice held a firm conviction. “You’re in this mess up to your ears! They’ll eat you alive.”
He pulled out a cigarette and bit down on it. Baekjin's gaze was becoming unbearable, burning with fury and despair. Seongje couldn’t bear to look. This person made him feel worthless.
“Did our guys go to his father’s café?” Baekjin asked, keeping his tone measured.
“Yeah, the cops took him away,” Seongje replied indifferently, studying the older boy closely. “Baku will be there soon.”
Baekjin tapped his pen against the desk, lost in thought until his phone rang. After what felt like an eternity, “Humin” lit up the screen. Seongje immediately recognized who was calling by the look on Baekjin's face, and it elicited an involuntary sigh of disgust from him.
A light blush appeared on Baekjin's cheeks, but Seongje doubted he was imagining it.
“Go!” Baekjin snapped, waving toward the exit as he stood up, accepting the call mid-motion. Seongje exhaled in disappointment and left the room.
Baekjin couldn’t utter a word, listening to Baku’s heavy breathing. He shut his eyes, feeling a long-awaited sense of relief wash over him.
“Where are you?” Humin managed to squeeze out. Baekjin pressed the phone tighter against his ear.
“We’ll meet tomorrow. I’ll send you the address.”
He wanted to say more, but decided that would suffice for now—he’d wait for their face-to-face meeting.
***
Baekjin solved problems on autopilot; his mind was far away from studying. He couldn’t concentrate all day, preoccupied with thoughts of his upcoming meeting with Humin. A sticky wave of anxiety washed over him when he heard a loud crash followed by a booming, harsh voice:
“Where’s Na Baekjin?”
After that, he heard nothing more. Blood rushed in his ears. He desperately tried to compose himself, but in the next second, Baku burst into his office. Baekjin could feel the atmosphere heating up. He shot a quick glance at the guy and, trying to keep his voice steady, said:
“Long time no see.”
Baku smirked bitterly and strode toward him with heavy steps. Baekjin swallowed nervously, unable to look him in the eye, but Baku interpreted it in his own way: the Union's lackey was ignoring him. With a swift motion, Humin threw Baekjin's notebooks to the floor. Heat rushed to Baekjin's face. If only Baku knew how he drove him crazy when he acted so rudely. Baekjin slowly raised his gaze, doing his best to keep it steady.
“Park Humin, you’re still my friend.”
Baku let out a sigh filled with disgust. Ignoring it, Baekjin continued.
“It would be beneficial for you to join the Union. After graduation, we’ll start a real business. Everything is planned out.”
Baku’s expression hardened further, sending a shiver of reverence through Baekjin.
“What a fairy tale idiot you are...”
Humin leaned closer, causing a slight panic in Baekjin.
“Hey, degenerate,” Baku spat, emphasizing each word as he glared into Baekjin's eyes. “Haven’t you figured out why I didn’t join your gang? Or are you just pretending? I... I just hate you.”
Baekjin's heart skipped a beat. The corner of his mouth twitched upward nervously as he leaned forward, a mocking grin spreading across his face.
“That’s not true,” Baekjin said confidently. “You’re too soft to hate anyone.”
Baku scoffed dismissively and shot him a sharp look.
“Leave my friends and my father alone,” the tone of his voice made it clear that this was the final warning. “You need me, not them!”
“You didn’t answer my calls,” Baekjin interrupted, rising from his seat. He pressed his lips together, pretending to show how much it affected him. “You ignored me for THREE months! How else was I supposed to get you to come?!”
Baku rolled his eyes and snorted angrily.
“Maybe you should’ve left me alone?” he pointed out reasonably, shrugging. “I’ve told you a hundred times that Eunjang won’t be part of the Union. Is that so hard to understand?!”
Baekjin’s eyes brimmed with hurt.
“Why? Because you hate me?”
Baku looked away and pressed his lips together.
“Because I hate what you’re doing!” he exploded, throwing his hands up. “I don’t give a damn about your dirty money!”
Baekjin silently stared at Humin, pinned by his gaze. A smile threatened to break through, but he held it back.
“Why are you so fixated on me?!” Baku was getting more agitated. “Am I some kind of honey pot for you? Call Hyeman. He’ll be thrilled to get your messages, trust me.”
He turned as if to leave, but Baekjin grabbed his wrist. Baku froze in place, then turned around only to receive a steel lamp to the face.