Seong Heejun dropped down until he was eye-level with Chulgyu, elbows on his knees and grin on his face. "That's what you get for acting tough," he said, voice flat no humor in it. "You mouth off about someone like Hyorim, you get what you deserve. Both of you."
The words landed like a slap. Chulgyu's smirk wavered for the first time since he'd swaggered up the stairs, the act looked thin. Jinsu, still clutching his side, stared at the ground, shame and anger twisting his features.
"Even if I'm not that close to her," Heejun said, his voice steady but cold, "what you said was complete bullshit."
He turned his glare to Yang Jinsu, who was still hunched over, clutching his stomach. "And you stop acting like a jerk. You're starting to act just like him."
Chulgyu tilted his head up, eyes narrowing. "You bastard…"
But Heejun didn't let him finish. "You guys should just leave. You've already ruined the mood and let's be real, nobody here even wants you around."
Chulgyu's jaw tightened. He drew a long drag from his cigarette, the tip glowing red in the dim light, then leaned forward and exhaled the smoke right into Heejun face.
"Yeah," he said quietly, a bitter grin tugging at his lips. "Looks like it."
He stood up, brushing dust off his shirt. "Let's go. Time to fuck off."
Yang Jinsu slowly rose beside him, still holding his side. Without another word, the two turned their backs on the group and walked away
Park Dong straightened, fists tightening, but he said nothing.
He spat blood, glared, said something guttered and useless.
They watched them go until their silhouette blurred against the stairwell light then, after a beat. The rooftop shrank back to its messy, ordinary self-empty bottles, a scattering of wrappers, and five kids left standing in the wake of whatever had just happened.
Park Dong collapsed onto the tar like a deflated balloon, one hand over his eyes. "Fuck," he breathed, the single word carrying a world of frustration.
Heejun stared at Jiseong across the circle, jaw tight. "Why did you set this up?" he demanded, voice low but furious. "Nobody asked for a hangout like this."
Jiseong ran his fingers through his hair, guilt written all over him. "We thought…" He stopped, the how-I-messed-up shrug useless. "We thought if we got everyone together, we could fix things. Guess I underestimated how tense everyone is."
Lee Daegyu sat on the parapet, arms folded, scowling toward the door where I'd disappeared. "Ahh, shit. Even Seojin's pissed at us now."
After this incident everyone decided to leave.
Seong Heejun is walking beside Jo Woori, escorting her home. Heejun, hands in his girlfriend, glanced at her from time to time. When she finally reached her apartment building, he gave a wave with foolish happy face.
"Get inside. Don't stay out too late," he muttered.
Woori smiled faintly before slipping in, and Heejun turned back toward the street only to stop.
At the top of the stairs, under the dim glow of a streetlight, sitting on stairs Chulgyu and Yang Jinsu who stood beside him, waiting like shadows. Chulgyu exhale a smoke, that arrogant grin plastered across his face.
Chulgyu glanced down at Heejun, his expression unreadable. "Must've had fun on your little date," he said, voice dripping with mockery. "Let's talk, Seong Heejun."
Heejun looked up the stairs at them, brows raised. "Wow. Seriously? You waited for me here? Or were you following me or something?"
"Like hell I'd follow you," Chulgyu shot back. "You're just as predictable as ever. C'mon, get up here already."
Heejun climbed the last few steps, hands tucked into his shorts pockets. "Seriously, what are you even doing in front of my house? Don't you have anything better to do?"
He brushed past him with a scoff. "Piss off. I've got nothing to say to you."
"Well, I do, you fucker."
Heejun didn't stop. "Then write me a letter. Maybe I'll actually read that."
Chulgyu stood abruptly, his voice rising. "Heh. Why you walking away, huh? You scared now? Earlier you had backup, so you acted tough but now look at you, running like a bitch."
Heejun exhaled slowly and turned his head, smirking. "You really don't have any friends, do you? Ever since we stopped hanging out… total outcast. Hahaha."
He turned fully to face them, wearing that same mocking grin. "Dropped out, no friends, nothing going on maybe that's why everyone ditched you. 'Cause of your shitty attitude. Just get a part-time job or something, man. LMAO."
Chulgyu's smirk faded, his expression hardening. "Shut your damn mouth."
"Why? Weren't you the one who wanted to talk?" Heejun tone sharpened, his grin widening. Then he point a finger toward Yang Jinsu, who'd been standing quietly the whole time. "And what, you dragging him around now? You used to ignore him in middle school. What's change now, running errands for you? fetching your cigarettes?"
Yang Jinsu's eyes widened, anger flaring. "You motherf-!"
Heejun didn't let him finish. He pulled a cigarette box from his pocket, lit it with a sharp flick, and exhaled a thin stream of smoke between his words.
"I told you not to fuck with me," he said coldly. "I don't see you as a friend anymore. You've really turned into an asshole talking shit about a girl you like? Pathetic. Just go die, you miserable bastard."
Yang Jinsu's jaw tightened. He said nothing, just looked away, fists trembling at his sides.
Chulgyu let out a dry laugh. "Ha… stop acting all righteous, it's disgusting." He tilted his head, eyes glinting. "Was it Jo Woori? your girlfriend's name?"
He smirked wider, cruel amusement in his voice. "If Seol Hyorim's not an option… she sounds like a good second choice."
Heejun shot up, fury burning in his eyes. He throw a punch square to the face of Chulgyu, snapping his head to the side. Jinsu stumbled, clutching his cheek.
Before Heejun could press his advantage, Chulgyu recovered, swinging his fist into Heejun jaw. The impact rattled his teeth, and suddenly both of them were on him punches, kicks, fists raining down.
Heejun hit the ground again, shielding himself with his arms as the two pounded him mercilessly under the flickering streetlight.
Heejun didn't wait. He lunged and swung a right to Chulgyu's jaw. "You wanna die, asshole?!" he barked.
Chulgyu blocked the next blow, grinning like it was all a game. "Jo Woori? Who the hell do you think you are?" Heejun shouted, eyes blazing. "Don't you dare say her name!"
Heejun fists came faster, and this time his strike broke through Chulgyu's guard the punch slammed into Chulgyu's face. "You son of a bitch!" Heejun howled.
Chulgyu snarled, "You little-" then yanked Heejun hair, pulling him down and driving a knee toward his face. "Heejun!" someone cried as Heejun folded over, covering his head with his arms. "Agh!!"
Chulgyu grabbed Heejun shirt and shoved, sending him sprawling to the ground. He leaned in, cold and fierce. "You think you're better than everyone? Huh?" He shoved another flurry of punches down toward him. "You run around with everybody, and after all that you treat me like trash? Don't act like you're some saint, fucker!"
Heejun, gasping, tried to push back, arms flailing to protect his face. Chulgyu drew back a moment, eyes full of venom. "I'll kill every single-" he snarled, but the sentence died as Heejun caught him by the throat and shoved hard, flipping the situation.
Now Heejun was on top, choking, fists raining down. He jabbed and shouted between strikes. "It's not that I'm nice you're its just you're a crazy bastard!" he spat. "People call you a mad dog and you take it like a compliment? What's wrong with you?!"
Bam! Bam!
The heavy sounds of fist meeting flesh punctuated the air as Heejun hammered him, voice raw: "You're so fucking messed up, bastard!!"
Yang Jinsu watched them go at each other, heart slamming against his ribs. That guy… I knew he could fight, but he's going toe to toe with Chulgyu? Panic crawled up his spine. What do I do? If Seong Heejun wins, I'm probably next. If Chulgyu wins, he'll tear me apart for just standing here. Is there any way to avoid getting hurt?