Hyun Woo's eyes went wide the moment he saw. His chest felt heavy, his breath stuck.
Min-jae… bent like a table. On all fours, back shaking, letting Seok rest his legs on him like furniture. Cigarette ash falling on his hair, on his skin. A pack of smokes sitting right on his back like he wasn't even human.
Hyun Woo couldn't understand it. Why? How could Min-jae be here like this? How could he let Seok do this to him?
His hands curled into fists under the hoodie, nails pressing into his palm.
The door was pushed all the way open. It slammed against the wall with a dull thud.
Hyun Woo stepped inside, his eyes burning under the hoodie. Anger lit in them, sharp, golden sparks hiding.
Seok's eyes landed on him first. He frowned, not recognising him. To Seok's eyes, it wasn't Hyun Woo at all — the [Crowd Seal] twisted his perception.
An old man stood there instead, his back a little bent, old clothes hanging loose, and a hat pulled low.
Kim Jae-ho stopped singing. He pulled the mic from his mouth and blinked. "Oi, oi… Move along, uncle. Your son isn't here."
To him, Hyun Woo looked like some father figure barging in.
Seok smirked, blowing out smoke. "Son? More like grandson. Old man, sho, sho, this isn't the place for you."
He leaned back, legs still on Min-jae's back, tapping the ash again. "Go to the senior centre or something. Old folks don't belong in karaoke."
The two of them laughed, loud and careless.
Hyun Woo's voice cut through the loud noise of music in the room.
"Min. Move. Get out from here."
Min-jae froze for a moment. His head tilted up, eyes blinking fast. 'How… how does he know my name?'
To him, the one standing at the door didn't look like Hyun Woo. The [Crowd Seal] twisted his perception too.
In Min-jae's eyes it was a younger boy, even younger than him. Like a little brother calling his name.
But Min-jae couldn't even scratch his head to think. With both hands and knees pressed on the floor, his back carried Seok's legs.
He just stayed down, sweat dripping down his forehead, as he was tired now of being in the same position for so long.
Seok squinted, then burst out laughing. "Wait, wait… are you Min's grandpa?"
Seok threw his head back, smoke bursting out of his mouth as he laughed. The cigarette almost slipped from his lips, bouncing with each sound. He slapped his thigh hard, his leg shaking on Min-jae's back, making Min-jae grunt in pain.
"Hah! Min—your grandpa came to rescue you!" Seok barked, the words dragging out, half choking on his own laugh. "What next? Are you going to crawl out with him, like a dog?"
He leaned forward, ash falling straight onto Min-jae's hair as his shoulders shook from laughing too much.
Then he grinned wide, eyes narrowing on the doorway figure. "Oi, grandpa… Where's your dog chain? Your grandson needs one."
Kim Jae-ho burst out laughing, clutching the mic like it was part of the joke. "Yeah, bring a leash next time, old man!"
Min-jae blinked again. 'Grandpa…?' He thought inside his head, confused.
The word didn't fit. For a second he thought maybe they were drunk, too drunk, seeing wrong. To him, the figure in the doorway was just a boy. Like a kid lost and unable to find his way back to his home, not an old man.
But the two bullies were laughing, drunk and mocking, and Min-jae stayed quiet. He let it slide.
"Move your leg, Seok."
"I won't say it again."
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"Min… go. Now."
Hyun Woo's voice was loud and sharp. Like he gave an order to Seok to move his leg from Min's back.
Seok blinked, then pulled his leg back slowly, standing up. He blew smoke from his mouth, eyes half closed. "Oi, oi, old man… What are you? Ordering me?"
He flicked the cigarette with his finger. The butt flew and landed near Hyun Woo's shoe. "You think just 'cause you're old, you can come here and act big? Hah! Do you even know who my father is?"
He stepped up close, chest puffed, trying to look taller. His face was red from the drink, but his voice was loud. "You dare come here, in my place, and tell me what to do?"
Hyun Woo didn't even look at him. His head tilted, eyes on Min. "Go."
Min's mouth opened, but no words came. He was shaking, still on all fours, sweat dripping down. To him, this wasn't even Hyun Woo — just some younger boy. He didn't know if he should move or not.
He didn't dare to move. Not because of the boy in front of him and he couldn't leave the boy alone, but because of Seok.
He couldn't move without Seok's order; he knew if he did, Seok would beat the hell out of him.
And he will be bullied in school worse than ever.
"Oi, oi, Grandpa! Where are you looking? Don't ignore me!" Seok barked, stepping closer, spit flying from his mouth.
"You think I'll let your grandson go? Hah! I'll beat him right here, in front of your eyes. Break him like a dog. You watch, old man! Watch him cry!"
Kim Jae-ho laughed with him, banging the mic on his palm like a drum. "Yeah, Grandpa, don't blink. You'll miss the show!"
Seok leaned forward, grin wide, voice dragging, "Where's the dog chain, huh? Did you bring it? No? Then I'll make one myself."
Hyun Woo pressed his teeth together. Inside his head, he was thinking fast. 'How do I make Min go?'
He couldn't use the skill here, not with Min watching, and he couldn't give a verdict as well while Min was still inside the room.
But then, Seok patted his pocket, searching. His fingers went inside, pulled out the packet, and he opened it. The packet was empty, and there was no cigarette. He clicked his tongue loudly.
"Shit… old man, look what you did. Because of you, I threw it."
He leaned back, eyes rolling, then snapped his fingers at Min.
"Oi, dog, crawl out. Go bring me cigarettes. Run. Don't come back slow."
Min's head tilted up for a second, sweat dripping down his chin. His arms trembled, but he didn't even look at Hyun Woo.
He nodded fast, too fast, and stumbled to his feet. He kept his head low and rushed past Hyun Woo without a word, slipping out the door quick like a beaten mutt.