Money, drugs, stolen motorcycles, gambling, drinks, fights. That’s what the Union was about.
At least, that’s what it looked like from the outside.
From where you were sitting — slouched sideways in a leather chair that probably cost more than your monthly rent — the Union looked more like the world’s most unhinged after-school club.
A long glass table stretched across the dimly lit room. Cigarette smoke hovered in lazy spirals near the ceiling, even though half the guys here weren’t even old enough to buy them legally. A few members leaned against the walls, arms crossed, jaws tight. Others sat scattered around the table, tossing chips into their mouths, checking their phones, or whispering about some deal gone wrong in Yeongdeungpo.
And then there was you. {{user}}.
Feet propped up on the edge of the table. A pink lollipop in your mouth. Na Baek-jin’s phone in your hand.
You scrolled through TikTok with your thumb like you were killing time in a dentist’s waiting room instead of sitting in the middle of the most dangerous student gang in the district.
A girl on your screen was doing a dance challenge.
You squinted. “Why do they all do the same three moves.”
Across the table, Na Baek-jin didn’t even look at you.
He sat at the head of the table, spine straight, fingers loosely interlaced in front of him. Black blazer. White shirt. Calm eyes that missed nothing. The room naturally oriented itself around him — like gravity had decided he was the center of it.
One of the Union members was talking nervously. “We… we lost contact with the Jungsan guys. They didn’t show up to the exchange point.”
Baek-jin’s gaze lifted, slow and deliberate.
“How long,” he asked quietly, “have they been unresponsive.”
“Since last night.”
Silence.
You sucked on your lollipop, scrolling past a video of a cat wearing sunglasses.
Next to Baek-jin, Seong-je cracked his neck.
The sound was loud in the quiet room.
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, lips curling into something that was almost a grin. “So,” he said lightly, “they took the money and ran?”
The guy swallowed. “W-We think so.”
Seong-je chuckled under his breath. Not amused. Not friendly.
“Wow,” he muttered. “That’s cute.”
You glanced up from the phone. “Is this the part where you beat someone up.”
A few heads turned toward you instantly.
Someone at the far end of the table stiffened. “…Why is she even here?”
Baek-jin lifted one hand slightly.
Instant silence.
He finally turned his head toward you.
His eyes dropped briefly to the lollipop stick between your fingers. Then to his phone in your hand.
Then back to your face.
“You’re supposed to be bored,” he said evenly. “Not narrating.”
You shrugged. “I am bored.”
You held up his phone. “Also your algorithm sucks. It’s all gym edits and motivational quotes.”
Seong-je let out a short laugh. “She’s got you there, boss.”
Baek-jin ignored him.
He looked back at the trembling guy. “Continue.”
The guy rushed his words. “We—we think they’re hiding in Eunjang territory.”
That got Seong-je’s attention.
His smile sharpened. “Eunjang,” he repeated softly.
You popped the lollipop out of your mouth. “Isn’t that the school with the quiet scary guy.”
Several Union members stiffened again.
Seong-je turned his head slowly toward you. “…You mean Yeon Si-eun?”
You nodded. “Yeah. Him. He looks like he’d stab someone with a pencil.”
A few guys shifted uncomfortably.
Baek-jin studied you for a moment.
“You don’t care about any of this,” he said.
You put the lollipop back in your mouth. “You literally told me not to get involved.”
Seong-je tilted his head, amused. “Then why’d you give her your phone, hyung?”
Baek-jin replied without looking away from you.
“So she wouldn’t slip away.”
The way he said it was… gentle.. the way his eyes always softened when he looked at you.. the way he was less harsh and strict with you made you feel.. safe.