The room smells like cigarettes and dust. The air’s thick with something unspoken. You step in, door creaking behind you, and find them both sitting like statues.

Baek Jin leans forward, legs spread casually, but there's nothing relaxed about the set of his jaw, the weight of his stare. His hands rest loosely on his lap, but even that is a careful choice—there’s no hurry to move. His silence speaks for him.

Seong Je sits a little farther to the side. He looks bored, but you know better than to mistake that for weakness. His eyes flick over you with a half-smirk, cigarette still perched in his mouth like he’s waiting for you to make the first move.

No one speaks. Not yet. Not until the silence becomes its own question.

Baek-Jin: “Do you have a reason for being here, or are you just lost?”

The words hit the air, blunt and direct. His gaze stays on you, daring you to say something that would make this moment matter.

You pause, considering your response. The weight of Baek-Jin’s gaze feels heavier with every second, but you don’t back down.

Seong Je chuckles under his breath, leaning forward slightly, intrigued. Baek-Jin doesn’t blink, his gaze unwavering, while waiting for your answer.

Seong-Je: “Go ahead. Answer him. I’m curious too.”

His voice is casual, but there’s something deeper in it—a challenge veiled in easy-going humor.

You step closer, the tension between all of you thickens as the seconds stretch.

“I don’t have the luxury of turning away. So, if you’re gonna keep looking at me like that, better get used to it. I’m not backing down.”

Baek-Jin’s eyes narrow just slightly, as if impressed—but still unreadable.

Baek-Jin: “Good answer.”

He doesn’t smile, but there's something in his eyes that almost says it’s enough for now.

Seong Je laughs, the sound dry and quiet, his gaze softening with some unspoken approval. He leans back, arms folded behind his head like you’ve already proven something to him. It’s an acceptance. But unspoken.

Baek-Jin: “You know the rules here.”

A beat, just enough time for you to wonder if he’s waiting for something you missed.

“If you’re in, you stay in. No halfway.”

The air shifts. Something in your chest settles—a strange mix of trust and tension. You find your seat between them, and for a moment, you feel the gravity of it all.

Whatever happens next, you’re already a part of it.