They were like dying teenagers, suffocated and unprotected.

“Diamonds. They extorted money from our legal street in Hongdae. One of Hyung’s men got taken away. They’re expecting us to turn up.” Byunghun scanned the text message that C.A.P has just sent to his phone.

He controlled the urge to throw a tantrum and all he did was to make eye contact with C.A.P, giving a knowing look. He closed his eyes, wondering what Teen Top should do. If they should call G-Dragon Hyung for help? If they should proceed by making appearance tonight? His head spun in circles, thinking if it was even worth it. Byunghun couldn't help but think that their behavior was tied to suicidal. They kept running, and running but they haven’t found the answers to what they were looking for.

“Fight for all its worth, your worth. I’m not turning up!” Byunghun typed quickly, hoping that his opinion goes heard. He knew how C.A.P and him contrasted in opinions or when it comes to protecting the name of their gang. To his left, In-Na was talking to Changjo and Ricky about egg sandwiches and Byunghun didn’t really know why or how they ended up to that topic. Niel was quick to catch on the interaction between C.A.P and Byunghun, noticing by how C.A.P has his eyebrows furrowed, fist carefully clenched, undeniably enraged by the message displayed on his phone. Byunghun pretended to look away, his eyes turned emotionless and uncaring once again.  

C.A.P fidgeted from his sitting position on the rooftop. He stood up, dusted the gravels off his school pants, dragging his skateboard for the rooftop’s exit. His face was alike to a deathly nightshade. He walked, ignorant for the fact that his other members were still hanging around the rooftop, talking and laughing. C.A.P silently swore to himself, finding himself controlling the urge to drag Byunghun to the side. His muscles ached. His mind screamed. His heart tangled and stabbed with the feeling of betrayal, as hurtful as it is.

“Where are you going?” Changjo hollered, realizing the situation.

C.A.P pulled a blank look, not replying, using all his force, all of his strength to push open the rooftop door. He stomped out, not wasting time to explain. Niel, Changjo and Chunji narrowed sharp looks to Byunghun. In-Na grew startled, knowing for certain that they were hiding something. Something was going on.

 

Home meant something different to each of the members. Byunghun and Teen Top went separate ways with Park In-Na for she mentioned something about important things that had to be done. Byunghun didn’t ask much nor did he thought of it as much. His mind drowned about the safety of s. C.A.P was somewhere. Unlatched from the eyes of others, the boys disappeared to the alley where they have parked their stolen motorbikes.

Niel grabbed Byunghun by the collar, expelling all of his anger. “What the did you do?” Changjo tried to pull them apart. Byunghun didn’t react, falling forward because of Niel’s grasp.

Niel moved forward, wriggling himself, trying to break free from the other members who were desperately trying to pin him down. “You said something stupid to C.A.P didn’t you! You are selfish, L.Joe. The safety of our gang is at risk and you ing know that! They will kill us. They will kill us if we choose to hide our lives away like this.” He paused, eyes throwing invisible stabs. “You know that.”

Their faces, immensely in shocked and in regret, remembering the roads, the journeys that had brought them together. They quarreled, they tried to break free, times where they’d split apart but at the end of the day, they were still a team. Their youth, it wasn’t worth celebrating but they felt rich, to be together like this. Byunghun clenched his fist, determined to land a punch on Niel’s face.

“You’re ignorant!” Niel snapped, unsatisfied. “And the rest of you – are you going to be as selfish as him or are you not? Our lives are in danger. Hyung’s men are in danger!” He yelled. Frustration pooled within his eyes. His voice pricked the Teen Top members.

Byunghun grabbed his motorbike keys, roaring up the engine, not faltered. Byunghun pushed back the need to run over anything that was in his way. As much as he hated to admit it, it made Byunghun sad to think that Niel was right. He didn’t want to die, putting up a fight. He was a coward. A ing coward.

Byunghun sat in the penthouse alone, the motorbike keys piled on top of his schoolbooks. There were all these feelings and thoughts, twisted by itself, enrapturing him to do something. He pressed his phone, reading the new incoming message. It was a message from Chunji. He sank back on the couch; the words suffocated him for he wondered if he should let them face hell on their own.

Byunghun strode to the front porch of the penthouse, couldn’t help but feel alone. The world was on his shoulders but it was as though his spine wasn’t strong enough to take in the weight.

Another message came in and it made it so hard for Byunghun to separate himself from the world that he has surrounded himself in. He pulled his leather jacket, the motorbike keys clenched to his strong fist. His black mask around his sharp features, hiding his identity. Everything has a price.

Teen Top’s safety and his world were too valuable. For their actions, they have a price to pay, even if he has to risk his life.

He was willing.

 

He arrived at the area to where G-Dragon’s men were gathered. Byunghun closed his heart that was vulnerable. He knew that Teen Top was in trouble for picking up fights and they had a price to pay. He pulled himself together. Inside, he was trembling. He was shaken. The alley was dark, and he moved close to the crowd at the end.

“You’re here.”

Byunghun didn’t know if he should have clung to the idea of staying in the penthouse, unseen from the world. He bowed to the older man, whose hair was shaved and marked with a distinct symbol. Byunghun pulled up his leather jacket to show that he was one of them. The older man, whose name went by the name of Tong, gave a nod and nothing else was said.

Byunghun identified Teen Top who has gathered at the back of another gang. He moved to their direction, and he could tell that there were mixed reactions.

“Why’d you showed up, ?” C.A.P hissed.

“Be thankful I’m giving some !” Byunghun barked.

Niel interrupted, "Yeah you'd better. I thought you were too much of a coward, arse."

Out of a sudden, the alley branded with abrupt silent and C.A.P who wanted to retaliate did nothing because someone important has made appearance. Byunghun turned around, so did Teen Top and watch Seoul’s underground leader emerging from the polished convertible. The leader's aura was intimidating and his stare, without effort, could kill.

Byunghun knew that they were in trouble, robbed of courage and brimmed with guilt.

“I know how some of you think that this is just a game. A simple game of life.” G-Dragon said, nonchalant, scanning the group of men.

Next to him, to Teen Top’s utter surprise was a girl, and she has an identical mask covering half of her face. “Except that it’s not just about fighting and getting away with anything. You do know why I am here-”

“I would like to introduce you to my baby girl-” He brought her forward. “And because of a bad strategy or move, she’s at risk.”

"And we'll start by introducing the bad players of this game, shall we, Ji?" The girl stepped up, confidence heightened. Her aura as intimidating. In the dark, her eyes glistened, brightly, despite the mask covering a half of her. Byunghun didn't know if he should run because seems like, there were no absolute way of escaping. On a side note, he was dying to know who was living behind that mask.