Seoul was everything Jin Seok had imagined it would be. The city buzzed with energy, a constant hum that filled the air, making it impossible to feel alone. The neon lights reflected off the glass windows of towering buildings, while the sidewalks were lined with food vendors and late-night shoppers. The fast-paced rhythm of the city almost made him feel at home—almost.
He shuffled through the crowded streets, hands jammed deep into the pockets of his hoodie. He wasn't in a rush. He had nowhere to be, nothing to do. If anything, he was just biding his time.
"Another day in paradise," he muttered to himself, taking a slow drag from the cigarette between his lips. It had been a few weeks since he'd arrived in Seoul, since he'd left everything behind—his past, the Breakers, his reputation. He was done with all of it. He'd made a promise to himself to live a normal life, and for the first time in a long while, he was sticking to it.
But living a normal life wasn't as easy as he'd thought.
Despite how much he tried to blend in, there was always something about him that stood out. It wasn't just the way people avoided eye contact, or the whispers behind his back—it was the feeling of being trapped in a world that didn't know how to deal with someone like him. Powerful, but pretending to be weak. Smart, but doing everything to appear lazy.
"I'll figure it out."
He didn't have a plan. He didn't need one.
His eyes drifted across the street, and for a moment, they locked onto the one person who had unknowingly made this whole mess a little bit more bearable. Ahn Jiwoo.
She was walking down the sidewalk, her arms crossed in front of her, a scowl on her face. Despite her tough exterior, there was something soft about the way she carried herself, something that drew his attention every time they crossed paths. Maybe it was her confidence. Or maybe it was the fact that she never gave him the time of day, no matter how hard he tried to get her to notice him.
"Jin Seok!"
Her voice cut through his thoughts, sharp and loud enough to make a few passersby glance over. Seok turned, his expression blank. She was standing at the entrance of a small café, waving him over with a frown.
"You're late," Jiwoo added, not waiting for him to answer as she marched inside.
Seok rolled his eyes and followed her in, not bothering to protest. It had become routine—her dragging him to these random places where she insisted on getting coffee or food or whatever else she deemed "necessary" for their friendship. Despite all his protests about not needing anything, she was persistent. And, truth be told, he didn't mind it. At least someone cared enough to drag him into the world of normalcy, even if he didn't fully want to participate.
"Another round of your usual?" the café barista asked as Seok slid into the seat across from Jiwoo.
"Yeah, whatever," Seok muttered, glancing out the window.
Jiwoo didn't let the silence stretch too long. "So, how's life going? You getting used to the city yet?" Her tone was casual, but Seok could tell there was more to her question. She always asked with a certain... curiosity. Like she was studying him, trying to figure him out.
He shrugged. "Yeah, it's alright. Busy, but normal. I guess."
"Normal, huh?" Jiwoo raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "You're not like the other guys around here. You don't even look like you belong."
"I don't," Seok agreed with a smile. "But I'm trying."
Jiwoo snorted, shaking her head. "You're hopeless. You could at least pretend to care."
Seok let out a laugh, one that didn't reach his eyes. "I pretend all the time. But caring... that's a whole other thing."
Jiwoo studied him for a moment, her eyes narrowing. She wasn't buying his act, not for a second. But instead of pushing him for answers, she just shook her head and sipped her coffee, like she always did.
It was strange, how she could see right through him, even when he tried so hard to hide who he really was. But maybe that was the point of being here, wasn't it? To have someone who wouldn't let him get away with the lie.
And yet, the more she saw through him, the more he found himself questioning his own decision to run away from his past. Maybe this whole "normal" life was overrated. But he wasn't about to tell Jiwoo that.
"So," Jiwoo leaned back in her chair, "what's the deal with you and that guy from yesterday? You didn't tell me who he was."
Seok's heart skipped a beat. "What guy?"
"The one who looked like he wanted to start trouble. You didn't even flinch when he came up to you. Most people would've been scared. But you just stood there."
Seok's expression remained neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Right," Jiwoo said with a roll of her eyes, clearly not believing him. "Anyway, it's none of my business. I just don't get why you're always so..." She paused, searching for the word. "...unbothered. Are you always like this?"
Seok couldn't help but smile. "It's called not giving a damn."