Maybe Liz is right, it is kind of small.

Hearing the birds chirping, causes Yujin to slowly stir awake as she begrudgingly opens her eyes seeing said birds staring right back at her curiously turning and tilting her head. 

“Eh? A bird.” Whispers Yujin, staring at it in confusion before she looks around and realizes that she is on the roof. Remembering what happened last night she looks at the pillow that she was laying on. Seeing Jin-woo still asleep, she decides to continue staring at him as she brings her right hand to softly cup his face, a smile appearing on her face.

“You make me crazy, you know.” Whispers Yujin, rubbing his face.

“I know.” Jin-woo responds with his eyes still closed

“How long have you been awake huh?” questions Yujin with a smile that would kill all her fans..

“A couple of minutes before you woke up, I just wanted to close my eyes and chill.” Answers Jin-woo

“Chill, hmm why don’t we spice things up.” Said Yujin sultry with her finger pointing against his chest before moving it downwards slowly as she sits up straddling him. Adding on to the mix she slowly shakes her hips against him.

Jin-woo hands land on her curvy waist, moving downwards feeling her skin through the thin pajamas, giving a strong squeeze once it reaches her plump butt.

“hmm.” Moans Yujin softly.

“As much as I would like too, need I remind you that we are on a roof and right above our room where Eunchae is sleeping.” Reminds Jin-woo with a raised eye staring at the chirpy puppy.

“Aww, are you scared?” pouts Yujin, increasing her speed.

“No, not really because you’ll be the one worrying if you can keep quiet enough for Eunchae or everyone else to not hear. Though I am surprised, what made you so bold suddenly, you were shitting out of your pants the whole day yesterday.” Mused Jin-woo curious about the sudden change in personality from Yujin

Yujin stops. “Hmm.” Yujin tilts her head, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. “I don’t know, something must have come over me. Maybe the moon possessed me, or maybe I was just too tired to keep things in.”

“Hmmm, then what do you want to do now, huh?” Jin-woo asks, a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Uhm, I don’t know. Why don’t you decide?” Yujin brushes her hair back, casually making her look effortlessly stunning.

Jin-woo smirks. “Well, Miss Ahn Yujin, leader of IVE, would you so graciously allow this humble servant to take you out on a date?”

Yujin scrunches her face in playful disgust before bursting into laughter. “Gosh, are you from the 14th century? Who asks someone out like that? And a humble servant? Please, you are neither a servant nor humble, you pabo.”

Still chuckling, she stretches before attempting to stand, swaying slightly as she pushes her hair behind her ear. From Jin-woo’s perspective, the golden light of the rising sun frames her perfectly, accentuating the elegant curves of her silhouette.

Jin-woo grins as he stands up. “Well, is that a yes or a no?”

Yujin places a hand on her chest, feigning grandeur. “Hmm, sure. I’ll graciously allow you to take me on a date.”

“Oh, lucky me,” he chuckles. “Now, I think it’s time we head back inside before people get suspicious.”

“Hmm I think you are forgetting something.” Yujin says, leaning forward tapping a finger on her lips.

“I guess I did, let me fix that.” Says Jin-woo as he pulls her towards him and smashes his lips against her. He wraps his hand around her waist holding her tight as she wraps her hands around his neck bringing herself closer. The kiss lasts for a minute before she breaks it, a trail of saliva still connecting them before breaking. Both taking a deep breath, Jin-woo breaks the silence

“Maybe I should leave a gift on your neck. I wouldn’t mind letting the world know that you’re claimed.”

“Wow possessive much?”

“Just reciprocating the feelings, honey.” says Jin-woo as he stands up.

Without hesitation, Yujin releases her arms from his neck and lifts them up, wordlessly asking to be carried. Jin-woo bends down and lifts her effortlessly, one arm under her legs and the other supporting her back. 

“You really like being carried don’t you, puppy?” 

“And if I do?” she whispers against his ears

She giggles, wrapping her arms back around his neck. With ease, Jin-woo leaps onto a sturdy tree branch, hopping down onto another before finally landing on the soft grass of the backyard.

As he places her down, his arms still loosely wrapped around her waist, they step through the back door into the kitchen, still smiling.

A voice interrupts them.

“Ehh, when did you two sneak out to the backyard?”

Turning their heads, they spot Seojin, standing by the counter, pouring himself a glass of water. He eyes them curiously, the hint of a knowing smirk playing at his lips.

Being a deer caught in headlights, Yujin didn’t know what to say but stood there with wide eyes, reality hitting her like a truck. Jin-woo, on the other hand, walks straight inside and opens the fridge to check for any ingredients.

“Hmm I can make some kimchi fried rice, but it’s not enough for everyone so I’ll make some Gyeran-Mari as well but with samgyeopsal.”

“The samgyeopsal is too thick, make sure to slice it thinner.” asks Seojin

“Nae, but I’ll do it after I brush my teeth. Hyung-nim, do you mind getting the ingredients out. Rice, kimchi, samgyeob-sal and eggs.” Asks Jin-woo as he leaves to his room.

Agreeing, Seojin opens the fridge to take out the ingredients. Turning back to place the ingredients, he still sees Yujin standing by the door still frozen with her mouth open. Chuckling at her, Seojin tells her

“Yujin, go get ready, don’t worry I won’t say anything especially to Eunchae and Yeong-Suk.”

“Ah-ah, we did-didn’t do anything.” Stammers Yujin glitching.

“Mhm, I’m sure you didn’t do anything. Next time remember the doors are thin, Now go get ready quickly. Shoo.” Says Seojin a smirk

Without a second thought, Yujin quickly rushes down the halls to their shared room.

“Kids.” Say Seojin with a chuckle before returning to his phone to read the news.

Arriving at their bedroom, Yujin barges in to see Jin-woo in the middle of changing without his shirt, showing his sculpted six-pack and shredded obliques. It was perfect in Yujin’s eyes; completely forgetting her purpose of barging in, she slowly walks forward and reaches out to touch it in awe. It was hard and smooth like steel.

“You done drooling?” Jin-woo asks, snapping Yujin from her trance.

Shaking her head, she huffs, “Why didn’t you drag me with you? Do you know how embarrassing it was? Seojin-subaenim had this smirk on his face, and he probably thought and heard that we did something!”

“It’ll be fine. And besides, we did do something, didn’t we?” Jin-woo smirks, shaking his ass to make a point.

“Yes…but I’m not talking about that. Ugh.” Frustrated, Yujin ruffles her hair, trying to look away and not be embarrassed.

“Aish, go dress and get ready so I can make breakfast—unless you want me to help you?” Jin-woo teases, walking toward her and wrapping his arms around her neck kissing her forehead.

Smiling to herself, Yujin holds his arms and looks straight up at him. “Maybe next time, but you can watch me.”

“Why not? It’ll allow you to see my face.”

“You arrogant prick,” Yujin grumbles as she drags him into the bathroom.

Both grab their toothbrushes, squeeze out toothpaste, and start brushing their teeth side by side in front of the mirror. Afterward, they begin their morning skincare routine. Jin-woo finishes first, so he stands behind Yujin, whose face is covered in cleanser, and slaps her cheeks with his wet hands, squishing them.

“YAA! Take your hands off my face!” Yujin glares at him.

“Nopeeeee.” Jin-woo grins mischievously.

Finishing her routine, Yujin moves on to applying light makeup. Jin-woo, now sitting on the toilet seat, watches her arms crossed. Seeing him just sitting there, she decides to plop down onto his lap, still facing the mirror. Jin-woo instinctively wraps his arms around her waist, securing her so she doesn’t fall as she leans forward.

Slap

“Yah, hands to yourself.” Yelps Yujin as Jin-woo slaps her butt.

“Hmm, maybe Liz is right, it is kind of small.” Says Jin-woo feeling a bit before dodging a punch from Yujin.

“Ya! You wanna die?” threatens Yujin eyes widens and head tilted, turning back to the mirror.

Just as she’s applying her eyeliner, the bathroom door creaks open, and a groggy Eunchae stumbles in, rubbing her eyes.

“Unnie, did you…” She pauses mid-step, her sleepy expression morphing into one of pure shock.

Yujin and Jin-woo make eye contact with Eunchae. Neither moves.

Eunchae blinks. Then blinks again.

“What…why….WHY are you sitting on him like that?!” she shrieks, pointing an accusatory finger at Yujin.

Jin-woo, completely unfazed, gives her a lazy nod. “Morning.”

“This isn’t a ‘morning’ situation! What am I looking at?!” Eunchae exclaims, eyes darting between them.

Yujin groans, rubbing her temples. “It’s too early for this.”

Eunchae makes a strangled noise in her throat, before complete silence. A large grin, that would make the grinch proud, stretches across her face, tilting her head down. She asks “Are you two dating?” 

Jin-woo, still holding Yujin securely on his lap, yawns. “We are almost done; you can use it afterwards or now if you want”

Eunchae lets out a loud screech before, throwing her hands in the air before storming out. “I need to tell Leeseo, no I need to tell everyone!”

The door swings shut behind her.

Yujin sighs, lifting her head. “I give it five minutes before she tells everyone.”

Jin-woo shrugs, resting his chin on her shoulder. “Eh, let her. Not like it’ll stay a secret, well maybe to the public but I’m not putting any effort to hide it. And make it two.”

Ding Ding

The sound of notifications from her phone.

“I win, Gotta give it to her, she is fast.” Comments Jin-woo as a groans comes out of Yujin

Yujin groans, rubbing her temples as her phone keeps buzzing on the bathroom counter. One notification after another.

Group Chat: IVE 🐥💙
🐥 Leeseo: YUJIN UNNIE PICK UP RIGHT NOW!!!!!!! 😱😱😱
🦆 Rei: Eunchae just called us, is it true???
🐱 Liz: Unnie… explain.
🍂 Gaeul: I am ready for the tea ☕
👑Wonyoung: Omg. Just. Omg.

Before Yujin can even think about typing a response, her phone starts ringing. 

Incoming Video Call: IVE Group Chat.

Jin-woo, still comfortably holding Yujin on his lap, glances at the screen. “You gonna answer that or let them suffer?”

Yujin glares at him. “I am suffering.” With a deep sigh, she accepts the call.

The moment the screen lights up, five familiar faces appear with Leeseo practically pressed against her camera, Wonyoung with wide, expectant eyes, Rei looking like she’s about to combust, Liz covering her mouth in shock, and Gaeul, coolly sipping her coffee as if she’s watching the best drama unfold.

“YUUUJIIIN UNNIEEEE!!” Leeseo shrieks, shaking her phone. “Eunchae said she walked in on you sitting on Jin-woo oppa’s lap?? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??”

Yujin winces, pulling the phone a little away from her ear. “It means exactly what it sounds like.”

“OH MY GOD. Wonyoung claps her hands dramatically. “I knew something was up. The way you’ve been acting lately. SUS!”

“I told you guys she was hiding something,” Rei smirks, crossing her arms. “But to think Eunchae would be the one to expose her.”

Liz, still covering her mouth, finally speaks. “Are you two actually together?”

Before Yujin can respond, Jin-woo leans to the right slightly, his face now visible in the call. “Morning.” His tone is relaxed, completely unaffected by the chaos.

Screams. Literal screams.

Leeseo throws her phone, causing the screen to shake. Wonyoung grabs a pillow and screams into it. Rei just falls out of frame.

Meanwhile, Gaeul calmly sips her coffee, nodding. “Well. That confirms it.”

“WHY DO YOU LOOK SO CALM?!” Wonyoung yells at her.

Yujin groans, dragging a hand down her face.  “Look, yes, we’re together. No, we weren’t doing anything weird, I’m just doing my makeup . Can we all just-”

“NO, WE CAN’T,” Rei interrupts. “This is huge! How long? Since when? Was it romantic? Why didn’t you TELL us?”

Jin-woo, still unfazed, stares at Yujin  and answers before she can. “Last night.” 

Another round of chaos erupts.

“Last night?!” Wonyoung looks betrayed. “AND YOU DIDN’T TELL US FIRST?!”

“You really thought you could keep this a secret from us?” Rei shakes her head. “Unbelievable.”

Liz, still recovering, finally sighs. “I can’t believe Eunchae found out before we did…”

Leeseo, having retrieved her phone, suddenly gasps. “Wait, does this mean you guys kiss?”

Yujin chokes on air. Jin-woo, however, just smirks.

“I mean, we were on the roof under the clear sky filled with stars,” he says casually, “we don’t not kiss.”

Screams. Again.

Wonyoung straight up ends the call.

Yujin stares at the blank screen, then turns to Jin-woo, still in utter disbelief.

“…You are the worst.”

Jin-woo just laughs, pulling her closer. “That was fun. Now come on, let’s get dress.”

“Ugh! Fine, but you need to leave the room then.”

“aweeee”

Kitchen

By the time Yujin steps into the kitchen, Jin-woo is already at the stove, expertly rolling Gyeran-mari in a pan. The golden layers fold neatly under his chopsticks, a testament to his skill. Across from him, Seojin is leaning against the counter, sipping his coffee, completely unaffected by the earlier commotion.

Yujin slumps into a chair, exhaling heavily. “I swear, I’m never going to hear the end of this.”

Jin-woo, still focused on his cooking, hums. “Eh, they’ll get over it.”

“They reacted like I just announced I was moving to another planet,” Yujin mutters, running a hand down her face. “Leeseo practically combusted. Wonyoung hung up on me. Rei probably started writing an exposé about it.”

Seojin barely looks up from his phone. “What happened?”

Yujin sighs “Eunchae found out.”

“Oh, is that why she screamed so loud? I could hear her clearly from here.” questions Seojin

“What did she find out for her to scream so loudly?” Woo-shik raises an eyebrow, glancing between them.

“Her scream shocked me out of my bed, Hit my head on the ground.” BM comments, plopping down on a chair and pouring himself a glass of water.

“I could hear her jump up and down from our room.” Yumi adds, sitting on the couch with Eunseo, whose eyes are closed holding onto Yumi, while Seojoon sits there looking thoroughly intrigued.

Yujin groans, covering her face with her hands. When she peeks through her fingers at Jin-woo for some kind of help, she finds him completely focused on rolling up the last layer of his gyeran-mari, completely unfazed by the interrogation.

Of course he was.

She is on her own.

Yujin lets out a defeated sigh. “She… walked in on me doing my makeup.”

A moment of silence

“Eh, that’s it?” comments Seojoon clearly unimpressed

“I fell off my bed because you were doing your makeup?” said BM with his eyebrow raised.

“Yea it's nothing important.” Lies Yujin 

“She was on my lap.” Says Jin-woo breaking his silence.

“…”

“EH??” screams everyone except Seojin who is enjoying the show in front of them.

“Why would you be on his lap doing makeup?” Eunseo asks, eyes fully open with a confused look on her face as she turns to Yujin for an explanation.

Yujin freezes, her brain short-circuiting as the words refuse to leave her mouth. She looks at Jin-woo, who’s still casually plating the gyeran-mari, completely ‘oblivious’ to the storm brewing in the room.

‘Jin-woo, you penguin loving idiot, I’ll make you regret this.’ 

“I mean, it’s pretty obvious, Eunseo-ah,” Yumi sings, flashing a wide grin. “It means that they’re dating!”

Yujin slams her forehead onto the table in defeat.

“MY GUY!” BM shouts, standing up from his chair and striding over to Jin-woo, who has a smirk plastered on his face. He gives him a celebratory dap. “You’re living the dream, bro! That’s how you do it!”

“Congrats, you two,” Seojoon says with a teasing smile, crossing his arms as he leans against the counter. “Knew something was going on, but this?” He gestures around the room, eyes twinkling with amusement. “This is next level.”

Seojin, who had been quiet up until now, looks at Jin-woo with a raised brow. “So... when’s the wedding?” earning a smile in response.

“You know, it’s kind of cute,” Woo-shik adds with a grin, slouching into a chair next to BM. “I thought you two were just friends at first, but now it makes sense. Jin-woo’s smooth, Yujin’s got that charm, perfect match.”

“Exactly!” Yumi agrees, as she grabs a piece of gyeran-mari. “Honestly, though, it was only a matter of time before you two got together.”

“You both weren’t exactly subtle.” Said Seojoon “ The internet is gonna be in a frenzy when these episodes get released.”

Yujin feels like sinking into the floor as everyone continues to chime in.

“Well,” BM says, throwing his arms around the both of them, “this definitely calls for a celebration. We’re going out tonight, drinks are on me!”

“We are having fun tonight.” Joins in Wooshik

Walking into the kitchen, Na PD-nim and the film crew arrive, their cameras ready to capture the scene.

“What did I miss?” Na PD-nim asks, raising an eyebrow at the unusually joyous atmosphere.

Seojin, who has been quietly observing, sighs and turns to him. “Make sure the cameras are off.” His tone is firm, knowing that something like this should stay private.

Na PD-nim blinks in confusion but nods. “Uh… okay?” He motions for the crew to lower their cameras.

The moment they comply, Woo-shik grins and casually drops the bomb. “Yujin and Jin-woo are dating.”

Na PD-nim’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh? Really? How did this happen?” He had his suspicions, after all, the chemistry between the two had been obvious during filming, but hearing it confirmed was still a shock.

Jin-woo, completely unfazed, finishes plating the samgyeopsal gyeran-mari before answering. “Well, it happened last night. We were on the roof lying on a blanket, looking at the stars, and I asked her out.”

“Aww, that’s so romantic,” Yumi coos, resting her chin on her hands.

Na PD-nim chuckles before turning to Yujin with a serious look. “Yujin, I treat you like my niece, no, my daughter, but you better treat him well.”

Yujin, already burning with embarrassment, feels her frustration reach a breaking point. “Treat him well?? I’m the one who starts things, and besides I kissed him first!” she blurts out before slapping a hand over her mouth, realizing what she just admitted.

A beat of silence.

Then

“HAHAHAHA!” Jin-woo bursts into laughter, clutching his stomach, tears forming in his eyes.

The rest of the group stares at Yujin, who looks like she wants to disappear into the floor.

“Wow.” Seojoon smirks. “Didn’t expect that confession, but okay.”

Yumi gasps dramatically. “So bold, Yujin!”

Woo-shik grins. “She really said ‘I take the lead.’”

BM claps his hands together. “My respect for you just went up.”

Meanwhile, Yujin buries her face in her hands, groaning. Jin-woo, still laughing, reaches over and combs her hair. “I love how you just exposed yourself like that.”

“I hate you,” Yujin mumbles into her hands, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.

Na PD-nim sighs in amusement, shaking his head. “Well, this is going to make things interesting.”

The teasing continues as everyone digs into breakfast, leaving Yujin to suffer the consequences of her own outburst.

‘this couldn’t get any worse’

Suddenly Eunchae enters the kitchens, her eyes staring straight at Yujin. Focused, everyone could feel the tension rise as she stood there motionless, hands to her side, head tilted up a bit as her eyes narrowed and zoned in on Yujin who could only stare back in silence. 

“I’m watching you.” Says Eunchae interrupting the silence, walking to the sitting Jin-woo and sits down beside him, looping her left arm around his. Grabbing the fork with her right hand and started munching on the food in front of her without breaking eye contact with Yujin.

Yujin shifts uncomfortably in her seat. “...Why are you looking at me like that?”

Eunchae, still chewing, finally blinks. “I need to make sure you’re worthy.”

Yujin gapes. “Worthy of what?!”

Jin-woo hides a smirk behind his cup of coffee. 

‘This morning just keeps getting better.’

At the Restaurant 

It starts off smoothly, everyone’s working together, moving around, taking orders, preparing the food, and bringing the dishes to the customers. As usual, a lot of people were already lined up outside, eager to try the food. Although Madrid does have Korean BBQ, the fact that idols and actors were filming there really made this place stand out. Still, it didn’t take away from the fact that their food is exceptional.

“Eunchae-ah, make sure you ask if they want any wine or beverages,” Seojin instructs, standing behind the bar and carefully pouring a pint of beer.

“Nae!” Eunchae responds, quickly turning to approach the next table, a smile on her face as she takes the drink orders.

“BM, help clean up the tables. They’re swarming with orders,” Seojin continues, his tone focused as he wipes down the bar.

“Nae,” BM answers, putting down the washed glasses and heading out to clean up the scattered plates and glasses on the table.

“Jin-woo-ah, do you know if we do takeout orders?” Yujin asks, turning around to face Jin-woo, who’s heading toward the table with fresh orders.

“Yes, we do, but only for the cooked dishes,” Jin-woo replies, setting down the food with a smile. As he straightens up and turns to leave, he can’t resist. With a subtle movement, he pats Yujin on the ass.

Yujin freezes, turning around with a glare but a playful smirk. “Really? In front of all these people and cameras?” she mutters, shaking her head.

Jin-woo, unbothered, gives her a sly grin. “What? It’s just a little pat.”

Yujin rolls her eyes but can’t hold back a small chuckle. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“Guess I’m getting away with it then,” he teases, winking at her before walking off to the kitchen.

Yujin just stands there for a moment, shaking her head with a smile as she gets back to her duties.

With everything going smoothly, one would think it’ll continue that way. One would think that people would behave nicely on camera or at least not cause trouble but that would be too much to have. 

A group of seven young men strolls into the restaurant, dressed casually in hoodies and jeans. They don’t bother waiting in line or asking for a table. They just walk in and claim an empty one, chatting loudly without a care in the world.

While serving other customers, Jin-woo catches sight of them from his peripheral vision and rolls his eyes. He already knows how this is going to go.

Trouble wherever I go huh

Yujin, standing closest to their table, notices the ruckus they’re already making. With a measured breath, she approaches them.

“Excuse me, you need to wait in line. Other customers have been waiting ahead of you,” she says with a tight smile.

The group doesn’t even acknowledge her, too caught up in their own conversation to spare her a glance.

She exhales sharply but keeps her composure. For now.

“Please leave the table and line up like everyone else,” she says again, her voice firm but polite.

One of the guys in the group finally glances at Yujin, a smirk tugging at his lips. He leans back in his chair, saying something to the others.

"¿Quién se cree esta tipa? Ni que fuera la dueña del lugar." (Who does this chick think she is? It’s not like she owns the place.)

The others snicker, and a girl in the group waves Yujin off dismissively.

"Relájate, morra. No molestamos a nadie. Vuelve al interior de la cocina." (Relax, girl. We’re not bothering anyone. Go back inside the kitchen)

Yujin’s smile tightens. She doesn’t speak fluent Spanish, but she understands enough to catch the dismissive tone. Keeping her composure, she steps closer, puts her hands on her waist and the other point towards the exit.

“This isn’t a debate. Either you get in line like everyone else, or you leave.”

The guy who spoke first scoffs, shaking his head as he mutters to another friend.

"Mírala, como si tuviera autoridad." (Look at her, acting like she has authority.)

One of the chuckling guys looks up at Yujin, eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Look, beautiful, why don’t you leave us alone, get us some food and drinks… so no one gets hurt?"

His voice is smooth, almost playful, but when he slips a hand into his pocket and pulls something out just enough for Yujin to catch the glint of a pocketknife, the air shifts.

Yujin exhales slowly through her nose and takes a small step back, not in fear, but in calculation.

Her heart pounds, but she keeps her expression neutral. She’s not about to show them any weakness.

The group laughs like it’s all some big joke, but she doesn’t miss the way the other customers have started whispering, some even shifting uncomfortably in their seats glancing at them.

Jin-woo, who had been watching the scene unfold, doesn’t hesitate and walks up behind her.

“Hey.” His voice is sharp, cutting through the silent noise. He steps in front of Yujin, his gaze locking onto the guy with the knife. 

"You should put that toy away and leave the restaurant, my friend." Jin-woo's voice is monotone, but there’s an unmistakable edge to it. A quiet warning.

The guy with the knife scoffs. "Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do, pretty boy? Sing us to death?"

A chuckle ripples through the group, but then one of them narrows his eyes, studying Jin-woo more closely.

"Wait a second… doesn’t he look familiar?"

Another guy stands up, stepping in front of Jin-woo, sizing him up. He is a bit taller than Jin-woo and bigger than him. His eyes widened slightly in recognition.

"Hey, it’s that guy from earlier this year. The one who won that Valorant tournament."

"Ahh, yeah! Jin-who or something."

The guy in front of Jin-woo sneers, but then his gaze drifts past him, toward Yujin, who stands just behind. His smirk widens.

"Now, hold on a second," he drawls, tilting his head. "Up close, the bitch is even prettier."

He reaches a hand toward her face, fingers outstretched, but before he can touch her, a hand clamps around his wrist. Tight.

Following the arm restraining him, the guy's eyes trail up meeting Jin-woo’s. Cold. Unwavering. His sharp blue gaze locks onto him like a predator sizing up prey.

The guy chuckles, trying to yank his hand back, but it doesn’t budge. Jin-woo’s grip tightens, fingers digging into his wrist like a vice. A sharp twist

“AHH!”

He collapses to his knees, the knife in his pockets clattering uselessly onto the floor.

"Let go, you bitch!" he screams, his voice echoing through the restaurant.

Jin-woo doesn’t flinch. He shoves the guy onto his back, places his right foot on his chest to keep him pinned.

“You done?” Jin-woo asks, his tone flat but dangerous, like a blade sheathed in ice.

The guy wheezes, trying to push Jin-woo’s foot off. “Screw you…”

The other men shoot up from their seats, knives flashing in their hands.

The restaurant erupts into chaos.

Customers scramble away from the table, chairs screeching against the floor. Some duck behind counters, others back up against the walls, phones already out, cameras rolling.

A ripple of fear spreads through the room.

Hearing the commotion, the kitchen doors swing open violently.

Eunchae, Seojin, BM, Yumi, Eunseo, Seojoon, Woo-shik, Na PD-nim, and the camera crew rush out, their faces a mix of confusion and alarm.

“Oppa!” Eunchae calls, but her voice fills with panic.

"Hey! No knives. Now, please leave, or we’ll call the cops," Seojin says firmly, trying to prevent the situation from escalating.

Before he can say another word, one of the guys lunges at him, knife swinging.

Seojin flinches, his breath hitching, But before the blade can get anywhere near him, Jin-woo moves.

With a sharp slap, he knocks the knife clean out of the guy’s hand. The blade flies through the air and embeds itself into the wall behind them with a thunk.

The restaurant falls into stunned silence.

Jin-woo exhales, rolling his shoulders. “Alright, boys. Why don’t we take this outside?” His voice is calm, but there’s an unmistakable hint of amusement laced in his tone.

Without hesitation, he grabs the guy still on the floor by his collar and drags him outside, tossing him onto the pavement like trash. People outside jump in startle as the body is thrown on the streets. Standing on the sidewalk, Jin-woo rolls up his sleeves waiting for them to get ready. His movements are slow, deliberate. Controlled.

The others don’t hesitate. Seeing their friend thrown onto the street, they storm after him, knives still in hand.

“Everyone waiting in line, step back a bit. This will be over very quickly,” Jin-woo announces, staring at the line of customers waiting outside of the restaurant.

The crowd, sensing what’s about to happen, shuffles closer to the walls, giving Jin-woo and the buffoons plenty of space. And just like that, the street becomes their battleground.

By the restaurant entrance, Eunchae, Yujin, and the others gather there, worry etched across their faces. Seojin hurriedly pulls out his phone, trying to call the cops.

“Seojin Hyung-nim, no need to call the cops,” Jin-woo says, stretching his arms like he’s preparing for a warm-up. He pulls out his phone and tosses it to Eunchae. “Here, call ‘Maria Hills’ and tell her what’s happening.”

Eunchae fumbles with the phone. “Your password”

“It’s your birthday.”

She blinks in surprise before quickly unlocking the phone and finding the contact.

“Oppa, what do I even say?” she asks, her voice shaking.

“Just tell her where we are and that I need a cleanup crew. She’ll know what I mean,” Jin-woo replies with an easy smile, rolling his shoulders.

“Oppa, what are you doing?!” Eunseo cries, panic creeping into her voice.

Jin-woo grins, doing a few side lunges. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m gonna teach these guys a lesson, of course.”

“You idiot, this isn’t the time to act cool!” Yujin snaps from the entrance, gripping the doorframe tightly. Her knuckles turn white as she watches him stretch with a smile on his face. “They have knives, Jin-woo! You’re not some action hero, this isn’t a game!”

Jin-woo throws a glance over his shoulder, still grinning. “Relax, puppy. I’ve got this.”

“No, you don’t,” she bites back, voice trembling slightly. “You could get seriously hurt! Do you even hear yourself right now?”

“Hahaha.” Jin-woo simply chuckles. “Don’t worry, honey. I’ll be fine, these guys are peasants.” He flashes a cocky smile, trying to comfort Yujin. 

“Because someone has to!” she yells, her heart pounding. “I swear, if you get stabbed, I’m never forgiving you.”

Jin-woo waves a hand dismissively. “Duly noted.”

“Do you want me to help? I know some boxing,” BM asks, eager to step in and help.

“Nah, it’s fine,” Jin-woo replies, straightening himself up and locking eyes with the group of morons in front of him. “Alright, guys. Thanks for waiting like npc’s.”

The leader of the group smirks and falters. “If you're done, it's time for some playtime.”

Jin-woo chuckles, a cold grin spreading across his face. “If anyone’s playing around, it’ll be me.”

With a loud yell, they all rush toward him, knives flashing in the air, each trying to slash at Jin-woo. One by one, he sidesteps their attacks effortlessly, barely breaking a sweat. With each near miss, he ‘lightly’ taps them on the back, sending them stumbling to the ground.

They get back up, more frustrated than before, only to be knocked down again. The cycle continues, each time, it takes them longer to get back on their feet. Slash from the left, slash from the right, from behind and in front, all miss.

Jin-woo’s movements are almost effortless, his grin widening as the group grows more desperate.

“Alright, boys,” he calls out, his voice loud enough for the crowd to hear, “I gotta get back to work. Since I’ve got a crowd watching, so I gotta show off a bit.”

Jin-woo rushes towards the remaining goons, his movements a blur. One by one, he delivers swift kicks and punches, knocking them to the ground. With each blow, they release their grip on their knives, leaving them scattered across the pavement.

Finally, there’s one left, the last guy, staring wide-eyed at his knocked-out friends.

Jin-woo smirks, glancing over his shoulder at Yujin and Eunchae. “Yujin, Eunchae, take some notes. I’ll teach you this move later.”

He then turns his head toward the camera, a playful grin on his face. “To the people at home, don’t attempt to do what I did. Call the cops immediately if you’re dealing with dangerous individuals.”

Turning back to the last goon, who still stands frozen in place, Jin-woo’s grin widens. With a sudden burst of speed, he rushes forward and jumps up high. It happened so fast that the goon couldn’t even react.

In the air, Jin-woo's right leg extends, his heel facing the ground. He lands a devastating drop kick to the goon’s head. The impact slams the man face forward into the concrete, knocking him out cold.

“Alright, we are now done. Now let’s get back inside and continue on shall we.” Smiles Jin-woo staring at everyone else.