In a secluded pocket of the grand ballroom, shielded from the glittering chandeliers by a heavy velvet curtain, two figures stood like statues. A few paces separated them, but the air in that small gap was thick, heated, and dangerously complex. Their gazes met—sharp, piercing, and laden with a disbelief that neither could voice.
What is Dohyeon doing here? Rivert thought, his jaw tightening. If Dohyeon is here, it clearly means Nova is here too. Rivert bit his lip so hard it was a miracle blood wasn't drawn. His mind felt trapped, thrashing in this situation like a rat caught in a snap-trap. On the other side of the gap, Dohyeon was spiraling through his own mental wreckage. Why the fuck is he here? I assumed the Chairman would show up alone, but that man brought Rivert with him. What exactly is going on in Oh Jin-wook's head?
Both of their minds were racing like panicked horses, desperately trying to process a reality they hadn't prepared for.
"What are those two boys even doing standing there?"
The hushed whisper of two passing guests traveled with the airflow, reaching their ears. Neither moved. They remained in stone-cold silence, ignoring the prying eyes of the elite.
"That dashing boy with the silver hair... I heard he's a distant relative of Oh Jin-wook."
The gossip spread through the ballroom like wildfire. They say a lie spreads like fire while the truth crawls like an ant—today, that was proven true. As for the shorter one... Dohyeon might not have heard the rumors about the Chairman, but he definitely caught the comment about his height.
Like a black cat, he hissed at the retreating backs of the guests, "Pray tell, who exactly are you calling short?"
A small, genuine smile flickered on Rivert's face—a rare moment of warmth from within. Dohyeon caught it and glanced at him.
"I didn't know my 'best-of-the-best' friend was the son of the Chairman's distant relative," Dohyeon mouthed with a grimace.
Thwack. Rivert nudged him sharply.
"Oi... is this how you meet a friend? It's been so long, man!" Dohyeon grumbled, adjusting the lapels of his suit to hide his nerves. Rivert stood with both hands shoved deep in his trouser pockets, his eyes scanning the crowd. He was worried sick, his instincts screaming for an escape.
"Why didn't you call and tell me you were attending a charity event? And listen, you idiot..." Rivert's voice dropped to a lethal whisper. "Why did you bring Nova with you?"
Dohyeon paused. One eyebrow arched toward the sky in a look of pure, unadulterated suspicion. "By the way," he asked, his voice low and testing, "How did you assume Nova came with me?"
"Heart said." Rivert looked away, hiding the sudden flash of vulnerability in his eyes from Dohyeon's sharp gaze.
"What heart? I bet you saw us together," Dohyeon countered, crossing his arms over his chest.
Rivert let out a sigh that was heavy with a bone-deep tiredness. "Of course I know you brought him. Wherever you go, you take him with you because you think if he's right in front of you, you can protect him better. Am I right?"
The certainty in Rivert's voice was as sharp as a blade. Dohyeon's eyes widened. "Dude, that's creepy. How did you know?"
Thwack! This time, Rivert landed a solid hit on Dohyeon's back. "What 'creepy', you idiot! That's your trademark dialogue whenever you're assigned to protect someone. I know you."
As the bickering subsided, Rivert's aura shifted. It darkened, becoming heavy with the weight of his mission. Dohyeon watched him, realizing he had never seen Rivert in such a tense predicament—not even when they had captured the 'Rat' from Italy's biggest gang and handed him over to the Korean government.
That had been their very first mission together. Their friendship had grown deep in the trenches of danger. But when the plan was made to send Rivert as a secret agent into 'The Vane,' a rift had formed. In that organization, the guarantee of coming back alive was slim to none. Then came Rivert's sudden call. Dohyeon had been happy to hear from his brother-like friend, but the call was a favor—Rivert needed help. As long as Alex's accident case didn't cool down, he needed someone he trusted to protect Nova.
"It's not like you called or messaged me. If I hadn't called for a favor, I'm sure you would have only shown up at my funeral," Rivert muttered, rolling his eyes.
The logic was so precise that Dohyeon had no answer. Maybe I'm wrong too, Dohyeon thought, but whatever happens, happens for the best. "I can't argue here." Dohyeon stretched his arms over his head, trying to shake off the tension. "So, how are things going there? Found out any suspicious activity.
Rivert's expression turned grim. He leaned in, explaining the events of Delphinus Bay. "One day that old man held a meeting at his place. They were talking about developing something called the 'Blue Lily Project' in the northern estate."
"Blue Lily Project, huh?" Dohyeon placed a finger on his chin. "Did you report this project to the Highers?"
"There was no time. I don't know what secret Alex wanted to give Oh Jin-wook, but someone killed him before he could say anything. Now that psycho is picking up everyone close to Alex—VIPs and regulars alike—to investigate them."
Rivert's eyes were turning red, laced with the stress of a man playing a losing hand. He let out a long, shaky breath. Dohyeon patted his shoulder firmly. "Need any help?"
(No, it's already hard enough to protect one person here,) Rivert thought. If he took help from Dohyeon, he would only drag his friend into the line of fire.
"I'm not Nova," Dohyeon said, his voice ringing with a stubborn confidence.
'Nova.'
That small name turned both of them into statues. The realization hit them at the same time.
"But... wait a second... Oh shit!" Rivert's eyes darted around the room. "We totally forgot in our talking... where is Nova, Dohyeon? If he came with you, where did he go?"
Rivert began to move, his pace frantic as he prepared to search the hall.
"Oh my god, I forgot that too..." Dohyeon cursed himself, his face paling. "I don't know what he saw the moment he entered the ballroom. He said he was going to the restroom for a bit... he hasn't returned yet."
Stupid kid, Dohyeon thought, his heart hammering against his ribs.
"What if he fainted or something?"
"Idiot, he doesn't like being around too many people!" Rivert hissed, his voice trembling with anger and fear.
"How was I supposed to know? He didn't tell me!"
"Oi, the way you two worry about each other... tell me the truth, what's going on between you two?"
"Nothing. Just shut up and find Nova. Honestly Doyeon, this is so unprofessional. You didn't do your duty properly."
"Motherfucker!" Dohyeon shouted, the curse escaping before he could stop it. "Do you even know that for the last few days I—"
He stopped abruptly, the words dying in his throat.
"What about the last few days? Did something happen?" Rivert looked back, his gaze sharp.
"No, nothing at all."
Dohyeon looked away. Just a few days ago, I was lecturing Nova about not keeping secrets, and here I am doing exactly what I told him not to do. He looked up at Rivert's retreating back—at a man trying to climb a mountain while carrying the world on his shoulders. Maybe, he thought, Nova realized how lonely this man is, trying to handle everything himself, so he doesn't want to give him extra worries.
"Rivert," Dohyeon whispered to the empty air, "Has anyone ever told you that when you behave like this, you look incredibly lonely?"
 While Dohyeon and Rivert moved through the corners of the ballroom in search of Nova,
Elsewhere...
Nova was staring at himself in the mirror with a piercing, deep gaze. His dead eyes looked even more lifeless than before."
The restroom was a shrine of gold and glass, reserved only for the elite. Here, the walls weren't just walls; they were a maze of mirrors that reflected every twitch of Nova's trembling body. Under the sharp, unforgiving lights, Nova looked like a golden statue coming undone.
(Why is Rivert here? And why is that man with him?) His body vibrated with a fear so deep it felt ancestral. Seeing that face—the face of the man who took his mother's life—had shattered his composure. He didn't even care that Rivert was there; the trauma had blinded him to everything but the ghost of his past.
He turned on the tap. One splash of freezing water. Then another.
He stared at his reflection, regret washing over him like the cold water. (I shouldn't have come. Why did I ever agree to this?) He cursed himself, his eyes dropping to the floor. It's been years had passed, but the image of his mother's end was still as vivid as a fresh wound.
The fear he felt wasn't just anger—it was a paralyzing, soul-crushing terror that made him hope he had remained invisible to both Rivert and that man.
He took one last handful of water to his eyes.
Suddenly,
the air changed. A ghost-like chill swept through the room. Nova's skin prickled, every hair standing on end.
Step. Step. Step.
The sound of footsteps approached. It wasn't loud, nor was it soft. It was measured—a walk that commanded the very air to stop moving. The shadow was tall, broad-shouldered, matching Rivert's height, but the aura was entirely different. It was heavy. Lethal.
(Who is this? Why is the energy so suffocating?) Nova thought, his feet feeling as though they were frozen to the marble floor. He decided to splash his face one more time and flee. He didn't want to look back.
The man stepped up to the sink right next to Nova.
A sharp, electric jolt shot through Nova's nerves—a physical reaction to the sheer proximity of the predator.
Ivan stood there, his asymmetrical eyes clouded with irritation. (I really want to kill that old man, What did Jihoon want to talk to the him about alone? Why did I have to waste my time at this stupid event?) Ivan usually didn't waste a second of his life looking at "low-life" guests, but something caught his eye in the mirror.
A reflection.
Without effort, Ivan cut his gaze sideways. For a split second, their eyes met in the glass.
Nova didn't hesitate. He tore his gaze away instantly, completely erasing Ivan's presence as if he were nothing more than a ghost.
Hanh... Ivan's mind stalled. (Did this motherfucker just make eye contact and then... ignore me?)
For the first time in his life, someone had openly and effortlessly dismissed him. Ivan didn't care about people—only his master and his profit mattered—but this feeling was new. He had never thought about anyone other than Jihoon for this long.
His eyes turned into the gaze of a tiger—one that kills not out of hunger, but simply because the prey dared to walk too close.
(Why is he staring at me so intensely? Did I offend him? Did he know me or i know him? No, that's nonsense. Even people who know me don't know who I am...) Nova thought, the seconds feeling like hours.
Nova reached for a tissue, wiped the water from his face, and walked toward the door, maintaining his wall of silence.
Ivan splashed his own face, glaring at his own reflection in the mirror. Suddenly, his mood was beyond foul. Usually, when he felt this way, he would find someone to break—or he would drown himself in Jihoon's presence for days.
(Now I know why I feel so annoyed after seeing that dusty man. The way he doesn't even bother to hide his fear... it makes me want to puke.)