hNamama

PROLOGUE:

The study on the top floor of the Park residence was illuminated only by a dim desk lamp and the cold glow of an active laptop screen. The faint scent of stale black coffee mingled with the sharp aroma of eucalyptus oil that Chanyeol had rubbed into his temples. The twenty-eight-year-old man leaned back against his leather chair, staring intently at his phone screen before quickly turning it off as he heard a pair of hurried footsteps outside, followed by a light knock.

"Hyung? Are you okay? Did something happen?"

A calm, deep voice greeted his ears. Kai stood at the doorway, clad in a loose black training shirt. Concern was written all over his face.

Chanyeol exhaled softly, rubbing his face before swiftly stashing his phone into the desk drawer—ensuring the confidential document beneath it was completely hidden. "Ah. No. Haven't you two gone to sleep yet?"

Before Kai could answer, another figure barged in. Sehun walked in unceremoniously, his steps slightly sluggish in his casual loungewear.

Without a second thought, the young doctor collapsed onto the long sofa in the middle of the room, closing his eyes as if all the bones in his body had suddenly given out.

"I can't sleep," Sehun muttered, his voice raspy. "Kai poisoned me with coffee this afternoon."

Kai, who was about to sit beside Sehun, turned around and shook his head in disbelief at his younger friend. "I didn't poison you, Oh Sehun. You took my cup from the table yourself."

"You knew I hate bitter coffee, yet you bought it and left it right there. What kind of i***t does that unless they're trying to slowly murder me?" Sehun cracked one eye open, flashing a provocative smirk.

Kai grabbed a throw pillow beside him and tossed it straight at Sehun’s face. "Say one more word and I'll make sure you sleep outside tonight."

"Can you two please stop bickering for once? It's late," Chanyeol said, pressing his temples harder to stop the impending headache before his brain split in two.

Hearing the unusual shift in Chanyeol's tone—cold, heavy, and weighed down by a strange exhaustion—the playful banter on the sofa instantly died down. Kai and Sehun exchanged a brief glance, the lighthearted mood evaporating into thin air.

"Sorry, Hyung," Kai murmured quietly, his expression turning serious.

Chanyeol stood up from his executive chair, his footsteps heavy against the hardwood floor. He walked over to the massive glass window that offered a sweeping view of Seoul’s glittering skyline. His long fingers found the wall remote, pressing a button to lower the thick black blackout curtains, completely severing their line of sight from the outside world.

"You two need to be extra careful from now on," Chanyeol said softly. His voice was low, almost a trembling whisper. "He's back."

A heavy silence gripped the room. Kai crossed his arms, feeling the drastic shift in the atmosphere. "Him... your business rival? Is he really that dangerous, Hyung?".

Sehun, who usually brushed everything off with an indifferent attitude, adjusted his posture. He locked eyes with Chanyeol before glancing over at Kai. "He wouldn't hesitate to slit your throat just to deliver your head to Chanyeol Hyung in a gift box."

"Watch your mouth, Hun," Kai grunted, folding his arms tightly. Yet, he couldn't hide the subtle flicker of unease creeping up his spine.

"He's not entirely wrong, Kai," Chanyeol interrupted, his gaze still fixed on the fully drawn curtains. "He will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. And if he can't touch me, he will come after my weakest points."

Chanyeol turned around, looking at the two young men he had spent his entire adulthood protecting. Behind his eyes lay a massive secret that could never be exposed—a secret about who they truly were and what had transpired over a decade ago.

"So, for the time being, stay away from my agency and company offices unless it's an absolute emergency. I'll contact Suho tomorrow to step up security and keep your identities lay low for a while." Chanyeol switched off the main light, leaving only the ambient glow. "Good night. I'm heading to my room."