The silence stretched between them like a taut wire, ready to snap. Gi-hun's heart hammered in his chest as he watched In-ho, who remained casually propped on the edge of the bed.

"You should leave," Gi-hun said again, his voice lower, less commanding this time. In-ho smirked, tilting his head. "You keep saying that, but I'm still here. Maybe you don't want me to leave."

Gi-hun's fists clenched. "You think this is funny? You come in here, talk circles around me, and now what? You're testing me? Trying to see how far you can push me?"

In-ho's smile faded, his expression turning serious. "I'm not testing you, Gi-hun. I'm trying to understand you. You fascinate me because you keep fighting, even when you know you've already lost."

"Don't act like you care," Gi-hun snapped, though the anger in his voice was beginning to falter. "You're just like the rest of them. You watch, you manipulate, you destroy-"

"I care more than you think," In-ho interrupted, his tone sharp yet calm. He leaned forward, closing the distance between them, his dark eyes locking onto Gi-hun's. "And you? You hate me because I remind you of yourself."

Gi-hun froze, the accusation hitting its mark. He wanted to deny it, to lash out, but he couldn't find the words. In-ho took advantage of the silence, his voice softening. "You could've walked away, but you didn't. You could've let the players fend for themselves, but you chose them. You can't deny the thrill of it, Gi-hun-the power, the control. Even now, you're drawn to this, to me, because I see the part of you that you refuse to face."

"Shut up," Gi-hun muttered, but his voice wavered.

"No," In-ho said firmly, his tone almost tender. "You've spent your life running from your own pain. I'm just showing you what happens when you stop."

Gi-hun's breath hitched as In-ho closed the gap, their faces mere inches apart. The air between them crackled with tension, a mix of anger, fear, and something else entirely-something Gi-hun couldn't quite name.

"I hate you," Gi-hun whispered, his voice trembling.

"Maybe," In-ho replied, his gaze unwavering. "But that doesn't change what you feel right now."

Before Gi-hun could respond, In-ho reached out, his fingers brushing against Gi-hun's jaw. The touch was light, almost hesitant, but it sent a jolt through Gi-hun's body. He flinched, instinctively grabbing In-ho's wrist to push him away, but his grip faltered.

"Don't," Gi-hun said weakly, though his hands didn't move.

In-ho leaned closer, his voice low and almost hypnotic. "Tell me to stop, and I will. But be honest with yourself, Gi-hun. Do you want me to?"

Gi-hun's chest heaved as he struggled to breathe, to think. His mind screamed at him to push In-ho away, to end this, but his body refused to obey. There was a rawness in In-ho's gaze, a vulnerability that mirrored his own, and it left him paralyzed.

In-ho's lips brushed against Gi-hun's, the touch feather-light, a question rather than a demand. Gi-hun's heart raced, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He wanted to scream, to cry, to escape-but instead, he leaned in, closing the gap between them.

The kiss was tentative at first, both of them testing the waters, unsure of where the moment would lead. But as their lips pressed together, the hesitation melted away, replaced by a desperate hunger that neither of them could ignore. In-ho's hands found their way to Gi-hun's shoulders, pulling him closer, while Gi-hun's fingers tangled in In-ho's jacket, clutching it as though it were the only thing keeping him grounded. The kiss deepened, their breaths mingling, their movements frantic and uncoordinated, fueled by years of pent-up emotion. When they finally broke apart, both men were breathing heavily, their faces flushed. Gi-hun stared at In-ho, his mind racing to make sense of what had just happened.

"This doesn't change anything," Gi-hun said, his voice rough but firm.

In-ho chuckled softly, his fingers trailing down Gi-hun's arm. "No, it doesn't. But maybe it's a start."

Gi-hun shook his head, pulling away slightly. "You're playing with fire."

"And so are you," In-ho countered, his smirk returning. "But isn't that what we've always done?"

Gi-hun didn't respond. Instead, he let himself fall back onto the bed, staring up at the ornate ceiling as his thoughts swirled. In-ho remained where he was, watching him with an intensity that made Gi-hun's skin prickle.

"You're not staying," Gi-hun said finally,but In-ho just walked over and looked at Gi-hun with a faint smile...