Questism and Lookism: Am I Suhyeon Kim?

The morning had come too soon.

The sun barely filtered its light through the bedroom curtains, tinging the walls with a soft orange hue. Amidst the domestic silence, a peculiar scene was unfolding: Suhyeon was sitting on a chair next to the dressing table, wearing his perfectly ironed black high school uniform, buttons fastened up to his neck... and Chaerin, with a concentrated expression, was sitting on his lap, holding his face in her hands.

"You don't have to do that," he murmured, looking down, as she gently passed a makeup sponge under his left eye.

Chaerin paused for a second. She looked at him with a frown and let out a small snort.

"Yes, you do," she replied, continuing to carefully apply concealer to the black tattoo under his eye. "Don't you understand that you're walking around Gangbuk with a damn tattoo under your eye? Do you know how many stares you got on the train yesterday?"

"I don't care if they stare at me," he replied in a low voice, without moving.

"I do care," she replied, patting him gently on the forehead. "I'm not a fan of walking around with the most wanted man in the district."

"I'm not the most wanted," said Suhyeon, though without much conviction.

Chaerin pursed her lips, pouting.

"You became very famous after that incident on the rooftop. 'Fuda Yaburi,' they say. 'The letter breaker.' Do you really expect them not to recognize you with that obvious mark?"

He looked away, uncomfortable, as she finished blending the makeup with precision. It was clear that this wasn't her first time doing this.

"You could just not sit on top of me for this," Suhyeon grumbled, more out of habit than actual annoyance.

"And you could stop acting tough," Chaerin replied, leaning down slightly to kiss his forehead gently. "But here we are."

Suhyeon sighed.

"This feels... strange."

"What does?"

"I don't know. This. You putting makeup on me to hide who I am. Like... I can't be both things at the same time."

Chaerin looked at him silently for a few seconds. Then she rested her forehead against his.

"You're not hiding who you are. You're just protecting it. There are things that are kept hidden, not because you're ashamed... but because the world doesn't yet know how to see them without trying to destroy them."

Suhyeon blinked slowly.

"Sometimes I forget how smart you are."

She smiled, teasingly.

"And I sometimes forget how silly you are. Luckily, I have you around to remind me."

They both stayed like that for a few seconds, in silence, sharing that little moment of peace before the day dragged them back into chaos.

And then... the doorbell rang.

Three times. Short. Fast. Precise.

Chaerin raised her head.

"Are you expecting someone?"

Suhyeon didn't answer right away. He slowly got up, letting her stand up too. He adjusted the collar of his uniform, wiped away a tiny bit of makeup under his eye with his finger, and walked calmly toward the entrance.

When he opened the door, three figures were waiting outside.

His subordinates.

The black uniform with gold detailing, impeccable on all three, made it clear that they were not just students.

In the center, standing confidently, was Gukja Yang. Taller than before, less rounded, though his essence had not changed. He raised his hand with a calm smile.

"Hello, Suhyeon," he greeted her, as if it were any other day.

[Gukja Yang]

Height: 170 cm

Weight: 84 kg

Strength: SSS

Speed: SS

Potential: S (Awakened)

Intelligence: C

Endurance: SSS

To his right, Hyeondong Lee quickly bowed in a perfect 90-degree bow.

"Good morning, my lord!" he said loudly, smiling from ear to ear. "Are you having a good time with your wife?"

Gukja glanced at him sideways. Suhyeon didn't even flinch.

He just sighed, then gave a slight smile.

[Hyeondong Lee]

Height: 179 cm

Weight: 75 kg

Strength: A

Speed: B

Potential: F (Awakened)

Intelligence: B

Endurance: A

On the left, Haru Seong smiled sweetly when he saw Suhyeon. He had long, dark red hair, slightly wavy at the ends. His expression was relaxed, as if he didn't need to impress anyone.

"Hello, Suhyeon!" he said cheerfully. "We're here, just as you requested."

[Haru Seong]

Height: 5'5"

Weight: 115 lbs

Strength: S+

Speed: SS+

Potential: A+ (Awakened)

Intelligence: B

Endurance: S

She was the only one who greeted Chaerin without hesitation, with a friendly gesture and a slight bow of her head.

"Good morning, Chaerin. Your apartment is super cute."

Chaerin, who had just arrived next to Suhyeon, tilted her head slightly, somewhat taken aback by the girl's naturalness. It wasn't the usual coldness of gangs. Haru smiled at her without expecting anything in return.

"Thank you," she replied at last, a little more softly.

Hyeondong, his eyes sparkling with excitement, smoothed out the black jacket he was wearing. The material shimmered slightly in the hallway light, and the embroidered logo on the back—a half-broken letter with golden edges, a black spade in the center surrounded by a thicker golden frame—stood out elegantly and powerfully.

"These jackets are great, sunbae," said Hyeondong, turning around slightly and stretching his arms. "Where did you get the idea?"

Suhyeon watched silently at first. Gukja, who was carrying an identical jacket in his hands, smiled proudly.

"Suhyeon, we brought yours too," he said, holding it out with both hands. "They finished it last night. Haru supervised the entire logo design, and Hyeondong coordinated with the workshop."

"And Gukja paid for everything because he's rich," Haru added with a slight chuckle.

Suhyeon took the jacket slowly. He looked at it for a few seconds. It was light but sturdy. The black was deep and matte, contrasting with the gold edges of the emblem, which had an air of authority without ostentation. To the touch, the fabric was firm, almost military.

"A broken letter...?" he murmured, running his fingers over the design.

"It symbolizes who we are," Gukja explained. "We don't play by anyone's rules. We break the game. And we still stand."

Hyeondong nodded enthusiastically.

"Card Breaker!!" he exclaimed, raising a fist. "Fuda Yaburi!"

Chaerin looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Didn't you say you didn't like the nickname?" she muttered to Suhyeon.

Suhyeon just shrugged.

"I don't like it when they call me that. But sometimes... it feels great."

Haru came over and stood next to him as he watched him try on the jacket.

"It fits you perfectly," she said, giving him a thumbs up. "It makes you look even more like a boss. Although..." she looked him up and down with a mischievous smile, "you were already intimidating without it."

Suhyeon adjusted his collar and turned toward the mirror in the hallway. The reflection stared back at him: black uniform, black jacket, sharp gaze... and a face without the mark of the pike, thanks to Chaerin.

Change of scene – Gangbuk West High School meeting room

The sliding door of the meeting room closed with a soft click, leaving the room in tense silence.

Standing in front of the main table, Suhyeon Kim, the current undisputed leader of West High School—the No. 1—stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the young man kneeling by the entrance.

Hyeondong Lee, No. 5, had his head bowed, his back straight, and his face completely hidden, as if he wanted to disappear under the weight of his guilt.

Around him, the rest of the group watched in silence. Seated at the oval table were:

Gukja Yang, No. 2, standing firm with a drop of sweat sliding down his temple.

Haru Seong, No. 4, fidgeting with her fingers, glancing sideways at Hyeondong with some discomfort.

Hajun Gu, No. 3, who had already lit a cigarette despite being indoors.

And Ji-hyuk Yang, the advisor, who adjusted his glasses and tried to wave away the smoke that Hajun was shamelessly blowing in his direction.

Suhyeon finally spoke, his voice calm but firm.

"Hyeondong."

The person addressed raised his head slightly, not daring to look at him directly.

"I didn't tell you to come to Chaerin's apartment. You know very well that she doesn't like visitors there."

The silence lingered for a moment, and Suhyeon looked down for a second before continuing.

"Your only instruction was to tell everyone to meet here, in the strategy room."

Hyeondong bowed even lower, as if he wanted to sink into the floor.

"I'm so sorry, sunbae... I got carried away. I just wanted to show you my new jacket..."

A short sigh escaped Suhyeon's lips.

Then his expression softened slightly, and the tension in the room dissipated a little.

"It's okay. But don't do it again. Chaerin has her own limits, and we must respect them."

This time his tone was warmer, even slightly amused.

Hyeondong slowly raised his head, a bright smile on his face.

"Yes, understood!"

Suhyeon nodded, then turned his gaze to the rest of his officers.

"Good. Now that we're all here, let's get down to business."

His presence filled the room as he adopted a firmer stance. Gukja and Haru straightened their backs instantly. Ji-hyuk stopped puffing smoke. Only Hajun continued smoking, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.

"I have called you here today because we have an important matter to discuss," said Suhyeon. "As you know, after our victory against the South School, the alliance with the East School was consolidated."

Gukja nodded solemnly. Haru nodded too, with a satisfied smile.

"Thanks to that union," Suhyeon continued, "we have not only expanded our influence. We also incorporated new officers from their side, two of whom deserve our attention: Yugyeom Na and Jihyeon Lee."

Hajun, without looking up, blew a cloud of smoke that landed directly on Ji-hyuk's face.

[Hajun Gu]

Height: 186 centimeters.

Weight: 83 kilograms.

Strength: S+

Speed: S+

Potential: A

Intelligence: C

Endurance: SS

"Khh–! Please! Could you smoke somewhere else!" exclaimed the advisor, waving his arms in the air.

[Ji-hyuk Yang]

Height: 165 centimeters.

Weight: 53 kilograms.

Strength: F

Speed: F

Potential: F

Intelligence: S+

Endurance: F

"Oops," Hajun muttered without much interest, and took another puff.

Suhyeon said nothing. He simply continued, as if the minor altercation had not happened.

"Talking with our advisor," he said, "we came to the conclusion that we need to build trust with these new members. It's not enough to share enemies. They must feel like they are a real part of this organization."

Ji-hyuk, still coughing slightly, interjected in a somewhat raspy voice:

"Yes... that's right. It's essential that we integrate them. Building loyalty is easier when camaraderie is built outside the battlefield."

"And that's why," Suhyeon added, "we've decided to do a joint activity."

He paused briefly, then smiled slightly.

"We're going to the beach."

For a moment, the group seemed to process the information slowly.

And then, Haru Seong practically jumped out of his seat, with a childlike expression of excitement.

"The beach?! Yes! I want to see the sea!" she exclaimed, spinning around.

Gukja put his hand to his forehead, resigned. Hajun snorted through his nose, amused. Hyeondong raised his arms to the sky.

"What a great idea, sunbae! We can play volleyball on the sand! And eat ice cream!"

Ji-hyuk adjusted his glasses, clearly concerned.

"I just hope it doesn't turn into complete chaos... There's a lot to organize."

Suhyeon crossed his arms, half-smiling.

"This won't just be a walk in the park. The beach will be our testing ground. There we'll observe Yugyeom and Jihyeon's behavior... and see if they really fit in with us."

"You want to test them in swimsuits?" Hajun muttered, finally removing the cigarette from his lips.

"I want to see if they're still useful in a relaxed environment," Suhyeon clarified. "Trust is earned in the trenches... and also during moments of rest."

Haru raised a hand as if he were in class.

"Can we bring duck-shaped floats?"

"No," Gukja and Suhyeon said at the same time.

Change of scene: Beach – Midday

The sun beat down on the coast, and the sound of the waves mingled with the distant laughter of other visitors. We walked in single file, a very peculiar group... advancing along the promenade toward the beach.

At the front was Suhyeon, relaxed, wearing his denim jacket and carrying a small bag. Next to him, Gukja, wearing glasses and a plaid shirt, looked more serious than ever, despite the surroundings. (Damn, Gukja is dying of heat in that shirt).

Behind him, Dahyun, his sister, watched everything with curiosity, while Yugyeom, with his silver hair, kept his expression cold and distant. (Stoic)

On the other side, Haru smiled as if the sea were his home, moving lightly. Just behind him, Jihyeon walked silently, analyzing each step... without losing sight of anyone.

And closing the formation, Hajun Gu, with his backpack on his shoulder and a slight frown, seemed more vigilant than vacationer. (It's worse than Gukja going totally in black and on top of that with a black jacket... with that sun)

They were different, but they walked together and for today... they were just a group heading to the sea, heading to... Have fun?

"Being the leader is so tiring..." thought Suhyeon, walking at the front of the group, his hands in his pockets and his brow slightly furrowed. "I don't even know why I let my sister come... she's so annoying."

"Suhyeon! Look! Look!" exclaimed Haru, pulling his arm enthusiastically.

He turned his head with resignation. "What is it now?" he asked, just before following the direction of Haru's bright eyes.

But he couldn't see anything.

Because at that very moment, the unthinkable happened.

A small boy, running distractedly with a huge ice cream cone in his hand, crashed into Suhyeon... and the sweet treat ended up smeared all over his face.

The frozen mixture of vanilla and strawberry slowly dripped down his cheek.

"Damn it!" thought Suhyeon, closing his eyes tightly as he held back his anger. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his hoodie, taking a deep breath.

Then he noticed the boy, his eyes wide and his lip trembling, approaching with short, nervous steps.

"I-I'm... I'm so sorry, sir," the boy said in a trembling voice.

Suhyeon stared at him for a few seconds. Then he sighed, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a coin. He held it out without saying a word.

"Here. Buy yourself another one."

The boy looked at him as if he hadn't expected that reaction. He took the coin and bowed awkwardly before running away.

"Suhyeon?" Gukja asked from behind, raising an eyebrow at the surreal scene she had just witnessed.

Suhyeon turned with a stony face, his forehead still wet with melted ice cream.

"Don't say anything," he muttered.

Gukja raised her hands, holding back a smile.