Between Us, The Darkness | JaeChan (Omega X)

Chapter 3

The knock at the door reverberated through the tense atmosphere of the dorm, a sharp sound that made everyone freeze. The members were scattered in the living room, their unease palpable, glancing at each other with nervous energy. It was the moment they had all dreaded—Chairman Kim had arrived.

Hangyeom sat stiffly on the edge of the couch, his fingers anxiously fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Jaehan stood by the window, his jaw tight, eyes flickering to the door as though he could see through it. Hwichan was next to him, arms crossed tightly across his chest, clearly trying to hold himself together. No one spoke. No one breathed. They all knew what this visit meant.

Except for Yechan.

He was sitting on the farthest end of the couch, leaning back with a disinterested expression, arms crossed over his chest. He hadn't said much since the call, hadn't cared to join in the nervous discussions or the silent worrying. As if he had already resigned himself to whatever was coming, or worse—he didn't care. The storm that had been brewing inside him now simmered just beneath the surface, but it had hardened into a cold, apathetic shell.

The knock sounded again, louder this time, almost impatient.

Hangyeom flinched and looked around. "Should... should someone get the door?" he whispered, his voice trembling slightly.

Jaehan inhaled sharply, pushing himself off the wall and making his way toward the door. His steps were heavy, reluctant. Everyone's gaze followed him as if they were about to witness something they couldn't undo.

Jaehan clenched his jaw intensely as he grabbed the handle, trying to take control of himself and his anger, knowing beyond the door stood the monster that dared to lay a finger on the youngest member of their group. Jaehan's blood was seething even by thinking about that.

Finally, the door creaked open, and there stood Chairman Kim.

The man's presence filled the entryway, tall and imposing, his expression unreadable but his authority unmistakable. He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his gaze sweeping over the room like a predator assessing its prey.

No one said a word.

Chairman Kim's eyes lingered on each of them, one by one, before settling on Yechan. If the chairman expected a reaction from him, he was sorely disappointed. Yechan didn't even bother to acknowledge him, his face set in a mask of disinterest as he stared blankly at the wall, like none of this concerned him.

The tension in the room was suffocating. Hangyeom shifted uncomfortably in his seat, glancing at Jaehan, who had stepped back but remained close to the door, his intense eyes locked on the chairman.

Finally, Chairman Kim spoke, his voice low and commanding. "It seems we have a problem."

Chairman Kim's gaze darkened as he slowly scanned the room, the tension thickening with every passing second. His lips curled into a bitter sneer. "Who started this rebellion?" His voice was sharp, biting through the silence like a knife. He took a step forward, and then his eyes zeroed in on Yechan, cold and accusatory. "Was it you?"

Yechan didn't flinch. He didn't even look at the chairman. His body language was dismissive, as if Chairman Kim's very presence was beneath his notice. He sat there with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the far wall, utterly indifferent.

The chairman's expression twisted into something more dangerous, his frustration clearly boiling over. "Look at me when I'm talking to you!" His voice rose, a command laced with barely controlled anger.

Still, Yechan didn't move.

Chairman Kim's patience snapped. Without warning, he lunged forward, his hand reaching out to grab Yechan's arm. The sudden movement jolted the other members, but before his fingers could make contact, Jaehan was there, moving faster than anyone expected.