It was time to confront the ghosts of his shared past – Alex and Hyunwoo. With a murderous glint in his eyes, June stood in front of their dorn, with the help of Hana, of course.

It was nighttime, and the hallways were dimly illuminated, creating an eerie atmosphere.

June stood there for a second, then he reached out into his pocket and felt the small metal material in it.

He never knew what could happen, so it's best he protected himself.

Of course, June would only use the weapon as his last resort. He'll make sure to stay in the hallways to talk so he can escape easily if something does happen.

Then, he stepped closer to their door, knocking on the pristine wood. The sound of his knocks echoed in the silence of the night.

"Who the fuck is knocking in the middle of the night?" he heard Alex curse.

The door creaked open, revealing Alex and Hyunwoo, their expressions twisting into surprise.

Seeing June under the dim lights, his murderous eyes being emphasized, seemed to send a chill down their spines – something about the look in his eyes was unsettling, a contrast from the boy they thought they had known.

"June?" Alex's voice wavered slightly, his gaze locked onto June's with confusion.

Hyunwoo's eyes widened, his usual smugness momentarily gone. "What are you doing here?"

June's voice was calm, yet there was an undercurrent of something else. "I came to talk."

The atmosphere seemed to thicken with every passing moment — like the past had suddenly caught up to them.

"I think it's time we had a conversation," June continued, his gaze steady on Alex and Hyunwoo. "About what happened back then."

The silence that followed seemed to stretch, tension mounting in the air. And as June's eyes bore into them, it became evident that something had shifted within him. He was no longer the compliant trainee they had manipulated – he was someone different.

"I know what really happened back then," June continued. "I know who the real villains of our story were. It's quite brave for you to twist the story that will fit your own narrative."

Alex and Hyunwoo exchanged glances, their expressions becoming indifferent. "And who might that be?" Alex asked, his tone dripping with mocking.

June bit his lip as he clenched his fists inside the pocket of his hoodie.

"You guys…are so cute," June chuckled deeply. "You really think you can get away with this? You were the ones who used physical and emotional manipulation when we were trainees."

Hyunwoo's lips curled into a mocking smile, his gaze challenging. "Is that so? And what's your proof?"

The dismissive tone in their voices grated on June's nerves, but he pushed forward. "Proof or not, I know the truth. I've seen through the facade you both put up."

Alex's laughter was insulting as if he was looking down at the gravity of the situation. "You're making quite the accusation without any evidence, aren't you?"

June's frustration simmered beneath the surface, but he remained composed. "I don't need proof to recognize the reality of what happened. You both can deny it all you want, but deep down, you know the truth."

Hyunwoo's voice was laced with arrogance as he spoke, "You can't just come here and spout accusations without backing them up. It's amusing how seriously you're taking this. Where's the cute, little trainee that used to follow our orders, huh?" he asked, patting June's head. It was a gesture the two of them did when June would accomplish their errands in the past.

Back then, June would flinch or accept it without complaints.

However, instead of pulling away, June held onto Hyunwoo's wrist before it came into contact with his hair. He held onto Hyunwoo's wrist tightly, squeezing onto the bone with his strength.

Hyunwoo chuckled and tried to pull his wrist away, but June held on, his gaze never leaving Hyunwoo's eyes. Hyunwoo tried to escape his grip once more, but June held on tighter.

June's smirk widened as he continued to hold onto Hyunwoo's hand, his fingers dancing lightly over Hyunwoo's skin. Hyunwoo's frustration grew, and his attempts to break free became more desperate. He tried to yank his hand away, a scowl marring his face, but June's grip felt like an iron vice, unbreakable and unwavering.

Then, June's expression shifted – his smirk morphing into something more sinister. With a sudden motion, he tightened his grip, his fingers digging into Hyunwoo's flesh with a cruel intensity.

A strangled gasp escaped Hyunwoo's lips, his eyes widening in shock. The pain that shot through his hand was visceral. It was like every nerve ending was set ablaze. June's fingers seemed to transform into instruments of torment, thepressure cruel and unrelenting.

Hyunwoo's body tensed, his face contorting in agony as his attempts to pull away were met with a wall of unyielding strength.

Alex frowned, a chill running down his spine.

Choi Joon-ho.

He changed too much.

"Let go of him," Alex said in a weak attempt to scare June. "We're going to record this if you don't stop right now."

June chuckled and finally let go of Hyunwoo's wrist. The latter cradled his sore limb with a fearful look in his eyes.

Choi Joon-ho was weak.

Choi Joon-ho always lost to them.

So, why did they feel like they were the ones being played in their own game?

Alex remained strong and indifferent, raising his chin up. "I don't even know why you came here," he started, taking a step forward. "The damage is already done. The whole country knows you're a bully, and like hyenas in the wild, they'd continue to eat you up until you're nothing but a rotting carcass."

"The company called," Alex smirked as he continued. "The Rising Stars' team are having a meeting as we speak. And it looks like the favor is with us," he boasted. "Tomorrow, you'd be kicked out of the show…just like how you were kicked out of Phoenix."

"And we'll be the ones with the last laugh."

With that, Alex moved to close the door, a gesture meant to dismiss the situation. However, June quickly reached his arm to the gap, gripping the edge of the door and prying it open with his strength.

His eyes, once calm and composed, had transformed into something different – a wild intensity that sent shivers down Alex and Hyunwoo's spines.

The air in the hallway seemed to crackle with tension as June's gaze bore into them, something bordering on madness. Alex's bravado faltered, his hand frozen in mid-air as he tried to close the door. Hyunwoo's mask of indifference cracked, replaced by a growing unease that he couldn't shake.

And then, June's voice cut through the silence, a low and ominous whisper that sent a chill down their spines. "This is your final warning. You will pay for what you've done. Just you wait."