IF LOVE HAD A NAME

---

1. The Price of Freedom

Ji-hoon lay awake, staring at the ceiling.

The hideout was quiet. The kind of quiet that felt unnatural.

He could hear Hana's soft breathing beside him, feel the warmth of her presence.

She had fallen asleep hours ago, exhausted.

But he couldn't.

His mind wouldn't let him.

Seok-jin wouldn't let him.

He clenched his jaw.

Even with bail, the gang wouldn't let him walk away so easily.

They would come for him.

For her.

His fist tightened around the thin blanket.

I can't let that happen.

Then—

A soft hand touched his.

He turned.

Hana was awake, eyes heavy with sleep but filled with concern.

"You're thinking too much," she murmured.

Ji-hoon exhaled.

"You should be asleep."

"So should you."

A pause.

Then, softly—

"Tell me what's wrong."

Ji-hoon hesitated.

He had never been good at this.

Letting people in.

But this was her.

And something about the way she looked at him—like he wasn't broken, like he was worth something—made him want to try.

"Seok-jin won't stop," he finally said.

Hana didn't flinch.

"I know."

Ji-hoon frowned.

"You don't understand. He—"

"I do," she interrupted. "I know what kind of man he is."

Her fingers curled around his.

"But I also know you."

Ji-hoon felt something tighten in his chest.

"I don't want you to get hurt."

Hana smiled—small, sad.

"I don't want you to get hurt either."

He exhaled.

She was impossible.

But she was his.

And that scared him more than anything.

---

2. A Warning in the Dark

The first sign of trouble came the next night.

Hana was locking up the small store where they had bought food when she felt it—

A presence.

Watching.

Waiting.

She turned—

And there he was.

A man dressed in black, leaning casually against the wall.

Smirking.

"Pretty girls like you shouldn't be walking alone at night."

Hana's heart pounded.

She forced herself to stay calm.

"I'm not alone."

The man's smirk widened.

"No. You're with Ji-hoon, aren't you?"

He took a step forward.

And that's when Hana saw it—

The knife at his side.

Her stomach clenched.

"Seok-jin doesn't like unfinished business," the man continued. "And you? You're in the way."

Hana swallowed.

Her mind raced.

She needed to get back to Ji-hoon.

Now.

Before she could move—

A hand grabbed her wrist.

She gasped.

But before she could react—

A fist slammed into the man's face.

Hana stumbled back, heart hammering.

Ji-hoon stood in front of her.

Fists clenched. Eyes burning.

"You shouldn't have touched her," he growled.

The man groaned, spitting blood.

Then he grinned.

"Seok-jin was right," he muttered. "You've gone soft."

Ji-hoon's jaw clenched.

The man wiped his mouth and staggered back.

"This isn't over," he warned. "Seok-jin wants you both."

Then—he disappeared into the night.

Hana shivered.

Ji-hoon turned to her.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded—barely.

But she could see it in his eyes.

This wasn't just a threat.

It was a promise.

And time was running out.

---

3. The Fire Between Us

The tension in the hideout was suffocating.

Hana sat on the small bed, knees pulled to her chest.

Ji-hoon stood by the window, staring out into the dark streets.

Silent.

She hated it.

Hated how he was shutting her out.

"Say something," she murmured.

He didn't move.

She stood, crossing the room until she was in front of him.

"Ji-hoon—"

"I should've killed him," he muttered.

Hana's breath hitched.

"You don't mean that."

Ji-hoon finally looked at her.

His eyes—

Dark. Haunted.

"You don't know what I've done, Hana."

She didn't flinch.

"I don't care."

He exhaled sharply.

"You should."

Hana's fingers reached for his.

"Do you regret saving me?" she asked softly.

His throat bobbed.

"No."

"Then stop pushing me away."

Ji-hoon closed his eyes.

Then—

His hands gripped her waist.

Pulled her flush against him.

Hana gasped.

His forehead rested against hers, breath warm and uneven.

"Tell me to stop," he whispered.

She didn't.

Instead—

She kissed him.

Ji-hoon froze.

Then—

Something inside him snapped.

His hands tightened, lips moving desperately against hers.

Desperate. Wild. Consuming.

Hana's fingers curled into his shirt, heart racing.

She could feel it—

The fire.

The need.

The love.

When they finally pulled apart, Ji-hoon's hands trembled against her skin.

"I can't lose you," he murmured.

"You won't," she promised.

And this time—

He let himself believe her.

---

4. A Deal With the Devil

Ji-hoon knew what he had to do.

Hana was asleep when he slipped out of bed.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingering.

Then—he was gone.

Seok-jin was waiting.

The rooftop was cold, wind howling around them.

Ji-hoon stepped forward, fists clenched.

"You win."

Seok-jin grinned.

"I always do."

Ji-hoon's jaw tightened.

"What do you want?"

Seok-jin's smirk deepened.

"Your loyalty. One last job."

Ji-hoon's stomach turned.

"And if I refuse?"

Seok-jin's eyes glinted.

"You know the answer to that."

Ji-hoon exhaled.

One last job.

And Hana would be safe.

He had no choice.

"Fine."

Seok-jin's smirk widened.

"Good boy."

Ji-hoon turned, heart aching.

Because the moment he walked away—

He knew he was making the biggest mistake of his life.

---

5. A Love Worth Fighting For

Hana woke to an empty bed.

Her heart dropped.

She knew.

Ji-hoon was gone.

Panic surged through her.

She grabbed her coat, ignoring the trembling in her hands.

Then—she ran.

Because no matter where he was—

She wasn't losing him.

Not now.

Not ever.

---

End of Chapter 12