Lookism:Legends

The next day arrived with cloudy skies and quiet tension. Jalen stepped out of a black sedan, wearing a white cashmere hoodie over a designer tee, silver chains barely visible under the fabric. Daniel was already waiting near the agreed-upon location, looking clean and casual but still sharp. Together, they looked like exactly what they needed to be.

Rich. Young. Runaway.

"Ready?" Daniel asked, adjusting his collar.

Jalen glanced around. "Yeah. Let's make it convincing."

They walked into the rundown side of the city where the colors faded, the buildings sagged, and the rules were decided by those with nothing to lose.

As they passed an alley, two girls in oversized hoodies and short skirts bumped into them one of them dropping a plastic cup of noodles.

"Ah sorry," said the first one, bending to pick it up.

"We're in a hurry," said the second, brushing past.

Jalen narrowed his eyes. He recognized them immediately.

Like What and So Funny.

He remembered the panels of the manhwa vividly Daniel had named them that because he couldn't understand their real names and those were their online usernames. Runaway fam girls, notorious for being street-smart, slippery, and always looking for the next advantage.

Jalen turned and called out, "Wait."

The two girls paused, eyeing him cautiously.

"You girls… part of a runaway fam?"

Like What raised an eyebrow. "Why? You cops or something?"

Jalen chuckled. "Do we look like cops?"

Daniel stepped in with a casual smile. "We're not. We just ran away last month. Been living in motels ever since. Thought maybe… we should join a fam. For protection."

So Funny tilted her head, now looking at them with clearer interest. "You two ran away? You don't look like it."

"Let's just say… we had money. Doesn't mean we had peace," Jalen said smoothly, slipping his hands into his hoodie pocket.

There was a pause as the girls examined them closer. Their looks. Their confidence. Their clothing.

"You two are kinda good-looking," Like What mumbled to So Funny.

"I was thinking the same thing."

So Funny turned toward them. "Alright. We know someone who can help."

Like What smiled enthusiastically. "Then welcome to the shadows."

As they started walking down the alley together, Jalen glanced sideways at Daniel.

"They bought it."

Daniel whispered back, "Let's just hope they don't find out we're here to tear it all down."

Jalen grinned slightly, eyes focused ahead.

The mission had just begun.