Mine

Chapter 29

The soft hum of the room fan filled the quiet as Cherry stepped out, running a towel over her damp hair. The steam clung to the mirrors, blurring her reflection, but she barely spared herself a glance. Her body ached from exhaustion, the kind that settled deep in her bones after long days of preparing for exams in the internet cafe.

But just as she reached for the fresh clothes laid out on her bed, her phone screen lit up. A message.

She sighed, not thinking much of it—until she saw the sender.

Unknown Number but very well-known digits!

Her brows knitted. Not again.

For the past week, these messages had been slipping into her inbox like whispers in the dark. No name. No context. Just... words. Carefully chosen words that felt like they knew her.

She hesitated before unlocking her phone.

Still alone at this hour? Some things never change.

A shiver licked up her spine. She hadn't replied to a single one, yet they kept coming. At first, she convinced herself it was a wrong number, a prank maybe. But the messages never stopped. Worse, they seemed to know things about her.

Her fingers hovered over the screen, debating whether to type something back. Something sharp, something final—

Another buzz.

Red suits you. Just like it did back then. Your date with your pretty brand new boyfriend!

Her stomach twisted.

Cherry dropped her phone onto the bed as if it had burned her. The words swam in her vision, clawing at the warning bells in her head.

She had worn red three nights ago on another of her dates with Taehyung.

Her pulse pounded in her ears.

No. It had to be a coincidence. It had to be.

Swallowing, she grabbed her phone again and—against every instinct screaming at her to ignore it—typed back.

Who is this?

Three dots appeared. A reply was coming.

And for the first time since the messages started, she realized—whoever this was, they were waiting for her to ask.

The message popped up instantly as if the sender had been waiting for her to bite.

Someone who finds your sweet cocoa scent a bit intoxicating.
Those silvers in your soft hair catch the light so beautifully... even now.

Cherry's breath hitched.

Her fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles paling. Even now? What was that supposed to mean?

Her eyes darted around the dimly lit bedroom. The curtains were drawn, the door locked. There was no way—no way—anyone could see her. And yet, the words felt like they were being whispered directly into her ear, like breath against her skin.

A lump formed in her throat as she took slow, measured steps toward the window. With a trembling hand, she pulled back the curtain just enough to peek outside.

Darkness. Only the faint glow of streetlights, a few parked cars, and the empty sidewalk.

But empty didn't mean safe.

Her phone vibrated again.

Looking for me, little dove?

She flinched so hard the phone nearly slipped from her grasp.