Mine

Chapter 30

She could feel it, the weight of unseen eyes pressing down on her, crawling over her skin like phantom fingertips. The room felt smaller, suffocating, walls closing in as her mind raced through the possibilities.

Taehyung had closed the window behind him—locked. The door was still bolted. There was no way someone could see inside. No way they could know that Taehyung was here.

And yet...

The message said otherwise.

"Cherry?"

Taehyung's voice jolted her. She looked up, finding him watching her closely. He had already settled onto the edge of her bed, dark hair tousled, eyes scanning her face with sharp precision.

"You sure you're okay?" he pressed, his voice quieter now, more pointed. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Her grip tightened around the phone.

Not a ghost. Something worse.

Her mind screamed at her to tell him—to show him the messages, to let him know she wasn't losing her mind.

But what if... what if this had something to do with him too? What if—

Another buzz. Her fingers trembled as she turned the phone over. This time, the message was different.

Don't be so stupid to put the poor guy's life in trouble! I like my privacy!

Her grip on the phone turned vice-like, nails digging into the smooth surface. Her stomach churned.

This wasn't just a threat. It was a warning.

She sucked in a shaky breath, eyes flickering to Taehyung. He was still watching her, brows drawn together, clearly picking up on her distress.

If she told him—if she showed him the messages—what would happen?

The answer was there, burning between the lines of that last text.

They would hurt him.

Or worse.

She swallowed hard, forcing her expression into something neutral. Something normal.

This was a game. A twisted, sick game.

And she wasn't about to let them win.

"Cherry," Taehyung pressed, voice softer now. "What's going on?"

Her mind spun, scrambling for a response—something believable, something that wouldn't put him in danger.

"Nothing," she murmured, voice barely above a whisper. "Just... stressed."

He didn't look convinced. She couldn't blame him. Her hands were shaking. Taehyung's gaze flicked down, catching it before she could hide it.

"You're lying." His voice wasn't accusing. It was steady, calm, but firm. "What happened?"

She forced a tight-lipped smile, shaking her head. "It's just exam pressure. I didn't get much sleep."

A pause. A beat too long. Then, finally—Taehyung sighed, running a hand through his hair.

"I told you to stop overworking yourself," he muttered, leaning back against the bedpost. His concern didn't wane, but he didn't push further. Not yet. "You need to take better care of yourself."

Cherry gave a small nod, but her pulse was still thundering. Her phone remained in her grip, screen dimmed, but she could feel the message lingering there.

A silent warning.

A reminder.

I like my privacy.