Chasing in the dark

CHAPTER 7

I finally make it back to my neighborhood. I feel exhausted and my body is aching. I smell like I haven't had a shower in a long time.

My stomach growls "I am so hungry!" I bend down and press a little on my stomach to muffle the sound. Maybe the convenient store is still open.

I make it around the corner "Yes, it's open!" I make my way to the store. As I get into the store, the owner's nephew stops me by the entrance.

"We don't allow murderers into the store. Can't you read ... "right of admission is reserved" and we have the right not to let you into this store."

I scoff and smile at him, this guy's got jokes. "Whatever!" I try to break through, but he pulls me back.

"If you don't leave now, I'll call the cops." He pushes me out and closes the door.

I am baffled! Did he just kick me out of the convenient store? Really? My stomach growls again. I close my eyes for a second and breath out.

I have ramen at home.

I pass the shoe repair store and cut through the alley. As I get to the end of the alley, I see the rubble that was left of...

Damn... what a tragedy. I give it another look and decide to leave.

You've caused me enough trouble.

I finally make it past the corner into my street. I stop and look at the house on the opposite end of the corner.

His light is on. I hide in the dark shade of the wall, it's almost like he can see me from his window.

I should tell him what I overheard, right. I mean, he was way close with the dude.

But... I mean, wasn't Mister Han like a mentor or something to him? So, knowing he off'd himself would kinda crush him.

Fuck! I lean against the wall. What should I do?

===

I feel a sense of calm, while I'm  busy whisking cake batter in a bowl. The sunlight is hitting the bowl just right to have it reflect a bit.

I am wearing an apron around my waist and I hear faint laughter in the background. It sounds like Jun-won.

I feel myself smiling and humming along to a song playing on a radio. My body starts swaying along to the rhythm of the music.

It's so peaceful.

Two arms wrap around me from behind. I laugh as the owner of the arms try to taste some of the batter. I look around and it's him.

I should be freaking out that he is showing this kind of closeness towards me. But, in this moment, it didn't feel strange.  He was radiating, his smile reached his eyes. He seemed, happy.

We're both laughing. You can hear birds chirping, the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.

I turnaround to put the bowl on the table. Suddenly, I get a chill down my spine. The warm sunlit room became dark and cold, and the laughter drowned out by the silence of the room.

I turn around again and there's nothing but darkness. It's an empty, dark room. I see a silhouette of a person walking towards me. As he gets closer, I can make out who it is.

It's him. He is holding onto his side. I see red, thick liquid spilling between his fingers. He suddenly spits out blood and falls to his knees.

I run to him, but I feel like something is holding me back. As I try to break free from whatever is holding me back, Jae-A continues to choke and is drowning in his own blood.