Epiphany (BL)

The Sea is Calling

~chapter thirteen~

Short note

Trigger warning: This chapter contains scenes dealing with self-harm. If you you are sensitive to this or not wish to read them, please skip the asterisked*** passage(s).

After this is said now, I wish you a good reading(:

Pov Haru

I was now at his apartment. With bated breath, I pressed the little bell button that said Lee Ilwoo.

The corridor of the large building was dark and the lamps that were broken had not been replaced for a long time.

Cobwebs and layers of dust also showed that the last day of cleaning must have been a long time ago.

I haven't been here often.

The blond boy always came to me or we met somewhere in town.

The last time we didn't see each other, I was too busy getting used to my new job, to have had time coming by.

"Maybe this was all because of me."

My voice echoed in the large corridor, which was equipped with many more doors.

I left Ilwoo alone and didn't even show up for his 18th birthday.

What a bad friend am I?

When after ringing again nobody opened, I pricked up my ears.

"Something can't be right here."

My whisper received no answer.

Then I made a decision that was morally and legally wrong.

I bent down and grabbed the dirty doormat with my right hand.

I felt around in the dark without seeing anything until I felt a small solid object made of iron.

It was the key to the door.

A few years ago, Ilwoo explained to me about this hiding place that if something bad happened, at least I would have access to his apartment.

And for me, that situation was definitely bad enough.

With pricked ears I heard the dull click and opened the way to the few rooms with trembling hands.

"Ilwoo? Are you here?"

No Answer.

"Are you all right? Why don't you answer?"

I went into the bedroom hoping he would sleep there.

Nothing.

Silence.

I swallowed nervously.

If he wasn't here... where was he?

What if something happened to him...

I could never forgive myself.

My pulse increased so much I could feel it in my throat.

The throbbing numbed my senses and everything felt so slow.

I stumbled trying to move on.

I was just able to support myself with one hand on the small side table, accidentally falling on the old TV's remote control.

The TV turned on, showing a woman announcing the news.

"...and now we come to breaking news. The culprit, who robbed out the city bank near the Open Flower Garden yesterday, has still not been caught. According to the initial assessment by the police the stolen amount was around 2,000,000₩, which has now turned out to be around 6,000,000₩. There was also an error in the information about the armament of the fugitive. Since the police found the gun of the perpetrator, they initially gave the all-clear. But now witnesses reported from a second pistol, which is said to have been in the attacker's jacket pocket."