breathe # minsung

53

As Minho went about his usual routine, he couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was watching him, lurking in the shadows, just out of sight. He tended to his cats' needs and cleaned his apartment, but an eerie sense of unease hung in the air.

The day seemed ordinary until he stepped outside and noticed a large orange envelope, placed strategically at his feet. His heart skipped a beat as he scanned his surroundings nervously, trying to catch a glimpse of the elusive observer.

Torn between caution and curiosity, he finally bent down and picked up the enigmatic package. His hands trembled as he hesitated before opening it. What could be inside? A gift from a friend, or something far more sinister?

With a deep breath, Minho opened the orange envelope, revealing its ominous contents. His face instantly changed from calm to a mixture of shock and fear. The folder held a disturbing collection of photographs—images of himself taken without his knowledge. Minho at his job, walking home, some of him sleeping, and even screenshots of messages from his old phone, invaded and violated by a twisted voyeur.

A cold chill ran down his spine as he realized that someone had been following him, meticulously documenting his every move. The sanctity of his private life shattered, he felt like a pawn in a terrifying game he didn't understand.

His mind raced with questions, and paranoia set in. Who could be behind this torment? Why would someone go to such lengths to invade his privacy? The once comforting familiarity of his surroundings now felt suffocating, concealing an unseen danger.

The white letter, tucked amidst the haunting pictures, seemed to taunt him, mocking his vulnerability. Its cryptic message left him with more questions than answers, plunging him deeper into the abyss of uncertainty.

"Did you think you could ignore me, Minho? Did you think you were safe? Wherever you go, I'll find you; I'll always know what you're doing, who you're with, and why you're with them. I gave you one simple task and yet you still refuse to do it. So, I will force you to, even if that means getting rid of you for good."

Every creak in the floorboards, every rustle of leaves, sent shivers down his spine. Fear consumed him, and he couldn't trust anyone—not even those he once considered friends. The walls seemed to have eyes, and the shadows whispered malevolence.

Overwhelmed by fear and panic, Minho hesitates, uncertain of his next move. His chest tightens with an oppressive weight, and his mind races with a multitude of terrifying scenarios. In a desperate attempt to escape the malevolent gaze that lurks beyond the enigmatic envelope, he retreats back into the confines of his apartment, frantically locking the door behind him.

Slumped against the door, he finds himself gasping for air, his breaths shallow and rapid. The room, once a sanctuary, now feels like a claustrophobic cage, suffocating him with its menacing aura.

In his distress, his feline companions, who have always been a source of comfort, surround him, their gentle mewls an attempt to soothe his anguish. Yet, rather than solace, he finds his anxiety escalating. The thought of his cherished cats being endangered due to his own carelessness torments him. They are his family, the little souls he has nurtured since their birth, and now, their safety hangs in the balance.

Holding his chest tightly, he feels the torment of his racing heart, its beats like a raging inferno, consuming him from within. It's as if his very being is set ablaze, a relentless storm of emotions tearing at his soul.

In his turmoil, he struggles to maintain composure, fighting back the urge to throw up or break into tears. The emotions welling up inside him are too overwhelming, and he feels paralyzed by their intensity.