WHERE ARE THEY?||BND|| ✔

three

"Omo, omo, how am I this handsome?" Jaehyun muttered, grinning at his reflection in the mirror as he fixed his hair for the hundredth time.

Taesan sighed, adjusting his wristwatch. "I swear, if you don’t stop staring at yourself, I’m going to commit a crime against humanity."

Leehan leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. "Honestly, I’m not even surprised anymore."

After what felt like an eternity, Jaehyun finally tore himself away from the mirror. The three of them left the room, Leehan locking the door behind him. He glanced back one last time at the mess they’d left behind and shook his head. "We really need to clean up someday"

ᯓ ᯓ ᯓ

The hall was packed with people, their voices blending with the upbeat music that blared from the speakers. The air carried a faint rosy fragrance, and laughter echoed from every corner.

But amidst the lively atmosphere, one person seemed utterly detached.

"Taesan-ah!" Jaehyun’s voice boomed over the noise as he waved, weaving through the crowd.

No response.

Jaehyun sighed, spotting Taesan sitting at a table, completely lost in his own world. As Jaehyun approached, he realized Taesan was wearing headphones, sketching intently in his sketchbook.

With a dramatic sigh, Jaehyun snatched the sketchbook out of his hands.

"What the—?" Taesan protested, pulling off his headphones and glaring at his friend.

"You tell me," Jaehyun said, raising a brow.

"I was just—"

"Drawing her again," Jaehyun cut him off, shaking his head. "How many times do we have to tell you? Forget about her, Taesan. She’s not coming back."

Taesan leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, yeah."

Jaehyun didn’t buy his indifference. "Come on, the cake-cutting ceremony’s about to start." He grabbed Taesan’s arm and dragged him toward the others.

ᯓ ᯓ ᯓ

The rest of the party went by smoothly, filled with laughter and lively conversations. But Taesan’s mind remained elsewhere, his gaze distant despite the cheerful atmosphere.

As the night wound down, the group exchanged goodbyes and headed back to their dorms.

ᯓ ᯓ ᯓ

The streets were eerily quiet, the only sounds being the occasional rustle of leaves and the soft echo of footsteps. Taesan and Jaehyun walked side by side, their chatter breaking the silence.

"Wish we’d brought the car," Taesan muttered, practically dragging his feet. "I told everyone it’d get late."

Jaehyun chuckled. "Stop whining. We’re almost there."

They walked in companionable silence until they reached the point where their paths diverged.

"See you tomorrow," Jaehyun said, waving as he turned down another street.

"Yeah, see you."

Now alone, Taesan trudged through the empty alley, his body heavy with exhaustion. Just as he was about to take a turn, a sudden crash echoed through the still night, the sound of something smashing to the ground.

He froze, his breath hitching.

"Who's there?" he called out, his voice barely above a whisper.

No response.

He took a cautious step forward, his heart pounding. Just as he was about to dismiss it as his imagination, a voice echoed through the darkness.

"Han Taesan," it called, low and distant, "It’s your turn now."

A chilling laugh followed, reverberating off the walls of the alley.

Taesan spun around, his eyes wide with panic. "Who’s there?!"

Before he could react further, something metallic slammed into the side of his head. Pain shot through him as his vision blurred, the world spinning around him.

The last thing he remembered before darkness consumed him was the echo of that sinister laugh...