Affection's Facade

Perspective over intention

Author's past pov

The snowflakes danced in the air outside the window, a sight that would have been calming just a few days ago. Now, it only mirrored the disarray swirling in Tae-hyung's mind. Lost in thought, he found himself tapping his fingertips on the table rhythmically.

"Mr. Choi, if we needed music, we'd ask for the school choir to serenade us," the professor chided, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Ah, my apologies, sir," Tae-hyung responded, bowing his head respectfully. Yet, even as he did so, his thoughts remained elsewhere, tangled in a confusing web that began unravelling days ago.

The source of his unrest was a vague message from Elera that had landed in his inbox, jarring in its simplicity. "I'm sorry, forgive me," it read. No explanation, no context.

His calls to her went unanswered, each ignored call adding to his growing pile of worry. As if that weren't troubling enough, her mother had tersely informed him to cease all contact with her daughter. "Don't you dare call here again," she'd warned.

That didn't matter, because he was going to see her. He was going to try his best to that weekend.
Finally, Friday arrived. Tae-hyung, still burdened by the week's events, was eager to get off campus.  He wasn't one to visit his family, but for the sake of checking in on Elera he wanted to.

He zipped up his backpack, took a deep breath, and walked out of the classroom. As he made his way across the quad, he noticed two police officers standing by the edge of the campus. Their eyes scanned the crowd, landing on him as he walked past.

"Choi Tae-hyung?" the taller officer called out, taking a step toward him.

Tae-hyung stopped in his tracks. "Yes, that's me. What's this about?"

The officer flashed his badge, his face stern and unreadable. "You're under arrest. Please come with us."

In that moment, Tae-hyung looked around confused at what was happening. The sounds of students chatting, laughing, and heading to their next classes seemed to fade into a muffled blur. He glanced around and saw faces turned his way, eyes widened in shock or curiosity. Some students had even pulled out their phones, capturing this moment.

"Is this a misunderstanding?" Tae-hyung stammered, his voice continued rising panic.

"Everything will be clarified at the station," the officer replied tersely, signaling for him to turn around so he could be handcuffed.

As the cold metal closed around his wrists, Tae-hyung avoided eye contact with students, as the officers guided him through the hall, down the stairs, and out of the building. " I'll call your father." Yu-mi yelled from across the campus.

Tae-hyung just nodded his head. Seconds later as they approached the police car parked at the curb, the gravity of the situation began to sink in.

With a firm push, the officers settled him in the backseat of the police car. Tae-Hyung couldn't help but wonder how deeply entangled he had become in a web he didn't fully understand.

And so, the car sped off, leaving behind a crowd of astonished faces, a trail of unanswered questions, and a campus where Tae-hyung's life had just taken an irrevocable turn.

Unknown to him, days before Tae-hyung's arrest, Elera found herself standing on the porch of the Kim residence, her nerves clearly reflected in her fidgeting hands. Gathering her courage, she rang the doorbell. A moment later, the grand doors opened to reveal Mrs. Kim, who wore a silk robe and carried an air of calculated sophistication.

"Elera, What brings you here? Are you okay dear? Since when have you used the door bell?" Mrs. Kim asked, her tone colored with mild surprise. " You know you're always welcomed."