Drama.

C1 : Dawit

Dawit sits in his room with his window open. Cold air rushes into his room as he blows warm, white smoke out of his window. The loud honking from cars on the street is slowly driving him crazy. He can't wait to move out soon. He puts out his cigarette, and closes his window. Dawit has been doing drugs for a little bit now. it started 3rd year of high school when he was going through a rough patch. He turned to drugs and self mutilation as coping strategies. Luckily for him, his friend Hyunwoo helped him through that hard time. Hyunwoo was his miracle when he needed one. But since Dawit is going to Seoul for college, he'll be away from most of his friends. On the bright side, he'll be pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. He plans on trying to stop smoking before going to Seoul. He  jumps on his bed and takes a deep breath. loud music is creeping through the walls since his loser brother is having band practice at home again. He lets out a deep groan as he bangs on the wall, trying to signal for his brother to shut up. He eventually ends up deciding to leave the house for a little. He throws on his favorite jacket.  He grabs his phone and airpods as he walks out of his room. He trots down the stairs and to the foyer. He slips on some black converse and heads out the door. He takes a deep breath of the fresh air. He walks to his car and gets in it, closing the door and starting it. He pulls out and drives to a nearby cafe. He parallel parks about a block away. Just perfect luck, right? He walks to the cafe and looks at the menu. He finally decides what he wants and walks to the counter.
"Welcome to Yeppi cafe! I'm Yewang, what can i get you today?" The chipper cashier asks Dawit with a small smile. "uhm, can i get a medium iced americano and a chocolate croissant?" Dawit says as he examines the boys slim face. "Of course! is that all i can get you today, sir?" Yewang the cashier asks in his usual happy voice. "yes, thank you" Dawit answers as he whips out his wallet. "awesome. that will be ₩12,375.67! cash or card?" Yewang responds cheerfully. "uh, card." Dawit hands the boy his card and waits for him to run it. Yewang runs the card and hands it back to him. "whats a name for the order?" Yewang asks as he grabs a cup and a sharpie. "Dawit" He responds. "great, your order will be ready shortly!" Yewang says with a smile. Dawit smiles back and walks to a table to sit down. He looks out the window for a moment before getting a text. He pulls out his phone to see a text from an unknown number. He unlocks his phone and reads the text. The text says, "If you value your life, stay hidden. My men and I are closing in on your location and we will not hesitate to make you pay for what you've done to our family. I suggest you stay in hiding or you will face the consequences." Dawit tenses up as he reads the text. He can't remember doing anything to anyones family. Well, except the Suh family but that's beside the point since all he did was lie about something to them. He gets chills down his spine as he hears his name being called. He gets up and goes to the counter to grab his order. He thanks Yewang again and walks back to the table. He responds to the text with, "Who is this?" He sips his coffee as he waits for a response. "Dont worry about it, Dawit. But remember, you're never safe." The number responds. Dawit shakes as he reads the threatening message. He looks around the cafe, breathing heavily. Dawit, still shaken by the mysterious message, glances nervously around the cafe, attempting to identify any potential threats. He contemplates calling Hyunwoo, seeking comfort and advice, but the uncertainty about the sender's intentions leaves him hesitant. As he stares out the window, he notices a shadowy figure standing across the street, staring directly at him. Heart pounding, Dawit gathers his belongings and rushes out of the cafe, keeping a vigilant eye on the mysterious figure. Once outside, he hesitates on whether to head home or find a crowded place for safety. The anonymous threat raises questions about his past and whether there are unresolved issues that could endanger him. Fighting the urge to panic, Dawit decides to confide in Hyunwoo. He quickly dials his friend's number and explains the unsettling text. Hyunwoo, though concerned, advises Dawit to stay calm and not provoke the situation. He suggests contacting the authorities and sharing the threatening messages with them. Dawit, now torn between fear and determination, leaves the cafe with a newfound sense of urgency. He decides to head home but takes a different route, constantly checking for any signs of surveillance. The honking cars, once irritating, now serve as a backdrop to his racing thoughts. Upon arriving home, Dawit finds himself on edge, wondering if this threat is connected to his past struggles with drugs or if it's an ominous consequence of the lie he told the Suh family. He paces around his room, contemplating whether to involve his family or keep them in the dark for their safety. As the tension builds, Dawit receives another message: "You can't escape your past, Dawit. The reckoning is inevitable." This ominous declaration intensifies his paranoia, leaving him with the daunting realization that his journey to escape his troubled history might not be as straightforward as he hoped.

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968 words