APRICITY | SKZ

2 - My Love pt.2 | H.HJ

"Who are you?"

A small gasp left my lips, heart dropping with the spoon in my hand.

He was so dangerously close, breathing down on my neck as his free hand pressed my against the counter. My hands trembled as I gulped, squeezing my eyes shut tightly.

"Kim Chaemin.", I replied, giving myself a proud pat for not stuttering.

"Chaemin.", his voice was still very scratchy as he tasted my name on his lips, probably from dehydration and weakness.
"Why am I here?"

The weapon pressed even deeper, I could feel it tear the surface of skin ever so slightly, wincing as the area around my neck started to throb and turn hot, itchy.

"I saved you.", I replied again, letting out a nervous breath.

A moment passed as I waited, my nerves at the verge of giving up along with my knees, before ever so slowly, the stranger shifted. I felt the force against my back loosen, knife falling before a loud thud resonated behind me.

I quickly clutched my neck, turning around with wide eyes and a racing heart. The stranger had passed out, sprawled on my kitchen floor messily.

All I could muster was a relieved sigh, before it turned onto worry as I watched a small pool of crimson appear beneath him.

He'd opened his stiches.

° ° °

I clapped my hands, brushing the strands from my face as my eyes analysed every inch of his body, making sure that I had treated every wound properly.

The stranger's chest rose and fell in steady breaths. He was sweating profoundly, seeming like he was coming down with a fever.

Ever so slowly, I felt my eyebrows furrow and lips pull into a dissatisfied line. I had no fath left in humanity whatsoever - everything that happened to him reminded me of myself.

I turned around, mind wandering off.

How is Minnie doing?

I haven't seen my brother in an illegal amount of time. The control and rules im the city have become more strict and precise, making it harder for people to leave or come. Every border is being guarded heavily.

"Why did you save me?"

"FU-"
A loud and very inelegant shriek left my mouth and I nearly felt my heart jump out of my chest.

I turned around like a child that was just caught stealing cookies, clutching the fabric above my chest with trembling hands.

The stranger was doing a great job at making me feel embarrassed as I stared right into his sharp and calculated eyes - more like his eyes burned holes right through me.

Ignoring my thumping heart the best I could, I stepped backwards as he approached with steady steps, caging me between the wall and himself.

"Kim Chaemin, why would you save me?"

He's starting to sound like he wanted to die back there.

Taking a deep breath, I feigned confidence.
"Because you were about to be killed and I had the power to save you."

I watched as something shifted in his eyes. He exhaled shakily before he finally respected my personal space, sitting back down on the couch as he clutched his head.

"And you are?", my voice trailed off, observing if there were any patches of blood due to reopened wounds.

The male sat up straight, eyebags suddenly so much more prominent. He suddenly looked as vulnerable as he looked in his sleep, it was almost like he could control how he appeared.

"My name is Hwang Hyunjin."
Finally, he stood up to face me, suddenly lowering himself onto one knee as he faced the ground, his blonde locks staring right at my confused figure.
"I would like to express my deepest gratitude for saving me, Kim Chaemin. How can I repay you for your kindness?"

I gaped.
"First or all, stop moving around so much, you'll rip the stiches."

He rose immediately, his head still lowered to look at me.

"Second of all, you don't need to repay me.", to me, it was absolutely ridiculous. I helped him because I wanted to, not because I wanted something in return.

"You... don't?", Hyunjin turned his head in confusion, the concept of kindness alien to him.

"I don't.", I clarified before I turned around again.
"Now please sit back down, I will bring you something to eat in a minute. I have to patch up my neck first."

Maybe, if had been looking at him, I would've noticed his troubled expression, eyes glossing over in guilt.

Silence enveloped the both of us as I pulled out antiseptic and cotton pads, a salve and bandages. I struggled, feeling myself hiss in discomfort as I had to strech my neck in order to see the cut. Not to mention, the stinge of dabbing too hard as I couldn't see properly.

My ears never picked up the sound of Hyunjin as he stood up and crossed the room. It was only when a gentle hand grabbed the cotton from mine, another one carfully lowering my head so that I would strech the wound anymore.

"Let me help you.", Hyunjins soft voice called out, carefully dabbing the antiseptic against my neck.

The tips of my ears tinted into hues of red as I realised how close our bodies were. I didn't protest, knowing that lstting him help would probably be for the best.

A few seconds passed before he started to apply the ointment, finally grabbing bandages and carefully wrapping them around my neck. Hyunjin stepped aways once he was finished, examining his work with proud eyes.

That alone allowed me to finally get a good look at his face. He was undeniably handsome - his eyes were sharp and sultry, his lips were plump but chapped and his cheekbones were high. All in all, he had very strinking and pronounced facial features, little details like the mole under his left eye completing his face.

Hyunjin's eyes met mine, making me avert my gaze as I realised.

I was staring.

Again, he simply didn't let me know wether he was judging or making fun of me as he simply turned around, face resting in a calm and blank state as he looked around, taking in the details of my little home.

"I...", my voice trailed off as I contemplated.
"I think you should stay as long as your wounds are still healing. You have a few deep injuries and broken ribs."

From behind, I watched Hyunjin as he nodded ever so slightly.

The next few weeks are going to be long.

_ _ _
Pt. 2/3

20.03.2024; 1090 words