TR | MW [✔]

21.

The pressure on his throat vanished, and Wonwoo slowly opened his eyes.

Mingyu was still looking at him in the same horror-struck manner. Eyes huge, frown denting his brow, and lips slightly parted as he panted for breath.

"You think I'm gonna kill you?"

"That's why we're here, isn't it?"

"No!"

"The gloves, the bag, the secluded area out of sight of the road... You hate me."

"I don't hate you. I put the gloves on because it's cold."

Wonwoo licked his lips. "You've bought me down here, out of sight."

"There's a bench over there, quiet, where we can talk."

"The bag?"

"It's been raining Wonwoo, the bench will be wet. I bought the bag so we could sit on it."

"You keep asking to know the time?"

Mingyu scrunched up his nose. "And why do you think that is?"

Wonwoo ducked his head. "So you know when the tide's going out—"

"So I can what? Make sure it takes your body away? You think I'm gonna strangle you, shove you in a bag, and throw you in the sea?"

"I dunno—"

"Jesus Christ!" Mingyu took a few steps away and clutched his head. "Are you serious right now? You thought I was gonna kill you, and you went along with it?"

"I don't blame you for wanting me dead. I keep trying to apologize, to explain, but you cut me off."

"I don't want an apology."

"Then what do you want?"

Mingyu cursed at the sky, and then advanced on Wonwoo. He snagged his wrist hard and dragged him up the beach. "I want you to come here."

Wonwoo spotted the bench ahead. "To talk?"

"For me to talk. For me to explain," Mingyu sighed.

"I don't understand."

"That's the problem."

He pulled the plastic bag out of his pocket and covered a patch on the bench. "Now sit."

Wonwoo sat down and stared at his lap. "Why did you keep asking for the time?"

"You'll see in a minute."

Mingyu sat down next to him and yanked off his gloves. He huffed, waited a minute, then turned to Wonwoo.

"I'm sorry about your sister."

Wonwoo widened his eyes and pressed his back to the bench, remembering the letter he'd written. "You read it?"

"No."

"Then how do you know about her?"

Mingyu pursed his lips and exhaled. "Not yet. I need to tell you about Jinseok first."

Wonwoo swallowed the lump in his throat. "Jinseok? What about him?"

"I deserved every second of that sixteen years. I'm the only one in that prison who thinks their time was lenient, who thinks they deserved more."

"You said he betrayed you."

"He did. I hadn't seen him for a year, and when he called me out of the blue, he sounded odd. He wanted me to help him get money, and fast, and I did what I do best..."

Wonwoo frowned. "Which is?"

"I set up a con, had no idea I was being watched, followed, stabbed in the back, by one of my dearest friends, and when I found out, I lost it. I couldn't understand why he'd come back after a year and try to ruin me. And in a moment of anger, I killed him. I know you've listened to that recording..."