eunjin
my heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it might burst out of my chest. i glanced around the crowded street, trying to calm my nerves, but something didn't feel right. that's when i noticed a tall man in a dark suit, weaving his way through the crowd. he wasn't just a passerby—he was coming straight toward me.
i froze. panic surged through me as i realized what was about to happen. i tried to move, to blend into the crowd, but it was too late. the man was too close, his eyes locked on me, and i knew i didn't have much time.
just as i was about to make a break for it, i felt a hand on my arm—riki. his grip was firm but reassuring, and when i looked up at him, his eyes were wide with urgency. "run," he whispered, his voice low but insistent. "run as fast as you can."
without another word, we bolted. my feet pounded against the pavement as we weaved through the crowd, the sounds of the city blurring into a distant hum. i could hear the heavy footsteps of the security guy behind us, but i didn't dare look back. riki's hand never left mine, pulling me forward, guiding me through the twists and turns of the unfamiliar streets.
we ran until my lungs burned and my legs felt like they might give out, but riki didn't stop. we ducked into an alley, then another, until finally, the sound of footsteps behind us faded away. we slowed to a stop, both of us gasping for breath.
i leaned against the brick wall, trying to steady myself, my heart still racing. riki was beside me, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. i could see the worry etched on his face, but there was also relief—relief that we had gotten away.
"are you okay?" he asked, his voice still breathless.
i nodded, though i wasn't sure if i was. everything had happened so fast, and i was still trying to process it all. but one thing was clear—whatever danger we were in, riki wasn't going to let it catch up to us. not if he could help it.
as i leaned against the cold brick wall, trying to catch my breath, my mind was spinning. what just happened? why were we running from some guy in a suit? i glanced over at riki, still panting beside me, and the urgency in his eyes made it clear that this wasn't just a random encounter. he fucking knew what was going on.
"hey, what ... what just happened?" i managed to ask between breaths. "you seemed to know exactly what was going on. why would they be after us? we're just tourists, right? there are so many tourists around here..."
he looked at me, his expression a mix of guilt and something deeper—something darker. after a moment, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "okay, look- i need to tell you something."
his words sent a chill down my spine, and i nodded slowly, waiting for him to continue.
"my family ... they do a lot of illegal things- corrupt things." he said quietly, his voice laced with regret. "i was born into it, expected to take over the business when i reached a certain age. but ... i never wanted any of it. all i wanted to do was dance, to live a normal life."
i stared at him in shock, my mind struggling to process what he was saying. riki? involved in something like this? it didn't seem possible. he had always been so ... normal?
"so, when i got older, i decided to rebel," he continued. "i quit school, i refused to get involved with their business. i thought if i made it clear enough, they'd let me go. but ... that's not how it works. to make them actually back off, i had to do things. illegal things. i even messed with a lot of the business paperworks but they still wanted me. they covered it up, of course, with their dirty money and influence. they probably got tired of how so not in control of myself i was at the time, so they actually let me off for a while, but it wasn't easy."
