Left Out Friend

19

Sunoo’s POV

The morning air felt unusually still, wrapping me in a deceptive sense of peace. It had been a while since I last slept without overthinking—without my mind racing through every detail of the next day. Without worrying about them.

Normally, I would lie awake until midnight, mapping out ways to avoid them, bracing myself for whatever twisted games they had in store. But did it even matter? No matter what I did, they always got their way. I was nothing more than a pawn in their hands—trapped in a cage with six wolves circling me, waiting to strike.

A single moment. That’s all it took. One second, things felt normal, and in the next five, my world had turned into hell.

The warmth of the blankets and the soft pillows cradling my body made me want to sink back into sleep—to stay here forever, where I could pretend I was safe. No alarms. No expectations. Just peace.

But peace was a luxury I wasn’t allowed.

A faint touch against my cheek made my body tense. Before I could even process it, another hand slid onto my hip.

No.

My eyes snapped open, my breath hitching as I instinctively flinched away. And then, I saw him.

“S-Sunghoon…” My voice was barely above a whisper, but he heard it.

His gaze held that same unnerving coolness, the one that never wavered, no matter what he did. He didn’t look guilty. He didn’t look surprised. He simply smirked, as if this was just another ordinary morning for him.

“Good morning, my Sun.” His voice was light, teasing—so painfully familiar yet laced with something sinister. “Breakfast is ready. Come on.”

That smile… The one I used to adore now made my stomach churn. It was the smile of someone who enjoyed playing with their prey.

I clenched my jaw, hands tightening into fists beneath the blankets. “What the hell are you doing?” My voice trembled with restrained anger. “Watching me sleep? Touching me? Just how shameless can you be?”

I expected—no, hoped—for an apology, or at the very least, a dismissive shrug. Anything but what came next.

His fingers wrapped around my neck, the sudden grip sending a sharp jolt of panic through me. His other hand clamped onto my jaw, forcing my face closer to his.

I froze.

His expression didn’t change, but I could feel the shift in his grip—the barely restrained anger in the way his fingers dug into my skin.

“Sunoo-yah~” His voice was softer now, almost a whisper, but the warning in his tone was unmistakable. “You don’t want to ruin our moods, do you? You do remember what happens when you misbehave, right?”

A shiver crawled down my spine.

Punishment.

I knew exactly what he meant.

My breath came in short, uneven bursts as I forced myself to nod. I couldn’t defy him. I wouldn’t—not when I knew the consequences.

His fingers loosened. He stepped back, that same infuriatingly sweet smile returning to his lips. “Good.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my pulse still erratic as he turned toward the door.

“See you downstairs. We won’t eat until you come.” And with that, he was gone—leaving me rooted in place, my body still trembling.

I exhaled shakily, gripping my own arms in a weak attempt to ground myself.

Stupid, Sunoo.

You can’t fight them. You never could.

Today was going to be another nightmare. Just like always.

***

The clinking of utensils and the hum of casual conversation filled the dining room, but to me, it was just noise. Unimportant. Meaningless.

I barely registered the food on my plate. My stomach twisted at the thought of eating, but I knew I had no choice.

“Sunoo, here. Eat this.”

Jungwon’s voice was smooth, almost affectionate—if I didn’t know better, I might have mistaken it for genuine concern. But I did know better.

He raised a spoonful of food to my lips, waiting expectantly.

I hesitated.

A beat passed.

Then another.

I knew what would happen if I refused. The tension in the air was already thick enough, their gazes weighing heavily on me.

So, I opened my mouth.

The food tasted like nothing.

Was I sick? Or had being around them numbed even my ability to taste?

It didn’t matter. I swallowed, ignoring the nausea creeping up my throat.

“You’re awfully quiet today.”

I stiffened.

Jake leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, a smirk tugging at his lips. His eyes were already on me, filled with something unreadable.

I lowered my gaze, gripping my utensils tightly. What does he mean? What did I do now?

“Didn’t we tell you to act normal, Sunoo?”

Heeseung’s voice cut through the air like a blade.

I stopped chewing. My heart pounded painfully in my chest.

“Seriously, you’re making it too obvious.” His voice was smooth but laced with irritation. “What? Do you want people to start asking questions? Do you want the fans to think we’re treating you badly? Do you want to make us look like the villains?”

Jungwon threw an arm around my shoulders, his grip too tight, squeezing just enough to make it uncomfortable.

“Yeah, Sunoo,” he murmured near my ear, voice deceptively soft. “You do get what we’re saying, right?”

A sickening silence stretched between us.

“Hey, hey, let’s not ruin the mood.” Jay’s voice broke through, his words casual, but I could tell he was just trying to defuse the tension.

A chuckle sounded from Ni-ki.

“Jay-hyung, you should focus on something better than food right now.”

The casual joke—the way his brows wiggled at Jay—made something in my gut tighten.

My pulse spiked.

Something was wrong.

My eyes flickered toward Jay just in time to see his expression shift. His gaze darted to his plate, avoiding mine.

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Something was definitely wrong.

“Okay, my Sun, how about we have a little fun later?”

My blood ran cold.

I knew that voice. I knew that sickeningly sweet tone. But I refused to look at him.

A slow exhale.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Sunghoon continued, his voice dripping with amusement. “You must be enjoying the food too much to speak.”

I lifted my gaze, staring at him in disbelief.

Was this it? Another game? Another twisted punishment disguised as affection?

I felt my chest tighten, the pressure unbearable.

I just wanted to be treated like a friend. Like someone who mattered. I wanted them to love me, to see me as an equal.

But that was a dream. A foolish, unattainable dream.

Tears burned behind my eyes.

Should I run? Should I even try?

Or was I already too deep in their grasp?

To be continued...