Chasm.| Seo Changbin

Twenty-One.

Stella broke down again. She's been crying nonstop in Changbin's arms. They made it home safely, and once they were in the security and warmness of his house, Stella couldn't stop herself from pouring her heart out. The horrific experience was kicking in badly.

Although she was crying, she didn't fail to notice that his house was exactly like she imagined. Simple, cozy, safe, and warm. That apartment was very small, unlike her large house. It had only one bedroom and a small living area where there was a single sofa and a TV. A small open kitchen and tiny bathroom and that was it. It was a house he didn't use very much since most of the time, he stayed with his clients. Nevertheless, the house was clean and maintained, and his presence in every corner of it was obvious.

Once she calmed down a little, Changbin sat her down and explained to her how ugly the situation was. He tore apart as he told her, but she needed to know what she was facing. He made sure she never watched the horrific clips from the security cameras inside her house, but she needed to know.

She needed to know that there was a pervert living in her house for a whole month.

With her.

She needed to know he was under the same roof with her since she came back from LA.

Changbin tried his best to calmly inform her of what Minho found when he primarily checked the footage from her house.

Apparently, after she came back, she was a mess to follow up with her house security. She never locked it properly and always forgot to check the cameras as Changbin used to tell her to do. One night, when she came back with her car and parked in her private garage, she forgot to close the garage's door immediately, not knowing there actually was a stalker following her.

He slipped into her garage and stayed there over the night. The next morning when she went for a run, he entered the house and didn't leave since then. He would hide in the garage, the storage room, the washing room, and even in the lower cabinets of the kitchen while Stella was home. It sent shivers down Changbin's spine when he saw those videos.

He would be hiding in the kitchen while she would be washing some fruits to eat. He would be hiding in the washing room while she stuffed the washing machine with her clothes. He would be hiding in her studio underneath her desk while she sat in the living area. And he would be hiding in Changbin's previous room while she exercised in the training room.

And once she leaves the house, he would get out of his hiding. He would go eat the remnants of her food, smell her washed clothes, and rub himself against the sofa she was seated on. And when he was sure she would be taking too long to come back, he would do the most disgusting things.

He would get completely undressed till he became totally naked. He knew there were cameras and he seemed to be proud of showing off what he was doing there. He would go upstairs, get to her closet while still naked, smell her clothes, ruffle them, and disgustingly, try them on before he would take them off again and hang them where they were. He would walk into her bedroom, sleep in her bed, and make sure he left some of his disgusting traces on her mattress. He would go into the bathroom and use her bathtub as he wished. He would steal some of her clothes as well and she wouldn't notice that, thanks to the mess her house was in, such as her favorite pink shorts.

For a whole month, he was doing that.

For a whole month, that pervert lived with her.

And when Stella learned that, she broke down again. She was beyond terrified.

That broke Changbin's heart. He wanted nothing but to leap on that freak!

Thankfully, he was caught. Minho and Chan called him shortly after they arrived at the scene. They told him they unlocked the house's front door only, allowing the police forces to infiltrate. Once they were in, they found the pervert lying mostly unconscious. He tried to escape, he tried to break the garden's door and run out, but he injured himself and bled, so he wasn't able to run or fight the police forces and was arrested immediately.

Changbin wished he had bled to death.

"I should've listened to you," Stella said between her sobs, bringing Changbin back from his bloody thoughts. "You had always reminded me to lock the house and check the cameras but I never listened." She gasped for air. Stella pushed herself away from Changbin's chest but never let go of his arm. She looked at him with guilt. "Just as you told me to take a look at those who surrounded me, but I didn't listen." She sniffled and looked down, fiddling with his fingers while pouting. "I'm sorry for what I did. I wronged you and didn't believe you back then. I should've listened to you. I should've believed you, not Hajoon. I should've never let you go."

If this Changbin was the Changbin before he met Stella, he would've pulled away. He would've never allowed her to hold his hand, cling to his arms, or rest her crying face on his chest. He would've never invited her to his house. He would've never wanted to kill someone that much for her. If this Changbin was the old Changbin, he would've never scooted closer to her, and pulled her to his embrace till the girl was almost on top of him.

But he wasn't the old Changbin.

He was a doomed Changbin cause he was now sure he had feelings for her.

He fell for his client and all of his work ethics, rules, and walls fell down.

He knew he was going in the wrong direction, but he couldn't stop himself from bringing her the closest to him ever. He felt like he wanted to shield her and protect her from the cruel world they live in.

"It's okay." Changbin coed softly while caressing her hair. "It doesn't matter. As long as you are safe, nothing matters."

Stella sighed in relief and snuggled more to him. She nuzzled his neck and wrapped him with her arm. She knew that wasn't appropriate. She knew they weren't a thing to cling to him like that. She knew she might scare him off. She had feelings for him and she was sure about that for some time now. But she would never tell him, cause she knew he would leave her side if she ever did. Although it was pretty obvious from her actions, she decided to never confess her feelings for him.

But for now, she needed his presence and assurance. So, she pushed that fight to the back of her skull and focused on calming her trembling self.

"You need to rest, Ella." He talked while tapping her arm that was circling him lightly. "I'll get you something clean to wear, and make you something to eat as you take your shower. I'll prepare the bed for you."

"What about you?" She pulled back and looked at him. "Where will you sleep?" Changbin pointed at the sofa they were sitting on. Stella's eyes hesitated and her lips opened and closed many times. "Can yo- Never mind."

"What is it?" He tilted his head.

"It's stupid!" She shook her head and stood up. She was about to walk to the bathroom when Changbin held her hand. He stood up and faced her, while still keeping his hand in hers.

"Are you afraid to sleep alone?" He questioned and Stella nodded. "Do you want me to stay by your side till you fall asleep?"

Stella's face lightened up a little. "Will you?"

"If that's what you want." He gave her a small smile.

Stella's heart leaped out of her chest. He just smiled and she was feeling like fainting. Her feelings for him were growing wilder and she knew it would hurt the worst when the time to let go comes around. And it would come. She shook her head, shaking off the negative thoughts. She would have to deal with the consequences, but later.

Later.