DEVIANT HEARTS| HEESEUNG

32-Father's Stone & Hands kisses

Athena's pov

Waking up and feeling his warmth disappear, made my heart shatter into pieces. As soon as the sun peeked through my sheer curtains, I pulled myself from my cold sheets towards the washroom. Heeseung was nowhere to be found this morning, after giving my care and love to him the night before, I was sure that he would leave me the moment he woke up the next day. It was like a strategy for him to leave after loving someone while he was loyal to this strategy.

I did the quick work of running a bath for myself. I quickly pulled myself a beige warm top to pair with my classic pair of denim jeans. Quickly running my fingers through my natural brown waves, I applied my classic vanilla balm before heading downstairs to make something to eat.

Grabbing a spoon filled with the prodigy, I couldn't stop thinking about him. Thinking about his thoughts after waking up next to me this morning before he left my side. I was just wondering if he was terrified or angry towards me, but most of it is the reason for his nightmares. But fate interrupted my thoughts when I heard the door slam, me when I couldn't stop myself from asking.

"Feeling better?" I forced the words out, my gaze locked anywhere but his eyes, knowing far too well the terrifying power those held over me.

Silence. The kind which gnaws at your nerves and pulls you down into the deep, dark depths. He would not take comfort from me, less still pity. The silence was unbearable, pressing in until I could take no more. The question that haunted me so long clawed its way out.

"Why does Yoovan hate you so much? What did you do to make him want to kill you?"

Heeseung laughed low and dark, reverberations of his mirth dancing around the room. He didn't meet my eyes, a fact which caused a shiver to run down my spine. I searched his face desperately for some kind of understanding behind the mask of his laughter.

"Why?" I repeated, my voice shaking.

"You're so dumb," he sneered, his voice coldly amused. "You might want to reconsider your question, darling." He paused; the silence was sharp before he went on, "The real question is, what did you do to make him hate you?"

Those words writhed inside me like a burrowed confusion. "What do you mean?"

"He hates you, not me." The words lashed out at me, and I felt as though I'd been hit.

"Why would he hate me? I did nothing to deserve that. What's the reason?"

"Your presence," he said, and in the simplicity, he just added fuel to my frustration. "Explain," I demanded, anger simmering beneath my confusion.

Heeseung snorted again, and this time, his tone was mocking, a slice through the tension, as if he were surprised I could be so blind. "Idiot."

"Stop insulting me and just explain what the fuck you mean by your words!"

"Oh, so now we're cursing?" He smirked, seeming to enjoy the shift in my mood.

"I'm not in the mood for games, Heeseung. Just explain."

"Alright," he said, inching back on his chair and drumming his fingers against the table. "Should I start by saying that he is resentful because it is fueled by jealousy? Or." He paused, letting the tension coil tighter. ".because your colleague has a liking for you."

"Jealous? Of me? W-what?" I stuttered, my mind trying and failing to work out what he was insinuating. My eyes were set on him, yet it felt more as though I was looking right through him, attempting to make sense of the impossible.

"What, you still don't get it?

"My coworker. likes me? Is it Sung-" My words faltered, and the world spun around me as his revelation hit me full force. It was as though my head whirled, trying to catch up with a reality crashing upon me.