𝑴𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒄 - lookism

032

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As the hours dragged on, boredom began to take over. You'd already scrolled through social media, checked your messages, and even skimmed through a few shows, but nothing seemed to hold your attention. Goo had left a while ago, and the quietness of his place started to feel almost suffocating.

You glanced around, unsure of what to do. The room felt too big, too still, without anyone else around. You got up from the bed and thats when you limped over to the window, watching the world go by outside.

Your mind wandered back to everything that had happened—the chaos, the danger, the weird comfort of Goo's presence. You sighed, then grabbed your phone, half-thinking about texting Mira or maybe checking on the boys. But then again, they'd probably tell you to rest.

Instead, you decided to explore Goo's apartment a little. It wasn't like you had anything better to do, and you were curious about what kind of things someone like him kept around. You limped into the kitchen, the hallways, and finally, a room that looked like an office—though it was far messier than you expected.

Files, papers, and some photos were scattered across the desk. You hesitated for a moment, feeling like maybe you shouldn't snoop, but boredom got the better of you. You walked over to the desk and glanced at the photos. They seemed to be of different places and people, none of whom you recognized. It was a glimpse into a part of Goo's life that he didn't talk about much.

Just as you were about to put the photo back, you heard the front door click open. Your heart skipped a beat, and you quickly placed the photo down, hurrying to the living room before Goo could catch you snooping.

Goo stepped into the apartment, glancing around with his usual nonchalant expression. He noticed you standing in the living room, trying to act casual.

"Getting comfortable, huh?" he said, raising an eyebrow with a slight smirk.

You smiled awkwardly, trying to brush off the fact that you'd just been snooping through his things. "Just...waiting for you to come back. It was getting a little boring."

Goo dropped his jacket on a nearby chair and stretched. "Well, I'm here now. What'd you do while I was gone?" he asked, clearly curious but in his usual laid-back tone.

"Nothing much," you replied, trying not to give away that you had been exploring the apartment. "Just rested. Oh, and I might've added a few things to my cart online," you added with a sheepish smile.

He glanced at you with mild amusement. "How much is 'a few'?"

You hesitated. "Uh...970 dollars," you said, wincing slightly.

Goo's eyes widened, then he let out a laugh. "Guess I shouldn't have left you alone for so long. Looks like you went a little shopping crazy."

You laughed too, feeling a bit more at ease now that he was back. "Yeah, maybe just a little."

He shrugged, smirking. "No worries. I'll cover it. You've been through enough. Consider it a gift."

You blinked, surprised. "Really? I mean, I didn't—"

"Don't worry about it," he interrupted, waving it off casually. "Besides, I owe you for getting mixed up in all this mess."

You smiled, genuinely touched by his gesture, but still a bit surprised at how generous he could be in his own strange way.

"So, what now?" you asked, feeling a bit more relaxed now that he was back.

Goo glanced around the apartment and shrugged. "Whatever you want. I'm just glad you didn't burn the place down while I was gone."

You chuckled, rolling your eyes. "Very funny."

Your phone started ringing and when you looked at it you noticed that it was an unknown number.

You hesitated for a moment, staring at the screen as the unknown number flashed. Your gut told you it could be something important, but with everything that had been happening, it also felt a bit risky. Goo noticed your expression and raised an eyebrow.

"Who's that?" he asked, his casual tone turning slightly curious.

You shook your head, unsure. "It's an unknown number. Should I answer?"

Goo leaned back against the couch, watching you carefully. "Could be nothing, could be something. Your call."

After a moment of internal debate, you decided to answer. You slowly brought the phone to your ear.

"Hello?" you said cautiously.

There was a brief silence on the other end before a distorted voice replied, "Did you really think it was that easy?? Now we know where you are and who you're with."

Your heart skipped a beat, and your hand tightened around the phone. You glanced at Goo, who had sat up, noticing the change in your expression.

"Can you let me be and stop trying to use me as a lab rat!?" you demanded, trying to sound braver than you felt.

The voice chuckled darkly. "Be careful who you trust. We'll be seeing you soon."

The line went dead.

You lowered the phone, your heart racing. Goo stood up, his eyes narrowing. "What did they say?"

"They...they said they know where I am. And something about being careful who I trust," you stammered, still processing the words.

Goo's jaw clenched. "Looks like things are heating up again." He grabbed his phone, already dialing a number.

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