TANGLED HEARTS

Chapter 14: The Attack

The night air was crisp as Han Tae-Oh walked down the nearly deserted street, his breath rising in faint clouds with each exhale. His phone was pressed to his ear, and the quiet voice of Do-Hee on the other end filled the silence around him. He smiled, the corners of his lips curving upward as her words washed over him. Even in the darkness, with only the faint hum of streetlights to keep him company, she made him feel like he owned the world.

"Are you almost home?" Do-Hee's voice crackled through the speaker, laced with a mix of concern and affection.

Tae-Oh glanced at his watch, his smile widening. "Not quite. Maybe ten more minutes," he replied, his voice low and calm, as if the late hour didn't bother him at all. He could hear the gentle rustling on her end of the line, probably her adjusting in bed.

There was a brief pause, and then she asked, almost shyly, "When will I see you again?"

Tae-Oh chuckled softly, his fingers tightening around the phone as he stepped off the curb, crossing the empty street. "Soon. You know I can't stay away from you for too long." His words were laced with the familiar possessiveness that had grown stronger over time, the feeling that no matter how tangled their situation became, she was his.

Do-Hee's soft laugh echoed in his ear, and he could picture the smile on her lips. But then, before either could say more, the sound of hurried footsteps in the distance reached his ears. Tae-Oh's smile faded, his brow furrowing as he slowed his pace, glancing over his shoulder.

The street was still mostly empty, save for a few shadowy figures moving in the distance. Tae-Oh's eyes narrowed, the faint buzz of something unsettling creeping up his spine. His hand instinctively moved deeper into his coat pocket, fingers brushing against his wallet and keys.

"Is everything okay?" Do-Hee's voice had shifted, her tone edged with concern.

Tae-Oh didn't answer right away, his senses suddenly sharp as the footsteps grew louder—closer. His pulse quickened, and he forced a calmness into his voice. "Yeah," he muttered, though the unease had already settled deep in his gut. "Everything's fine."

But before he could say another word, the footsteps broke into a run, and a shadowed figure lunged toward him from the darkness. The impact came hard and fast, sending him stumbling forward, his phone slipping from his grasp as he tried to steady himself.

"Hey!" Tae-Oh growled, his voice a mixture of shock and anger as he spun around. But there wasn't time to react. A second figure appeared, fists flying as they crashed into him, sending him reeling into the side of a parked car.

Tae-Oh's breath left him in a harsh grunt, pain exploding in his ribs as he doubled over, trying to fend off the blows. His mind was a blur, struggling to comprehend what was happening, but the brutal punches didn't stop. A fist connected with his jaw, the force snapping his head back as he tasted blood.

"Stop!" he managed to gasp, his voice ragged. His vision blurred as he tried to defend himself, but there were too many—too fast. His hands shot up in a weak attempt to shield his face, but a heavy kick to his stomach knocked the wind out of him, sending him crashing to the pavement.

On the other end of the line, Do-Hee's voice crackled through the phone, still lying on the ground, unheard. "Tae-Oh? Tae-Oh, what's going on? Tae-Oh!" Panic laced her voice as the sound of the attack reached her ears—muffled shouts, grunts of pain, the dull thud of fists hitting flesh. She gasped, her heart racing. "Tae-Oh! Answer me!"

But there was no response.

Shi-Oh sat in his office, the dim light from his desk lamp casting long shadows across the room. The phone in his hand was pressed to his ear, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. His heartbeat echoed in his ears, loud and steady, but beneath it was something darker—something cold and ruthless.