Embers of Hope// Hyunlix

Chapter - 28

A few days later...

Hyunjin walked into the washroom, hoping to clear his head before lunch. His mind was still racing from the stress of the past few days—he hadn't been able to shake the feeling that Eunji was watching him. The anxiety, along with his hesitation to even come back to work, weighed heavily on him.

As he washed his hands, the cool water offered a small sense of relief. He stared at his reflection in the mirror, noticing the dark circles under his eyes, the tension in his shoulders. He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Suddenly, the door creaked open behind him, and a sense of unease washed over him. He looked up in the mirror, and his heart stopped.

It was Eunji.

Her presence immediately set his nerves on edge. She walked in with a smile—sickly sweet, yet dripping with something far more sinister. Hyunjin froze, his hands trembling slightly as he turned off the tap. The echo of her footsteps against the tile floor was deafening.

"Hello, Mr. Hwang," she greeted him, her voice soft, yet with an undertone that sent chills down his spine. "I thought you would be at the cafeteria right now."

Hyunjin forced himself to breathe, his throat tightening as panic threatened to take over. He gave her a brief glance, trying to maintain some semblance of control.

"I was just about to go," he muttered, trying to keep his voice steady as he turned to leave. His body screamed for him to get out of there—to escape from her and the memories she brought back.

But before he could take a step, Eunji's voice stopped him cold.

"Not so fast, Hwang Hyunjin."

Her tone had shifted, no longer sweet. It was laced with venom, and Hyunjin's blood ran cold. He froze in place, his back still facing her, his hands gripping the edge of the sink so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"I know you've recognized me," she said, her voice eerily calm as she stared at him through the mirror. Hyunjin could feel her eyes boring into him, like a predator watching its prey.

He didn't respond. His throat was too tight to speak, his mind racing with memories of that day five years ago—the day she'd tried to ruin his life.

Eunji took a step closer, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Hyunjin could feel his pulse quickening, every instinct in him screaming to run, but his body wouldn't move. He was trapped.

"You thought you could live peacefully after stealing Felix, did you?" she whispered, her voice dripping with malice. "Well, you're wrong. I will have my revenge."

Hyunjin's heart pounded in his chest. His breath came out shaky as he tried to steady himself, his mind grasping for any way to escape this situation. He had thought she was dead—gone from his life forever. But now she was standing right in front of him, threatening to tear everything apart once again.

Eunji slowly circled around him, her eyes never leaving his. Hyunjin tried to back away, but his body wouldn't cooperate. His legs felt like they were made of lead, and the terror that gripped him made it impossible to move.

"You've ruined everything," she hissed, stopping just inches in front of him. Her face was close enough that Hyunjin could feel her breath on his skin. "Felix was supposed to be mine. But you? You stole him."

Hyunjin opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out. His lips trembled, and he could feel his hands shaking uncontrollably. He wanted to deny it, to tell her that she was wrong, but fear had paralyzed him.

Eunji's lips twisted into a cruel smile, and she leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a menacing whisper. "Be careful, Hyunjin. You never know when danger might strike. One wrong move, and everything you love will crumble."

With that, she turned and walked away, her heels clicking ominously as she left the washroom. Hyunjin stood frozen in place, his entire body trembling. His mind was a whirlwind of fear, confusion, and anger. He stared blankly at the mirror, his own terrified reflection staring back at him.

His chest heaved as he tried to catch his breath, but the suffocating weight of her words clung to him. She was back. And she was watching.

Hyunjin clenched his fists, trying to regain control of himself, but the overwhelming dread gnawed at his insides. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't tell Felix—not now. He didn't want to drag him into this nightmare again.

But one thing was clear: Eunji wasn't done with him.