BOUND BY OBSESSION|| L.HS X S.JY

T W E N T Y S E V E N

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN: MET YOU AGAIN

'PARK SUNGHOON'

The pulsating lights and the heavy bass of the club provided the perfect cover for Sunghoon’s fractured thoughts. He was here to meet Jay, hoping the night might help him forget the mess he'd created. But as he scanned the crowd, his gaze froze—Sunoo was there, sitting at the bar alone, a drink in his hand. His expression was distant, his eyes cold and guarded, but when he looked up and saw Sunghoon, something dark flashed in them.

Without a word, Sunoo slipped his hand into his jacket, pulling out a gun. He pointed it at Sunghoon, the barrel leveled straight at his chest. The crowd around them melted away as if they were the only two people in the room.

Sunghoon’s heart hammered, but he didn’t move. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he took a step closer, pressing the barrel firmly against his chest. “Do it, Sunoo,” he murmured. “You’d be doing both of us a favor. I deserve it.”

Sunoo’s hand trembled slightly, his knuckles white as he gripped the gun. His eyes filled with anger, but beneath that, there was hurt—a raw wound that hadn’t even begun to heal. He clenched his jaw, struggling with the urge to pull the trigger. Yet, in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

Instead, Sunoo’s anger erupted in another way. He swung his fist, hitting Sunghoon hard across the face. The force of the punch sent a shock through Sunghoon’s body, but he didn’t react, letting Sunoo release his rage. Sunoo’s eyes blurred with tears as he punched him again, this time weaker, his resolve crumbling as he broke down.

Before he knew it, Sunoo was clinging to Sunghoon, his face buried in his shoulder as he sobbed. Sunghoon wrapped his arms around him, his heart shattering as he held the man he had hurt so deeply. He whispered apologies into Sunoo’s hair, his own voice cracking with emotion. “I’m sorry, Sunoo. I’m so, so sorry.”

Sunoo suddenly shoved him away, wiping his face roughly. He shook his head, voice filled with bitterness. “You don’t deserve to be forgiven, Sunghoon,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “You don’t deserve anything from me.”

With one last, hollow glance, Sunoo turned and walked away, leaving Sunghoon standing alone in the club. Sunghoon felt his heart sink, the weight of his actions pressing down on him like an anchor. He had hoped for redemption, but now he was left with nothing but regret.

'LEE HEESEUNG'

Heeseung arrived at a business party, his attempt at a distraction from his own fractured heart. He forced a polite smile as he navigated the conversations, nodding and exchanging pleasantries with the other CEOs and executives. But his mind was somewhere else, every beat of the music reminding him of the quiet ache that lingered.

Then, the MC’s voice rang out over the speakers, announcing the prestigious “CEO of the Year” award. Heeseung turned his attention to the stage, feeling a pang of emptiness as he watched the crowd applaud. He hadn’t even considered who might win the award—until he heard Jaeyun’s name.

There, standing on the stage in a tailored suit, looking every bit the part of the successful CEO, was Jaeyun. Heeseung’s heart clenched as he took in the sight of him. Despite the distance between them, Heeseung could feel the gravity of Jaeyun’s presence, pulling him in. The crowd cheered, but to Heeseung, there was only silence and the faint hum of his own heartbeat.

Jaeyun looked out over the crowd, his gaze landing on Heeseung. Their eyes met, and for a brief, suspended moment, everything else faded away. Heeseung felt his throat tighten, memories and emotions swirling up, threatening to drown him.

A faint, sad smile curved on his lips as he looked at Jaeyun. He wanted to walk over, to say something, anything, that would bridge the chasm between them. But he knew he had no right to disrupt Jaeyun’s moment. So, with a heavy heart, Heeseung took a deep breath, turned on his heel, and left the hall.