MANIAC | SEOKSOO FF

PART 10

A few days passed with the music player episode, the days been calm but Jisoo's mind was reeling with possibilities who might be the stalker. He must be someone very close to him.

Jisoo grabbed his coat, barely registering the act, his hands shaking as he stormed out of his apartment and made his way to Soonyoung’s house.

His footsteps echoed in the night, pounding like a heartbeat that only seemed to grow louder, more frantic, with every step.

His mind raced, a tangled mess of anger and fear. He felt wild, frantic—like his skin was on fire, his mind unraveling with every new theory, every dark thought.

By the time he reached Soonyoung’s house, he was barely able to keep his breathing steady.

He knocked hard, relentless, until he heard footsteps approaching. The door opened, and Soonyoung’s face appeared, eyes widening in shock.

“Jisoo? What’s wrong? It’s so late.. did anything happen??”

Jisoo pushed past him, barely noticing Soonyoung’s surprise. He was trembling, his eyes wide and unfocused as he scanned the room, half-expecting some lurking shadow. His voice came out in a low hiss, edged with hysteria.

“I need… I need to talk. It’s Jeonghan. He’s been…” He trailed off, his fingers digging into his own arms, voice dropping to a whisper. “He’s been watching me, Soonyoung. He’s been the one stalking me.”

Soonyoung closed the door and quickly followed Jisoo, putting a hand on his shoulder. “What are you talking about? Jeonghan? Your twin brother?”

Jisoo nodded, his gaze dark and unsettling, a haunted look that made Soonyoung’s chest tighten with worry. “Yes, my brother,” Jisoo spat, as though the very word tasted bitter.

“He’s left me all these things, all these… reminders. He is the only one who knows such details.” His hands twisted together nervously as he began to pace, his steps frantic, his tone rising as he spoke. “My old music player, that note—he’s been playing with me, like I’m some… some toy.”

Soonyoung took a cautious step closer, his voice calm but tinged with concern. “Jisoo, I don’t know what’s going on, but you’re not making sense. Jeonghan wouldn’t do that. He loves you.”

Jisoo whirled around, his expression twisted with anger and disbelief. “That’s what he wants me to think, don’t you see? He’s playing everyone. He’s watching me, listening to me, every single day!” He let out a hysterical laugh, a sharp sound that sent a chill down Soonyoung’s spine. “Do you know what that’s like, Soonyoung? Knowing that someone’s out there, messing with your head, and it’s your own brother?”

By now, Jihoon, had joined them, his face marked with worry as he took in Jisoo’s wild-eyed expression. “Jisoo, you’re scaring us,” Jihoon said softly, trying to keep his tone steady. “Why don’t you sit down? Just… try to breathe.”

But Jisoo shook his head, clutching his hair as if trying to hold himself together. “I can’t—don’t you see? I can’t just sit down. He’ll be watching, waiting, laughing at how broken he’s made me. Every gift, every message… it’s his way of controlling me. Of reminding me that I’m nothing but his… his… source of entertainment.” His voice choked off, unable to even finish the thought.

Soonyoung exchanged a worried glance with Jihoon, his hand now resting gently on Jisoo’s arm. “Jisoo, I don’t know what have brought you to this point, but let us help you. Let’s talk to Jeonghan—”

“No!” Jisoo’s voice cracked like thunder, and he pulled his arm back, nearly stumbling. “Don’t you dare call him. Don’t you see? He’ll twist it, he’ll make it look like I’m crazy. He’s been doing this to me, Soonyoung. This… this torment. Every time I thought I was safe, every time I thought I could trust him, he’s been there, watching.”

Soonyoung was quiet for a moment, swallowing down the fear that had begun to rise in his own chest. “Jisoo… this doesn’t sound like Jeonghan. I know he can be… a bit much, some silly pranks, but this? This sounds like someone else.”

Jisoo let out a bitter laugh, his voice shaking with anger and desperation. “You don’t know him like I do. You don’t see what he hides behind that smile. He’s the one person who knows everything about me, my secrets, my fears… all the things he could use against me.” His voice dropped to a whisper, his face filled with a deep, gut-wrenching sadness. “He betrayed me. My own brother.”

Jihoon stepped forward, his tone gentle but firm. “Jisoo, maybe it’s not what you think. Maybe… maybe you need to rest. All of this stress, it’s making you see things differently.”

Jisoo clenched his fists, feeling his heart pounding in his chest, every beat a reminder of the betrayal he believed was real. He looked at them both, eyes wide with desperation and a flicker of something broken. “You don’t understand. None of you understand. I’ve been… I’ve been made into a joke. He’s been doing this to me, and you all just believe him. You’re all blind.”

The silence that followed was thick and heavy, pressing down on all of them as they took in Jisoo’s words, his raw, exposed pain. Soonyoung reached out again, his hand shaking slightly. “Jisoo, please. We’re here for you. Let us help.”

But Jisoo just looked at them, his expression one of haunted anger, before he took a shaky step back. “Help? How can anyone help when the person who’s supposed to love me is the one tearing me apart? My own brother!!” His voice softened, but his gaze was sharp, piercing. “I just… I thought I could trust him. But he’s turned me into a stranger in my own life.”