MANIAC | SEOKSOO FF ✔️

PART 19

I am soooooo into this story.. that I wrote this chapter on my way back on bus.. I was smirking like a psychopath writing this.... 🙂🙂

And My own self can't stop me for publishing this chapter...

Jisoo sat alone in Seokmin's apartment, his mind wandering as the silence stretched on.

It was rare for Seokmin to be away; he seemed to live his life around Jisoo's schedule, always available, always present with that warm, affectionate smile.

Jisoo couldn't deny that he appreciated Seokmin's attentiveness, his knack for knowing what Jisoo needed without him even asking.

But sometimes, something about Seokmin's endless devotion felt... overwhelming.

He sighed, glancing around the room. Without Seokmin's presence, the space felt oddly cold, like the warmth had drained out the moment Seokmin left.

Jisoo's gaze settled on the bookshelf in the corner of the room-a towering, dark piece filled with rows of neatly arranged books.

One in particular had always caught his eye, a heavy, blue velvet-covered volume that seemed out of place among the otherwise plain books.

Curiosity flared within him, and he found himself walking over to the bookshelf.

Seokmin had always been protective of that particular book, mentioning it was a religious text whenever Jisoo asked. He'd never opened it in front of Jisoo, always giving a vague smile and saying it was personal.

But now, with Seokmin gone, the pull of mystery was too strong to ignore.

Almost in a trance, Jisoo reached out, his fingers brushing against the soft blue velvet cover. He pulled the book from the shelf and carried it to the couch, sitting down and placing it on his lap.

The weight of it was surprising; it felt heavier than any book he'd ever held. Taking a deep breath, he opened the cover, expecting to see old-fashioned script or faded pages.

But what he saw made his heart stop.

The pages weren't pages at all. They had been hollowed out, meticulously carved to create a space within the book's shell. And nestled inside, filling every inch of the hollowed area, were photographs-countless photographs, each one showing a familiar face.

His face.

Jisoo's fingers trembled as he reached inside, pulling out a small stack of photos. The top one was from just last week-him and Seokmin having dinner in the backyard, candlelight casting a soft glow as Jisoo smiled at something Seokmin had said. Jisoo remembered that night vividly, but he didn't remember anyone taking photos.

He flipped to the next one, his breath catching as he saw a much younger version of himself. He was only fifteen in this photo, standing outside his old high school, a shy smile on his face as he talked to a friend. A chill ran down his spine as he flipped through more photos, each capturing different stages of his life, from his teenage years up to the present. Some were casual, moments he barely remembered-a day at the park, sitting by the river, laughing with friends. But others were private, moments he thought he'd spent alone.

"How...?" he whispered, his voice barely audible in the empty room. How could Seokmin have these? They'd only met six months ago. Jisoo's mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. Had Seokmin been following him, watching him all this time?

The more he looked, the more he noticed the unsettling details. Some photos were taken from angles that suggested they'd been captured in secret-a shadowed corner of a café, through the gap in a fence, outside a window. His skin crawled as he realized just how invasive some of these shots were. His private moments, the ones he'd thought were his alone, laid bare before him in a collection he never consented to.

He could feel his heartbeat pounding in his ears, his palms clammy as he clutched the photos, unable to tear his eyes away. The room seemed to close in around him, the walls pressing in as the weight of realization crashed over him. This wasn't love. This wasn't the sweet affection he'd thought it was. This was something darker, something obsessive and terrifying. And he had no idea just how deep it ran.

He noticed notes scribbled on the backs of some photos, written in Seokmin's neat, familiar handwriting. "Prefers vanilla lattes."
"Always carries a book."
"Smiles when he hears music."
Little details, things Jisoo hadn't even realized about himself. The more he read, the more he felt like he was staring into a stranger's twisted version of himself, a version crafted through years of watching, of studying him like he was some sort of prized possession.

With a surge of nausea, he placed the photos back into the hollowed-out book, snapping it shut and shoving it back on the shelf.

He stumbled to his feet, his mind spinning. How could he have been so blind? All those small, thoughtful gestures Seokmin had done for him-surprising him with his favorite snacks, knowing just the right songs to play, showing up exactly when Jisoo needed him-suddenly felt tainted, manipulative.

A sense of panic clawed at his chest. He needed to leave, to get out of this house and as far away from Seokmin as possible. But as he turned toward the door, the sound of footsteps reached his ears, muffled and steady, growing louder as they approached the front door. Jisoo froze, his breath catching as he heard the familiar jingle of keys. Seokmin was home.

He looked around desperately, his mind racing. He couldn't let Seokmin know he'd found the book. Forcing himself to calm down, he took a deep breath and sank back onto the couch, trying to steady his racing heart. He had to act natural, had to pretend he hadn't just uncovered the terrifying reality of the man he thought he'd known.

The door opened, and Seokmin stepped inside, a warm smile spreading across his face as he saw Jisoo sitting on the couch. "Hey, sunshine," he greeted, using the pet name. "I missed you."

Jisoo forced a smile, his heart hammering in his chest. "I missed you too," he replied, his voice barely steady. He could feel Seokmin's gaze on him, warm and affectionate, but now it felt suffocating, like he was trapped under a spotlight.

Seokmin walked over and sat beside him, reaching out to take his hand. "Did you have a good day?" he asked, his voice soft and caring. Jisoo's skin prickled at the contact, but he forced himself not to pull away.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice sounding distant even to his own ears. "I just... read some books, relaxed."

Seokmin's smile deepened, and he squeezed Jisoo's hand gently. "Good. You deserve to rest." He paused, his gaze drifting to the bookshelf, and for a terrifying moment, Jisoo thought he'd somehow noticed the book had been disturbed.

Seokmin's eye brows twitched for a second. But Seokmin's attention remained on him, his eyes filled with an intense, unsettling adoration.

"I've always wanted to protect you, Jisoo," Seokmin murmured, his voice low and earnest. "Ever since the day I first saw you... I knew you were special. You don't need to worry about anything as long as I'm here."

Jisoo's stomach twisted, a wave of nausea washing over him as he forced another smile. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice barely above a breath.

Inside, he was screaming.