MANIAC | SEOKSOO FF ✔️

PART 22

One evening, Jisoo sat in the corner of the living room, his phone resting on his knee as he stared at it, his fingers itching to dial his mother’s number.

It had been weeks since he’d last heard her voice, and the ache of missing her, of missing that familiar comfort, was almost unbearable.

He hesitated, glancing toward the hallway where Seokmin was finishing up something in the kitchen.

Maybe, if he could make it quick, just a simple "hello," it would be enough to soothe the loneliness that was creeping in like a shadow.

Taking a shaky breath, he tapped his mother’s number, bringing the phone to his ear, but before it could even ring, a soft voice cut through the silence.

“Bluebell,” Seokmin’s tone was light, almost gentle, but it carried an edge that made Jisoo’s blood run cold. He turned to find Seokmin standing in the doorway, watching him with that unreadable gaze that made Jisoo’s heart stutter. “Who are you calling?”

Jisoo swallowed, quickly lowering the phone from his ear. “I… I was just… I wanted to call my mom. It’s been a few weeks, and she’ll be worried…”

Seokmin stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Jisoo’s face. His smile was small, almost kind, but his eyes held a darkness that Jisoo couldn’t ignore. “Didn’t I tell you?” He walked closer, reaching out to gently take the phone from Jisoo’s hand. “No calls without me, Bluebell. You know that.”

Jisoo felt a pang of frustration, mixed with fear, building in his chest. He tried to keep his voice steady, his hands trembling slightly as he looked up at Seokmin. “It’s just my mom, Seokmin. She’ll worry if I don’t check in every now and then. Please… just a quick call?”

Seokmin’s hand lingered on Jisoo’s phone, his fingers tracing the edges before he closed his hand around it, holding it firmly. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll let her know you’re fine. Isn’t that enough?”

Jisoo clenched his jaw, a spark of anger rising despite the fear. “I’m not a child, Seokmin. I can call my own family… I shouldn’t need permission to do that.”

Seokmin’s expression softened, but his eyes hardened, a flicker of something dangerous glinting in them. He took a seat beside Jisoo, leaning close, his voice barely a whisper. “Bluebell, you don’t understand, do you?” He lifted his hand to gently tuck a stray strand of Jisoo’s hair behind his ear, his tone filled with a mock tenderness. “I know what’s best for you. And right now, you’re safe with me. The outside world… they don’t understand us, our connection. They’d only get in the way.”

Jisoo’s hands tightened into fists, his voice breaking as he whispered, “They’re my family, Seokmin. I can’t just… cut them off.”

Seokmin’s fingers brushed Jisoo’s cheek, his smile never faltering. “But they’re not here with you, are they? They wouldn’t understand you like I do. They wouldn’t know how to protect you… the way I can.” His tone grew sharper, his grip on the phone unyielding. “You only need me, Bluebell.... Just me... And I’d hate to see you hurt because you couldn’t understand that.”

A cold shiver ran through Jisoo’s spine, his resolve wavering as he felt the weight of Seokmin’s words settle over him. He looked down, his shoulders slumping in defeat. “Okay… I understand,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Seokmin’s expression softened once more, and he tilted Jisoo’s chin up, meeting his gaze with that same, unsettling warmth. “Good.” He placed a gentle kiss on Jisoo’s forehead, his fingers trailing down to rest on Jisoo’s shoulder. “Trust me, Bluebell. I’m all you need. Isn’t that right?”

Jisoo forced a nod, swallowing down the ache in his throat. “Yes… right.”

Seokmin’s smile widened, satisfied, as he leaned back, tucking Jisoo’s phone into his pocket. “That’s my good boy. Now, let’s get back to us, hmm? No distractions.”

Jisoo could only nod again, his heart heavy as he realized just how isolated he truly was, trapped in Seokmin’s grip, his connection to his family severed, piece by piece.