The day had been quiet—eerily so. That’s how I liked it. Silence made everything sharper: the whisper of wind through the alleyways, the rhythmic hum of traffic, the muffled chatter of pedestrians. It made the city mine.
And then he came crashing in, shattering my peace like glass under a hammer.
I turned the corner, and there he was—wild-eyed, disheveled, and stumbling like a man escaping a nightmare. He nearly collided with me, gripping my arms with trembling hands, his face contorted in desperation.
“Help me!” he gasped, his voice hoarse. “Someone—someone locked me in a basement! Blindfolded me! Starved me! I—” He broke off, choking on his own words, panic spilling out of him like water through a cracked dam. “I barely escaped. Oh god, I thought I was going to die!”
I tilted my head, watching him with mild curiosity. His clothes were torn, his face pale, his body trembling with adrenaline. He looked like he’d clawed his way out of hell. For a moment, I almost felt bad for him.
Almost.
“And the voice,” he whispered, his voice quivering. “I’ll never forget that voice. It was cold, mocking, like they were enjoying it”
Ah. There it was—the realization dawning in his eyes. Recognition hit him like a freight train, and his expression twisted from terror to something worse. His hands dropped from my arms as he stumbled back, shaking his head in disbelief.
“No,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “No, it can’t be. It—” His breath hitched, and his eyes locked onto mine, wide with horror. “Jeongin?”
I smiled—just a little. Enough to make him understand.
The color drained from his face, and he staggered back another step, his body trembling like a cornered animal. “It was you,” he whispered, his voice cracking. “You did this to me.”
“Jihoon,” I said softly, letting his name roll off my tongue like silk. “You’re making a scene.”
His breath quickened, his chest heaving as he looked around, his eyes darting to the passersby who barely glanced our way. The city didn’t care. They never did.
“You’re insane,” he spat, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and rage.
I tilted my head, feigning a look of hurt. “Is that any way to talk to your friend?”
“You’re not my friend!” he shouted, his voice breaking. “You’re a monster You locked me in that basement, blindfolded me, starved me for—”
“5 days,” I interjected smoothly, correcting him. “Let’s not exaggerate, Jihoon.”
His hands balled into fists, his whole body vibrating with suppressed anger. “You tortured me!”
I stepped closer, and he flinched, his back hitting the cold brick of the alley wall. “Tortured?” I mused, my voice calm, almost thoughtful. “No. torture is intentional. What I did was... exploratory.”
His face twisted in confusion and anger. “Exploratory?! What the hell is wrong with you?”
I leaned in, close enough to see the fear swimming in his eyes. “You’re always so confident, Jihoon. So sure of yourself. I wondered what you’d be like stripped of all that. Vulnerable. Helpless.” I smiled faintly, my eyes narrowing. “It was fascinating.”
“You’re sick,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
“Perhaps,” I said, shrugging. “But I learned something valuable. You’re not as strong as you think you are.” My voice dipped lower, colder. “You’re breakable.”
His breath hitched, and for a moment, I thought he might actually cry. The sight sent a flicker of amusement through me.
“Why?” he choked out, his voice raw. “Why me?”
I straightened, smoothing my jacket as though this were just another casual conversation. “Because you were there,” I said simply. “And because I could.”
He stared at me, his mouth opening and closing like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Finally, he pushed past me, his steps unsteady as he stumbled into the crowded street. I didn’t stop him. I didn’t need to.
He wouldn’t tell anyone. He wouldn’t dare.
I watched him go, a faint smile playing on my lips. The city buzzed around me, oblivious as always. Jihoon might think he was free now, but the truth was... he’d never stop looking over his shoulder.
And that was the best part.
_
I'm so busy with my school and it's exam season so I'm not able to update much 😔
i have a lot of stories in my draft so I'm gonna post it until i get time to write a new one:)
