criminal love; jungwon

29

Jungwon walked home that night with a calm exterior, but inside, his mind was anything but. The anger simmered beneath his skin, an untamed beast clawing its way out. They had hurt Nanhee. They had cornered her, made her cry.

And that was unacceptable.

He clenched his fists in his pockets, replaying the scene in his mind. Nanhee, broken and vulnerable, telling him about the confrontation. The humiliation. The cruelty. It burned in his chest, fueling the fire of his resolve.

This wasn’t just about protecting Nanhee anymore. It was about justice. About making things right in a way that no one else could.

Jungwon knew what he had to do.

The next day at school, everything seemed normal. Students milled around the hallways, chatting and laughing. But Jungwon wasn’t paying attention to any of it. His eyes were locked on his targets—Minji, Hyejin, and Danielle. They huddled together near the lockers, whispering and giggling like nothing had happened.

Like they hadn’t broken someone.

Jungwon’s jaw tightened. He forced himself to relax, blending into the crowd as he made his way to class. He couldn’t afford to draw attention to himself. Not yet.

Throughout the day, he observed them, noting their routines, their habits. He learned which classes they had, where they liked to hang out during breaks. Every detail was cataloged, stored away for later.

By lunchtime, he had a plan.

That evening, Jungwon sat alone in his room, the faint hum of the streetlights filtering through his window. The room was dark, save for the soft glow of his laptop screen. He had pulled up articles, forums, anything that could help him execute his plan.

He knew the risks. He wasn’t naïve. But he also knew he couldn’t let this go. Not after what they did.

Jungwon leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. He thought about Nanhee—her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed. He thought about how happy she made him, how she had given him a reason to keep going when everything else felt pointless.

She deserved to be happy. To feel safe. And if he had to do something drastic to ensure that, so be it.

The next day, Jungwon put his plan into motion.

It started small. A misplaced textbook here, a stolen phone there. Minji and her friends were confused but brushed it off as bad luck.

Then things escalated.

Minji’s locker wouldn’t open one morning, the lock jammed with glue. Hyejin’s backpack disappeared during gym class, only to be found later, soaked in water. Notes were slipped into their desks, threatening and cryptic.

The fear in their eyes was palpable, and Jungwon relished it.

But it wasn’t enough.

He needed to end this.

Friday afternoon, the school was eerily quiet. Most students had gone home early, eager to start their weekend. But Jungwon lingered, waiting.

He knew Minji, Hyejin and Danielle would be at the gym, practicing for an upcoming performance. It was the perfect opportunity.

Jungwon made his way to the gym, his footsteps silent against the polished floor. He slipped inside, staying in the shadows as he watched them. They were laughing, oblivious to his presence.

He waited until they were alone.

When the last teacher left, Jungwon stepped forward, the echo of his footsteps catching their attention.

Minji turned, her smile fading when she saw him. “What are you doing here?”

Jungwon didn’t answer. He just stared at them, his eyes cold and unyielding.

Hyejin shifted nervously. “Is there something you want?”

“You hurt Nanhee,” Jungwon said softly, his voice devoid of emotion. “You made her cry.”

Minji scoffed. “So what? She deserved it.”

Jungwon’s jaw clenched. “No. She didn’t.”

Before they could react, Jungwon moved.

The next few moments were a blur of motion and sound—shouts, the scuffle of feet, the thud of bodies hitting the floor. Jungwon’s movements were precise, calculated. He didn’t stop until they were unconscious, lying in a crumpled heap.

He stood over them, breathing heavily. His knuckles were bruised, his heart pounding in his chest.

It was done.

Jungwon took a step back, surveying the scene. He knew he had to act fast. He couldn’t afford to leave any evidence behind.

He wiped his fingerprints from anything he had touched, making sure there were no traces of him. Then he slipped out of the gym, disappearing into the night.

By the time Jungwon got home, his hands were steady, his mind clear. He had done what needed to be done.

For Nanhee.

The next day, the news spread like wildfire. Minji and her friends had been found in the gym, dead. The school was in an uproar, the administration launching an investigation.

But Jungwon wasn’t worried.

He had planned for this.

And as he walked through the hallways, his gaze met Nanhee’s. She smiled at him, unaware of what he had done.

Jungwon smiled back.

Everything was going to be okay.

For her.