AFTERGLOW |CYJ

71

He went near his bike and leaned against it. Unease spread in his insides. He reached for the cigarette packet in his pocket, a lighter from his other. He pulled up a stick and lit it with crisp smoke emerging as he inhaled it. The night was silent, as if asking to be filled by the sound of her guitar.

He went down on the ground and plopped down defeated, once again. His back was slouched against the wheel of his bike. His bike was parked on the side stand, almost threatening to fall over his back. He wasn't afraid of that, if the bike fell on him because of his bad parking, it would break and not his back. He finished smoking one, then he smoked another, then another. While smoking he could almost hear Joohyun's voice again, taunting him "what you got there, hubby, won't you share?" but she was not there.

He pulled his phone up and checked the time. It was past three, dawn approaching. He was feeling cold, but he wasn't sleeping cozily in his bed. He rose from the ground and clocked his keys in. He turned the ignition on and rode forward with the burning cigarette between his lips. He looked like a dashing hero, or villain in his case. He went to her grave.

It was a chilling night. The middle of the burial ground. The coffin was forced open gruesomely, mud streaks pooled around her coffin. The top was slammed to the ground. A noticeable dent mark in the middle of the inner part of the top cover. Freshly printed mark of a hand on it. It was indeed her. He had expected it. He didn't know how to feel suddenly, happy that he wasn't hallucinating or anxious because she had risen back to the cruel world again.

He got on his bike and rode to the duplex unit. He got down the bike feeling dizzy. He followed the trail that led to the entrance, there were footprints that were imprinted on the pathway to the door. A few steps close to the door, the footprints disappeared and there was a big mark on the ground. It was the size of a small puddle. Then inches apart lay handprints, then it followed to the front door. Heeseung didn't need more clues than this. She had fallen to the ground and crawled to the front door for help.

Though he had just met her hours ago he felt nervous to meet her. Between him and her, there was no coffin but a door's length of distance separating him. His conscience was telling him to finish that packet of cigarettes he was clutching. His grip around it became tighter as he contemplated. He slowly stumbled back with his eyes fixed on the door, his eyes sharp as ever, but a smile lifting up his face. He was meeting his best friend, after days.

He had so many things to tell her, so many things to confront her. For not reaching her apartment earlier that day. He shrugged the feeling with another cigarette, forcing his lungs to breathe in the smoke to calm down his nerves. It was as if they had awoken for her again. He threw the cigarette end leaving an inch still flaming with a spark to the ground and headed to the front door. He eased inside his own home. He felt like a burglar in his own home, but he didn't care. The living room was lit, the first floor was lit too but the rooms were still dark. He guessed that she would be in Sunghoon's room. He turned straight and broke in.

Hearing the rushed footsteps, there was a sudden ruffling noise in the room. She was laying next to Sunghoon adoring him in his sleep. When she heard him entering the room, she rose up from the bed immediately. She grabbed the gun in the slightly pulled open nightstand drawer and held it pointed at Heeseung.

His smile ceased when he saw her sharp stance threatening to shoot if he stepped forward. His best friend didn't joke. She did things if she agreed to do them. Even shoot, if it felt like the right thing to do. She held it steady with her forefinger slowly curling around the trigger pin.

Heeseung had never felt so scared yet comforted at the same time. He slowly raised his hands up surrendering himself to her. He bravely took a step forward, a step. He saw fear in newly bloomed amber irises. The corner of eyes crinkled firmly, holding strong her fierce gaze on him at the same time. He wanted to tell her, do it, but his softened gaze was enough.