𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑛 / 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑛𝑔

S2 ch 51

Rafayel leaned in closer, his presence overwhelming. Jiwon could feel his breath ghosting over his lips, warm and steady. His own breath hitched, his body tensing. The proximity was suffocating, sending a shiver down his spine. His heart pounded erratically in his chest, confused by the conflicting emotions swirling inside him.

Jiwon swallowed hard and turned his head away, refusing to meet Rafayel’s gaze. But Rafayel didn’t pull back. Instead, he reached out, his fingers threading gently through Jiwon’s tousled hair, sliding down to trace the curve of his cheek. His touch was light, reverent, as if memorizing every detail of his face.

“Jiwon…” Rafayel murmured, his voice low, almost pleading. “It’s me.”

Jiwon’s breath stilled. He hesitated, his mind racing as a flicker of recognition sparked within him.

Rafayel…?

Memories surfaced like fragments of a broken mirror—moments too blurred to grasp fully but sharp enough to sting. His vision wavered as emotions crashed over him, an aching mixture of betrayal, sadness, and confusion. He had known this man. But the warmth of familiarity didn’t bring comfort. Instead, it felt like a knife twisting deeper into the wound of his lost past.

His throat tightened, and before he could stop himself, his eyes brimmed with tears—not of relief, but of anger and disappointment.

Rafayel’s expression softened as he saw the turmoil in Jiwon’s face. Without hesitation, he pulled the younger into his arms, wrapping him in a firm yet careful embrace. Jiwon stiffened at first, every muscle tense as if fighting against the contact. But Rafayel only held him tighter, one hand cradling the back of his head, the other stroking slow, soothing patterns against his back.

“Shhh… It’s okay,” Rafayel whispered against his ear, his voice laced with quiet reassurance. “I’m here.”

Jiwon didn’t push him away.

He didn’t fight.

He simply gave in.

His exhaustion weighed down on him like an anchor, dragging him into submission. He was tired—tired of resisting, tired of fighting, tired of trying to piece together a past that refused to make sense. So, just for this moment, he let himself lean into the warmth of Rafayel’s embrace, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest against his own.

The silence stretched between them, heavy yet strangely comforting. For the first time since waking up in this unfamiliar place, Jiwon allowed himself to rest.

But even as his body relaxed, his mind whispered a warning.

This wasn’t over.

-----

Later that night, Jiwon drifted into an exhausted sleep, still wrapped in Rafayel’s arms. For the first time since he had arrived on the island, he felt warmth, security—even if he didn’t want to admit it. Rafayel didn’t move, didn’t let go. He simply held him, his arms firm yet gentle, as if afraid Jiwon might disappear if he loosened his grip.

Hours passed, and the night deepened. The rhythmic sound of Rafayel’s breathing was the only thing breaking the silence of the room. But at some point, Jiwon stirred. His eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light filtering in through the curtains. He blinked groggily, realizing he was still pressed against Rafayel’s chest. The older man’s arms were still wrapped around him, his face peaceful in sleep.

Jiwon turned slightly, his gaze tracing the contours of Rafayel’s face. The strong jawline, the faint furrow of his brows even in sleep, the way his dark lashes fanned against his skin.

"Why me?" Jiwon whispered, his voice barely audible. "Why did you bring me here, so far away… where no one can find me?"

He sighed, a deep heaviness settling in his chest. He didn’t expect an answer. Not now, not while Rafayel was asleep. Maybe not ever.

Carefully, he untangled himself from the embrace, slipping out of bed. The cool air kissed his skin as he padded toward the bathroom, his bare feet making no sound against the floor.

The bathroom was luxurious—like everything in the mansion. A grand, deep bathtub sat in the center, surrounded by marble and gold fixtures. Jiwon walked over, turning on the hot water, watching as steam curled into the air. The scent of the lavender bath oil mixed into the water, creating a soothing aroma.

He slowly undressed, letting his clothes pool at his feet. Stepping into the bathtub, he lowered himself into the steaming water, a shuddering sigh escaping his lips as the warmth enveloped him. The heat seeped into his aching muscles, easing the tension in his body.

Curling up, he rested his forehead against his knees. His arms wrapped around himself as silent tears welled in his eyes. Everything was too much. The isolation, the unanswered questions, the suffocating presence of Rafayel, the strange familiarity he couldn’t understand. It was all crashing down on him at once. He sobbed quietly, his shoulders shaking with the effort to keep it contained.

The door creaked open.

Jiwon’s breath hitched, and he quickly wiped his face, but it was too late.

Rafayel stood in the doorway, yawning as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. His gaze flickered to Jiwon in the bathtub, eyes half-lidded from sleep but still sharp enough to notice the way Jiwon’s body trembled.

"Couldn’t sleep?" Rafayel murmured, stepping forward.

Jiwon stiffened, turning his face away. “Go back to bed.”

Instead of listening, Rafayel smirked. "Let me join you."

Jiwon’s head snapped up, eyes widening in alarm. "What—? No!"

Before he could protest further, Rafayel was already pulling off his shirt, his toned chest coming into view. Jiwon’s face turned red in an instant.

"S-Stop! Don’t!" he sputtered, sinking further into the water in an attempt to hide himself. His arms wrapped around his chest as if that would make him invisible.

Rafayel ignored him, swiftly discarding the rest of his clothing.

"Move over," he said casually, stepping into the bathtub.

Jiwon turned his head away, staring at the opposite wall as if his life depended on it. "I’m not looking!" he declared, face burning.

Rafayel chuckled as he eased into the water, stretching out comfortably. "You can look now."

Jiwon shook his head furiously. "No thanks."

Amused, Rafayel leaned closer, his lips curling into a teasing smirk. "Are you shy, Jiwon?"

Jiwon scoffed, still keeping his head turned. "I just don’t want to see your stupid face."

Rafayel hummed, tilting his head. "Really? Because you were staring at it pretty intensely earlier."

Jiwon’s entire body tensed. His heart skipped a beat. He snapped his head back toward Rafayel, eyes wide with panic. "You were awake?!"

Rafayel smirked, dragging a wet hand through his hair. "Maybe. Maybe not."

Jiwon groaned, sinking further into the water. "I hate you."

Rafayel chuckled, stretching an arm along the edge of the tub, his eyes darkening slightly as he watched Jiwon. "You say that… but you’re not running away."

Jiwon didn’t answer. He couldn’t.

Because Rafayel was right.

And that terrified him.

To be continued....