The next evening, the rooftop was unusually quiet.
The city lights stretched endlessly beyond the rusted railings and the warm summer air carried the faint smell of cigarette smoke. Jongwoo stood near the edge, one hand wrapped around a can of beer, his expression distant.
He had come up alone.
Or at least, he thought he had.
The metal door creaked open behind him.
Jongwoo turned slightly and saw Seojoon stepping out onto the rooftop, hands tucked into his pockets. He looked hesitant for the first time since moving into Eden, as though even he was starting to understand that some boundaries in this place were better left untouched.
"I figured you'd be here," Seojoon said quietly.
Jongwoo took another sip of beer and looked away.
"So?"
Seojoon walked closer, stopping a few feet away. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
Jongwoo frowned. "Why wouldn't I be?"
Seojoon opened his mouth, then paused. He thought about Moonjo's words from the morning, the way he had looked at him- smiling, but with something cruel buried underneath.
"That guy," Seojoon started carefully, "your boyfriend... there's something wrong with him."
The words had barely left his mouth when Jongwoo's expression hardened.
His grip on the can tightened.
"You don't know him."
Seojoon sighed. "I know enough. He's been watching me since I moved in. And now he somehow knows things I never told anyone."
Jongwoo turned fully to face him. His face was unreadable, but his eyes had darkened.
"You're overthinking."
"No, I'm not." Seojoon stepped closer. "Listen to me.
Last night, he followed me downstairs after I left the rooftop. I heard footsteps behind me. He was listening to my call with my mother."
That made Jongwoo freeze.
Just for a second.
But Seojoon noticed.
"You know he's capable of that, don't you?" Seojoon's voice lowered. "You know I'm not lying."
Jongwoo looked away.
The silence between them stretched too long.
Then—
The rooftop door slammed open.
Both of them turned sharply.
Moonjo stood there.
He was smiling.
But this time, the smile didn't reach his eyes at all.
It was worse than anger. Worse than shouting.
It was calm.
The kind of calm that came before something terrible.
"Jagiya," Moonjo said softly, his voice almost affectionate. "I've been looking for you."
Jongwoo's throat went dry.
Seojoon stepped back instinctively, but Moonjo's gaze snapped to him instantly.
That smile widened.
"I thought I told you to stay away from him."
The temperature seemed to drop.
Seojoon swallowed but forced himself to speak. "I can talk to whoever I want."
YOU ARE READING
Stranger From Hell
Non-Fiction"Why do you keep calling me jagiya, huh? you have a crush on me or something?" I shouted, still pointing my finger at him. Everyone was silent and shocked, no one dares to speak anything as Moon-Joo was standing right infront of me. "You have no ide...
