00
IT'S ALL OVER
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Jiyul collapsed on one knee.
He continued to walk behind her, one hand buried in his pocket as the other gripped an unknown object. Seeing Jiyul weaken a couple of feet ahead of him, he let out a snicker before playing around with the object.
"Why are you running away from me?" Jiyul could almost sense the smirk plastered on his face.
Almost.
Clenching her chest, she attempted to use her other leg to help her across the bridge. Her chest tightened; breathing became more painful by the second. But all she could think about was running away.
Running away from him.
There was a time where she considered him a friend. But not anymore; those times were over.
"P-please," she hiccuped, her throat stinging from dehydration. "Just stop." Jiyul shook her head, her insides roiling with anger and frustration. But mostly exhaustion.
He chuckled, but there was no joy in it. "Oh, Jiyul," he said, "sweet, oblivious Jiyul." His footsteps did not become heavier, yet Jiyul knew he was close behind.
She was expecting him to speak further, yet the sounds of something being dragged across the railing filled the silence between them instead.
Before Jiyul could get the chance to react, a hand squeezed her shoulder and tugged her hood back. Feeling her head throb, Jiyul bobbed her head, not wasting any precious air to speak.
"What is it?" he asked her. A muscle twitched in his jaw. "Why are you not speaking?"
Why would I speak to you?
She raised a fragile finger and simply pointed at her chest.
"Ah," he said with realization. "Asthma problems." Reaching out to his pocket with his free hand, he took out a pump and shoved it in her hand. "Here. I'd like to talk before I take care of my... business."
Jiyul did not question his motives, quickly raising the pump into her mouth as she started to cough.
A few moments passed by as Jiyul regained her breath.
Changing her attention from her hands, Jiyul fixed his gaze on him. There was a sadistic glint in his eyes.
"You can talk now?"
She arched her eyebrows together, her curiosity twitching and growing. Feeling her stomach churn, she mumbled out a "Yes".
His infamous smirk returned.
"Good," he mused, cupping her head in his hand. "Friend," he whispered.
"Friend?" she questioned in disgust. She managed to let out a cold, dry laugh. "Don't call me that."
"Indeed," he commented, "it does sound fair."
Silence.
He kept his other hand in his pocket as Jiyul raised her own to snatch his hand from her face.
"I trusted you."
"Mhm," he started. A rogue smile surfaced, slow and wicked. "Trust no one in your next life, darling. Make sure you make wise choices when it comes to making friends."
A pause.
"If there is any such thing as them."
