thirty-eight

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While the others were busy searching for Sana, the culprits were busy playing house.

The two had just finished buying groceries and were walking back toward the car, plastic bags rustling between them.

“I feel bad about hitting Nayeon-unnie,” the girl muttered. “I hope she wakes up soon.”

He glanced at her.

“You feel guilty because you’re not heartless. You’re not built for this.”

She scoffed.

“I just don’t get it,” he continued. “Why go this far just to get Tzuyu?”

“Because I love her,” she snapped. “I’ve told you that a hundred times.”

He stopped walking.
“Do you really love her,” he asked quietly, “or are you just doing what your cousin told you to do?”

She spun around, offended.
“What kind of question is that? Of course I love Tzuyu. I don’t need anyone to tell me who to love. And I’ll do anything to make her mine, at all costs.”

He stared at her like he didn’t recognize her anymore.

“That’s why you agreed to kidnap Sana,” he said. “That’s why you hit Nayeon. You’re hurting innocent people just to get what you want. Don’t you think that’s too much?”

“Stop bringing that up,” she snapped. “If Nayeon didn’t catch Mark, I wouldn’t have hit her in the first place.”

His shoulders slumped.
“You’ve changed,” he said softly.

She rolled her eyes and forced a laugh.
“Don’t get dramatic. It doesn’t suit you. You’re handsome, I know but this is cringy.”

“I miss the old you,” he said, ignoring her joke. “Your attitude changed. Your hobbies have changed. You drink now. You smoke. You do things you swore you’d never do.”

He looked straight at her.
“You’re becoming someone you’re not. You don’t listen anymore. Is that what you call love?”

“Love changes people,” she shot back. “And if you love someone, you do anything to get their attention.”

“That’s not love,” he said firmly. “That’s selfishness.”

She laughed.
“You’re saying love means hurting yourself? Letting them go? That’s absurd. Why would you let go of the one who makes you happy?”

“Because love is a sacrifice,” he answered. “It’s choosing their happiness over yours even if it destroys you.”

She stared at him, unimpressed.
“What exactly are you trying to say?”

He sighed deeply, like this conversation exhausted him.

“All the bad things you’re doing,who benefits?” he asked. “Not you. Not Tzuyu. Mark.”

He stepped closer.
“If you really loved Tzuyu, why kidnap Sana? Sana has nothing to do with her. You’re not sacrificing for love. You’re sacrificing for your cousin. And he’s using you.”

Her face hardened.
“So now I made a mistake helping Mark?” she snapped. “Do you have a problem with him? He’s helping me. You’ve been judging everything I do lately.”

She grabbed the grocery bags angrily.

“If you don’t like what we’re doing, then leave. No one’s forcing you to help.”

And with that, she walked away. He stayed where he was, watching her disappear.

A bitter chuckle escaped his lips.
“Why chase Tzuyu,” he whispered, “when I’ve been right here all along?”

He shook his head.
“I don’t want anything from you,” he murmured. “I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you… because I love you, idiot.”

Then he turned and walked the other way, alone.

Meanwhile, Mark stood beside the bed, staring at Sana as if she were something he owned. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Sana stirred and froze the moment she saw him.

“You,” she whispered, instinctively pulling away.

“Good morning,” Mark said softly, smiling in a way that made her stomach churn. “I was worried you’d sleep through everything.”

“You kidnapped me,” Sana snapped, slapping his hand away. “What kind of person does that and thinks it’s okay?”

His smile twitched.

“When I said I wasn’t interested in you,” Sana continued, voice shaking with anger, “I meant it. And after this? There’s nothing about you worth liking.”

Mark laughed under his breath.

“She chose her over me,” he muttered. “I don’t understand why.”

He stepped closer. “No one’s here, Sana,” he said quietly. “No one to interrupt us.”

Sana’s heart slammed against her ribs.
“Don’t touch me,” she warned, panic creeping into her voice.

“You don’t get to decide anymore,” Mark replied, reaching for her again.

Sana struggled, kicking and twisting, her breath coming out in broken gasps.

“Stop! Someone, please!”

He grabbed her wrists, his grip tightening.

“You’re mine,” he said, voice edged with obsession. “You always were.”

Tears spilled down Sana’s face as fear overwhelmed her.

Then, the door slammed open.

“Mark, what the hell are you doing?!"

He spun around just as the girl dropped the grocery bags and rushed forward, shoving him away with all her strength.

“Get away from her!”
She ripped off her jacket and wrapped it around Sana protectively, blocking Mark from view.

Sana looked up, shaking, eyes wide with disbelief.

“…You?”

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