Seaside ✅

ㅁ14

I quietly waited in pain as the sound of faint sirens were heard. I had already looked around and saw nothing suspicious. What I failed to see was glass shards on the ground and ended up puncturing my skin. I sighed then slowly closed my eyes, letting tiredness consume me.

I woke up in a hospital bed with a new bandages on my ankle and a few band aids on my arms. "You're awake. We started to worry." "Why?" "Well, you slept for 2 days straight..." "Sir?" He hummed in acknowledgment while looking at papers. "How did I get here?" "Fire department." "Was there anyone else at the house?" "'Fraid not." It concerned me as Changmin and Sangyeon hadn't come back from investigating X. Maybe I shouldn't have trusted them. He rattled things off and I hardly payed him any mind as I wanted to know who wanted to kill me and knew I'd be in the room. "It has to be one of them...An outsider wouldn't have known, right...?"

It was quiet in the room and I had nothing to do. He said they'd keep me overnight just in case something were to go wrong despite the slim chance of anything actually happening. I worried about their safety as I haven't heard from either. The door opened and a nurse walked in. "Excuse me..." "Yes?" "There's someone I want to contact..." "Name and number and I'll do it for you." I told her Sangyeon's name and number then watched her leave. I wanted to leave.

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I was only partially conscious when I heard the door open and close. "You're asleep...that's fine I guess." Changmin...? I started to stir then heard a familiar tune being sung. He started stroking my hair which sent me back to my hardly conscious state, on the brink of sleep. "I know no amount of apologizing can undo what we did, but..." He went back to singing, but this time it was sadder with quiet sobs in between. Then I passed out.

I shot up in bed and looked around the room. I was alone. It was morning. Everything was quiet. I sat there, unsure of what to do. I wished this was real and that everything I've seen and heard was all a dream. I looked towards the table and saw my belongings. My slightly charred clothes, the key, my charred notes. It wasn't a dream, it was reality. A reality I no longer wanted to be in. The door opened and revealed the man from yesterday. "Well, you seem to be in good shape. We can send you home in a few hours. Who would you like to come get you?" My options were very limited, but then I made my decision.

"How are you feeling?" "Stressed. Like shit." He shook his head then briefly shook my shoulder. "You sound like you need a break. I'll take you somewhere fun." I felt I should be worried, but after everything that has gone on, this was the least of my worries. He pulled into a mini golf venue then helped me get situated with my crutches. "You know it's be hard for me to play." "Who said you were playing? We just came here to talk bud." The truth was that I did want to play.

I sat down and watched him hit the ball. "So, your boyfriend cheated while drunk and he often tells you that he still loves you. If you want my opinion, I believe he really does, but he's afraid to let go." "A blind man could even tell." "Then do you know why he's afraid to let go?" He hit the ball and it went into the hole. "Because he doesn't want to be lonely, obviously." "That's what it appears to be on the outside." He moved on the next one, leaving me confused. "Have you heard about the killings?" "Everyone has. They prefer to sweep it under the rug."

We chatted a bit more before he decided it was time to go. "I didn't think I'd feel relaxed from this. Thank you, Mr. Jo." "No problem kiddo."

I shouldn't have chosen
Mr. Jo that afternoon.