Extricate | KyuWoo ✅

Ch17

~Time skip: 1 week~

I excitedly clung to Sunwoo as small dogs and cats surrounded us. "They're so cute..." "Not as cute as you." My face flushed and my heart started to race. I wasn't sure if he was flirting or teasing, but it embarrassed me all the same. But I didn't exactly mind it either. I wanted to give my heart to Sunwoo, no matter how long it would take. I picked up a kitten then started to frown. It cutely meowed and I quickly put it down. Memories were resurfacing.

"Hey, Hyunjoon, it's a kitten."
"Eh, it's out here alone...Let's take it to a shelter."
"Wait, let's adopt it instead."
We ended up doing just that and welcomed the new member, Jeon, to our family. Jeon was the sweetest little thing and she loved us unconditionally. I started coming home to her running away from me then coming back after a while. She looked skinner as well. I changed her diet and did everything I could to get her back on track. I found her dead, curled up on her favorite bed, my bed. Hyunjoon claimed to know nothing about it. He killed her. I should've known then something was wrong with him.

"Changmin?" I jumped then tripped over a dog and fell onto my ass. "Woah, you alright?" He helped me up and we both checked on the dog I tripped over. "I'm alright..." "You were really spaced out. Are you sure you're okay? Do you just want to go home?" "No, I'm fine." The small kitten walked back over to me then rubbed its head against my leg. A tear slowly rolled down my cheek as I squatted down to pet him. Jeon didn't deserve to die that way.

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We held hands as he walked me to his favorite ice cream shop. "They're really nice people." I nodded then froze when I saw the building. "Chang?" "This place...?" "Yeah..." I slowly backed away then dashed down the block, away from it. I didn't like that place at all. "Changmin!" He caught me by my hood and held me back. "Do you not like ice cream?" I shook my head then felt him let go. "What's wrong...?" "Hyunjoon did something bad there..." "Then why didn't you just tell me?" "I was scared, okay?" He held my hands then kissed my forehead. "I'm sorry, but I won't know anything if you don't tell me." I nodded then felt him embrace me. "You want to go home?" "No..." His phone started to ring and he seemed reluctant to answer it. "Hello? I'm a bit busy...Does it have to be now? Got it. Bye." He seemed upset. "They need me at the office..." "I'll come with you." "You sure? It's not exactly a happy place for you." I nodded then linked his arm with mine. "I'll be okay."

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I sat at his cubicle as he worked with the others not too far away. "Hey, you're with Changmin again." "What's going on between you two? Is Changmin cheating on Hyunjoon?" "No, he left Hyunjoon...There's nothing between us..." I couldn't quite hear what they were saying, but I assumed it was about the work. I spun the chair around then felt it come to a sudden halt. "What gives..." My mouth and nose were soon covered and I started to feel drowsy. I soon passed out.

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The scent of wood burning roused me from my slumber and I immediately started screaming. Something in front of me had caught fire and had started to create a ring around me. I noticed my screams were being muffled by a gag. The room didn't look familiar at all. I started to cough as I inhaled the smoke. The door opened and revealed Hyunjoon. "Changmin, my sweet lover, why do you continue to run from me?" My answer came out muffled, stressing me out further. "Stop running away and I wouldn't have to take such drastic measures. I'm the only one for you. I know what's right for you."

I started to weep and cough more as the fire around me continued to grow. I was sweating as well. "Don't you ever think of running away from me ever again, Changmin. I will always find you and bring you home because this is where you belong. Thank you, for agreeing to love each other endlessly, Changmin." I didn't need any more convincing that Hyunjoon had completely lost his mind. I found it hard to breathe as my lungs were filling up with smoke. "Do you want to live?" I nodded. "Then, I want you to swear that you'll never leave me ever again. And it will be recorded."

I frantically shook my head. I'd rather die than have something like that hanging over me. I found it hard to focus as Hyunjoon walked closer. It was too hard to breathe. "Then die." My body had given up and closed my eyes. This was it. This was how he finally killed me. I felt my heart rate going slower than normal and soon a cool feeling was felt throughout my body. The idea of death was scary, but now that I'm experiencing it, it doesn't seem all that bad.

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It was completely dark and quiet, until muffled sounds grew louder and transformed into disgusting sobbing. It forced me to open my eyes then shield them as bright lights flooded my vision. I looked around for the one sobbing and was surprised to see Hyunjoon. "Hyunjoon?" He looked up at me and it was obvious that he hadn't slept a wink. "I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." He wouldn't stop crying, and it seemed to be disturbing others around us. "Hyunjoon, quiet down..." He quieted down as he wiped his face with the back of his hand. "Hyunjoon, I-" He suddenly grabbed my hand then looked me in the eye. "I need help..."

Shock was clearly present on my face as I repeated what he had just said in my mind. "I...There's something wrong with me. I just saw you lying there...I...my heart broke into pieces. I was killing you..." Tears continued to stream down his face as he held my hand tighter. "Please, I don't want to go to jail..." I felt torn as I wanted him locked away for everything he's done to me, but I also wanted him not to be and get the proper help he needed. "I'll help..." He hugged me tight as he silently wept into my side.