Stranger From Hell

Chapter 16- Inner demon

"It's not so hot today, isn't it?" Moon Jo said, glancing at me as we walk side to side with my bag on his shoulder. Earlier on, I keep on telling him that I can carry it myself as it is not that heavy compared to the last time but he insist, so I let him be.

Moon Jo also insisted that he should send and pick me up everyday after work, saying that I'm not safe and that I needed his protection. He also added that he won't forgive himself if anything were happened to me.

I swear I was blushing when I heard that, I mean anyone would.

No one ever said that to me, not even Jieun.

Speaking of Jieun, we still text each other but we rarely called or see each other anymore. We became distant.

"Jong Woo-ssi?"

"Hmm?"

"How was your sleep today?"

"Not so good. I've been having nightmares ever since I moved into the studio. At first I thought it would go away, but it didn't."

"What did you dream of?"

"Well In the dream, I saw my mother gets beaten by my father. It was really terrifying... I, I just want it to stop."

I told Moon Jo about my past, about how abusive my father was. I was so traumatised when I was a younger that I needed to see a therapist. But as days and years goes by, I eventually forgotten everything that had happened. It's like the memory had been deleted from my mind.

But now, the past is back to haunt me.

Moon Jo stopped walking and held my hands as he looked deep into my eyes,

"Maybe the dream is trying to tell you something."

"What?" I was confused at this point as I have no idea what is he trying to say.

"The dream. The dream is trying to make you remember your past, the real you."

"But....But I'm scared."

"Jagi, there's no need to be scared. I will always be there for you."

That's all I needed to hear.

For someone to be there for me.

I nodded, earning a smiled from him.

Moon Jo then walked up to me slowly and pulled me closer to him wrapping his arms around me. His embrace was warm, and his big, strong arms seemed very protective when wrapped around my frail body. The world around me melted away as I squeezed him back, not wanting the moment to end.

*

When I arrived in the office, everyone was busy and their eyes were focusing on the computer screen. No one noticed me and everyone was dead silence, not until byeong min noticed me.

"Jong Woo, you're late again." he said, turning his chair to face me.

"Don't be so harsh on him, he probably had a rough night as well." Yoo Jeong backing me up, smiling at me before continuing doing her work.

I heard Byeong Min scoffed as he shook his head in disbelief. I could tell that he jealous because of the attention that I was gaining from the other co-workers ever since I joined the company as an intern. Byeong Min is unfriendly, uncooperative and very unhelpful. He was supposed to teach and guide me on how to do my work but instead, he did his own thing and avoided any interactions with me.

Everyone in the office knows that he has a crush on Yoo Jeong but the feeling was obviously non-mutual as she rejected him when he confessed to her once, in a restaurant when everyone were having dinner together. Not a smart move.