POISONED YOUTH: TWISTED

CHAPTER 19

"Well..."

Haechan let out a distressed sigh, ignoring Mark's teasing and the ridiculous wiggle of his eyebrows as he finally escaped into the comfort of his room.

For once, he wanted silence.

He threw his clothes into the laundry basket that had been piled up like a tower, making a mental note to be productive for once. After changing into a pair of baggy shorts, he dropped onto his bed, not caring that his hair was messy and tangled or that the cold air from the AC brushed against his bare skin.

He closed his eyes. That should have been enough to make him forget everything. Except it wasn't.

The trembling voice of the girl replayed in his head, over and over again. Her teary eyes. The fear in her expression. The way she had clung to his shirt while he stood between her and the man who had threatened her.

Haechan's eyes snapped open. His chest tightened. He sat up, suddenly feeling like the room had become too small.

He wanted to hold her, hug her, run his fingers through her hair and tell her that she was safe now. But he couldn't.

"Fuck."

He clutched his head as a sharp pain struck behind his temples, making him groan.

Then he heard it.

"Hyuck."

There it was again.

Her voice.

"Are you there?"

Haechan bit down on his lower lip, forcing himself to stay calm as he tried to control the emotions rushing through him.

"I just wanted to thank you."

He exhaled sharply and leaned against the headboard.

"Are you troubled? I can feel that you're stressed out."

Haechan closed his eyes.

This soulmate bond. He hated how it kept getting stronger. He hated how easily they could feel each other now. A little pain, a sudden rush of warmth, a shift in emotion—nothing seemed to stay private anymore.

They could feel the smallest prick of pain. They could hear each other's thoughts. They could reach each other without even being in the same room.

He hated it.

So why did his heart soften every time he heard her voice?

"Argh. She's trouble, Haechan," he muttered, ruffling his hair.

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay."

Haechan stared at the ceiling before finally answering.

"Everything's fine."