"If you think Seungmin can save you," she said finally, "you're wrong. He's drowning too. Drugs were found in one of the clubs. Someone's after him. His contract with our company is about to end. Mr. Choi's panicking—and Seungmin's the one who'll pay for it."
My throat went dry.
"He didn't tell me," I muttered. Not because I didn't know—because I didn't want her to. Our issues were ours alone.
"Of course not," she replied. "You were never part of his war."
"So… what do you want from me?"
"Come with us. Before the end of the month."
"Give me time to think," I said.
"Don't take too long," she warned, standing. "You'll come with us—willingly or not. The only choice I'm giving you is whether you go on your own or are forced."
Then she left. The door clicked shut, and I felt smaller than I ever had before.
I swallowed a few painkillers and sank into the couch. My body ached, but my mind hurt worse.
I thought of Seungmin.
So he's struggling too? Good. Let him.
He made me suffer—now it was his turn.
---
The next morning, I went to the university. I wanted to leave behind at least one good memory before disappearing. Mostly, I wanted to see Chaewon.
The moment I entered the classroom, friends surrounded me. They asked if I was okay, said they had been worried, told me the guards wouldn't let them visit. My phone overflowed with hundreds of unread messages.
I apologized. They smiled.
"It's okay. You were sick," they said.
No one asked how it happened. Maybe they already knew. Maybe everyone knew how my father treated me.
Their smiles weren't care—they were pity.
By the end of the day, the weight of everyone's eyes made it hard to breathe. They stared as if I were a ghost.
At the basketball court, they approached again. Hands on my arm, my shoulder, my face.
"Does it still hurt, hyung?" someone asked.
"Stop touching me!" I yelled. "I'm fine!"
But my eyes betrayed me. They searched for him—Chaewon.
He stood at the back, quiet, watching. Sad. Maybe guilty.
I wanted to go to him. Say something. Anything. But my body refused.
So I sat and pretended to watch the game. He left early. Maybe he was offended. I kept my eyes on him until he disappeared.
That night, I told myself he was with Seokmin. Lies were sometimes the only painkillers that worked.