Taewon entered his apartment, shoulders heavy, mind restless.
He set his keys down and went straight for a glass of water, gulping it in one breath.
Yet, no matter how much he tried to ignore it, the fragile image of Jihyun wouldn't leave his sight the thin frame, the dark circles beneath his eyes, the way his body seemed to be carrying invisible weights.
Placing the empty glass on the shelf, Taewon muttered to himself,
"What are you up to, Jihyun?
The more I run from you, the more you
follow me."
As he shacked his head,
"No. The Jihyun I knew I left him long ago. I locked him away. There's no him anymore."
He opened his laptop, slipped on his glasses, forcing himself to focus, but the questions clawed at the back of his mind.
(On the other side of the wall)
Jihyun sat quietly on his couch, bag still in hand. His chest rose and fell unevenly. Taewon he's here. He's living here.
What do I do? Should I ask for forgiveness? But what if he doesn't?
But I mean nothing to him?
Not even a stranger anymore, nothing.
His head began to ache, vision blurring. Clutching his temples, he whispered,
"I'll end it. Yes. That's the only way Jihyun.
I don't matter to anyone. I'm nothing."
He threw his bag aside, but just then, the doorbell rang.
Startled, he pulled himself up, collected his delivery, and returned to the couch.
His thoughts felt blank, like a fog had lifted for a moment.
Taking his medicine first, he ate, then stretched out on the couch, turning the TV on, staring aimlessly at the screen.
(At Evening )
Jihyun walked back from the nearby CVS with groceries in his arms.
As he approached his floor, he froze. Someone stood at Taewon's apartment door, knocking politely.
A well-dressed female Omega, elegant, beautiful. The door opened, and Taewon's calm voice drifted out, too familiar, too gentle.
"Come in," He said. She smiled, stepping inside. The door closed.
Jihyun's fingers tightened around the grocery bags, his body stiff.
He stood motionless until a guard passed by, lightly shaking his shoulder.
"Sir? What happened?"
"Nothing,"
Jihyun murmured, forcing a smile.
The guard offered to carry the bags, but Jihyun quickly took them back, whispering a thank you before walking into his own apartment.
Setting the groceries on the counter, he muttered,
"Probably his lover. Who else would come dressed like that, this late?"
He pulled out eggs, boiled rice, and fried them quietly.
The sound of sizzling oil made him wince the memory of burning his hand while frying eggs for the first time, and Taewon rushing him to the hospital that morning.
His care back then and now, the same Taewon lived next door, not even thinking about whether Jihyun ate or not.
A faint smile flickered on his lips as he sat down at the dining table, eyes drifting toward the closed door across the hall.
But as silence stretched, the old fear clawed its way back.
The accident had left him unable to bear empty spaces. His heartbeat quickened, his head throbbed. Chopsticks shook in his grip.
"It's okay. There's no one here but me. If something happens I'll run to Taewon. I'll beg him to help me" He said relaxing himself.
But the fear only grew, suffocating.
He dropped the chopsticks, stumbled into his room, and buried himself beneath the blanket.
Grabbing his phone, he dialed his psychologist. His voice trembled as he explained the fear, the silence, the thoughts.
The doctor's calm tone guided him.
"Jihyun, take your medicine first."
"I did," he whispered.
"Have you thought about ending your life again?"
A long pause. Then, "Yes."
"Why?"
Jihyun's voice cracked.
"Because he lives here too, but he doesn't care. He doesn't even see me as a stranger. I think I don't deserve to live. I want to" His words broke off.
The doctor stayed patient, soothing him, keeping him talking until his breathing slowed. Without realizing, Jihyun drifted into sleep, phone still beside him.
(Meanwhile, in the apartment next door)
Taewon sat with the Omega girl. She leaned closer, lips brushing his as they kissed. But in the middle of it,
Jihyun's face pierced his thoughts, his fragile figure replacing hers. Taewon was forcing himself to focus on her but Jihyun was not leaving his mind .Taewon pulled back suddenly.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly.
"I'm sorry you should go home,"
He said, stepping away.
"But we just"
"Please. I'm not feeling well."
His tone was final.
Though confused, she picked up her bag and left. The door clicked shut, and Taewon sank onto the bed.
Hands tangled in his hair, his head pressed to his knees. His chest ached, his mind circling the same question.
Jihyun why can't I let you go?