Incident (3)
Rain droplets clung to the tips of her thoroughly soaked hair, dripping off with soft plips and plops. It wasn't just her hair. Even from her trembling fingertips, huddled small and limp, the water gathered and fell.
Hyeon Ha-yeon stood before me looking like a drowned rat.
She called my name again in a quivering voice.
"...Oppa."
I'd been a bit dazed from chugging that beer too fast, but her voice snapped me back to reality.
"Ha-yeon, why'd you come out in this rain... No, come in first."
Her socks were soaked through too, leaving clear wet footprints on the floor. She'd clearly been out in it for a while.
Her thin clothes clung tightly to her body, outlining her curves in stark detail. I spotted the lines of her underwear and hurriedly grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her.
She was shivering hard—must've been freezing.
"...Ha-yeon, go wash up first. I'll get you some clothes."
Hyeon Ha-yeon just stared at me with trembling eyes, making no move to stand.
If she caught a cold like this, it'd be a disaster.
I pulled her up and shoved her into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
I raised my voice so she'd hear through the door.
"I'll leave clothes out, so hurry up and shower."
As I rummaged for something she could wear, I heard the sound of running water. Good, at least she was washing up.
Rumble.
Outside, the downpour raged on, the sky flashing wildly.
I couldn't fathom why she'd come here in the middle of recording sessions.
There had to be a reason she'd shown up at my door drenched to the bone.
This morning's retirement rumor had already cracked her mentally. I'd barely calmed her down and sent her back to the studio when Lee Ji-yeon's ambush hit—and I'd completely forgotten about it amid the chaos.
Such a huge commotion in the same building. It was only a matter of time before it reached Hyeon Ha-yeon's ears.
The rumors about me and Lee Ji-yeon might've been the final blow to her fragile state lately.
Cold sweat trickled down my back. My head spun with worries bubbling up from deep inside.
...First things first, I had to take care of the Hyeon Ha-yeon right in front of me.
I pondered sizes while picking out clothes for her and finally found something: the couple pajamas Lee Ji-yeon had bought. The owner barely wore them, so they were practically new.
The loose fit might let me pass them off as something I just had lying around.
"Haa..."
A deep sigh escaped me.
After all that self-recrimination, here I was, scheming an obvious lie first. Pathetic.
Maybe I needed a good scolding to snap out of it...
I couldn't send her off in wet clothes, so I'd dry them first. I grabbed a basket for her stuff, tossed in the pajamas, set it by the bathroom door, knocked, and said,
"I'll be in my room. Clothes are right here—put 'em on when you're done."
Assuming she'd heard, I went to my room and flopped onto the bed.
No matter how I sliced it, Hyeon Ha-yeon wasn't in her right mind.
The rain was pouring like that, but she hadn't even tried to take shelter.
As I mulled over her situation, a knock came from the bathroom—she must've finished showering.
"...All done?"
I cracked the door open. There she stood, in the pajamas, a towel draped over her wet hair.
I sat her down in the living room and brewed her a hot cup of tea. I shook out her wet clothes, hung them to dry, and settled beside her.
Hyeon Ha-yeon stared blankly at the cup in her hands.
I chose my words carefully and spoke softly.
"...Ha-yeon, you warm enough?"
She nodded slowly, eyes still fixed on the tea.
It felt strange seeing her so silent—she usually responded right away.
But she was reacting, at least, so she seemed open to talking.
Gauging her response, I ventured carefully,
"...Ha-yeon, mind if I ask what brought you here soaked like this?"
She fiddled with her cup as if pondering, then set it down and turned slightly toward me.
Our eyes met.
Her gaze was lost, shaking deep and dark enough to swallow the light itself.
It reminded me of the hero from my past life.
I flinched and averted my eyes.
Hyeon Ha-yeon isn't the hero, I repeated desperately to myself.
"...Oppa."
I steeled myself again—she isn't the hero—and took a deep breath, meeting her eyes once more.
She reached out quietly.
A plea to hold her hand.
I extended mine slowly.
Before I could grasp hers, she seized it fiercely, interlocking our fingers and clamping down tight.
"Ugh..."
I let out an involuntary groan at the sudden grip.
Staring straight into my eyes, she said,
"...Where's the lock?"
Her gaze no longer wavered.
Caught off guard by the abrupt question, I glanced away.
She'd asked about the chastity belt this morning too, and I'd brushed it off.
Needed to do the same now.
Gauging her mood, I replied,
"...In my room."
She paused at my answer, then tightened her grip.
My hand bent slightly, but it didn't hurt—yet.
Our eyes met again.
My lie must've shown; I tried to twist away, but her hold kept me pinned.
Her voice dropped lower.
"...Oppa, what's your relationship with Ji-yeon unnie?"
And there it was—she'd heard the rumors.
Sweat beaded on my palm.
Lie or confess...?
Honesty was best. No way she hadn't heard. A lie would shatter her trust.
But the truth might break her worse—and could I even console her then?
In the end, I waffled with something in between.
"...Right now, there's nothing between us."
She squeezed harder at my words, so tight my fingers went numb and started to ache.
Where did a delicate hand like hers get that strength?
I gritted my teeth against the pain as she stared at our hands and said,
"...Oppa, does your hand hurt?"
It was absurd—she was the one crushing it.
I forced calm through the pain.
"...It's fine."
It wasn't. My wrist was twisting, strength draining, pain building.
She met my eyes again.
"...Oppa, it hurts so much..."
"...Huh?"
She tightened further, continuing,
"Every time you lie to me... my heart hurts so much..."
My knuckles screamed.
I yanked my arm, but her grip held fast.
"Urgh..."
She eased up for a split second and said,
"...Oppa, do you know what I hate most...?"
I tried to pull free, but she locked her fingers again, twisting my wrist lightly.
Panicking, I looked up—our eyes locked.
That familiar gaze.
"...Lies."
She crushed down with all her might.
"Grraaagh!"
Pain exploded out of me in a groan.
Ignoring it, she squeezed harder.
"...You said you'd make me succeed, but what if you run away?"
"What if I get in the way of what you're doing?"
"...What if you get disappointed in me and throw me away...?"
"I've let it all slide so far..."
Her voice rose, belying her calm face.
I thrashed to push her off, but she pinned me down in an instant, even my legs trapped.
No resistance left.
"Guh... Ha-Ha-yeon... stop, I was wrong..."
I gasped her name desperately, but she ignored me.
"...I'll make you hurt just as much as I have."
She released one hand, grabbing my left pinky, and said,
"...Just endure a little."
I tried to stop her as she gripped my finger calmly.
"N-No—"
She bent it slowly with force.
"KRAAAAAGH!"
Cold sweat poured as the agony intensified.
"Ha-Ha-yeon... stop, I'm sorry... AAAAARGH!"
White-hot pain blinded me, cutting off my words.
She clamped a hand over my mouth and whispered in my ear,
"...Oppa, just endure it a little. ...I endured too."
"Mmmph!"
My free hand clawed at hers, but it wouldn't budge. Her strength was unreal.
Staring into my eyes, she said,
"...Once."
Crack.
"MMMMMPH!"
My finger snapped in the wrong direction.
I nearly blacked out.
But she twisted it again, jolting me back.
Rumble...
Lightning flashed outside.
Her punishment wasn't over yet.