"Tell me, what do you know of Dr. An Jisu?" Jiwoo set his phone down on the desk to record the conversation. Seohyun took a long sip of her brewed coffee; her eyes relaxed as Jiwoo sent her a pointed gaze. The once welcoming office seemed to be engulfed by a stiff atmosphere.

"I've known her since Med School. I believed her to be an excellent surgeon, yet she's still very carefree and bubbly." Seohyun felt chills whirring in her body as she reminisced the wholesome moments she shared with Jisu. Knowing her for so long, it felt wrong to turn away from her. But Seohyun knew her friendship with Jisu shouldn't be a barrier to do the right thing.

"Jisu and I operated on a patient, Kwon Junhae. Nurse Kang was tasked with keeping the foreign objects found during the procedure. However, Dr. An somehow took this job into her hands. Thus, the bullet found in Mr. Kwon's body was lost. Afterward, I found the bullet in her office as I was going to pass a medical report on her desk." Seohyun recounted for hours of her suspicious interactions with Jisu.

The crime investigator could only listen in interest at every detailed info Seohyun testified. Perhaps it was his own bias that Dr. An had operated on him and had been so friendly. But Jiwoo knew better than to trust anyone from the hospital. Especially with a mole working around the clock. Looks indeed, can be deceiving.

"Thank you, Seohyun, for sparing time for a little interrogation." Jiwoo nodded in gratitude, picking up his phone to end the recording. Seohyun briefly returned the pleasantries, accompanied by a curt bow.

Just as she stood to leave his office, Jiwoo clasped his fingers around her wrist. A series of electricity drifted in her nerves from where he held her. It was firm, yet Seohyun felt her hand going numb from the warmth of his palm pressed on her skin. She slowly shifted to face him, attempting to mask her flustered appearance.

She was met with the notorious smirk laced on his lips. Jiwoo perked an eyebrow, delighted by her ruffled expression. It seems clear to me she lacks in the dating scene. Well, she is a doctor after all.

"I'll treat you to lunch. Come," Jiwoo said, a mesmerizing charm lingering in the tone of his voice. He grabbed the long overcoat hauled over his chair before swiftly ushering Seohyun out with an arm smoothed on her back.

Caught off guard, Seohyun could no longer protest as he steered her out of the office. A cool breeze circled the air and bit at her cheeks as they exited the law firm. The sun hid under the cotton of clouds hanging in the sky. It was a sullen day, but Seohyun could only feel a gentle warmth tugging at her chest. They walked alongside each other, Jiwoo guiding her with a hand caressed on the small of her back.

When they stopped at the edge of a road, Seohyun took the chance to steal a glance at him. Looking up, she watched as his confident eyes squinted at the road ahead of them, then her gaze faltered to his mouth curling slightly to a small grin.

His lips parted slightly to release a whiff of cool air, before residing in their usual place as a mischievous smirk. "Seohyun, if you were hungry for another kiss, you could've told me earlier." She snapped her head away, scowling. "What? You didn't think I caught you staring?" He laughed, before ushering her to cross the street.

"As if you're a good kisser," she murmured, fully aware of the blatant lie she spewed. The truth was, Jiwoo was great at kissing. With the experience he has had, it's probably at the top of his résumé.

"Articles 307-312 of the Penal Code describe various 'crimes against reputation,' including defamation through insult. The publication of 'false factual statements' which damages the reputation of others carries a penalty of up to seven years' imprisonment and a fine." Seohyun pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a migraine stir in her head at the laws Jiwoo was prattling on. "C'mon Seohyun, you and I both know you're blabbering on nonsense."

She could only shoot him a glare as if it was deadly enough to kill him. What else could she do? She was far from willing to admit the truth. That Jiwoo Fucking Park was a great kisser.

After a couple more minutes of walking, Jiwoo finally led her to a restaurant that illuminated amidst the despondent weather and dreary sky. Holding the door open, he let Seohyun in like the gentleman he believed he was.

Entering the restaurant, Seohyun observed the interior. It had a modern feel to it, with black stools lining the bar on the far left and warm light bulbs suspended from above. It wasn't void of customers, but neither was it packed. The walls were a creme color, contrasting the blackened floor. Potted succulents and plants indulged every corner with every shade of green and striking shapes.

Seohyun couldn't remember the last time she went out to even a mere cafe; she felt like an uncultured swine living underneath a rock.

They took their seats by the vast window that revealed the crowd of people bustling in the lively streets of Seoul. In the center of the wooden table, a sleek grill sat there, charcoal in color. "What would you like?" Jiwoo piped, eyes briefly scanning the menu in his hands. Out of nowhere, Seohyun felt annoyed, wondering how many women he brought to this place.

"You pick for me; you seem to know this place better than I do."

"How surprising, looks like Seohyun trusts my taste?"

Jiwoo called on a waiter, and Seohyun's eyes slowly widened at the list of meats he was ordering.

Pork belly, Seasoned ribs, Sirloin... are we even still eating for two?

Jiwoo thanked the waiter before turning back to Seohyun as if his generous order didn't do any damage to his savings. "This is one of the best Korean bbq places around. I'm surprised you haven't been, Eunho and I eat here whenever we feel like it." Jiwoo commented, trying to distract himself from the massive hit his wallet was about to take.

"I'll take your word on it," Seohyun remarked with a grin, selfish relief stirring as she noted Jiwoo hadn't brought a flock of women here every time he had a date. Wait, a date? No... should I? No, I won't ask. "You ordered a ton of stuff, are we waiting for someone else? Or..."

Jiwoo shrugged his shoulders. "I figured you seemed the type to eat like a goblin." He smirked, taking off the pristine overcoat and delicately placing it away. You work too hard. I just want to see you relax for a while.

Seohyun scoffed, glaring at Jiwoo. "How dare you! Don't you have anything else better to do than pick on me?" she sneered, teeth baring from her innocent lips as if she transformed into a wolf ready to tear into him. Jiwoo propped an elbow on the edge of the table, leaning his head on the knuckles of his hand.

"Ah, what can I say? I like the way you look whenever I tease you." Seohyun opened her mouth, but her tongue was tied in a knot. She felt her cheeks tingling, and she could only silently thank the waiter for arriving on cue to save her from further embarrassment. "Ah, finally," Jiwoo beamed, sliding his hands together as he looked down at the different cuts of raw meat before him.

Seohyun switched the grill on, and Jiwoo snatched the tongs before she could. "I'll be your chef for today." Seohyun tilted her head to the side, a confused look glazed over her face.

(Since when were you ever this nice?)

(You're always too naive to see how much I like you)

Seohyun decided against fighting over it since she was already dying to eat. She rested her chin on her hand and watched in amazement as Jiwoo laid the slices of pork belly on the grill, sizzling on contact. She gulped, trying to keep her mouth shut from the drool that was threatening to spill from the corner of her lips.

She watched him cook the Samgyeopsal, beyond the hazy smoke from the grill, his eyes focused on the strips of pork belly crackling, solid in deep concentration. Seohyun traced her eyes to his arms, watching how the fabric of his dress shirt hugged every crevasse of his muscle, then down to the faint veins that tightened in his forearms. Even when he's cooking, why does he still look so attractive?

Before she knew it, Jiwoo was cutting the pork belly and serving it up on her plate. "Dig in," he quipped, flashing a sunny grin her way. Reluctantly, Seohyun picked up the chopsticks and took her first bite. Widening her eyes, she knew there was no stopping herself once she had a taste.

"This is so good!" she beamed, quick to continue gobbling up the food laid on her plate, fresh from the grill. "God, I can't even remember the last time I had Samgyeopsal."

Jiwoo silently admired her from across the table, watching the warm lights reflect like stars in her doe eyes as she devoured the food in front of her. There was a newfound satisfaction tickling his senses, from being able to treat her to a wholesome meal. Huh, and here she bickers about me saying she eats like a goblin. Fortunately for her, she looks cute eating like said goblin.

Seohyun picked up another piece of meat and placed it on Jiwoo's plate. He looked up at her, raising an eyebrow. "In your words, dig in." A genuine smile graced her face as she ushered him to eat. Jiwoo savored every second she connected her eyes with his, and he strained himself from reaching across the table to push strands of hair away from her face.

Trading the tongs for a pair of chopsticks, he couldn't suppress the light and silky feeling that captivated his senses. In that moment of bliss, Jiwoo felt every blow to his credit card was all worth it.

* * *

Seohyun exited the hospital, and she found Seojin waiting by the street, leaning against his car. He wore a grim frown on his face, clearly displeased. Without saying another word, he opened the front car door, and she slipped in.

Ever since the death of their parents, Seohyun steered clear of driving any car or even acquiring a license. Even with classmates and peers mocking her, it was not enough to overcome her trauma. She wasn't fond of seeing her brother drive his own car, but she wasn't against it either. He was head of the criminal department, a police officer, it was out of the question.

"How many times do I have to warn you to stop working overtime?" Seojin finally spoke, clenching his jaw. "You know how worried I am for you!"

"Why are you acting so overprotective all of a sudden? It's not like you were bothered with me all these years." Seohyun didn't understand why she snapped; she wasn't in a particularly bad mood. I'm an adult now, why is he treating me like I'm twelve?

Instant regret poured over her as she could see the hurt flickering in Seojin's face as he concentrated on the road. She realized, although her words false, had struck a nerve. "I've resigned from work. I'm going to move to Busan in a few days, and you're coming with me."

"What the fuck, Seojin?" Seohyun shot up from her seat, a new wave of emotions intensifying like a blazing fire. "Who do you think you are to decide what I do!? Why are you trying to pull me away when I'm so close to getting what I've worked for all these years! And Busan? That's the farthest away from Seoul!" Seohyun was at a loss, not able to comprehend why Seojin would act rash and impulsive. Throwing away his job and moving far away? Oppa, what's gotten into you? That's when it hit her.

"You didn't resign! You got fired, didn't you!" she suddenly accused. Seohyun could see his grip tightening on the steering wheel and his jaw clench and unclench several times. He didn't respond, and Seohyun took it as a clear indication that she wasn't wrong. "You're hiding something, why don't you just tell me?"

"Seohyun, enough. I don't care what you say, you can't change my mind." His voice was stern and cold, empty of any gentle affection he reserved for her. "Stop asking nonsense questions, I'll drag your ass along with me no matter how much you defy me."

"Seojin, what the hell is wrong with you? Just fucking tell me what's going on!"

"Look, it's not safe here! I can't let you run around where you could be in danger! It's my job to look after you!"

"Since when did you ever look after me!? Back in high school, in college; every time I came home with another bruise, another fractured arm, another sprained ankle, did you look after me then!? It's too late to look after me now, so why don't you just fuck off! You're such a sorry excuse for an older brother!" Seohyun was yelling at the top of her lungs, her voice rough and striking the tense air.

"Is that.. how you viewed me all this time?"

"Yes," was her curt reply. Seohyun stared out the window, she knew she was lying, but she was selfish. She only wanted to hurt him, bring him down to the same level of discomfort she was feeling, perhaps even more. A dead silence wafted like dry, musty air, almost suffocating. She knew the regret would kick in once her heated mood had subsided, for now, she wanted to revel in her spiteful wrath that brought a strange false satisfaction.

Seohyun's gaze lingered on the side mirror, and she furrowed her eyebrows, alarmed.

A black car was trailing behind, almost as if it was following them. Seohyun rocked in her seat at the next sharp turns Seojin made, she would've complained, but her attention was glued to the vehicle tailing like a clingy dog.

He made another sharp turn to the left, making Seohyun sway to the right and grip her seat in fear. "Shit," he murmured, realizing the road was deserted of any car or proper light to line the street, an endless forest surrounding the road. It was almost as if it was deliberate, as every other road seemed to have another vehicle waiting to catch them. Seohyun realized they were moving out of the city, on the outskirts of Seoul, to the north of Incheon.

Seohyun shifted her eyes back to the side view mirror, but the road behind was shrouded in darkness the farther they moved. It was impossible to decipher anything behind as the feeble glow of the sparse lamposts wasn't enough. Perhaps we're safe, for now.

As if the devil had heard her, a loud bang erupted, startling Seohyun. She gasped as she saw something whizz by her window, flying straight ahead of her. It was just the precursor, as more bullets began firing in their direction. Seohyun screamed, a shrill cry that tore through the night. Her eyes widened, and her pulse quickened, heart thudding like an animal rattling in a cage. The scream came again, desperate, terrified... hysteric.

"Shit," he cursed again, swerving side to side to evade the shots fired. Seohyun looked behind her seat just in sync as a bullet came zipping to the back window, shattering it to pieces on the backseat.

"We aren't going to die. You aren't going to die. I'll make sure of that." Seojin's voice was fierce, yet shaky as if he was unsure. Despite how impressive it was that he read her thoughts, it did no good at reassuring her. In the distance, a stream of bright lights obscured their view, and Seohyun widened her eyes at the oncoming vehicle.

Seojin made a turn to the left, entering deep into the forest where the car rattled above the pellets of dirt and rocks. Seohyun was being thrown around in her seat. With every swerve and screech the car made, a blanket of dust would cover the windshield, making it hard for Seojin to see, yet he refused to slow down. The rain of bullets was now sparse, but another blast kicked in from below.

The car skidded out of control, the sharp screeching of the tires against gravel piercing the air. Seojin pushed the steering wheel around, trying to regain direction, but they were spinning out of control. Seohyun held on to her seatbelt for dear life, shrinking down to a shriveled up position.

"Seojin! Look out!"

They had come out of the forest and were heading straight into a wall on the road that bounded a tunnel. Without hesitating, Seojin twisted the car to the right, shutting his eyes in preparation for the impact he was about to receive head-on.

The car collided against the wall of the road tunnel with an ear-splitting crash. Seohyun quickly whirled around to find Seojin motionless, his head bobbed forward to where the car had met the concrete wall. She hastily unbuckled herself and stretched out to help her brother. With all the strength she had, she hauled Seojin out of the car and through the passenger door with the most care she could handle.

Laying him by the side of the road, she waited for her doctor's instincts to kick in, but there was nothing. His face was battered, almost to the point beyond recognition. Never in his years of working as a police officer, had Seohyun seen him in such a twisted manner.

Blood was trickling down his forehead, and in all the cuts that were embedded in his face from shards of glass. "Seohyun?" he choked out, vomiting blood. He gazed up at her, sealing the image of his sister into his memory. "At least now, I can prove to you that I'm a good brother."

"Stupid, you were an amazing brother. You were more than what I could've asked for." Tears were racing down her cheeks like an endless waterfall, and she had to constantly wipe at her face with the sleeves of her lab coat to clear her vision.

A lazy smile was crimped on his lips, showing his blood-stained teeth that were broken and crooked. "I'm sorry," he whispered before his eyes lulled to a close.

Desperately, Seohyun tried every first aid trick she memorized, in a helpless attempt to revive him. He no longer had a pulse or breathing, but she didn't care. From CPR to bandaging his wounds, she didn't realize it had been hours when it felt like time had stopped and the world had crumbled before her.

In a final moment of defeat, Seohyun buried her face in his chest, sobbing her heart away. "You can't die, you can't die! Who says you were allowed to die! You don't even know how much I love you!"

I've lost everyone I've ever loved to a car accident, am I a calamity star to bring this upon my family?

A mild buzzing in the pocket of her labcoat distracted her for a moment, and Seohyun shakily lifted her head up to take a look at the new text she received.

You're next

It was then she realized, Seohyun didn't lose her brother to a car accident, but to the perilous hands of the mind behind this deathly game.

Hello dear readers? how are you? The long awaited chapter seventeen is finally up! A lot of things came up wherein I had to deal with them hence the late update, but I hope you guys understand. I also didn't feel like I was fit mentally to continue writing so I had to off myself for a day to get a grip. I hope this was okay, especially I didn't feel the best after writing this chapter. I still hope you guys genuinely enjoy it ♡ Please leave comments and sound off how you felt, it would really cheer me up to see you and interact with you, and please press the tiny little star so it can light up! Ghost readers, I see you! Thank you everyone for the support, cheers~