─────── 𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐏 𝐓 𝐄 𝐑    𝟑𝟏 ───────

[10 | 03 | 23 , 11:24am]

Kim Sunoo didn't come back on that Thursday last week since he didn't feel so well and thought should rest some more. However he began his fresh start today on a Monday.

The atmosphere in Drama felt thick and unsettling. He guessed everyone was having a tough time dealing with the death of Soojin.

As he was patiently waiting backstage, revising through his script one last time, cold shivers went up his spine; making him whip his head around.

He spore that for a split second he saw a dark figure from the corner of his eyes, but when he looked over there was nothing there.

He shook his head, sighing. "Stop, you're imagining things Sunoo."

As one of his other fellow actors brushed past him, they signaled for his turn. Sunoo dropped the script to the floor, walking onto the stage confidently with his head held high.

He began and continued with no mistakes.

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale told by an-"

Sunoo paused, eyes widened as he saw the figure again. This time much clearer and in front of him. Standing behind the spotlight, entering through the double doors of the theater.

"Told by an..." hsi teacher instructed from the side. "An..."

Sunoo snapped from his thoughts, trying his best to ignore the thing that was just eerily standing there.

"Told by an i-idiot, full of fury and uhm.. Uh.. sacrifice?"

"Wrong," his teacher tutted. "Full of sound and fury."

"Oh.. told by sound and fury, signifying everything," Sunoo recited, still keeping his eyes on the shadow figure.

"No, no!"

Sunoo looked at his teacher, finally breaking from the spell. The figure just vanished into thin air.

"That is wrong Sunoo. It's 'signifying nothing' not 'everything'."

"Mianhe," Sunoo bowed, taking in the blow to his ego.

"Sorry, that will not cut it Mr. Kim. The play is just around the corner and you're still messing up the lines, you will have to practice much harder if you don't want to fail."

Sunoo nodded, bowing. "Yes, kamsahamnida."

"Ok, you may leave," the teacher notioned before clapping her hands. "Now Scene 6, come out!"

Sunoo begrudgingly made his way backstage, flopping onto a chair in disappointment.

That figure was Soojin for sure. He knew it. The way its hair stopped perfectly at the waist, exactly mirroring Soojin's. And the curves and dips placed at the exact same places made it impossible to say that it wasn't her.

But he chanted to himself, "What's done cannot be undone."

[12:16pm]

"So did you visit Chunhee yet?" Hari asked whilst scrolling through her phone.

Jongseong's fingers paused on his phone, "Yeah, the other day."

"How did that go?"

"Well, the baby is mine."

Hari scoffed, "Yeahh, and..? Are you guys like getting back together or something?"

"We've talked about it and concluded it's for the best," Jongseong nodded.

"What? So no more hoe-ing around?" Hari smirked.

"Nope, I'm a changed man."

Upon turning his head and seeing Hari give him 'a look', he scowled. "What?"

Hari sighed, leaning back on her chair, "I don't know about this Jongseong, I have a bad feeling. Does your father know?"

Jongseong almost burst out laughing, "Pfft, fuck no. I'm dead if he does."

The girl looked at him worriedly, "Just.. be careful."

"I'm not a baby Hari, I'll be fine," Jongseong rolled his eyes, going back to texting on his phone.

Hari looked to the side of her, almost regretting it immediately because she found Becca staring at her.

She looked away immediately, feeling a pang of guilt.

When she turned around again Becca was thankfully gone.

Ugh, I have to sort things out with her as well, Hari thought.

[2:55pm]

Sunghoon was absolutely dreading after school. His parents were both working evening shifts tonight and his sister was at her friend's house, meaning that he was to stay at Iseul's. Alone.

You might be wondering why he's not staying in his own house, and oh how Sunghoon wishes he could but due to the renovations they're getting done, the whole Park family was temporarily re-housed in Iseul's grand mansion.

The shrill bell of the school rang in his ears, rustling erupting all around him as students rushed to get it.

Sunghoon, on the other hand, was completely calm. In fact taking his sweet time, putting all his stationery and books back.

He also was in no rush, missing the first three buses and strolling at an agonizing speed to Iseul's. All whilst he was on the phone with his cousin as moral support.

"I can see the front of the house, god," he complained, dreading going there.

Yeram on the other end of the line, laughed. "You have to get there any way Sunghoon. It's already 5, you can't really keep on stalling much longer."

Sunghoon paused for a second, rethinking what to say. "No, but..."

"But what?"

"What if she does something?"

"Then kill her."

Sunghoon's eyebrows furrowed closer together. "W-what?"

Yeram's serious tone suddenly changed, "Nahh, I'm just messing. Here's an idea, when you have to speak to her or be near her just turn on audio recordings so you have evidence if you ever... you know."

"Right, that's actually a smart idea," Sunghoon nodded, eyes landing on the front door of his destination. "Anyways, I have to go, I'm here."

"Ok, keep me updated. Bye." Yeram said before hanging up.

Sunghoon put his phone back in his pockets and pressed the doorbell.

Iseul was the one to greet him, with a slight frown settled on her face.

"How come you're so late?" she asked as he stepped inside.

"I was with my friends."

"Doing?"

"None of your business," he coldly replied.

Iseul poked the inside of her cheek with her tongue, "Hmm ok."

Sunghoon then wasted no time scurrying as far away from her as possible.

[5:11pm]

Jungwon was at the counter, ordering drinks, when an overfamiliar figure came out next to him.

"Jungwon?"

It was Aera, holding an iced matcha drink.

"Aera, hi."

"What are you doing here?" Aera found it unusual since this was a cafe and Jungwon didn't even like coffee.

"Oh I'm here with Jiu."

Aera's face contorted to discomfort. "On a date?"

"No, only as friends," Jungwon admitted. "And what's up with that face?"

"N-nothing, I just remembered something. Anyways, I have to go. Enjoy, tell Jiu I said hi."

He watched, dazed, as Aera rushed away. Jungwon turned to his side to see Jiu already looking at him. She smiled. He smiled back, turning to collect their drinks.

He couldn't shake the thought of doubt and he made his way back to his 'friend'.

[6:57pm]

Iseul had called for dinner to be served at 7pm prompt.

Sunghoon was apprehensive at the idea. He was hoping to have dinner by himself after everyone but of course, Iseul had other plans for him.

He walked into the ginormous dining room, taking his seat opposite Iseul which might have been a mistake itself but it was too late to move now.

The normal staff came in to set out the food and it was a lot. Sunghoon frowned, "Why's there so much?"

"Treat yourself, I got my cooks to make the best foods today."

Sunghoon had to try really hard to stifle a grimace. "Hmm."

Once the table was full to the brim, Iseul called over one of the maids and whispered something in her ear. The lady nodded, going to the rest of her co-workers and saying something to them before they all went out.

Sunghoon couldn't but become aware of his surroundings now that it was only him and Iseul. He nervously looked around, pacing his eyes across the scarily empty room.

"I trust you can help yourself?" Iseul asked.

"Y-yes aunt."

Dinner went by in utter silence.

The thick aura in that room alone would make someone want to rip all their hair follicles out from the awkwardness.

Iseul kept on pushing for Sunghoon to try out everything, and Sunghoon being Sunghoon just followed by her words since he didn't want to make a scene and get it over with.

Iseul too was pushing drinks on herself, having one drink after another until Sunghoon swore he counted at least 7 refills of vodka.

She suddenly stood up, looking slurred and extremely drunk. Sunghoon looked up, stopping chewing.

His fingers felt limp, his fork clattering down on his plate, when she began walking around the table towards him.

He backed up on his chair, "W-what are you doing?"

She giggled, "Sunghoon-ah, wanna play a game?"

Iseul was getting closer and closer to him, and Sunghoon was glued to his spot.

He caught a look at her eyes, seeing madness in them.

She reached her pale hands out to him, her long fingers almost crushing on his cheeks.

Sunghoon could only move his eyes, everything else seemed impossible to move.

She was just inches away now.

"Let's play a game, ahahaha," she cackled, her warm breath hitting Sunghoon's lips.

Closing his eyes shut, he grabbed the closest thing to him on the table- swinging it in front of him.

He braced himself for contact but it never came.

Instead all he heard was a soft thud.

Opening one eye at a time, Sunghoon looked around to see.... Nothing??

He was actually more scared that she ran away and was hiding somewhere, waiting for him, than anything.

It wasn't until his eyes trailed down he found her.

His mouth dropped in shock seeing his aunt lying limp on the floor with blood gushing out of a cut on her neck.

Sunghoon looked at his hand that was tightly gripping the bloody murder weapon. He dropped it instantly, getting up and stepping back.

He was panicking, really panicking now. What was he going to do?

Only one thought crossed his mind.

He quickly pulled out his phone with shaky hands, opening up a text message. He began typing a message to unknown.

how do u get away with murder?

Unknown replied within minutes.

huh??! who tf did u kill😭😭

Sunghoon knew he was playing with the devil and this might end up his fatal flaw. But in the moment, there was nothing else he could do.

my aunt
now tell me can u help me?

He had to wait a bit longer this time round.

ooo finally stood up to the bitch?
must say i'm quite proud🤣👏

His grip tightened around his phone.

are u going to help me or not?
bc there's no point in wasting my time.

A satisfied smile grew on his face when he say his reply.

hold ur horses ice prince
i will help you but remember u owe me now😉

Sunghoon didn't really care. In the moment that is.

turn off all the cctv in the house
leave the house
make sure to do it through the back doors
if you have any bloody clothes, change them and leave the dirty ones by the body
leave the front door slightly ajar
and DO NOT come back till i tell you to
got it?

He typed up his response in pure ecstasy.

yup.

Sunghoon rushed out of the dining room after he got his response.

good, tell me when ur gone
oh and fail to follow any instructions and ur done for

———

WHOA WHOA WHOAAA SO MANY THINGS HAPPENED IN THIS CHAPTER🥴😵 HOW ARE WE FEELINGG?

also triple update, im on a roll🤩