Seohyun walked along the sidewalk, heading back home. The day was now winding to an early evening, shades of muted blue and grey powdered the sky. There was no sunset, no golden promise of a better tomorrow. She lightly rubbed the side of her neck, massaging the stiffness of her bones until it would soften. Her eyes were cast on the ground, and her mind permanently stuck on him.

She had acted rash that night and could feel the guilt trickling in like a leaking pen, the ink of regrets saturating her entire body and leaving her a sticky mess. She hated herself; she hated the same bitter scene replaying in her head like a broken record stuck on repeat.

"Saranghaeyo."

The memory of his smooth, airy voice clouded her senses, like a blanket of silk enveloping her. It was as if his vanilla scent had hypnotized her as she imagined those words over and over again.

Seohyun didn't understand either why she pushed him away. It was like a reflex that naturally came to her, but why? She wished she had the answer to the problems she created.

She sighed, a stinging pain pricking her heart, and letting it bleed until it was an empty cup of angst. When can I wake up from this nightmare?

Lifting her gaze, she could see two men crowded by the gate to her apartment. One was idly waiting as the other was arched by the entrance, trying to unlock it.

"Hey, Seohyun," Eunho greeted as if his bruised face was an everyday appearance. Her lips parted open at the shock of seeing the prosecutor. It was like he took part in a boxing match and was beaten to a pulp. "This? Do you like my new look? It's the trend these days, you know, plastic surgery and all," he rambled on, trying to lighten up the tense atmosphere. But he couldn't fool her; after all, she is a doctor.

She shifted her stare to Jiwoo, who opened the gate. She felt her heart drop as he ignored her presence and pretended she was a ghost. She watched as they entered the premises, and she followed suit.

"Wait."

The two men halted in their steps, and Eunho turned to show his disfigured face like a jumpscare from a horror movie.

"Uhh, perhaps you need help with... this?" She gestured to her own face, a pitiful expression glazed on it.

Eunho beamed with excitement at her offer, "How could I say no to free treatment from a doctor?" He flashed her a smile, surprisingly to her, all his perfect teeth were intact.

"Come this way," she mellowed, nervously tucking a fringe of hair behind her ear as she gestured to her apartment. She didn't know what came over her, inviting two men to her place. Well, technically, she knew them. But if people saw her, gossip would ensue the whole neighborhood and perhaps all of Seoul.

Is this my selfish method of longing to see him once more?

She unlocked the door, allowing Eunho and Jiwoo to enter. She kept her eyes on him as if in hopes he would catch her staring hopelessly like a bittersweet song. He whizzed past her with so much as a cold shoulder, leaving her to rot in disappointment.

Closing the door behind her, Seohyun watched them awkwardly settle in her cozy living room. It was small, not allowing for many guests, but it would have to do for a lonely doctor. "I'll go get a first aid kit," she announced, darting to the kitchen.

"Nice place you got here," Eunho declared, his head darting around in pure amusement as if he was in a grand museum. "Eh, how many times have you been here?" He bumped Jiwoo with a shoulder, eliciting a steel glare from him.

At those words, a sad smile swept her lips as she searched the cabinet for medical supplies. Her memories pooled back to the time Jiwoo had entered cluelessly, catching her exiting the bathroom with just a towel clinging to her body. She found the scene comedic, but could only savor it on her own. Come to think of it, why was the door left open that time?

Shaking her train of thoughts, she returned to the living room with a medical kit in hand and an ice pack in the other. Her face cringed as she got a closer look at the damage done. It was as if every cut and gash had sharpened in intense focus. The bruises that colored his eye and jaw were deepened a shade darker. "Put this on your eye if you don't want to look like a panda tomorrow."

Eunho took the ice pack from her, placing it on his purple-almost blackened eye. From his left eye, he watched as Seohyun cleaned up the stark gash that streaked across his cheek.

"So, what happened?" Seohyun asked, curious to the story behind the mangled face.

Eunho sighed, and that was when Jiwoo knew he wouldn't be able to stop him from spilling about the fight that wagered between the two prosecutors, and how it ended ultimately with Eunho's month-long suspension. However, he was impressed with the damage that Eunho had impacted on Yang, perhaps seeing his bloodied face was worth the suspension.

Jiwoo watched from afar, seated rigidly on the opposite couch. He never believed himself to be a possessive man, but he knew he was pained with envy. Jealousy was the green-eyed ghost that coveted what you couldn't have. He reminisced back to the night the young girl was kidnapped. Albeit she slapped him, it was a small price as she had saved him from getting run over a van.

He stared at the doctor, boring bullet holes through them as he pictured himself in place of Eunho. The way your fingers lingered along the cut on my face... Can you remind me again of how it felt?

He looked away, not wanting to get caught peering on the two. He wanted to believe he was the only reason why Seohyun had invited them inside, but it was an indulgent thought that his ego couldn't even bring to accept.

"I was supposed to be fired, and honestly I feel like I might be fired soon if I slip up once again. Honestly, it doesn't make sense in the first place why I was even removed from the case!" Eunho huffed, finishing his story.

Seohyun slowly nodded, pressing a band-aid on his cheek. "Wait... did you say fired? That's a little strange; it reminds me of when my brother had supposedly quit his job before..."

Jiwoo snapped his head back at them, suddenly a thought striking his mind like lightning. "Wait! That gives me an idea! Eunho, you said Atty. Kang said a weird quote when he called you in his office?"

"Something about a devil masquerading as an angel of light and his followers masquerading as righteous servants or some shit, I don't-" he cut himself abruptly, his one good eye stretching open as it finally dawned upon him. "Wait... he wasn't accusing me..."

"It's too much of a coincidence to be well... a coincidence!" Jiwoo had jumped up from the sofa, now pacing around like he was confined to a small jail cell. The gears were churning in his mind like an overworked clock spinning out of control. "Shit, Mr. Ahn... wasn't Mr. Ahn a former lawyer at the firm?!"

Seohyun cringed at the mention of his name. Her brief encounters with the man flashing her vision like flipping through the pages of a book.

"Now that you brought it up, I heard he was close with Atty. Kang. But he left the firm over a decade ago..." Eunho drawled on, contemplating on the facts. "It's been that long that all records from that era had been filtered."

"Left the firm? Or fired?" Jiwoo challenged, crossing his arms over his chest. "He spilled some secrets, then through the listening device he was caught, then someone at the hospital must've reported back to Kang."

"Then planned to frame Dr. Min and had Yang as their best prosecutor indict her," Eunho finished the twisted predicament, lost in thought. "So when Kang was singing that Bible verse..."

The revelation had hung low in the tense atmosphere. And it was as if the room had dimmed to an eerie contrast. The pieces were now falling into place, bringing into focus the blurry picture they so desperately tried to solve.

"Eunho, he wasn't talking about you... he was talking about himself."

* * *

"I'm so glad she finally got discharged," Seohyun mused to Dr. Kim as they hung by the measly vending machine in the hallway.

Dr. Kim arched an eyebrow, before bursting into laughter, almost spilling the contents of his soda can. "Don't tell me you're going to repeat that every single time a patient is going to get discharged." He chugged down the last of his soda, a refreshing sigh airing from his mouth before tossing it away in the nearby bin.

"I mean, I just... we've met before she came here..." Seohyun stammered a bit, finding it hard to put into words. How do you casually explain that you almost saw someone get kidnapped and probably even raped?

"Huh, I almost forgot about that. You did come by with the ambulance." He eyes her suspiciously as if she was a wolf disguised in sheep's clothing. "Unusual things have been happening a lot with you, Seohyun. Also, you've been really distant from us, isolating yourself with work like your favorite supervisor?" he remarked, putting her on edge.

Seohyun frowned, opening and closing her mouth again. She wasn't sure how to respond to him, but more importantly, she couldn't tell whether he was joking around or not. I can't trust anyone here, how lonely must it be to be on my own?

"Ah, speak of the devil, I see Daehyun coming this way. Oh wait, it's not unusual that he keeps looking for his pet." Dr. Kim smirked as he nodded to behind Seohyun.

She turned around just as Dr. Jong had stopped right by her. "Hello, Seohyun," he greeted with a warm smile. He was no longer in his standard lab coat but dressed in a turtleneck sweater and black pants, covered by his svelte beige coat. Even in casual wear, there was always that striking air that surrounded him.

"Dr. Jong, good evening," she greeted back, unable to stop herself from the cheery smile that was looped on her lips.

"Still Dr. Jong? Come on, he's already calling you by your first name anyway," Dr. Kim teased from behind, his cheeky smile quickly wiped off when Seohyun turned to glower at him.

"Taewook, stop bullying her." Dr. Jong waved him off with a hand and a polite smile. "Ah, if only I wasn't her boss, I probably would've gotten the pleasure of hearing her call my name." He winked down at Seohyun.

She bit her lip, and she felt her cheeks tickling and prickling up a bed of red flames. Sure, she admired her boss, but she had always suppressed those feelings. It just feels... I don't know.

Dr. Kim scoffed, raising his nose up in disgust at his flirtatious antics. "I may be a taken man, but seeing you flirt just riles me up. I'll leave you both to continue your conversation somewhere else, deeper," he jeered, turning on his heel to leave.

Dr. Jong burst into a full-blown grin at his disappearing figure, "Finally, got rid of him." His eyes darted back to Seohyun, who found herself looking anywhere but him. "I wish I could chatter with you more, but I've got a favor to ask."

"Yes?" Her voice came meekly, like a little kitten meowing timidly.

Strapping on a pair of leather gloves, he continued, "Dr. An is absent again today, could you please cover for her?"

Again... but ugh, how could I ever refuse Dr. Jong?

"Of course!" Seohyun beamed without missing a beat. She wasn't all too thrilled to work overtime, but she didn't mind scoring brownie points with her boss.

"Ah, I know I could trust you." Dr. Jong patted her head affectionately, the leather of his gloves smoothing against her silky hair. "Seohyun... you and I are so much alike."

To say the compliment raised her spirits was an understatement; she felt like she was soaring amongst the heavens. Her ultimate dream was to emulate the graces of her flawless boss. The sheer comment might've been sweet nothings, but she didn't mind falling for his words.

"Perfection, you are the epitome of perfection," he sighed. And amidst the fluttering of her heart, she could've sworn she saw a hint of sadness in his smile. "I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, he walked off.

Seohyun slumped her shoulders from their tense position. She didn't know how nervous she felt until her muscles had relaxed. As Dr. Jong disappeared around the corner, someone else had caught her eye.

Standing there was Jiwoo, staring right back at her. Just behind him was Eunho, filling up something at the reception desk. Seohyun shifted her gaze away from him, unable to bring herself to look at him. She moved her head to the side, hiding her face as she walked in his direction.

She thought she could get away from him, that he would ignore her once again like she was an invisible entity.

But she was wrong, and she couldn't tell whether it made her happy or annoyed.

Jiwoo had grabbed her arm, pulling her back. Seohyun stumbled back a bit but quickly regained her composure. She lifted her head to lock eyes with him. Instead of a soft gaze that promised stolen glances and easy banter, her eyes glared with an intensity that melted him. It was like a rewind to back when there was more hate than shared memories, drilling out any notion of shared spirit.

"What are you here for?"

"Seohyun-"

"Don't call me that."

"Dr. Min," he began, his eyes holding more than just the stars and endless universe, but worries. "I don't care if you regard me no more than a stranger, or if you think I'm stopping you from your duties, but could you please find a way to come home early?"

Seohyun huffed, rolling her eyes as she tightened her jaw. "I don't know if you got the memo, but I'm a doctor. This is my job!" she barked, gritting her teeth like an animal baring fangs at a potential threat. If it was anything, Jiwoo was a threat, to her job.

She took a step past him, but he grabbed her shoulder again, but this time, didn't bother to make her face him.

"You're not the only one working overtime... so am I," he whispered, before unwrapping his grip, finally letting her go.

* * *

There was a blackness of the night that Seohyun couldn't recall seeing before, one that was almost too pure. Even the trees seemed not to rustle as if they were tense with nerves for what was to come.

The oscillating of leaves was the only sound to permeate the silence until a chorus of slapping footsteps and crunching gravel echoed sharply into the emptiness of the night.

Each step became a prayer home as she walked, and she felt herself relax a bit as she saw the familiar gate, then her heart disappeared, leaving her chest an empty chasm.

Why is it open? Huh, I guess Jiwoo was lying when he said he was working overtime.

She brushed away her anxious thoughts, entering inside the property. She blinked a few times, the exhaustion of the cold night chilling her weary bones. Welcoming herself into the arms of her apartment, she couldn't tell whether the door was unlocked beforehand or if she was that tired.

"So cold..." she whispered, hugging herself in an attempt to warm her body. She didn't bother switching on the lights, even in the bleak darkness she had memorized every crevasse and corner of her old apartment. All she wanted to do was drop to the softness of her mattress and weave into sleep.

"Cold? Let me help you then, baby," A voice cooed. Seohyun felt arms snake around her from behind, pulling her into a tight embrace.

She felt her breathing hitch in her throat, almost choking on herself. Her heart accelerated like a sports car speeding off in a drag race, awakening the rough engine that is her adrenaline. "What the fuck, let go of me!" she shrieked, trying to break free from his iron grip.

"Feisty one, now are you?" He hardened his right arm over her body, and with a free hand he slipped out a cloth to shove in her face.

Seohyun squeezed her eyes close, heart palpitating as she held her breath as the dirty rag was smeared on her face. She squirmed with every touch of strength she had, trying to slide out of the man's hold on her.

"Bitch!" he spat, throwing the rag down as Seohyun lunged forward but unsuccessfully pulling away from him. He drew back with so much force she almost landed back to lean on his body.

The unknown man grabbed the gun by his belt, balancing it in the air as he tried to tame Seohyun like a measly rag doll in his hold.

"You're fucking lucky you whore that boss said to keep you alive," he growled, before bashing the butt of his pistol on her head.

She snapped out of consciousness before she could even feel the impact. Like the screen of the television had cut to a black space. There was nothing, just a twilight of shadows where she fell into the arms of obscurity to lull her to rest.

H

ello dear readers~ Another update! Honestly, it's just the break of dawn and I haven't really proofread this one. I ultimately had to work on just getting this out there and posted. Please let me know what you think, I hope my charm as a writer hasn't faltered as I worked on this story a little fatigue-written. Your motivation and comments will definitely inspire me ♡ So please let me know what you think, I love interacting with you guys in the comments, and please press the tiny star for it to light up and show some love to this book. Thank you everyone, cheers~