The boys sit at each corner of the car, Kihyun pressing himself to the door, wanting to disappear. The wheezing of the air conditioner is the only sound that dominates the vehicle, suppressing the cluttering thoughts in both their minds.

A tap on his shoulder brings Kihyun out of his head. He turns to Sehyuk, who has his mobile phone facing towards him, the notes app open.

'I have to go back to the hospital after you get off my place'

The older boy shakes his head. "No, it's okay..." he murmurs, avoiding eye contact. "Eomma gave me her card so I'll book a hotel room and stay there for the time being." He can't do this to Sehyuk anymore. Whatever it is, he needs to deal with it on his own even if being alone right now is the last thing he wants. His father isn't looming over his head with an iron fist anymore because he murdered him. The very vile act he was accusing the man of, Kihyun has done it. He flinches when Sehyuk taps his shoulder again, cowering into the corner.

He's a murderer. No reason justifies it. Kihyun's hands tremble, the feel of the smooth gun leaving its indent on his skin. Once again, he's pulled back to what happened at his house, choking at the memory. "Don't touch me!" He yells at the incoming hand, slapping it away. "I-I...I'm dirty!" He shrinks to the side, punching the driver's seat from behind. "S-stop the car..."

Everything around him closes in, the space too small to breathe. He opens his mouth to take in shallow breaths, heart pounding in his chest as his throat clogs. "I said stop the damn car!"

The cab turns towards the footpath and stops with a screech, the boy pressing a hand over his mouth and running out, crouching near a potted tree to puke out whatever he had eaten before. As the brownish-yellow liquid leaves his mouth, Kihyun's eyes burn, his gut rattling at the image of his dead father. He breathes loudly as he stares at the contents he just spilled out, the pungent smell overpowered by the images in his head.

His father is dead and his mother is in trouble. All because of him.

A couple of tissues hover in front of his face, drawing the boy's attention. He turns to Sehyuk, who's holding an uncapped bottle of water along with the tissues. Kihyun takes them and cleans his mouth, gargling and spitting the water to rid the taste. "Thanks," he says, splashing some water on his face.

They sit on the footpath, the cab already driven off after Sehyuk got off. The night is gloomy with heavy air, like a silent shadow covering the warmth and light. Or it's just Kihyun. He kicks a stone sitting near the tip of his shoe, scoffing as he turns to the blond next to him.

"Go back to the hospital, Sehyuk. I don't want to be involved with you anymore. And trust me, I'm not saying any of this out of animosity. I'm just too tired to deal with anyone or anything anymore." His eyes cast to the rough asphalt beneath them, crushing the broken glass under his sole. "Especially, now that I'm someone with blood on his hands." It's hard to accept it but denial is not going to help him in any way.

Sehyuk pokes Kihyun's shoulder with his finger, showing his mobile screen.

'I had blood on my hands way before you'

"Huh? What?"

'Matthew. He may not be dead but it's just a matter of time. Who knows.'

"Oh...right," the older boy chuckles mirthlessly. "But at least he wasn't your family."

'Doesn't matter.'

"Wasn't Jaemin with you? At the hospital, I mean."

Sehyuk goes back to typing his answer, eyes momentarily glancing at Kihyun.

'I didn't know what stupidity you were going to pull, so I asked him to fetch Jinyoung since none of us had his number. But he didn't find him at his dorm. I messaged him all is well, he didn't need to bring your friend.'

Kihyun hums, placing his arms on his knees and resting his head on them. "He's going to kick my ass when he knows all this. Also, why are you not talking? Weren't you doing it at my house?"

'Thanks to a certain dumbass, I used up all my energy. Now my throat hurts. So, stop arguing with me before I punch your sorry face and send you to the hospital myself.'

Kihyun's eyes widen when he reads the text. "I'm sorry, I didn't know." He mumbles guiltily and looks at Sehyuk, only to have the boy grinning in a teasing manner. He stares at him, not understanding how he could be so lax with everything that has happened to him. "I genuinely do not understand why you are helping me?"

Sehyuk slaps a hand on his face and then starts typing again. 'Whenever something bad happens to me, I take it as a test from above or a punishment for my past. It's hard to accept the truth but it does become easier with how you mold your perspective of things. But of course, I'm no saint. I too blame people or feel like ending everything but things do get better. Time heals. When I saw you after I woke up, it was as if I was seeing your father, that's why I asked you to get lost. I wanted to never see you again and at that moment, I hated you. But after you left, I calmed down and thought that it wasn't your fault that you're his son. You were also at the receiving end of your father's actions since I don't know how long.'

"You had every right, I don't blame you. But I'm just a killer now. Please, just leave."

Sehyuk punches Kihyun on the shoulder with a snarl. 'I do not care what you did. I'm thankful you pulled the trigger. I do not feel an ounce of fear that you killed that man. It is what he deserves. And above all, you saved my life! The doctor told me it was you who found me and performed CPR that saved me. You may have taken a life but you saved one too. And if you ask me, my life is more important than that wretched man's life.'

Kihyun snorts, shaking his head. He stares at the boy dead in the eyes for a few moments. "You're such a vicious guy!" He chokes out a full-blown laughter, slapping the boy on the back. "The guy who is studying psychology and poops rainbows and sunshine everywhere he goes is in fact evil. No one would believe me if I told them this."

Sehyuk simply shrugs, smiling sinisterly.

"Actually, I'm glad you aren't some sort of pure and innocent guy because then I don't think we would be here, sitting side by side on an unknown street."

His statement may be selfish but there isn't any malicious intent behind it, simply because he wouldn't have found a friend in Sehyuk if he didn't understand him. And in his distorted world, he didn't need another addition who could be corrupted.

'Let's go back to the hospital. I have been holding back my pee for hours now.'

Kihyun lets out another breathy laugh as they both stand up and hail a taxi. He feels better than before, feelings somewhat sorted out. He isn't sure what tomorrow holds for him but right now he wants to rest like today is his last day. After all, it may be his last day of freedom.

Once they reach the hospital and Sehyuk checks in, they settle in his room. It's a small space with an attached bathroom, a hospital bed, and a couch for anyone who would stay over.

The nurse comes in and checks on Sehyuk, noting down his vitals on her clipboard. "Do you need anything else?" She asks before leaving.

The blond types in his mobile phone just like he had done for Kihyun and shows her the screen.

"If that's the case, I can inject some of the medicine into your IV drip."

Sehyuk shakes his head.

"Alright, I'll get you the tablet then." She walks out of the room and as promised gets a tablet and gives it to the boy. As soon as the nurse shuts the door, silence engulfs the room.

Kihyun shifts awkwardly on the couch, his hands intertwined between the space of his thighs, eyeing the boy on the hospital bed typing on his mobile phone. He's here now but how long till the truth about his father's death comes out and the police arrest him? He should be devising a strategy to escape, not spending the night with a patient.

Sehyuk claps to get Kihyun's attention, his phone screen facing the latter. 'There's a sandwich in the mini-fridge, eat it and then take this.'

"Huh?" The older boy peers at the tablet in Sehyuk's hand. "What is that?"

'Sleeping pill. I had to lie to the nurse saying it was for me because she wouldn't give it another way. You will not be able to sleep so let it help you this time.'

Kihyun gawks at the younger, his mouth opening and closing without a word. It is funny how Sehyuk is offering him the pill as if it is normal. Maybe it is for him since he did tell Kihyun he had insomnia during the months after the incident with Matthew. He should listen to him for now as what unfolds tomorrow is hard to predict. So, he gets up and walks to the mini fridge, taking out a club sandwich and eating it cold, not caring for the bland taste. He needs to stop thinking and sleeping is the only way, be it achieving the state with a pill.

So, when he settles on the sofa and covers himself with a bedsheet, sleep comes easy.

Ten hours later when the sunlight filters through the spaces between the window blinds and the hospital room illuminates in a soft glow, Kihyun stirs from his sleep, fingers passing through his bed hair and rubbing his eyes. He sits up slowly, stretching his limbs to will his drowsy state away. The first thing he searches for is his mobile phone. The boy pats his hand on the sofa seat, sliding his hand under the cushion his head rested on, feeling nothing but the coolness of the satin material, but no mobile phone.

"Hey, Sehyuk did you see my phone?" He asks, eyes still searching for the device. "Min Seh— oh right! You can't speak." Kihyun lifts his head to find the hospital bed empty. "Where did he go?" He whispers, sighing as he gets up to search for his phone in the ward. Under the sofa, on the coffee table, and the mini-fridge. But he doesn't find it. He becomes anxious, hands wringing together as he paces in the small space. "Where is it?" He needs to check the news to know if the media reached his house or at least call his mother to learn the aftermath of his actions.

His mobile phone was just beside his head before he went to sleep, so where could it be now? Kihyun frantically shoves the couch cushions and wedges his hands between the seats looking for the device. "Urgh!" He groans when all he feels is air and dust. If Sehyuk had been here, he could've at least used his phone to check the news.

Kihyun walks out of the room and jogs to the reception, smiling at the lady sitting behind the desk. "Can I use your phone for a moment? I have to check the news." He states, "It'll take only a minute, I promise."

"Sure." The nurse nods, giving him the device placed on the smooth surface.

Kihyun swiftly takes it from her and types his father's name on the search bar, tapping the screen with bated breath. His gut sinks as soon as he touches the news tag. The result had been inevitable and he prepared himself for it but the reality of it hits him now.

The headlines vary from one another but they all convey the same message.

'Kang Hyesuk arrested after the attempted murder of her husband, Kang Wooshik.'

'Police found Kang Hyesuk with blood on her hands: victim reportedly Kang Wooshik.'

'Did Kang Hyesuk shoot her husband in self-defense or to usurp his empire?'

'Wife to a nightmare: All you need to know about Kang Wooshik getting shot.'

Kihyun's hand trembles at the pictures of his mother in handcuffs, being escorted by two policemen into their car. There are even videos of reporters bombarding her with questions and accusations. The boy chokes on his breath and closes his eyes, his body buzzing with dread. A heavy hand on his shoulder and the mobile phone being taken away bring him back from the onslaught of incoming whirlwind emotions.

Kihyun whips his head to find Sehyuk shaking his head in disbelief. The latter pulls him into his ward and closes the door, slipping fingers under the mattress of the bed to pull out Kihyun's mobile phone.

"Why is my phone there?"

The blond dismisses him with a wave of his hand, his phone screen lighting up. 'You had been receiving calls since early morning. But I didn't want to disturb your sleep.'

Kihyun groans, rubbing his face. "I lost my marbles trying to find my phone." He unlocks the device and taps on the eight missed calls his headmaid left him with. There are a few other messages but he ignores them, his finger hovering over the call icon. The very thought of hearing the woman's voice terrifies Kihyun. He stares at the screen till the display turns off and his phone auto locks, heaving a sigh as his hands fall to his sides, eyes averting from Sehyuk's, unable to admit his cowardice.

"I...I don't think I can confront the situation right now." He whispers, dropping onto the hospital bed and burying his face in his hands.