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elryuse · 4 months ago

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Pt. 9 Fuck Me Like U Mean It

BABEL'S CHAINS MASTERLIST : HERE

Your POV

Morning Possessiveness

The first thing you felt was warmth.

Soft, steady breathing tickled your skin.

Your eyes fluttered open, the dim morning light slipping through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room.

Karina.

Her face was nestled against your chest, her body pressed closely to yours, her arms locked tightly around you like a vice.

Her long hair cascaded over her pillow, strands lightly tickling your chin.

For a moment, you just stared.

You had never seen her like this before—completely at ease, vulnerable in her sleep, her usual guarded expression nowhere in sight.

The events of last night came flooding back.

The drunken call. The desperation in her voice. The way she dragged you into her room, kissing you with reckless abandon. The way she begged you not to leave.

Your heart pounded at the memory.

You had stayed.

And now, waking up beside her, you weren’t sure what came next.

You shifted slightly, trying to sit up—

But the moment you moved, Karina’s arms tightened around you.

A small, muffled growl vibrated against your chest.

“…Don’t.”

Her voice was hoarse, barely awake, but firm.

You stilled.

“…Karina?”

Her grip tightened.

“Stay.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper, but it carried the same desperation as last night.

She buried her face deeper against your chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of your shirt.

“I don’t care what time it is,” she mumbled sleepily. “Just… don’t go yet.”

Your heart ached.

You had never heard her sound so fragile before.

“…Alright,” you murmured, relaxing back onto the bed.

A content sigh left Karina’s lips as she snuggled closer, her body molding perfectly against yours.

For a long moment, neither of you moved.

Just the sound of steady breathing.

The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest.

The way her warmth seeped into you, making it impossible to think about anything other than her.

Minutes stretched into an hour.

You weren’t sure when exactly Karina drifted back to sleep, but eventually, she stirred.

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly before her eyes cracked open.

She blinked up at you groggily, her expression still hazy with sleep.

“…You’re still here?”

You chuckled. “You wouldn’t let me leave.”

A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she buried her face back into your chest.

“…Shut up.”

You smirked, brushing a hand through her messy hair.

She let out a small, content sigh at the motion, her fingers absentmindedly tracing circles against your arm.

For a moment, it felt like this was normal.

Like this was something you did every morning.

Waking up beside her. Holding her like this.

But the reality of what had happened last night lingered between you both.

Eventually, Karina pulled back slightly, propping herself up on one elbow.

Her eyes met yours.

“…So,” she murmured. “What happens now?”

You swallowed hard.

That was the question, wasn’t it?

Last night, she had let down her walls.

But what about now?

Now that the morning had come—now that the alcohol had worn off—did she regret it?

“…Do you regret it?” you asked cautiously.

Karina’s gaze softened.

“…No.”

She hesitated, her fingers gripping the fabric of your shirt.

“But I’m scared.”

“Of what?”

She let out a small, bitter laugh.

“You know what.”

Your throat tightened.

She was scared of messing up again.

Scared of pushing you away.

Scared of the fact that she wants you, but doesn’t know how to handle it.

You reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I meant what I said last night,” you murmured. “We’ll figure this out together.”

Karina’s breath hitched.

Her eyes searched yours, as if trying to find any sign of hesitation.

But you weren’t hesitating.

Not anymore.

“…Okay,” she whispered.

It wasn’t a promise.

It wasn’t a confession.

But it was something.

A start

An Interruption Just as the moment lingered between you both, Karina’s phone buzzed loudly on the nightstand.

She groaned, rolling over to grab it.

You caught a glimpse of the caller ID—Winter.

Karina hesitated, then answered.

“…What do you want?”

Even half-asleep, she still managed to sound annoyed.

From the other end, Winter’s voice was unmistakable.

[“Ohhh, so he’s still there, huh?”]

Karina’s eyes widened slightly before she glared at the phone.

“…Shut up.”

You smirked, already knowing where this was going.

Winter’s teasing voice continued.

[“Did you confess your undying love yet, or are you still in denial?”]

Karina groaned, shoving a pillow over her face.

You couldn’t hold back your laughter.

“…I hate you,” Karina muttered into the pillow.

Winter’s laughter rang through the phone.

[“Nah, you love me. But not as much as him, apparently.”]

You watched as Karina’s face turned bright red.

“…I’m hanging up.”

[“Tell lover boy I said hi.”]

Click.

Karina groaned again, tossing her phone onto the bed.

You chuckled. “So… they know?”

She shot you a glare.

“Of course, they know. Winter saw how I looked at you ages ago.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

“How did you look at me?”

Karina’s face turned even redder.

She rolled over, shoving her face into the pillow again.

“…Shut up.”

You couldn’t stop smiling.

She was adorable.

And despite everything, despite all the complications, one thing was clear—

Karina wanted you.

And this time, she wasn’t pretending otherwise.

An Uncertain Future

Eventually, you both got up.

Karina lazily dragged herself into the bathroom, muttering something about needing to wash the “stupid blush” off her face.

You took the time to check your phone.

A few messages from Ryujin.

Ryujin: Morning! So… how was last night? 😉 Ryujin: Don’t lie. I know you stayed over. Ryujin: Wanna come over today?

You smiled at the last message.

Ryujin, huh?

Things were about to get even more complicated.

Before you could respond, Karina reappeared, dressed in an oversized hoodie, her hair still damp from the shower.

She crossed her arms, eyeing you suspiciously.

“Who are you smiling at?”

You raised an eyebrow. “Jealous already?”

Karina huffed, looking away.

“…Shut up.”

You chuckled.

Yeah.

Things were definitely getting complicated.

But for the first time—

You weren’t afraid of it.

Because no matter what happened next…

Karina wasn’t letting go.

And neither were you.

The moment you reached ITZY’s apartment, you barely had time to knock before the door swung open.

“FINALLY!”

A blur of energy launched at you.

Yuna.

Before you could react, her arms wrapped tightly around your waist, almost knocking the air out of your lungs.

“Yuna—”

“You’re so late!” she whined, squeezing you even tighter. “Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?”

From inside, Ryujin’s voice called out lazily.

“He’s like ten minutes late, Yuna.”

“That’s too long!” Yuna shot back, still clinging to you like a koala.

You laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair.

“Missed me that much?”

She pulled back, pouting. “Of course! You haven’t been hanging out with us lately. And don’t think I don’t know where you were last night.”

Your heart skipped a beat.

“…What?”

Yuna grinned mischievously. “You were at aespa’s place, weren’t you?”

Before you could answer, Ryujin appeared at the doorway, arms crossed, smirking.

“More specifically, Karina’s room.”

Your stomach dropped.

“…You guys are stalking me now?”

Ryujin shrugged. “Please. Winter practically broadcasted it.”

Yuna gasped, dramatically covering her mouth. “So it’s true! You did spend the night with Karina?”

Your silence betrayed you.

Ryujin’s smirk widened. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.”

You groaned. “Can I at least come inside before the interrogation starts?”

Yuna giggled, finally letting go of you, and Ryujin stepped aside, motioning for you to enter.

“Welcome back, lover boy.”

Settling In, But Not Really

You had barely sat down on the couch when Yuna flopped beside you, resting her head on your shoulder.

Ryujin sat across from you, her sharp eyes locked onto you like she was analyzing your every move.

“So,” she started. “What really happened last night?”

You sighed, rubbing your temple.

“Nothing happened.”

Yuna gasped dramatically again. “LIES.”

Ryujin smirked. “Be honest. Did Karina confess? Did she kiss you?”

Your face burned.

That was way too specific.

“…Why do you care?”

Yuna nudged you with her elbow, grinning. “Because we care about you.”

Ryujin nodded. “Exactly. You’ve been so hung up on Karina for so long. And now, suddenly, you’re spending the night in her room? Something changed.”

You hesitated.

They weren’t wrong.

Something had changed.

Karina was opening up in a way she never had before. She was letting you see her vulnerability, her fears, her possessiveness.

And you—

You weren’t running away.

“…It’s complicated,” you finally said.

Ryujin raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t all relationships?”

Yuna pouted. “So you do like her?”

You hesitated.

Did you?

Of course, you did.

You always had.

But saying it out loud—

“…I don’t know,” you admitted.

Ryujin leaned back, watching you carefully.

“Let me guess,” she said. “You’re scared.”

Your jaw tensed.

She always saw through you so easily.

“…Maybe.”

Yuna groaned. “Ugh! Why are boys so stupid? If you like her, tell her! If she likes you back, be with her!”

Ryujin chuckled. “It’s not that simple, Yuna.”

Yuna huffed, crossing her arms. “It should be.”

You smiled a little.

Maybe in a perfect world.

But in your world—

Things were never that easy.

The conversation eventually drifted to other things—memories, inside jokes, playful bickering.

For the first time in a while, you felt at home.

Ryujin stole the remote from Yuna. Yuna dramatically whined and sprawled across your lap. You barely managed to push her off before she started tickling you.

Everything was exactly how it used to be.

And yet—

Something was different.

The way Ryujin’s eyes lingered on you longer than before. The way Yuna clung to you, her touch more possessive than playful. The way you felt—torn between the past and the present.

Ryujin smirked suddenly. “So, when are you seeing Karina again?”

You sighed. “You really wanna talk about this, huh?”

Yuna giggled. “Of course! We need to know if we should be jealous~”

You choked on your drink. “What?!”

Ryujin rolled her eyes. “She’s kidding. Mostly.”

Yuna pouted. “Hey, I’m partially serious!”

You stared at her.

She wasn’t joking.

Not entirely.

Your heart pounded.

“…Yuna.”

She stuck her tongue out playfully but didn’t deny anything.

Ryujin watched the interaction closely, her usual teasing smirk faltering slightly.

Something about the mood shifted.

It wasn’t just you who noticed things changing.

They did, too.

Later that night, Ryujin found you alone on the balcony.

She leaned against the railing beside you, looking out at the city lights.

“…You okay?”

You exhaled. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

Ryujin hummed. “About Karina?”

You smiled wryly. “About everything.”

She nodded.

A comfortable silence settled between you.

Then—

“Do you ever think about us?”

You turned to her, surprised.

She wasn’t looking at you.

Just staring out at the skyline.

Your heart tightened.

“…Yeah.”

Ryujin exhaled softly. “Me too.”

Another silence.

This one heavier.

“…Do you regret anything?” you asked.

Ryujin finally looked at you.

Her expression unreadable.

“…Sometimes.”

Your breath caught.

She wasn’t one to be vulnerable easily.

But tonight—

She was letting you in.

Just like Karina had.

And suddenly, you felt like you were standing at a crossroads.

The past. The present. The girls who once meant everything. The girl who was starting to mean everything.

And you—

Stuck in between.

Not knowing which path to take.

The next morning, a text lit up your phone.

Karina: Are you free today?

Your heart pounded.

You weren’t sure what you were doing.

But one thing was clear—

This wasn’t just about Karina anymore.

This was about all of them.

And sooner or later—

You’d have to choose.

You stood outside aespa’s apartment, staring at the door.

Your heart pounded against your ribs, an uneasy mix of anticipation and confusion twisting inside you.

Karina had texted you—short and simple.

Karina: Are you free today?

And now, here you were.

Taking a breath, you knocked.

The door swung open almost immediately, and before you could react—

A pair of arms wrapped tightly around you.

Karina.

She pressed herself into you, holding on as if she was afraid you’d slip away.

“Hey,” you murmured, surprised.

She didn’t say anything.

Didn’t move.

Just held you.

For a moment, you didn’t know what to do.

Then—

You hugged her back.

Her body relaxed slightly, but her grip remained firm.

Like she needed this.

Like she needed you.

When she finally pulled away, her face was unreadable.

You studied her, trying to figure out what she was thinking, but Karina was good at hiding things.

Too good.

Before you could say anything, a voice called from inside.

“Well, well, look who’s back.”

You turned to see Winter leaning against the couch, arms crossed, smirking.

Giselle sat beside her, grinning knowingly.

Ningning peeked over the back of the couch, wiggling her eyebrows playfully.

“Welcome home, lover boy,” she teased.

You groaned. “Not you guys, too.”

Winter chuckled. “You did spend the night here. The entire night.”

Giselle smirked. “It’s only natural we ask questions.”

Karina shot them a glare. “Stop teasing.”

But her ears were turning red.

You sighed. “Can I at least sit down before the interrogation starts?”

Giselle patted the empty space beside her. “Go ahead. Make yourself comfortable.”

Karina tugged you toward the couch before you could react, practically shoving you down beside her.

The other girls exchanged knowing glances but said nothing.

For now.

A Comfortable Chaos

Spending time with aespa felt different than before.

There was an ease to it, a familiarity you hadn’t realized you missed.

Giselle teased you relentlessly, Winter made sarcastic remarks, and Ningning giggled at everything.

But Karina—

Karina was different.

She barely left your side.

Every time you moved, she moved with you.

Her hand brushed against yours more times than you could count.

Her eyes lingered on you, soft and warm.

And when she laughed—

God, you had missed that sound.

At one point, Ningning leaned close and whispered, “She’s different when you’re around, you know.”

You turned to her, surprised.

“She likes you,” Ningning continued, grinning. “Like, really likes you.”

Your stomach flipped.

You glanced at Karina—who was currently trying (and failing) to swat away Winter’s teasing.

She caught you staring.

And for the briefest moment—

Her expression softened.

Then she quickly looked away, pretending to be annoyed at Winter.

But you saw it.

The way her fingers twitched like she wanted to reach for you. The way she bit her lip to hide her smile. The way her entire body leaned toward yours without her realizing it.

She did like you.

And that scared you more than anything.

Because you weren’t sure if you were ready to accept it.

Or worse—

If you were ready to hurt her again.

A Moment Alone Eventually, the other girls left the room, giving you and Karina some space.

You sat in silence for a while, neither of you knowing what to say.

Then—

“I missed you,” Karina whispered.

Your chest tightened.

“…I missed you too.”

She looked up at you, searching your face for something.

Then, hesitantly—

She reached for your hand.

Her fingers curled around yours, warm and gentle.

“Are you…” she hesitated. “Are you seeing anyone else?”

Your breath caught.

You thought about Ryujin. About Yuna. About the way their eyes lingered, the way their touches felt different lately.

But in this moment—

None of them mattered.

Only Karina.

“…No,” you admitted.

She exhaled, relieved.

Then—

She smiled.

A soft, genuine smile that made your heart ache.

“Good,” she murmured.

Then, without another word—

She rested her head against your shoulder.

And for the first time in a long time—

You let yourself enjoy the moment.

Even if you knew it wouldn’t last.

Even if you knew this was only the beginning of something far more complicated.

Because right now—

Karina was in your arms.

And that was enough.

For now.

You and Karina sat close on the couch, her head still resting against your shoulder.

For the first time in a long while, things felt calm.

The conversation between you two was soft, almost hesitant.

“I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” Karina murmured, her fingers idly tracing patterns on your palm.

“About what?”

“You.”

Your breath hitched.

She didn’t look at you, but you could feel her grip on your hand tighten slightly.

“I don’t want to lose you again,” she admitted. “I can’t.”

A lump formed in your throat.

Before you could respond—

Your phone rang.

You glanced down at the screen.

Ryujin.

You hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Hey, what’s up?”

Before Ryujin could even speak—

Karina suddenly reached over and snatched the phone from your hands.

Your eyes widened. “Karina—”

She ended the call.

Your heart dropped. “What are you doing?”

Karina turned to you, her eyes dark with something unreadable.

Possessive.

Desperate.

“She doesn’t need you right now,” Karina whispered. “I do.”

You swallowed hard.

Something about the way she said it sent chills down your spine.

Karina placed your phone face-down on the table, as if making sure you wouldn’t touch it.

You stared at her, still processing what just happened.

“You can’t just end my calls like that,” you said, voice calm but firm.

Karina frowned, almost pouting.

“Why not?” she muttered.

“Because it’s not okay, Karina. That was Ryujin—”

Her expression darkened at the mention of Ryujin’s name.

“She can wait,” she said coldly.

Your chest tightened.

You had seen Karina jealous before.

But this—

This was different.

There was an obsession in her eyes.

A need for control.

And it scared you.

“…Karina,” you said carefully, watching her reaction. “You’re acting strange.”

She tilted her head, smiling sweetly.

“Am I?”

You nodded.

“I just don’t like sharing,” she whispered.

Then—

She leaned in.

Her lips ghosted over your jawline, sending shivers down your spine.

Your breath hitched. “Karina—”

“You belong to me, don’t you?” she whispered.

You felt trapped.

Cornered.

Her fingers curled into your shirt, gripping tightly as if she was afraid you’d disappear.

She wasn’t asking.

She was stating.

And deep down—

You weren’t sure if you had the strength to deny her.

A Dangerous Obsession

Your breath hitched as Karina leaned in, her warm lips pressing against yours in a slow, lingering kiss.

Her hands curled into your shirt, pulling you closer, deepening the kiss as if she was afraid you’d slip away.

Your mind screamed at you to stop.

To push her away.

To tell her that what she was doing wasn’t right.

But your body—

Your body didn’t listen.

She pulled away slightly, her forehead resting against yours, her breath warm against your lips.

“Focus on me,” she whispered. “Just me.”

She reached over and grabbed your phone—

Then threw it across the room.

The sound of it hitting the floor echoed in the silence.

Your stomach dropped.

“Karina—what the hell?!” You tried to move, but she tightened her grip around you.

“I don’t want any distractions,” she murmured, her eyes filled with something dark. “Not when you’re with me.”

Your heart pounded in your chest.

This wasn’t just jealousy.

It was something more.

Something dangerous.

“Karina,” you said carefully. “You can’t just—”

She kissed you again, cutting off your words, her hands sliding up your arms, her touch possessive.

“Please,” she whispered against your lips. “Just for today.”

You felt like you were drowning.

Trapped in something you weren’t sure you could escape from.

And the scariest part?

A part of you didn’t want to.

Something’s Wrong

Ryujin furrowed her brows, staring at her phone screen.

The call had ended.

Just like that.

No explanation. No reason. Just a sudden, abrupt disconnection.

She tried calling again.

No answer.

Her fingers tapped impatiently against her thigh as she sat in the ITZY apartment, her mind racing.

She called again.

Still nothing.

She scoffed. “What the hell?”

Yuna, who was sitting beside her, glanced up from her phone. “What’s up?”

Ryujin clenched her jaw. “He’s not picking up.”

Yuna blinked. “Huh? He just texted earlier, right?”

Ryujin nodded. Exactly.

It wasn’t like you to ignore her calls. If you were busy, you’d at least text back.

But this?

This felt wrong.

She gripped her phone tighter and called again.

Voicemail.

Her stomach twisted.

Something wasn’t right.

She tried again.

Nothing.

“…Something’s wrong,” she muttered, standing up abruptly.

Yuna sat up straighter. “Wait, what do you mean?”

Ryujin didn’t answer.

Her heart was pounding now.

A sinking feeling settled in her chest as she stared at the unanswered calls.

Where the hell were you?

Ryujin tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her jaw clenched as she sped through the dimly lit streets. The city lights blurred past her, but her mind was fixated on only one thing—you.

You weren’t answering.

She had called at least ten times, yet every single one went to voicemail.

That wasn’t like you.

Not at all.

A bitter taste formed in her mouth as she replayed the last conversation she had with you. You said you were going to see them—Karina and the rest of AESPA. At first, she thought nothing of it, but now…

Her fingers tightened around the wheel.

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

The way Karina ended the call so abruptly.

The way you didn’t even get to answer her properly.

The way Karina had always looked at you.

Obsessive. Possessive.

Ryujin had noticed it before, but she never thought much of it. Maybe she was just overthinking things.

But now?

Now, she wasn’t sure.

The rain started drizzling, tapping against the windshield as she pressed harder on the gas.

She didn’t care.

She just needed to see you.

To make sure you were okay.

As she approached AESPA’s apartment building, she parked her car carelessly and jumped out, not even bothering to take an umbrella. The cold wind bit against her skin, but she barely noticed it.

Her heart pounded violently against her chest as she reached the entrance.

She took a deep breath before pressing the buzzer.

Once.

Twice.

No response.

Her patience wore thin. She pressed it again, this time holding onto it longer.

Finally, the door unlocked with a faint click.

Without hesitation, Ryujin stepped inside, her breathing uneven as she made her way toward their unit.

Something wasn’t right.

And she was going to find out exactly what it was.

Ryujin barely took a moment to acknowledge Ningning before cutting straight to the point.

"Where is he?"

Her tone was cold—distant.

Ningning, who had been rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, frowned at the unexpected hostility.

"What do you mean? It’s late—"

"Where is he, Ningning?" Ryujin’s voice was sharp, leaving no room for excuses. Her piercing gaze made Ningning hesitate, shifting uncomfortably.

The younger girl sighed. "He’s in Karina’s room."

Ryujin felt her stomach drop.

Her grip on her phone tightened, her mind racing.

Something about this didn’t sit right with her.

Ningning, noticing her expression, furrowed her brows. "Why are you even here? It’s late, Ryujin. You’re acting weird—"

Ryujin didn’t respond.

Instead, she pushed past Ningning, marching straight toward Karina’s room.

She didn’t care about the consequences.

She needed to see you.

And she needed to see you now.

Ryujin’s footsteps were heavy, her heart pounding violently in her chest as she stormed through the hallway.

Each step closer to Karina’s door made her blood boil hotter.

And then—she heard it.

Muffled noises.

Moans.

"Y/n… Y/n… that feels good."

Ryujin froze, her breath hitching.

Her nails dug into her palms as she clenched her fists.

The anger. The confusion. The betrayal.

It consumed her.

Without another second of hesitation, she shoved the door open with force.

BANG.

The door slammed against the wall.

And what she saw made her stomach churn.

Karina was straddling you.

Her hands gripping your shoulders. Her flushed face inches from yours.

Your hands were on her waist.

Your shirt was half undone.

Karina gasped at the sudden intrusion, her head snapping toward the door.

Ryujin stood there, breathing heavily—her eyes burning with rage.

"What the fuck is this?" Ryujin’s voice was sharp, venomous.

You immediately pushed Karina off you, scrambling to sit up.

"Ryujin, I—"

"Save it." Her jaw tightened as she glared at you.

Karina, still catching her breath, smirked slightly.

"You should knock before coming in, Ryujin."

That smirk. That tone.

It sent Ryujin over the edge.

Her hands trembled. Her body burned with frustration.

"So this is why you didn’t pick up my calls? Because you were too busy fucking around with her?"

You ran a hand through your hair, guilt written all over your face.

"It’s not what it looks like—"

"Oh, it looks pretty damn clear to me." Ryujin scoffed bitterly.

Karina let out a small chuckle, tilting her head as she wrapped an arm around your shoulders possessively.

"He’s mine, Ryujin. He chose me."

Ryujin’s eyes flickered between you and Karina, the weight of the situation settling in.

Her heart sank.

"So that’s it, huh?"

Her voice wavered for the first time.

You opened your mouth, but nothing came out.

The silence was deafening.

Ryujin let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head.

"You’re fucking unbelievable, Y/n."

She turned around, storming out without another word.

But before she left, she paused in the doorway.

Without turning back, she spoke one last time.

"I hope she’s worth it."

And just like that—she was gone.

Your breath was shaky as you tried to sit up, your mind still processing the look on Ryujin’s face before she stormed out. The guilt gnawed at your chest, but before you could move—

Karina pushed you back down.

Her strength caught you off guard. Her body hovered over yours, her dark eyes gleaming with something dangerous—something possessive.

Your lips parted, ready to protest, but—

Karina’s fingers pressed against your mouth, silencing you.

"Shh…" she whispered, her breath warm against your skin.

You tried to turn your head away, but her grip was firm, refusing to let you escape.

"Don’t speak. Don’t think about her. Just focus on me, Y/n."

Your heart pounded.

This wasn’t normal.

This wasn’t Karina.

At least… not the Karina you used to know.

Her other hand trailed down your chest, her touch light but possessive, as if she was claiming every inch of you.

"The night is still young." She leaned in, her lips ghosting over your ear. "So I want you to continue."

Your breath hitched.

"Forget her, babe."

Her voice dripped with sweetness, yet there was an underlying obsession in her tone.

"You have me now."

Your throat went dry.

This wasn’t about love anymore.

This was control.

Possession.

And no matter how much you wanted to deny it—

You were trapped.

You pushed Karina's hand away, standing up despite her resistance.

"Y/n… don’t go."

Her voice wavered, a mixture of desperation and frustration. But you couldn’t stay.

This was wrong.

You turned away from her, ignoring the sting of guilt in your chest as you walked toward the door.

You had to find Ryujin.

"She’s not even worth it!" Karina’s voice cracked, her frustration spilling out. "She doesn’t love you the way I do!"

You clenched your jaw.

You didn’t look back.

You couldn’t.

Karina suddenly grabbed your wrist, her grip tight—almost painful.

"Y/n, don’t leave me for her." Her voice trembled, her dark eyes searching yours. "She’ll never be able to love you the way I do. I need you. Please."

You slowly pulled your hand away.

"I need to fix this." Your voice was firm, but your heart ached seeing the way Karina's expression shattered.

Without another word, you walked out of the room.

Out of her grip.

And out into the night—toward Ryujin.

The Cold Night and Ryujin’s Silence You bolted down the stairs of Aespa’s apartment, your heartbeat thundering in your ears. The winter air bit at your skin, but the cold was nothing compared to the storm raging inside of you.

Ryujin.

She was already getting into her car, her fingers gripping the steering wheel, her eyes fixated on the road ahead. You could see the sharpness in her gaze, the coldness in the way she moved.

She was furious.

You sprinted toward her, desperation clawing at your chest.

"Ryujin, wait!"

She didn’t turn to look at you. Her expression remained unreadable as she reached for the ignition. The engine roared to life, the deep rumble of her sports car filling the silent parking lot.

You stepped in front of the car, hands raised, breath fogging in the icy air.

"Ryujin, please. Just let me explain!"

Her hands gripped the steering wheel tighter.

You could see it—the way her jaw clenched, her lips pressing together in a thin line. She was angry. Hurt. Betrayed.

Still, you didn’t move.

Then, she revved the engine.

Vroom.

The sound was deafening, drowning out your voice.

You flinched slightly but held your ground.

"I swear, it wasn’t what you think!" You pleaded, your voice straining against the overwhelming noise.

Vroom. Vroom.

Louder.

Your words were swallowed by the growl of the engine.

"Ryujin… I need—"

Vroom.

"For fuck’s sake, just listen!"

Vroom. Vroom.

She revved again. Louder this time. The engine roared, the vibrations rattling through your chest.

She wasn’t going to let you talk.

You could see the fire in her eyes. The pain. The anger.

She was daring you to move.

She was telling you, without saying a single word, that she was done listening to excuses.

You exhaled sharply, your breath visible in the cold air.

"Ryujin…"

She didn’t respond.

Instead, she cranked up the gas once more, and for a moment, you thought she might actually drive off. Maybe even push past you.

But she didn’t.

She just sat there, watching you with that same icy glare.

Waiting.

You swallowed hard, your fists clenching.

You had to do something. You had to make her listen.

Without thinking, you took a step forward—closer to the driver’s side door.

Ryujin’s foot hovered over the pedal, but she hesitated.

That hesitation was all you needed.

You reached for the door handle and pulled it open before she could react.

She turned to you, eyes burning with fury.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the night like a blade.

You held onto the door, refusing to let her close it.

"I’m not letting you leave like this," you said, breathless. "Not until you hear me out."

She scoffed, looking away. "Why should I? I already know what I saw."

"No, you don’t!" You took another step closer, desperate. "It wasn’t like that, Ryujin. You have to believe me."

She exhaled through her nose, her grip on the wheel tightening. "Oh, really? Because from where I stood, it looked pretty damn clear."

Her voice was filled with venom.

"Karina was all over you, Y/n. I heard everything. I saw everything."

You felt your chest tighten.

"She was drunk, Ryujin. She—"

"And you let her straddle you? You let her touch you?" Her voice cracked slightly, but she quickly masked it with another glare.

You hesitated.

You didn’t know how to explain it.

It did look bad. It sounded bad.

"I pushed her away," you finally said, voice softer. "I told her no."

Ryujin’s expression flickered for a moment.

You saw the slightest hint of hesitation in her eyes.

She wanted to believe you.

She really did.

But the damage was already done.

"I can’t do this, Y/n," she muttered, shaking her head.

You felt your heart sink.

"Ryujin—"

She suddenly reached out, grabbing the collar of your shirt.

She pulled you closer, her face just inches from yours.

"Do you love her?"

The question caught you off guard.

"What?"

Her eyes were searching yours, desperate for an answer.

"Do you love her?" she repeated, her voice quieter now. More fragile.

Your breath hitched.

The truth was… complicated.

But you knew one thing for sure.

"No," you said firmly. "I don’t."

Ryujin’s grip on your shirt loosened.

But she didn’t let go.

She bit her lip, eyes darting away for a moment.

"Then why did you let it happen?" she whispered.

You swallowed hard.

"I didn’t," you insisted. "I stopped it before it went too far."

Ryujin didn’t respond.

For a moment, there was only silence.

The cold wind blew between you, ruffling her hair.

She still looked angry. But there was something else in her expression now.

Something more vulnerable.

"You always say the right things," she finally muttered, looking away. "But I don’t know if I can believe you anymore."

Those words hurt more than anything else.

You felt your chest tighten, your throat clenching.

"Ryujin, please…"

She let out a shaky breath.

Then, without another word—she let go.

She let go of your shirt.

Let go of whatever hope she was holding onto.

And just like that… she turned away.

You watched helplessly as she stepped back into the driver’s seat.

The door slammed shut.

You didn’t move.

You didn’t say anything.

And then—

Vroom.

The sound of the engine roared once more.

You stood there, watching as she shifted into reverse.

The tires screeched slightly as she backed away.

And before you could say anything else—

She was gone.

The red taillights disappeared into the night, leaving you standing alone in the parking lot.

Heartbroken.

Defeated.

And completely, utterly lost.

The Aftermath You stood there for what felt like an eternity, the cold air biting at your skin.

Your phone vibrated in your pocket, but you didn’t have the strength to check it.

Your mind was still replaying everything.

Ryujin’s anger.

Karina’s desperation.

Your own fucking mistakes.

You should’ve done something differently.

You should’ve stopped Karina sooner.

You should’ve run after Ryujin sooner.

You should’ve…

The thought trailed off as your phone vibrated again.

With a deep breath, you finally reached into your pocket and pulled it out.

1 New Message.

From: Karina.

Your jaw tightened.

You hesitated before opening it.

Karina: I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to ruin things for you.

Another vibration.

Karina: But I meant what I said.

You exhaled sharply.

You couldn’t do this right now.

Your head was pounding, your heart was fucking breaking, and you had no idea how to fix any of this.

Slowly, you typed out a reply.

You: I need time, Karina.

You stared at the screen for a moment before sending it.

Then, without another word, you turned off your phone.

You shoved it back into your pocket and ran a hand through your hair.

The night was still young.

But you?

You felt completely drained.

And for the first time in a long time…

You didn’t know where to go.

Or who to go to.

All you knew was one thing.

You had to find a way to fix this.

To Be Continued

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