“It’s true. Really. Nothing happened! I just washed my hands to help move stuff. Geonwoo-sunbae and I... there’s nothing between us. We just ran into each other after a long time. That’s all. We would never—”

“You sleep just fine without love, though.”

Joo Seunghyuk’s voice was cold.

My mind went blank the moment I heard those words.

I didn’t even have time to process what he meant—my body reacted first.

“No. That’s not—”

“What’s not? Are you saying you slept with me because you do love me?”

“...”

He knew I didn’t love him?

I looked at him, startled.

‘I shouldn’t look surprised. I should’ve just said I loved him from the start.’

But that thought came too late.

Seunghyuk grabbed at my clothes. The buttons of my white shirt popped off, scattering across the marble floor.

I frantically grabbed his hands.

“I—it’s really true. Nothing happened with sunbae. I was going to contact you. I was going to tell you everything. I was just about to leave when... I saw a photo of you in the album.”

“A photo of me?”

“Yeah. From Youth Day, at the Blue House. You were thirteen. I was going to leave right after that...”

“Why were you looking at that?”

“B-because... it was cute...”

“...”

The mana that had been simmering since the dorm went eerily still.

Maybe this would calm him down. I rushed to explain.

“You were wearing a red bow tie. You looked like Conan—it was so cute—”

“Who the hell is Conan?!”

“....”

Shit. That doesn’t exist in this world.

Some things overlapped with my past life, but others didn’t. That manga with the boy detective who never aged didn’t exist here...

I couldn’t answer. And the mana that had quieted began surging again.

“Not Conan, uh, I meant Connie. Connie the Baby Dragon. That fire-breathing cartoon. I used to love that show.”

I blurted out a name from a similar-sounding children’s cartoon. Connie even had a fire attribute—like Seunghyuk.

But it clearly wasn’t working. His mana still radiated cold and sharp.

“There were Connie Chicken Nuggets, too. I used to beg for those instead of gimbap on school trips. Don’t you remember those?”

“...”

It had been a national snack among elementary school kids, but Seunghyuk clearly had no idea.

Even if he’d been treated like trash and banished to a separate building... he was still born into a chaebol family. He probably never ate processed junk like chicken nuggets.

I was at a loss, scanning his expression. He finally spoke in a chilling voice.

“Liar.”

“N-no, really! They were shaped like dragons—hugely popular—”

“You hated me.”

“....”

“You ran from me like I was something disgusting. Like I was a bug.”

His eyes bore into me.

That was hatred.

Pure hatred aimed straight at me.

“No... I never—”

“No? You said I was your Guide, but then you ran right into Park Geonwoo’s arms.”

He grabbed my wrist. His grip was so strong it made my fingers go numb, and a strangled cry escaped.

“Agh—Seunghyuk, that hurts—”

But he didn’t let go.

“Why? Does your heart flutter now that he’s back? You hated me so much you endured me, but now you can’t even pretend anymore? Is it because of him?”

“No—it’s not like that—”

“Then what is it? I’m the one who couldn’t sleep because I was worried about you.”

“...How do you know that...?”

I stared at him in disbelief.

That was what I’d written... in my second letter to Park Geonwoo.

I thought the first letter hadn’t arrived, so I picked up my pen again.

Hyung, how are you doing these days? I heard you went to Africa. I’ve been so worried I couldn’t sleep all night. Is your arm okay?

I’d written that.

And Seunghyuk knew.

How...? Not many people even knew I’d sent a second letter.

“What, are you mad your tragic first love got exposed?”

“No! It’s not like that! Geonwoo-hyung and I—mmpf!”

I tried to explain, but he cut me off. His large hand clamped over my mouth, like he couldn’t bear to hear my voice.

My eyes widened in shock—and then he bit deep into my neck. The pain made me groan, but even that sound was swallowed by his hand.

***

“Ugh... ngh...”

I groaned the moment I woke up.

It hurts. It hurts so much.

Every joint in my body screamed, but worst of all was my jaw.

I slowly sat up and rubbed it.

Last night, Seunghyuk had covered my mouth like he didn’t want to hear a single word from me. His hand eventually fell away during the act—but by then, I was too afraid to speak at all.

I clenched my mouth shut, trying not to make a sound. After doing that all night, my jaw ached.

There was another problem. My wrists were covered in bruises. So were other parts of my body. Last night wasn’t sex—it was being devoured.

We’d had sex plenty of times over the past few months, but never with this kind of violence.

“At least there weren’t any handcuffs...”

That was a small mercy. Last night, I really thought I’d end up cuffed and locked up.

“Is that your thing?”

Seunghyuk entered the room and spoke in a low voice.

“W-what? No!”

“If you want, I’ll cuff you. No—if something like that happens again, I’ll do it whether you want it or not.”

His voice was quiet, but the rage behind it had settled down.

“I’m sorry. I swear it won’t happen again. I promise! Never again.”

“As it should be.”

“Yeah...”

“From now on, you report everything to me. Every word you say to anyone, every bastard who flirts with you—I want it all. Not after, but before. You need my permission for everything.”

It seemed last night had pushed his obsession stat beyond its limit.

If I said no, I’d probably get at least a light lockdown. I nodded obediently to avoid triggering him.

“Okay. I will.”

“And from now on, you’ll live here.”

“T-that’s a little...”

No matter how scary he was, this was a line I couldn’t cross.

The moment I started living in his house, it would be Lockdown Life. I hadn’t come this far just to end up like that.

Besides, staying here over break would be dangerous. If I got locked up, no one would notice.

“Why? You still want to stay near Park Geonwoo?”

His mana started swirling ominously again. I spoke quickly before his yandere mode could activate.

“No, it’s just... finals are coming up.”

“So?”

“The dorm is better for studying. And it’s not like he’s the only one there—there are lots of students living there.”

I’d made a new rule: never say the second male lead’s name in front of Seunghyuk again.

“I’ve always hated that. Do you know how many times I held myself back from dragging you here?”

“....”

He’d been thinking that all along...? A yandere really does keep you on your toes.

“I’ll report ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) everything properly from now on. That kind of thing will never happen again. I’m really sorry!”

“...”

Even with me begging like this, his expression didn’t soften.

“And... I know you don’t like hearing it, but there’s something I have to say.”

“What?”

“That sunbae—he wasn’t my first love. I’ve never had a first love.”

Back then, I was just grateful—and sorry—that Park Geonwoo had risked his life for me. That was it. Nothing more.

But even though I explained sincerely, Seunghyuk’s face just turned colder.

Why? Did he not believe me?

‘Ah! Yeonsu, you idiot!’

Saying I’d never had a first love meant... I’d never loved Seunghyuk either.

I realized too late and scrambled to fix it.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant! You’re my first love!”

“...”

Disaster. Even I could hear how forced that sounded—and Seunghyuk’s eyes darkened further.

I opened my mouth to explain again—but closed it.

‘What’s the point?’

Seunghyuk already knew I didn’t really love him. We both knew the truth. Telling more lies now would just feel hollow.

“...Sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“Huh?” 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

“Say you love me.”

His eyes... were desperate. It didn’t suit him. It didn’t suit a yandere at all. But I couldn’t look away.

“...I love you.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I love you. Seunghyuk, you’re the only one for me.”

I told him what he wanted to hear.

He pulled me into his arms.

And I fit perfectly in his embrace. When we first met, I’d been taller. But now, Joo Seunghyuk had grown up. He was taller, broader—not thirteen anymore.

But the way he held me—so desperately—it made me feel like I was a terrible adult lying to a child.