Joo Seunghyuk allowed me to keep staying in the dormitory.

That didn’t mean he let me off the hook.

He said I could stay in the dorm, but I had to spend this weekend at his house.

Given how obsessed he was, that was actually a pretty big concession. I quickly accepted the condition.

My clothes from yesterday were no longer wearable, so I wore the ones Seunghyuk gave me.

Even though they were new, they fit me perfectly. He probably bought them specifically for me.

Seunghyuk often gave me clothes as gifts. But ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) it seemed there were more clothes than I remembered.

Don’t tell me he’s already made me a walk-in closet...?

When I said I wanted to study for finals, he gave me his own study.

To be honest, this semester didn’t have many subjects where written tests made up a large percentage of the grade, so there wasn’t much I actually had to study. But I used exams as an excuse to get even a moment’s reprieve from the yandere’s presence.

I stared blankly at my book, then let out a deep sigh.

If this were the original Kim Jun, he’d probably be complaining to Joo Seunghyuk, asking why he was so mad just for helping out Park Geonwoo-sunbae—and would’ve ended up getting dragged into all kinds of rough, graphic acts. He’d probably still be rotting in a comfy garbage bin somewhere.

Now that I think about it, Kim Jun wasn’t just oblivious. He’d gone past oblivious into absolutely no sense of self-preservation. How could he argue so calmly when Seunghyuk was that furious? Whether he was right or wrong, wasn’t he scared? 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

It’s not that I’m timid or cowardly. Any normal person would shrink in front of an enraged Joo Seunghyuk.

But still... how did Seunghyuk know the contents of the letter I sent to Park Geonwoo?

Did Park Geonwoo tell him?

No way... Even if the two of them had some sort of personal conversation, the idea that they talked about me? On top of that, Geonwoo isn’t the type to gossip about letters, even if he didn’t reply to one.

Then again, I couldn’t be sure of anyone’s personality. I didn’t expect him to mark me with pheromones without my permission either...

Still, I couldn’t picture Geonwoo exposing the contents of my letter. If he had, it would’ve leaked by now. The media is always desperate to link me and Geonwoo together—they wouldn’t miss that kind of scoop. That means no one on the outside knows.

So then... how did Joo Seunghyuk find out what was in the letter?

No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t come up with an answer.

Whatever. I should just study. I wonder if “Introduction to Gate Studies” is in Seunghyuk’s house?

I stood up from my chair—and my legs gave out. I reflexively grabbed the closest thing, but it wasn’t a sturdy support—it was a book. I collapsed, still holding the book, and the rest spilled across the floor.

‘Shit! What a stupid mistake!’

What if Seunghyuk gets angry again...? I scrambled to gather the books in a panic—and that’s when I saw it, nestled among the pile.

A pristine white envelope.

Sender – Yeonsu Lee

Recipient – Geonwoo Park

It was the letter I sent to Park Geonwoo two years ago. Why did Joo Seunghyuk have this?

And the envelope had my home address on it. The same one I live at now.

Seunghyuk had said he asked my siblings for my address. But he’d known it all along?

As I picked up the envelope, another one slid out from beneath it.

Sender – Geonwoo Park

Recipient – Yeonsu Lee

It was a letter from Park Geonwoo to me. Judging by the address, it must’ve been part of a batch he sent all at once.

So Geonwoo-hyung did write me back...?

He got my letter in Africa and even replied. But Seunghyuk intercepted it. He took that—and even took the second letter I sent.

A chill ran down my spine.

I’d thought Seunghyuk’s obsession started after our first time. But that wasn’t it. He’d been targeting me long before that.

Then—I heard the sound of the door opening. I quickly shoved the letters beneath the pile of books.

“What’s going on?”

“S-sorry! I tripped while getting up and dropped some books.”

“Your legs gave out?”

“Yeah. I’ll clean it up right away!”

“It’s fine. Did you hurt yourself?”

“No.”

Seunghyuk didn’t scold me. Instead, he scooped me up into his arms.

It was such a textbook princess carry that I felt a little embarrassed.

He carried me out and set me down on the living room sofa.

“Wait here. I’ll bring you something to eat.”

“Okay.”

He went into the kitchen and returned with cookies and tea.

“Thanks.”

“Just wait a sec.”

“Mm.”

Seunghyuk headed straight into the study. Was he going to clean up the books himself? If so, had he realized I found the letters...?

He was in the wrong, but I didn’t feel like confronting him.

If anything, I was scared. He wasn’t the type to apologize if caught—he’d rather shut me up.

I waited anxiously. After a while, he emerged from the study.

“Why didn’t you eat?”

He looked at the tea and snacks on the table and asked.

“I was waiting to eat with you.”

I gave the softest, most obedient smile I could. Seunghyuk stared at me quietly, then sat beside me. He grabbed my ankle.

“Seunghyuk!”

I yelped in surprise.

‘Shit. Did he see the letters? Is he going to cuff my legs now?!’

He ignored my outburst and pulled my foot onto his thigh. Then he started massaging my leg.

“S-Seunghyuk, I’m really okay—”

“Like hell you are. What if you’d gotten seriously hurt from that fall?”

His face was full of concern as he gently massaged my leg.

Thankfully, it didn’t seem like he realized I found the letters.

***

Just like he promised, Seunghyuk let me leave on Monday.

But this was it. If I ended up back at his house again, I wouldn’t be able to get out next time.

Even after returning to school, I couldn’t stop thinking about those letters.

It wasn’t the fact that he intercepted the mail that scared me—it was why.

Just how long had Joo Seunghyuk been after me?

He’d said I hated him. His voice had been full of bitterness.

He’d been resenting me for a long time. Maybe ever since that day seven years ago.

What if our first time together had been part of his plan? What if everything afterward was just an act?

Maybe it was revenge—for refusing to sign an exclusive contract with him in the past.

Come to think of it... has Seunghyuk ever told me he loved me?

He always demanded I say it. But I don’t think he ever did himself.

Not even a casual “I like you.” Just vague teasing or remarks about guiding—but never heartfelt words.

‘Was all of it really fake...?’

A lump caught in my throat. I knew neither of us were being honest, so why did it hurt so much?

I was afraid.

Afraid that every moment I’d spent with Seunghyuk these past months had been a lie.

What am I so scared of...?

Even I didn’t understand my own heart.

***

As I trudged toward class, a man stepped in front of me.

“Geonwoo-hyung...”

“Yeonsu. Are you okay?”

Park Geonwoo looked at me, his eyes full of concern.

“Yes.”

“Really? I’ve been regretting it ever since I let you go. You didn’t come back all weekend.”

When I left his room, I told him I’d see him “tomorrow.” But even though I didn’t come back the next day or the day after, Park Geonwoo didn’t take action—he just waited.

He was like that in the original too. Always the rational one.

Even when Kim Jun disappeared while with Joo Seunghyuk, Geonwoo just thought it was odd—he didn’t act beyond that.

No matter how cold Seunghyuk was, it never crossed Geonwoo’s mind that he’d lock up a fellow student.

That’s why he couldn’t protect Kim Jun until the very end.

In short—he’s not someone I can rely on.

If it were Seunghyuk, he would’ve gone insane the second I vanished. No—he wouldn’t have sent me to someone else in the first place...

“Yes. I’m really okay.”

“You’re hurt.”

He reached out and touched the wound on my lip. I flinched and pulled away.

“Sorry. I was just worried.”

“It’s fine. Sorry for making you worry.”

“Yeonsu, can we talk for a bit?”

“I’m on my way to class right now...”

“Then I’ll wait until it’s over.”

Park Geonwoo’s tone left no room for argument.

***

This lecture was a group presentation session.

It was the final round of presentations for the semester—but I couldn’t focus on a single word.

Park Geonwoo said he’d wait outside the lecture hall until it ended.

Should I report this to Seunghyuk?

But what if I do—and it turns into something bigger? That scared me.

While I was still debating whether to message him, the sound of applause filled the room.

The last group had finished their presentation.

I had no time left to think.