SLEEP WAS A FOREIGN CONCEPT WHEN ALL SHE COULD SEE WAS RED. Every time her eyes fluttered shut, instead of the pitch black that should come followed by slumber, she saw a blinding crimson that sat her up in cold sweat. Most of the night was spent in her thoughts, replaying the scene she’d had the misfortune to come across over and over and over again. The stench of the body lingered in her nostril, body swallowing the remnants of her dinner that threatened to crawl up her throat. Even when Ara did her best to distract her memories, she found herself sifting through television channels only to land on the latest murder case. Unsolved, unfound. What if it was him ??
She’d called in sick from work, her body unable to muster up the strength to make her way into the office. It was half past two when the knock on her door encouraged her to finally get up from the comforts of her couch, the imprint of her body visible in the leather. Fatigue clouded over common sense when she opened the door without thinking twice, only to be met with the eyes that plagued her walking nightmares. Her fingers curled around the doorknob, ready to slam the door in his face. What was once a familiar face, a colleague, a man she could joke with at events, someone harmless was now nothing but red. Red. Red. Blood red.
Almost immediately, her hand went down to grab the phone from her pocket, ready to call reinforcements if need be. Staring at him sent chills down her spine, but idiotic bravery had her standing in her spot without screaming. Swallowing the lump forming in the back of her throat, she did her best to sound confident, but fear caused her voice to quiver and knees to knock. “ That was on purpose. ” Taking a deep breath in, she moved her body ever so slightly behind the door, protection if need be. Her body language was enough to let him know that his presence wasn’t welcome here.
“ Junwoo – ” Questions upon questions plagued her thoughts. What could she ask ? What could she say ? Would she be his next victim ?? Her brows creased as concern riddled her features, fear for her own life now creeping up even though she was sure he wasn’t all bad. “Please don’t hurt me… ”
women were complicated beings, he thinks. think one way, say another. junwoo doesn’t know why the other woman hasn’t responded to any of his calls or messages though he’s finding himself to be quite annoyed at this point. he tries to reason with her in his mind, wondering if she has been going through many issues without him knowing and kept it to herself. that’s how people seem to be, never upfront with their emotions and he’s playing the guessing game through out many assumptions. nothing came to mind, he thought they were alright.
he has the audacity to arrive at her place. cleaned himself up from the erotic movements that he has to do in order to survive. junwoo believes he’s wise enough to tidy his appearance up, doesn’t seem suspicious to ones eye. knuckles pressed against the wood as an indication of arrival and it doesn’t take too long for her to invite him with her warm presence. he questioned her actions, he feels neglected by her to do such a thing but to leave him by a string of curiosity.
and she admits the truth. “my dear ara,” he coos with his head shaking in obvious disapproval as to why she would do such a thing to him. and his eyes fall into her own, the fear in her eyes and somehow he understands why now.
she knows and he doesn’t dare to run away.
“why would you think i would do such a thing?” the business man inquired, head tilting to one side before leading himself into the home she resides in. he delicately plants his palm onto the door before pressing it shut. he smiles softly, he tries not to seem threatening to her eyes. junwoo knows about her realizing who he was now. “i’m offended, i could never hurt you.” no promises were to be attached to the reassuring words, he says it to calm her down.
he can see her phone gripping onto the device, her frame stiff and unable to move from paranoia. junwoo could never ( at least it’s what he believes in now ) he isn’t idiotic to feed off of a woman he’s connected to. if she disappears he becomes an obvious target and he isn’t trying to get a bullet stuck into his head or placed behind bars. his hands were held up and out for her to see, “see? ara, believe me when i say - i won’t hurt you.”