Part 23
Over the past three days, Felix had noticed a disturbing change in Jae-bum he barely laughed, spoke very little, and seemed constantly distracted and lost in thought
Determined to break through this wall, Felix forcefully escorted Jae-bum to the library room, seeking privacy
"I told you, it's nothing, Felix" Jae-bum insisted again, trying to look away.
"Hyung! You're frustrating me. I know something is profoundly wrong so please just tell me" Felix urged, raising his voice slightly before softening it with genuine worry
Jae-bum persisted in avoiding eye contact until Felix firmly but gently, turned his head toward him
"You were never like this before! If something was bothering you, you'd usually tell me without hesitation. Why are you suddenly withdrawing?" Felix demanded, then released him
Jae-bum took an uneasy breath and cleared his throat "Do you remember that friend...the one I blamed for ruining the pizzas, even though I was the one who messed up?" Felix nodded. Jae-bum continued, his voice heavy with revelation "He confessed... he said he was the one who planted the drugs in my apartment"
Felix was stunned into silence "really? So, he was the one who visited you that day?"
Jae-bum nodded slowly "He said he wants to formally .... confess that the drugs were his. When he needed to hide them quickly, he panicked and planted them in my place"
"Then why the distress? You'll be proven innocent, right?" Felix asked, his face brightening with relief
Jae-bum paused, the weight of his dilemma crushing him "I think I might be released today... He promised three days ago he would tell the authorities everything... But I... I told him I didn't want to be freed, He said he couldn't hold back this pain anymore and he had to confess ... But I... I don't want to leave. I can't leave you here alone with that monster"
Felix's hopeful smile faltered immediately not because of his own release, nor solely because of Hyunjin, but because of the sheer prospect of facing this prison, all alone without him...
"Why are you worrying about me when you are about to walk free? I will be absolutely fine. I can take care of myself" Felix lied, forcing a smile despite the sudden, unwelcome burning of tears in his eyes
"I can't help it Felix. My mind is about to explode from the strain" Jae-bum confessed sadly
"Please don't talk like that. You should be overjoyed, Hyung" Felix insisted
The two men held each other's gaze for a strained moment until Felix could no longer hold back his emotion and hugged Jae-bum tightly. Jae-bum instantly returned the embrace with a fierce, desperate intensity
"The outside world... it will also feel like a prison if you're not there" Jae-bum admitted, his voice thick with raw emotion
"You have to visit me every single day, or I swear I will hunt you down and kill you" Felix declared as he broke the hug, punctuating the threat with a soft punch to Jae-bum's chest
"Ah, damn it. Why does it feel like we're saying goodbye now?" Jae-bum muttered, quickly wiping away a few stray tears
"Are you crying, Hyung?" Felix teased softly, his own voice shaky
"Nooo!" Jae-bum shouted immediately, dramatically denying the tears
But Felix started laughing at the genuine, exasperated expression on Jae-bum's face.m
"Ugh, stop. You are truly annoying" Jae-bum grumbled, though a genuine smile finally broke through his sadness
"So let's go eat. This will be your last meal here" Felix said jokingly, pulling him toward the door
Jae-bum rolled his eyes affectionately, and then, linked by the finality of the moment, they walked downstairs together
The hour had finally arrived. It was decided that Jae-bum would be released just before 3 PM. After saying his hurried goodbyes to a few of the other prisoners, he headed toward the main exit corridor
"Ah, I guess this is the end" Jae-bum said sadly, a profound lack of joy on his face. He looked more distraught than relieved
"I'm truly happy for you, Hyung. I hope you find a peaceful life outside, one you deserve" Si Hun said with a sincere smile, trying to inject some much-needed cheer
"Thank you so much, Si Hun" Jae-bum replied, offering a faint, strained smile in return
Felix remained silent. His throat felt impossibly tight, words were painfully stuck and he couldn't find a way to articulate a simple farewell without his voice breaking
Jae-bum opened his arms wide, his smile becoming warmer and more desperate "Come here"
Felix looked at him and with two quick steps, threw himself into the familiar, warm embrace. He inhaled deeply, trying to memorize the scent of Jae-bum's uniform, the feeling of his solid build, the last physical anchor of safety he had known
Unseen by them, lurking near the corner of the corridor's archway, Hyunjin stood motionless, a cigarette dangling forgotten between his lips. His jaw was clenched so tight the muscles stood out sharply. He watched the embrace and a cold surge of possessive anger instantly pulsed through him. The sight of Felix clinging to Jae-bum felt like an unbearable violation
"I hope you're happy, Hyung" Felix managed to say, his voice muffled against Jae-bum's shoulder, fighting back a sob
"I'll visit you every single day" Jae-bum promised, his eyes welling up with tears that finally spilled over
"Every day? Only on designated days, you idiot. Don't cause trouble, I was just kidding about you having to come every day," Felix teased gently, attempting to maintain their usual light banter and remind Jae-bum of the practical realities of freedom
"Alright, we need to go now. Move it" the guard urged, impatient
"Take care of yourself" Jae-bum said softly, placing his hand on Felix's cheek for a final, lingering touch
Felix nodded slowly, gripping the front of Jae-bum's shirt until the guard's presence finally made him release his hold
Then, Jae-bum walked straight toward the exit. Felix and Si Hun raised their hands in one last, shaky farewell. Jae-bum walked away slowly, looking back repeatedly, his face etched with regret, until the heavy door finally sealed behind him
Hyunjin waited until the closing clank echoed down the hallway. He pulled the cigarette from his mouth, his breathing audible and ragged with suppressed fury. He walked back inside, his boots heavy and echoing on the concrete and without breaking stride, he put the cigarette out on the floor with a slow, deliberate twist of his heel a violent, satisfying act of finality before stalking toward the cell block.
Since the day Jae-bum left, Felix had returned to his solitary routine, going to the library early every morning. He barely spoke to Si Hun, losing himself entirely in the books he read
He was internally frustrated, banging his head figuratively, at least against the walls of his confinement. There was nothing he could do to escape this prison
Suddenly, a strong hand slammed on the table beside his book, the loud impact startling Felix and wrenching him violently out of his literary trance
"Do you think reading all those useless books can save you from reality now that your precious Jae-bum is gone?" Hyunjin said, his tone venomous and low
Felix slowly raised his head, steadying himself slightly in his chair
"What do you mean?" Felix asked, genuinely shocked by the aggression
Hyunjin gave a disbelieving, bitter smile "Don't you want to kill yourself trying to bury your head in all these pages?"
"That's none of your damn business," Felix retorted angrily and tried to push back his chair to stand
But Hyunjin was too fast. He pushed Felix back down into the chair, slamming his hands down like imposing barriers on the armrests, trapping Felix completely
"Is there something going on between you and Jae-bum? Do you two love each other?" Hyunjin demanded, his voice tight with suspicion
Felix glared at Hyunjin and fiercely clenched his fists "It seems that punch wasn't enough for you? Damn you, why would you think something like that is between us? Just stop!"
"Because—!" Hyunjin suddenly shouted, the sound echoing slightly in the quiet room, before he abruptly checked himself and took an uneasy breath
"Get your hands off me. I want to leave," Felix said, his voice trembling with anger
"If you lie to me right now, it will be very bad for you" Hyunjin threatened, locking his piercing gaze onto Felix's eyes
"Hey, even if I lie, what more can you possibly do? Is there anything you haven't already done, huh?" Felix shot back bravely, throwing caution to the wind
Hyunjin gave a terrifying, slow smile "So there is something between you two!?"
Felix fell silent, realizing his bravado had been misinterpreted. He hadn't meant to imply he and Jae-bum were romantically involved but he was too angry and cornered to form a coherent explanation
"Felix, don't test my anger" Hyunjin sighed, the sound grating "Don't make me do worse than I've already done"
Felix leaned in slightly, his face moving closer to Hyunjin's, his heart strangely accelerating not just from fear but a sudden rush of recklessness "You know what? Do whatever you want. It doesn't matter to me anymore" Then with deliberate defiance, he placed his hands on Hyunjin's chest "Now let me go"
Hyunjin didn't move. He leaned in even closer, the space between their faces collapsing until their lips almost touched "So that's what you wanted. Get ready for it, then"
Then just as suddenly, Hyunjin straightened up and walked away without another word. Felix's heart pounded loudly against his ribs. he was both intensely scared and deeply confused as to why he had risked everything with his words.
Hyunjin was escorted to the visitation room to see his mother. When the door opened, Mrs. Hwang immediately rushed forward and embraced him
"My son, my life" Mrs. Hwang murmured, closing her eyes tightly as she hugged him, clearly overcome with emotion
Hyunjin raised his hands and hugged his mother back but his embrace was notably reserved, lacking warmth
"Why did you come, Mom?" Hyunjin asked with a trace of annoyance, pulling back to sit down on a chair
"What do you mean, why did I come? I missed my son! I wanted to see you!" Mrs. Hwang insisted, sitting opposite him
"You could have just called, Mom," Hyunjin countered dismissively
"You've grown so thin my son. Are you eating well?" Mrs. Hwang asked worriedly, standing up slightly to touch Hyunjin's cheeks, her eyes filled with concern
"I'm fine. Really, there's no need to worry" Hyunjin said, turning his face away from her touch
Mrs. Hwang sat back down, her expression turning serious "Hyunjin" her voice sounded pleading now "Please agree to the defense and let's get you out of here"
Hyunjin let out a heavy sigh, looked away and gave a sarcastic smile "So, that's the real reason you're here, isn't it?"
"My son, how much longer do you intend to stay here? If you just agree, we can start the trial, you can testify and then you'll be free to return to your life"
"I don't want to. I'm perfectly fine here" Hyunjin shook his head, his refusal absolute
"But why? Give me one good reason!" Mrs. Hwang demanded
"Mom, let's not argue, please" Hyunjin said, shutting down the conversation
"Is there something you want to tell me? What is it that makes you choose to remain incarcerated over your freedom?" Mrs. Hwang pressed, sensing a hidden motive
Hyunjin fell silent. Initially, when he came here, he wanted to be here willingly and not defend himself because of his past but the person who now anchored him to this place, the one reason he didn't want to think about the outside world was Felix. He wanted to see Felix always even if it meant remaining here and hurting Felix to keep him close
"My son?" Mrs. Hwang leaned forward, trying to pull Hyunjin back from his dangerous thoughts
"How's Dad doing?" Hyunjin abruptly changed the subject
"So, you truly don't want to leave" Mrs. Hwang shook her head, defeat heavy in her voice "He's fine, as always"
"If there's nothing else, I should go," Hyunjin said, standing up
Mrs. Hwang nodded, stood up and hugged Hyunjin one last time. "Goodbye, my son"
Hyunjin lay on his bed, there was still time before the midday meal and a cold storm of anger brewed within him fueled by Felix's defiant words in the library and the frustrating, unresolved visit with his mother
Just then, one of his subordinates appeared at the cell door. "Boss"
"Tell me" Hyunjin commanded, sitting up immediately, his irritation barely masked
"This is some information on Felix's past and why he was imprisoned" the man said, handing over a thick, sealed envelope
Hyunjin gestured curtly with his hand for the man to leave, Hyunjin wasted no time. He immediately and aggressively tore open the envelope, his dark eyes fixed on the contents within
The lunch period was underway. Hyunjin sat centrally with his group of subordinates, while Felix kept a low profile in a corner with Si Hun. Abruptly, Felix stood, gripping his tray and walked with conspicuous intent straight toward Hyunjin's table. Si Hun watched the brazen move in shocked disbelief, his breath held tight
Felix slammed his tray down hard on the table and sat directly opposite Hyunjin, directly invading his personal space
"Hey, watch yourself, jerk!" one of Hyunjin's men growled immediately, glaring angrily at Felix
Hyunjin smirked, raising a hand to silence his subordinate "Stop. It seems he just wants to eat"
"Precisely. I just want to eat with my cellmate, like I used to with my former roommate" Felix retorted, his tone thick with deliberate sarcasm and challenge
"All of you, move. Find another table and finish eating there" Hyunjin commanded, his voice carrying a slight edge of annoyance at having his privacy breached, yet clearly enjoying the unfolding spectacle
The men quickly obeyed, gathering their trays and moving away, though their attention remained fixed on the two seated figures
"So, you've finally decided you're strong enough to challenge me publicly?" Hyunjin asked, his smile cold and predatory
"No! Why would you say that?" Felix feigned innocence, widening his eyes before pointedly turning his attention to his food "I just want to eat normally with you"
Hyunjin reached out his right hand, intending to place it deliberately over Felix's, which rested near his tray. Felix immediately recoiled, snatching his hand away as if recoiling from a venomous snake
"Keep your disgusting hands to yourself" Felix hissed, his gaze flashing with anger
Hyunjin leaned back slowly, his smirk spreading into an expression of cold, absolute triumph "Why are you angry? Wasn't it you who assaulted your 10-year-old stepsister?"
Felix's world instantly crashed into silence. His eyes snapped wide in a stare of visceral shock, rapidly giving way to a volatile, blinding rage. Every muscle in his body seized up, leaving him utterly exposed and cornered.
"With that innocent face, how could you possibly have killed three people? Even I can hardly believe it... but then, why are you here?" Hyunjin's eyes widened in mock disbelief before his expression sharpened into something colder. "If you're so innocent, why were your fingerprints all over your little sister's body?" He leaned in, his voice dropping to a venomous whisper "You claimed to be against it like when I had sex with you and you cried so why assault a child? Did it make you feel happy? Did it feel good?" A cruel smirk played on his lips
Felix's eyes glistened instantly with furious tears. With a violent clatter, he slammed his spoon down, surged across the table and landed a hard, cracking punch squarely on Hyunjin's face. He fisted Hyunjin's collar, yanking him down to the floor in a tangle of limbs.
"How dare you say that?! I'll kill you!" Felix roared, his voice raw with rage
Hyunjin's men swarmed in, pulling Felix back and pinning his arms
Slowly, Hyunjin pushed himself up, smiling as he dabbed the blood from his split lip "You really know how to hit hard. That wasn't bad at all"
"You pervert, I'll end you!" Felix strained against the hold, every muscle taut with fury.
Hyunjin closed the distance, his breath ghosting over Felix's ear as he whispered "I love this madness of yours. It makes me fall for you even more"
Felix seethed, teeth gritted, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"Let him go" Hyunjin ordered calmly
With one last glance, Hyunjin wiped his lip again, tucked his hands casually into his pockets and offered Felix a lingering, blood-tinged smile. Then, without another word, he turned and left, his men falling into step behind him