Scarlet Strings.

Chapter 23:

The club was alive with pulsating music, red lights casting a hazy, intoxicating glow across the room. Neon signs flickered against the walls, and a thrumming bass reverberated through the floor, filling the air with an electric energy that was meant to drown out thoughts and emotions. But for Ha-neul, none of it mattered.

He walked in, his hair damp from the rain, his shirt slightly wrinkled. His face was pale, his usually bright eyes hollow and rimmed with redness. He pushed through the crowd, his steps unsteady as he made his way to a secluded corner of the club. Sliding into a plush red sofa, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his head hanging low. The red lighting spilled over him, softening the hard lines of his face with a faint pinkish glow.

Ha-neul stared at the table in front of him, his gaze unfocused, his mind racing. His chest ached with a pain so deep it was suffocating. The din of the club faded into the background, the laughter and chatter of patrons a distant hum. He didn't drink, didn't move, he just sat there, utterly still, lost in the whirlwind of his emotions.

A stripper, dressed in shimmering silver, noticed him from across the room. Her sharp eyes caught the heaviness in his posture, the way his shoulders slumped as though the weight of the world rested on them. Intrigued, she approached him, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

"Hey, handsome," she said, her voice warm and teasing as she slid onto the sofa beside him. She placed a light hand on his shoulder, leaning in slightly. "How are you?"

Ha-neul didn't even look at her. He didn't flinch or acknowledge her presence. His gaze remained fixed on the table, his hands clasped tightly together.

The stripper tilted her head, her lips curving into a playful smile. "How are you, hottie?" she asked again, nudging his shoulder gently.

And then, the dam broke.

"괜찮지 않아요." (I'm not okay.) His voice trembled, the words escaping his lips like a confession.

The stripper froze, her playful demeanor shifting into one of concern. She didn't understand what he had said, but the anguish in his tone was understandable. Ha-neul lifted his head, and his face crumpled. Tears spilled freely down his cheeks, his entire body trembling as the emotions he had held back for so long came rushing out.

"너무 아파요. 숨 쉴 수가 없어요." (It hurts so much. I can't breathe.) His voice cracked, his words coming out in choked sobs.

The stripper's eyes widened, unsure of what to do. She placed a hand on his back, rubbing it gently in an attempt to comfort him, though she didn't understand a single word he was saying.

"내 심장이 찢어진 것 같아요. 누가 그걸 발로 짓밟는 것 같아요." (It feels like my heart's been ripped apart. Like someone's stomping on it.) He clutched his chest, his fingers digging into the fabric of his shirt as though trying to ease the unbearable pain. His face contorted with every word, his brows furrowed deeply, his lips trembling.

"그녀를 사랑했어요. 처음으로 누군가를 사랑했는데... 그녀가 내 형의 아내였어요." (I loved her. For the first time in my life, I loved someone... and she's my brother's wife.) He let out a broken sob, his shoulders shaking as he buried his face in his hands.

The stripper glanced around, unsure of how to handle the situation. The other patrons were oblivious, caught up in their own revelry. She leaned closer to Ha-neul, whispering softly, "It's okay, baby, whatever it is. Just let it out."

But Ha-neul didn't hear her. He was consumed by his grief, his voice growing louder, more desperate.

"나는 그녀에게 고백하려고 했어요. 그녀가 나를 거절했을 때도, 나는 계속 희망을 가졌어요. 하지만 이제는... 모든 게 끝났어요." (I was going to confess to her. Even when she rejected me, I kept holding onto hope. But now... it's all over.) His breath hitched, and he wiped at his face with trembling hands, but the tears kept coming.