Shadows and Sins

Jiyong's hands trembled as he unlocked his phone and opened the message from Dara. It was longer than he expected. His eyes scanned the words, each one slicing deeper into his chest.

Jiyong,

Please don't look for me. I don't want to drag you into my mess when you are just beginning to make your dreams come true. Seeing your exhibition succeed was one of the happiest moments of my life. I want you to continue your craft, to become the renowned artist you are destined to be.

Our friendship has meant everything to me. Every moment we spent together, every laugh, every quiet understanding—it's all etched in my heart forever. But I need to let you go. I need you to let me go.

I have decided to return to my family. I have agreed to fulfill their wishes and go back to my fiancé. It's the only way to keep myself from being hunted down, the only way to maintain peace.

I hope you and Jennie find a way to mend things. I truly do. Forgiveness sometimes comes with forgetting, Jiyong. Forget her mistakes. Forget me.

Start anew.

The phone slipped from Jiyong's grasp as his knees gave out beneath him. A choked gasp escaped his lips before he could suppress it. This pain—this agony—was worse than when he had caught Jennie with another man. His chest heaved, a sob clawing its way out of his throat.

Footsteps approached rapidly. Seunghyun had just parked his car and rushed toward him, alarmed by Jiyong's collapsed figure near the riverbank. Without a word, he crouched beside him, gripping his arm and helping him up before guiding him to a park bench.

Jiyong's anguished sobs filled the air as he pounded his fist against his chest, as if trying to rid himself of the unbearable pain seeping into his bones. Seunghyun didn't speak, just sat beside him, allowing him to grieve. After what felt like an eternity, Jiyong's sobs finally subsided into quiet sniffles.

Seunghyun reached into his coat pocket, pulling out his huge hip flask and his handkerchief. He handed them over without a word, watching as Jiyong took the flask and chugged half of it in one go.

Breaking the silence, Seunghyun let out a low chuckle. "Good thing no one's around, li'l fucker. The way you're crying, people might think we're a couple breaking up. And i was the one who cheated. Warning you, i don't fuck ass but for you i will do it."

Jiyong remained unresponsive, his grip tightening around the flask. His mind was still reeling from the message, from the finality of Dara's words.

"Spill it," Seunghyun prompted.

Jiyong silently handed him the phone. Seunghyun's brows furrowed as he read through the message. When he finished, he exhaled sharply, looking at Jiyong with a mix of sympathy and concern.

Jiyong turned to face him, his expression no longer just grief-stricken, but resolute. "I'm done," he muttered. "I'm ready."

Seunghyun tilted his head. "Ready for what?"

Jiyong's gaze darkened. "To commence our revenge plan against Jennie."

Seunghyun studied him for a moment before asking carefully, "And what about Dara?"

Jiyong looked away, his throat tightening. He thought for a long moment before speaking, his voice barely above a whisper. "She'll remain as my almost, hyung. My almost."

Seunghyun exhaled deeply and leaned back against the park bench, watching Jiyong carefully. "You sure about this? Once we start, there's no going back."

Jiyong nodded, jaw tight. "I wasn't sure when I saw Jennie betray me, I thought just ending my life would be the better option. But now? Now it's clear. I need to get what she took from me. My dignity."

Seunghyun studied him for a moment before giving a slow nod. "Alright. Then we do it my way. Smart, clean, and with no loose ends. No impulsive moves. You hear me?"

Jiyong let out a bitter chuckle. "Since when have I ever been impulsive?"

Seunghyun raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe when you decided to marry Jennie in the first place?" He smirked, then sighed. "Look, man. I know you're hurting. And I know you want justice, but this isn't just about revenge. If we do this right, you'll come out on top, not just as some guy getting back at his cheating wife, but as someone who built himself from the ground up."

Jiyong took another sip of from Seunghyun's flask, letting the words sink in. "Then let's make sure we do it right."

Seunghyun nodded. "Good. First thing's first, Jennie's been trying to access your bank account. She wants to see how much money you made from your latest exhibit."

Jiyong's eyes darkened. "So she really hasn't changed."

Seunghyun smirked. "That's why you need to let her back in. Let her feel like you're the old gullible, stupid Jiyong she married."

Jiyong scowled. "I'm not stupid."

Seunghyun shrugged. "You were. You fell for her trap in college. She only wanted you because you were the most sought-after guy on campus. Being with you made her the 'it' girl. It was never love, just status."

Jiyong scoffed but asked, "What's next?"

Seunghyun grinned. "You let her in. Let her feel like she has control again. Act like you're busy with your craft, stop giving her the attention she craves. And most importantly—keep your dick in your pants."

Jiyong raised an eyebrow. "And why's that?"

Seunghyun leaned in. "A deprived Jennie is a desperate Jennie. She'll start looking for another guy to satisfy her, and that's where we begin."