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୨⎯ jia ⎯୧

the party is still going perfectly. i'm standing near the bar, talking to one of my dad's old secretaries, when nayeon suddenly taps me on the shoulder.

"jia! some guy accidentally cut himself with a glass," she says. "i think he might need help."

i nod, excusing myself from the conversation, and follow her through the crowd. when we reach the guy, i realize it's jisung.

he holds up his hand, blood running down his finger. "sorry," he says, chuckling a little. "guess i got careless."

"it's fine," i say. "i'll get you a plaster."

"i'll come with you," he offers.

i don't think much of it. i just nod and lead him towards one of the rooms where i know in-ho keeps bandages and first aid stuff.

i reach for the door handle, but before i can turn it, i feel something cold press against my back.

a gun.

"keep walking," jisung murmurs.

his voice is different now. lower. darker.

my breath catches in my throat, but i do as he says, stepping inside the room. the door shuts behind us.

"what the hell are you doing?" i ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

then he laughs. it's not the same easygoing chuckle from before. this one is low, humorless, filled with something that makes my stomach turn.

"remember the deer vip?" he asks.

my blood runs cold. of course i remember.

"oh, i know you do," he continues, voice dripping with venom. "because he was my father. and he's dead because of you."

he tilts his head, smirking like he's enjoying every second of this.

"i bet you're wondering how i know," he muses, pressing the gun a little harder against my back. "well, let me tell you."

i swallow hard, my heart pounding.

"my father told my uncle everything that happened in there," he continues, his voice laced with something dark. "every single detail. and guess what? he told him he had his eye on someone. said he was gonna try his luck with this girl."

he steps closer, his breath hot against my ear.

"and you know what happens next?" he whispers. "the next thing we hear - he's dead."

he lets the words sink in, and i feel my whole body go cold.

"and guess who was the last person to see him alive?"

his grip on the gun tightens.

"you."

i clench my jaw, forcing myself to stay calm even though every instinct is screaming at me to run.

"well," i say through gritted teeth, my voice low and steady, "did you also find out what he tried to do to me?"

jisung chuckles, but there's no humor in it. just pure, unfiltered rage.

"oh, i know," he mutters. "i know exactly what my father was planning."

his grip on the gun doesn't waver. if anything, it presses harder against my spine.

"but here's the thing," he continues. "i don't give a shit."

my breath catches in my throat.

"you think that justifies killing him?" jisung hisses. "you think that erases what you did?"