❝ ─── chapter twenty
GHOST FROM PAST.❞
"THEY SAID A FOX smells its own lair first." said by an old Korean idiom that meant no one can hide guilt from the person who committed the same crime. A predator always senses another predator. Before anyone else, a fox knows another fox.
Ye Seul exhaled softly through her nose as she stuck the last of the pads into her skirt's secret lining, smoothing the front before straightening up and catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
There was that stupid smile again. The one she hated because it only showed up for him.
As she adjusted her skirt, the memory replayed like a broken record of Go Hyun Tak, with that cocky smirk, shamelessly admitting he'd been tracking her period cycle "for emergency purposes," as if that was normal behavior. As if her heart hadn't nearly exploded in her chest when he said it so casually.
"You're insane," she had muttered then, clutching her chest.
And he had just laughed like it was the most logical thing in the world. Now, alone in the restroom, her cheeks flushed all over again.
Ye Seul turned on the faucet and began splashing her face, wiping away layers of makeup that had started to feel heavy. The water was cold and sharp enough to pull her back to her senses.
She stared at her bare, freshly washed face, then caught herself smiling again.
Gross.
She immediately dropped the smile, slapped both cheeks lightly with her hands, and muttered, "Get a grip, Han Ye Seul." But the sting that followed wasn't just from the slap. It was confusion and frustration because of the familiar ache that never really left her.
As she stepped out of the restroom, towel-drying her face, fate had the nerve to stage one of its worst surprises.
Geum Seongje.
There he was, leaning against the wall like he had been waiting for her. Like a twisted statue carved from shadow and smugness.
His eyes dragged up and down her figure like she was a mannequin on display, and the corner of his lip curled into that sick smirk that made her blood run cold.
"Well, well . . ." he drawled, voice dripping in sarcasm, "What a sight. Our little princess playing dress-up. Cute. Doesn't suit you, though."
Ye Seul narrowed her eyes, the towel clenched tightly in her fist. "Get lost."
Seongje ignored her tone. Of course he did. "Still feisty. I see you haven't changed," he said, stepping closer, his cologne an overwhelming mix of smoke and arrogance. "Does Hyun Tak know you're walking around in fairy-tale clothes? Bet he'd love to see you like this, makes it easier to remember how much he gave up because of you."
Her jaw clenched. "Don't you dare talk about him," she hissed, venom thick in her voice. "If you ever go near him again, I swear I'll raise hell."
Seongje chuckled lightly but enough to crawl under her skin. "Funny. . . That's almost exactly what Hyun Tak said when I got too close to you."
Her stomach dropped at his words but the latter tilted his head, mock-curious. "So, are you finally together? Must be fun playing house while I'm out here nursing the scars you two gave me." he clasped his hand and put them on his chest, acting like he was hurt.
She stood her ground, breath shallow but sharp, fingers twitching with the urge to slap him. "You're sick. We both know you didn't do that out of jealousy. You just like ruining people."
"I like owning people," he corrected, voice lowering to a whisper. "Especially the ones who think they're untouchable."
He stepped in too close as his hand ghosted over her ear, tucking a loose strand of her hair behind it with a gentleness that made her skin crawl. Then his other hand reached her neck, hovering as his fingers grazing the skin, not tight nor painful . . . but the implication was there. That he could.
He leaned in, lips just beside her ear. "You should watch your back, Ye Seul. Not everything you love survives a second time. And I still owe him."
Her breath hitched as she gasped silently in her throat and before she could respond, Seongje let go, pulling away with a devil's grin and a casual, "See you soon, princess."
She didn't even realize she'd been holding her breath until he disappeared down the hall and she finally let out a shaky and panicked exhaled.
She turned right back into the restroom, locking the door behind her, her back pressed against it as her chest heaved. Her fingers trembled.
Her mind went elsewhere, somewhere safer, but just as painful. To the past.
Flashback
"Can someone with a knee injury still go pro in taekwondo?" Ye Seul's thumbs moved on her phone as she lay curled beside Hyun Tak in his hospital bed, the soft beeping of machines and the hum of fluorescent lights their background music.
She sighed again when she saw another forum post and article. All saying the same thing: no. No. No.
"Stop reading that crap," came a low, groggy voice beside her.
Ye Seul looked down. Hyun Tak had cracked one eye open, barely moving. His leg was in a brace, elevated slightly. The white hospital gown made his skin look pale, worn down.
"I wasn't—" she started.
"You were," he said. "I can hear your disappointment from here."
She puffed out her cheeks. "I was just researching. Doesn't mean I'm disappointed."
He gave her a tired smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "You think I'm done, huh?"
Ye Seul immediately turned to face him, careful not to bump his leg. "No. I think. . . Maybe this dream isn't done. Maybe it just changed."
"Changed into what? Cheerleading?" he grumbled.
She elbowed him gently. "Coaching, dumbass. You could coach. Open a gym. Train the next generation."
"I wanted to be the best."
"You are the best. And don't roll your eyes or I'll punch you right in the good leg."
He chuckled, weakly, and then went quiet. Ye Seul reached for his hand. "Your life's not over, Hyun Tak. It's just . . . bending. Not breaking."
He didn't speak. But his hand tightened around hers as if she was the only thing keeping him sane.
Ye Seul didn't realize she'd been inside the restroom for almost half an hour until a soft knock broke the silence.
"Ye Seul, are you okay?" her eyes widened when she heard his voice.
She quickly changed into her regular clothes, taking one last look at her reflection. The pain was still there in her chest but so was something steady.
She opened the door and saw Hyun Tak stood just outside, his expression soft but concerned.
"Finally," he said, trying to keep it light. "Did the sink break up with you or something?"
"Funny," she muttered, voice tired. "If I knew you were going to be this annoying, I'd have stayed in there another thirty minutes."
Without missing a beat, Hyun Tak wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Too bad. I'm clingy."
She was about to ask where the others were when she caught sight of Hu Min waving down at them from the first floor like an excited golden retriever.
She snorted. "Why is he like that?"
"You're his best friend. That already says alot." Hyun Tak said with a smirk as they descended the stairs.
Downstairs, the group was already reassembled and chatting. "I'm hungry! Let's eat! It's on me!" Hu Min declared, throwing both arms in the air like he was announcing a festival.
Everyone chuckled except Ye Seul and Si Eun. She was still inside her head, still seeing Seongje's twisted smirk, still hearing his voice echoing in her skull.
"I need to go," Si Eun said suddenly.
"What?" Hu Min blinked. "I thought you're going to eat with us?"
"Did I say that?" Si Eun replied, expression unreadable. Hu Min opened his mouth to argue but then paused, realizing the truth. "Oh . . . right."
Jun Tae spoke up, softly. "But you should come. We worked hard today."
"I have other plans," Si Eun said.
They all let him go. Ye Seul was the last to speak, voice quiet. "Take care." He nodded slightly in acknowledgment before disappearing into the crowd.
The car ride after that was a blur. Her thoughts of Seongje, and his threats spiraled. He was back and he clearly wouldn't stop.
Even surrounded by laughter, Ye Seul felt cold. She barely noticed when they arrived at Hu Min's dad's chicken restaurant—Baku Chicken, proudly named after his nickname.
"Ye Seul!" Hu Min called, waving a chicken leg in the air. "Earth to Ye Seul!"
She blinked. "Oh?"
"I said, do you know what Jun Tae was talking about? That U-Turn Law?"
She rolled her eyes and shoved the chicken drumstick into his mouth. "It's Newton's third Law, dumbass." He blinked, then chewed and laughed. "Right. That!"
They all started bantering again. But Ye Seul kept her gaze on the table. On the food. Anywhere but Hyun Tak's eyes.
Because she knew he already saw right through her. And she wasn't ready to admit the truth yet that Geum Seongje had finally stepped out of the shadows. And he wasn't done with them.