Note: Some parts of this chapter have been removed for public posting. Read the uncut version on patreon.

The shadows enveloped them in the deafening silence of the room. Not even the moonlight sipped through the curtains swaying in the cool night breeze. In the darkness, Ki Tae leaned down to kiss Ha Yoon’s plump lips.

“What do you mean?” Ha Yoon gasped between kisses. “Why would you–”

“Because if his existence continues to bring you pain, I will erase him.” Ki Tae placed their foreheads together. “I’m prepared to take all the responsibilities. I’ll go to jail, I’ll pay for it. I’ll do anything for you to stop crying.”

Ha Yoon stared at Ki Tae as though he had blurted out the most absurd thing in the world, and maybe he had. Killing someone for love. Killing someone to keep the love all to himself. Wouldn’t he like that?

“That’s perfect,” Ha Yoon’s lips stretched into a smile. “Yes, let’s do it, Ki Tae. I knew I could count on you. You always have all the answers.”

Ki Tae smiled into the kiss. Their hands explored each other’s bodies, succumbing to the heat of the moment. Adrenaline coursed through their blood. Deep desire. Sickening possessiveness. Twisted feelings. For each of them were blinded by obsession that they didn’t once question whether the way they hold their feelings was a way they should do. All Ha Yoon wanted was to love Dae Won and all Ki Tae wanted was for Ha Yoon to be happy. It didn’t matter how. To their young minds without any sense of the real world, an uncontrollable plight for pleasure and abandonment of reasons were the only things that mattered to them.

Clothes were thrown across the room, naked bodies lay bare. Ha Yoon rolled them over and sat between Ki Tae’s legs, eyes glazed over with lust.

Ki Tae moaned and thrusted his hips while keeping Ha Yoon in place by fistfuls of his hair. The bed creaked under them but he didn’t slow down. He wanted to tie Ha Yoon up. Put him in a cage. Lock him away from everyone else. He wanted Ha Yoon all to himself. He would do anything for him.

Even killing Dae Won.

Two blinded souls held onto each other, comforted that even if the entire world went against them, they would continue to walk together.

Forever.

Perhaps, if they hadn’t kept their secret to themselves, things would have turned out differently. Perhaps, if they had just spoken up, talked to each other about their feelings, they wouldn’t have taken their last trip to the deep mountains.

Making their final school memories was just an excuse that Ki Tae came up with. An uphill trail that soon led them into the dark woods. A perfect place for curious hikers and explorers, for a group of teenagers to run away from society. A perfect place to commit murder.

The knife was hidden in his back pocket. He had cleared his most precious things at home and made sure that there was no evidence connecting Ha Yoon to this. Ki Tae planned on ending it all by himself and giving Ha Yoon the freedom of this heartbreak.

Just you wait, my dear Ha Yoon. I’ll show you the extent of my love. Maybe, just maybe, when Dae Won is gone, you will choose me.

He trailed behind Ha Yoon and Dae Won, half-listening to their conversation, half calculating how far they’ve walked. Soon enough, they reached a resting spot on a small hill. Over the top of the trees, the slowly setting sun welcomed them into its warm embrace.

“Sometimes I feel like this is a dream,” Dae Won said. Golden lights washed over his face. A glow that could only be the music of angels. His ethereal smile was everything that Ha Yoon ever wanted and looking at this perfect being shot a pang in his heart. 

Oh, what a beautiful smile.

“We were a bunch of delinquents but now we’ve gotta move on into the real world. We gotta grow up.”

Ha Yoon wanted to hold this perfect man and never let go. Why, oh why, wasn’t it him whose hands Dae Won will hold? Why did he spend so much time regretting his indecisiveness, his fear, his love for Dae Won? The thought of losing Dae Won morphed his insides into a pool of venom, eating him alive.

“But I’m glad we’ve spent our days together.” Dae Won turned to Ha Yoon. His smile never once faltered. The small crinkle of his eyes, the little dimples in his cheeks. “Even if we end up separate ways, we’ll always be best friends forever.”

Such innocent words with pure intentions from the heart but those very same words stabbed Ha Yoon like a crusader’s spear. He couldn’t stand it. Couldn’t bear the pain any longer. He parted his lips.

“Dae Won, I love you.”

The words surprised Ki Tae more than Dae Won. His eyes grew wide. What was Ha Yoon doing? Why was he confessing to Dae Won? Ki Tae’s hand reached for the knife in his back pocket, ready to jump forward but the sudden fear rooted him to the ground. What if Dae Won accepted? Would they end up together? It’s possible.

No. He couldn’t let that happen. After all the times he had held Ha Yoon. All the times he had professed his love. Why did Ha Yoon have to confess now when it’s only a few moments before Ki Tae could push Dae Won out of the picture?

And yet, that bastard gazed at Ha Yoon with a gentle smile.

“I know,” Dae Won said. “Thanks, Ha Yoon.”

Dae Won didn’t need to say it. Ha Yoon knew. From the beginning, Ha yoon didn’t have a chance. It had been over for him even before it started. That’s why…

Ha Yoon stepped forward.

If he couldn’t have Dae Won, no one else could.

Warm hands pressed against Dae Won’s chest. A gentle push, but the confusion took Dae Won by surprise and his feet stumbled. His body bent backwards, slowly falling, arms reaching out towards Ha Yoon’s expressionless face. He couldn’t let a word out and before he could register what was happening, he tumbled down the side of the hill.

It took a whole five seconds before a loud crack resonated through the air.

Ki Tae rushed to them, glancing down at the motionless body under a tree. Red blood soaked the ground. A cold breeze passed by them, a quiet whisper that woke Ki Tae from his preparation to kill.

“Ha Yoon…” Ki Tae tugged Ha Yoon away from the edge of the hill.

Ha Yoon didn’t resist.

“I don’t think he’ll get up,” Ki Tae muttered, “I think he’s…”

“Dead.”

Ki Tae glanced at Ha Yoon.

A clouded look covered his brown eyes. Ha Yoon dropped to his knees and then only, tears dribbled down his cheeks. “Dae Won…”

Ki Tae knelt down and pulled Ha Yoon to his chest.

“Dae Won… I love him so much. I can’t bear the thought that someone else will have him. So I… I did this. Why? I must be crazy. This isn’t right. Why did I do this?” A flash of madness ran through Ha Yoon’s eyes as he trembled and held onto Ki Tae, “Why did I kill him?”