DP Episode 116

Episode 116

It was the third day since they returned from the Sinheui-dong site.

“Lieutenant, this isn’t hot at all. I’ve already cooled it down for you.”

Yeon-woo stirred the porridge slowly in a white bowl and held it out towards the bed as he spoke. Seo-joon, who had pulled the blanket up to his neck, shivered as he leaned back.

“I told you I’d eat it later.”

Just the smell of that damned porridge made him nauseous.

Disgusting monster brat.

Hic. He gasped sharply, slapping his palm against his ears to drive away the phantom noises scratching his eardrums.

Behind Yeon-woo, who sat perched on the bed watching him, a black shadow flickered and swayed. Seo-joon’s gaze froze, nailed to the spot.

Screech, creak.

…He wasn’t even sure if it was a hallucination. ‘It’ was everywhere, and since he was part of ‘it,’ maybe—

It’s not a hallucination.
It’s real.

“Just a little.”

A soft voice cut through his chaotic thoughts. Forcing himself to tear his eyes away from the shadow behind Yeon-woo, Seo-joon focused on him instead.

“You said you’d eat after sleeping, didn’t you?”

Seo-joon pushed away the spoon that was brought close to his mouth, shaking his head.

“Not… not now. Later. Please, get it away. The smell’s making me feel sick.”

But Yeon-woo, knowing his lover hadn’t eaten for three days, didn’t seem inclined to back down.

“Even so, bear with it and eat a little.”

Yeon-woo’s determined eyes, as if feeding Seo-joon was his sole purpose in life, pinned him down.

“You promised you’d eat after sleeping. Keep your word, Lieutenant.”

The shadow behind Yeon-woo swelled and slithered up onto the bed, its tendrils creeping between them.

“I don’t want it.”

Steam rising from the stubbornly extended bowl brushed against Seo-joon’s chin.

“Just one bite…”

“How many times do I have to tell you to—!”

At that moment, Seo-joon recoiled as if scalded, his expression twisting in revulsion. He struck Yeon-woo’s arm away, sending the porcelain bowl crashing to the floor. The loud shatter reverberated through the room. The bed’s blanket, the floor, everything was splattered with white porridge.

The shadow, which had been writhing up to the bed, scattered in all directions with a chilling rustle at the sudden noise. Seo-joon, pale, gasped in shock.

“…”

Without a word, Yeon-woo stood. Only then did Seo-joon lower the blanket from his neck and move to get off the bed.

“I’m sorry, Yeon-woo. I… I was wrong…”

Yeon-woo, crouched to pick up the pieces, grabbed Seo-joon’s legs and pushed them back under the blanket.

“Don’t get down.”

His blue eyes scanned the shards and the mess of porridge on the floor with a look of helplessness. Yeon-woo left the room, returning shortly with clean bedding. He removed the soiled blanket and draped the fresh one over Seo-joon.

“Stay here for a moment. I’ll clean this up.”

As Yeon-woo stepped away, the black shadow began to seep back into the room, coiling higher and higher. Seo-joon, paralyzed by fear, could only watch Yeon-woo clean the floor in silence.

A heavy stillness filled the air. Yeon-woo moved quietly, sweeping and wiping the shattered pieces. His lips, which would normally pout when upset, remained pressed into a firm line.

After cleaning the spilled porridge, Yeon-woo left the room again. By the time he returned, the shadow had risen to Seo-joon’s neck.

‘It’s everywhere. But you can feel it, right? It’s both harmless and terrifying, real and unreal.’

It’s everywhere. You can feel it. It’s nowhere yet everywhere.

…Don’t be ridiculous.
This is a hallucination.

It’s just a vision created by my guilt.
It’s absurd.

Seo-joon scolded himself, desperately clinging to reason. Get it together. You can’t act like this anymore. Don’t show Yeon-woo such a disgraceful side, please…

Finally, Seo-joon swung his legs over the bed, stepping onto the clean floor. The shadow trailing his movements coiled around his ankles.

“Yeon-woo, I’m sorry. I was really wrong. Please don’t be mad.”

Seo-joon called out as he stepped into the living room, searching for Yeon-woo.

“I was too sensitive. I shouldn’t have… Yeon-woo?”

A suffocating silence pervaded the house.

“…Yeon-woo.”

Living room, kitchen, utility room… Yeon-woo was nowhere to be found.

With trembling hands, Seo-joon grabbed his phone. Before the second ring ended, the sound of Yeon-woo’s ringtone echoed within the house.

His panicked gaze snapped to the entryway.

“…”

Yeon-woo’s shoes were gone.

‘I wish the gate would just disappear.’

Hic. Seo-joon’s breath hitched as the shadows closed in, swallowing the house whole.

✽✽✽

“Hello.”

The security guard manning the lounge spotted Seo-joon and greeted him. Seo-joon, striding over urgently, asked without delay.

“Have you seen Cha Yeon-woo?”

The guard, giving him a slightly puzzled look, nodded.

“Yes, I saw him leave a while ago.”

“…How long has it been since he went out?”

“Let’s see… about 20 minutes?”

“Which direction did he go?”

“That way.”

Seo-joon nodded, trying to keep his face calm, and stepped out of the lounge. The biting winter wind swept over him as soon as he was outside.

He hadn’t realized Yeon-woo had left until twenty minutes had passed. He hadn’t even noticed him leaving the house. Instead, he had been cowering in fear, curled up in his warm bed.

“Doctor Kang, is Yeon-woo there by any chance?”

― Huh? No? Why would Yeon-woo be here?

“…”

― Hey, Seo-joon, are you—

Seo-joon abruptly ended the call, his breath puffing out into the cold air.

The one who must have been most devastated at the Sinheui-dong site was none other than Cha Yeon-woo. It was his responsibility to comfort and care for Yeon-woo… yet he had let himself be consumed by guilt and lashed out like garbage.

Seo-joon muttered a curse under his breath. How was he any different from Cha Kyung-soo? A loathsome parasite, no more and no less, tormenting Yeon-woo and making him suffer.

Watching the busy crowd bustling through the freezing streets, Seo-joon exhaled a heavy sigh. He kept walking in the direction the guard had indicated, but with Yeon-woo leaving his phone behind, he had no idea where to start looking.

As he aimlessly wandered forward, his steps came to an abrupt halt. Among the gray-coated passersby, a familiar figure suddenly emerged, standing a head taller than the others.

“…Yeon-woo!”

Seo-joon broke into a mad dash toward him, paying no mind to the occasional stares from people he passed. In that moment, no gaze could faze him.

“Lieutenant?”

Bundled in a long padded coat zipped up to his neck with a hood pulled over his head, Yeon-woo turned and blinked in surprise at the sight of Seo-joon. Before he could say a word, Seo-joon grabbed him in a fierce embrace.

Yeon-woo, caught off guard, stood stunned, blinking as he returned the embrace. Contrary to Seo-joon’s assumptions, his face showed no signs of anger or despair.

“Lieutenant, is this how you went outside?”

“Where were you, Yeon-woo… I was wrong. I’m sorry… Why did you leave without a word? Why did you leave your phone behind? If you just disappear like that, what am I supposed to do? Huh? Without saying anything… I’m sorry, Yeon-woo, I’m sorry…”

Yeon-woo gently cupped Seo-joon’s face, meeting his eyes, and unzipped his own padded coat.

“Hold this for a moment, Lieutenant.”

He pulled something out from inside his coat and handed it to Seo-joon before draping his coat over him. Seo-joon glanced down at what he had been given, disbelief written all over his face.

A sweet, warm aroma wafted up from the small paper bag filled with ‘bungeoppang’.
Tl/N: Bungeo-ppang is a fish-shaped pastry stuffed with sweetened red bean paste,

Seo-joon’s face contorted, his trembling voice breaking with incredulity.

“…You went out to buy this?”

Yeon-woo, crouched in front of him to zip up the coat, paused and looked up, his cheerful eyes curving into a bright smile.

“The shop nearby always has a line. You like sweet things, Lieutenant. I thought you might eat this even if you don’t want porridge…”

Yeon-woo’s warm hand rested on the top of Seo-joon’s bare foot. It was only then that Seo-joon realized he was outside in pajamas, barefoot except for his indoor slippers.

“Were you startled because I was gone? I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you since it was just a short trip nearby. Next time, I’ll let you know before I leave.”

As he spoke, Yeon-woo took off his sneakers and placed them in front of Seo-joon.

“I’m wearing socks, so let me have the slippers.”

“…Yeon-woo.”

With a silent sigh, Seo-joon sank to the ground. His shattered heart crumbled further at Yeon-woo’s unwavering affection and his kindness, which cut through him like a blade.

“Why are you like this? …Why are you so foolish?”

Why aren’t you angry with me, Yeon-woo? Why am I so important that you go this far?

“Why would I be angry at you, Lieutenant?”

Yeon-woo blinked, his innocent expression baffled at the bitter words spilling out of Seo-joon’s mouth. Covering Seo-joon’s feet with his hands, Yeon-woo quietly apologized.

“Looking back, I think I was too stubborn. You clearly said you didn’t want the porridge, but I kept pushing you to eat it.”

Seo-joon’s vision blurred. Through the veil of tears, he saw Yeon-woo’s concerned face.

“Oh, Lieutenant, are you crying…?”

Why are you crying all of a sudden? Oh no… This is the first time I’ve seen you cry. Did I scare you that much? I’m really sorry. I should’ve at least taken my phone with me, right?

Yeon-woo pulled the hood over Seo-joon’s head to shield him from the curious stares of passersby.

“Lieutenant, let’s go home now. You’ll catch a cold.”

Tears dripped silently beneath the hood. Yeon-woo, at a loss, could only try to warm Seo-joon’s frozen feet with his hands.