''~°.HIDE AND SEEK.°~'' | YEONGYU

THE FIGURE

A sudden knock at the window cut through his thoughts like a knife.

Three sharp taps.

He froze. His mouth went dry.

The knock at the window had abruptly stopped.

But the silence that followed was somehow worse.

Beomgyu's breaths came in quick, shallow bursts as he pressed himself against the far wall of his bedroom, clutching his phone like it was a lifeline. His ears strained for any sound...footsteps, another knock, the creak of movement outside.

Nothing.

Maybe it was over.

Maybe—

Then came another knock.

This time...

...at the apartment door.

Soft. Barely more than a tap.

His stomach dropped.

The air in his lungs turned to ice as he stared toward the front of the apartment. His heart pounded so loud it drowned out everything else.

Another knock. This one slightly louder, but still soft. Almost... patient.

He stumbled toward the corner of his room, his hands shaking so badly he nearly dropped his phone.

His thumb hovered over the call button.

"Yeonjun. Call Yeonjun again."

But what if it wasn't over?

What if the person outside heard the ringtone?

The knock came again. louder.

His legs refused to move.

"They know I'm here. They saw me at the window. They followed me home."

The thought clamped around his chest like a vice. His vision blurred, panic tightening every muscle in his body.

Another knock. This one a little heavier.

"Beomgyu."

A voice.

His breath caught.

It was muffled through the door, low and almost calm but he couldn't tell. Was it his voice?

He really couldn't tell...

"Beomgyu."

His name floated through the door in a muffled, low voice.

Soft. Calm. Almost... familiar.

But his chest clenched tighter.

Was it Yeonjun?

Or—

"No. No, it can't be him. He wouldn't just—"

"Beomgyu."

This time a little clearer, but still too quiet to trust.

His grip on his phone tightened, fingers slick with sweat. He backed up until his shoulder blades pressed against the cold wall of his room.

The voice came again.

"Open the door."

A pause.

"You don't have to be scared. I'm here for you."