''~°.HIDE AND SEEK.°~'' | YEONGYU

THE INVESTIGATION

The scent of coffee lingered faintly in the air.

Beomgyu stirred under the blanket, lids fluttering open as pale sunlight spilled across the room. For a moment, he let himself hope...maybe it had all been a nightmare.

Then his eyes landed on Yeonjun.

Still there, sitting cross-legged on the floor, a black ceramic mug in his hands.

He was calm, steady, his gaze fixed somewhere near the window as he took slow, deliberate sips. The golden light caught the sharp cut of his jaw, making him seem almost unreal...

Beomgyu's chest tightened. His eyes flicked instinctively toward the glass.

The curtains were open now.

And the window...

Clean.

No blood. No smears.

But the jagged letters near the corner caught the light at just the right angle.

복수.

Revenge.

Yeonjun had wiped the blood away.

Of course he had, a bloodstained window would draw too much attention in a quiet neighborhood like Beomgyu's.

But the carving remained.

There was no wiping that away, not without replacing the entire pane.

"Morning," Yeonjun said quietly, not even turning his head.

Beomgyu startled slightly at the sound.

"You...you didn't sleep?" His voice was small, hoarse from the night before.

Yeonjun finally glanced over, his expression softening as their eyes met.

"Didn't need to."

Beomgyu's gaze darted back to the carved letters. His stomach turned.

"You...cleaned it?"

"Had to," Yeonjun murmured, taking another sip. "People would've noticed."

He didn't mention the word still carved deep into the glass. Neither of them did.

"You slept through," Yeonjun said softly, setting his empty mug down on the floor.

Beomgyu blinked at him, still half caught in the fog of sleep.

"You needed it."

Beomgyu shifted slightly, pulling his knees up to his chest under the blanket. The room was quiet, the kind of quiet that pressed too hard against his eardrums.

Yeonjun's gaze flicked toward the window, then back at Beomgyu.

"Gyu," he started, his voice measured, careful.

"Think back. Have you...gotten into any fights recently? With anyone?"

Beomgyu frowned faintly. "No."

"Any arguments? Quarrels? Even something small?"

Beomgyu shook his head, his throat tightening. "No. I—I keep to myself."

Yeonjun studied him for a moment, his expression unreadable but not unkind.

"Anyone hanging around? Someone who seemed...off? Out of place?"

"No." Beomgyu's voice cracked slightly. "Why? You think it's someone I know?"

Yeonjun didn't answer right away.