bad desire | sim jaeyun

twenty-four🦇

The words hung in the air between them, heavy, undeniable.

And then-

CRASH.

They both whipped their heads around. Just beyond the swings, a figure was slammed against the ground, a shadow crouched over him.

Siyeon's eyes widened. "...Sunghoon!"

(Few Minutes Earlier)

From the edge of the park, Sunghoon stood half-hidden behind the trees, arms crossed as he watched Siyeon and Jake walk. He didn't need to hear every word to see the tension between them. Siyeon's expression, her stiff shoulders—it was obvious.

"I was right. Their relationship is soon over. A demon with a broken heart will be easier to slay.

He turned to leave, but a voice cut through the night.

"Well, well. If it isn't the exorcist boy."

Sunghoon's body stiffened. Slowly, he turned. Blocking his path was a tall figure with an arrogant smirk, his aura unmistakably dark. His presence felt heavier, hungrier than the other wandering demons Sunghoon had faced.

"You-" Sunghoon narrowed his eyes, hand instinctively going to the talisman in his jacket. "You're were that monster that was protecting Jaeyun."

The demon grinned wider. "Protecting? Oh don't flatter him. I only stepped in because it amused me. But tonight," he leaned closer, voice dripping with mockery, "I have a proposal for you."

Sunghoon's jaw clenched. "Sorry but I don't make deals with demons."

"Ah, but hear me out first." The demon raised his hands as though in surrender, his tone light and cocky. "What if I help you kill Jaeyun? End him once and for all. He's a pest, isn't he? Dangerous. A threat to all the people you love."

Sunghoon's grip on his talisman tightened. "What's the catch?"

"No catch." The demon's smirk stretched cruel. "And don't mistake me for his friend. He doesn't realise it yet but me and him have some unfinished business. If you really think about it, I'd be doing you a huge favour."

Sunghoon's glare hardened. "I'd rather die than join hands with filth like you."

The demon chuckled low. "Spoken like a true exorcist. But don't you ever wonder, hm?" His eyes glowed faintly, voice turning slick, poisonous. 

"If you agreed, your father would finally look at you with pride. You wouldn't be the embarrassment of your family anymore. You'd be their saviour."

Sunghoon flinched. The words struck like knives. His father's face flashed in his mind. 

Always stern, disappointed, never satisfied. His fists trembled, but he shook his head hard.

"I'll never work with a demon. Not for my pride, not for my family, not for anything."

For a second, the demon studied him, then smirked again. "What a shame. Oh well. It was worth a shot. But I can't exactly let you stroll off and tell Daddy about my existence, can I?"

Before Sunghoon could respond, the demon lunged. Their clash was violent. The force of talisman against claws, sparks of energy colliding in the dark. Sunghoon managed to slash his opponent across the chest, drawing dark smoke instead of blood.

The demon only grinned wider, unfazed. "Not bad. But not bad enough."

With a sudden burst of strength, he slammed his fist into Sunghoon's gut, then another across his face, sending him crashing into the dirt. Sunghoon groaned, trying to rise, but the demon's boot pressed down hard on his chest before he was flung across the ground like a rag doll.