20.

Chapter 20

Sunoo had made his decision.

And it was the worst one of his life.

The moment he stepped away from Riki, he knew—knew—he had crossed a line he couldn't undo.

That kiss should have never happened.

Not because he didn’t want it.

But because he did.

And that terrified him.

For the next few days, Sunoo avoided him.

He busied himself with work, drowning in patient files and endless evaluations, anything to keep his mind from circling back to the way Riki had looked at him that night—like he owned him.

He ignored the way his chest tightened every time he passed Riki’s cell, the way his fingers twitched when he remembered the feel of Riki’s skin under his touch.

It was dangerous.

He was getting too close.

And the only way to stop this was to leave.

"You're quitting?"

Dr. Choi, the asylum director, stared at him in shock, hands frozen over her paperwork.

Sunoo forced himself to nod. "I think it’s for the best."

She frowned, setting her pen down. "You’re one of our best psychiatrists, Sunoo. This is sudden. Did something happen?"

Yes. I let a patient consume me. I let him touch me, kiss me, control me in ways I never should have allowed.

"No," Sunoo said, clearing his throat. "I just... I need distance."

Dr. Choi studied him for a long moment before sighing. "I won’t stop you. But I think you’re running from something."

I am.

But he couldn’t stop now.

He packed his things that night.

There wasn’t much to take—just a suitcase of clothes, his laptop, and a few personal items. He was ready to walk away. Ready to put this place behind him.

Until he showed up.

"You’re leaving."

The voice sent ice through his veins.

Sunoo turned, gripping the handle of his suitcase tighter as he faced the one person he had been avoiding.

Riki stood in the doorway of his office, arms crossed, but his face—his eyes—were unreadable.

Sunoo forced himself to stand straighter. "Yes."

Riki’s jaw ticked. "You weren’t even going to say goodbye?"

"There’s nothing to say."

The second the words left his mouth, he knew they were a mistake.

Riki stepped forward, slow and deliberate, until he was right in front of Sunoo, the heat of his body making it impossible to breathe.

"Nothing to say?" Riki echoed, voice dangerously low. "After everything?"

Sunoo clenched his jaw. "You’re my patient, Riki."

Riki laughed.

It was low, bitter. "Don’t do that. Don’t act like this didn’t mean something."

Sunoo’s hands trembled, but he kept his expression blank. "It didn’t."

Riki went still.

Too still.

The air between them turned suffocating, and Sunoo swore he saw something break in Riki’s eyes.

"You’re lying," Riki whispered.

Sunoo didn’t respond.

He couldn't.

Because he was lying.

But if he admitted that, he would never walk away.

Riki’s fingers twitched, like he wanted to reach for him, but at the last second, he forced his hands into his pockets.

"You think leaving will fix this?" Riki murmured.

"It’s the only way," Sunoo said, forcing himself to step back.

For the first time, Riki looked... hurt.

Genuinely, devastatingly hurt.

And that almost made Sunoo stop.

Almost.

Instead, he turned away, gripping his suitcase tighter.

"Goodbye, Riki."

He didn’t wait for a response.

He walked out.

And this time, Riki didn’t follow.

Sunoo thought leaving would bring him relief.

He was wrong.

Days passed. Then weeks.

And the ache didn’t go away.

No matter how far he ran, he still felt him.

Still saw Riki’s gaze in his mind.

Still heard the way his voice had cracked when he realized Sunoo was actually leaving.

But it was for the best.

It had to be.

Until the phone call came.

And Sunoo’s world shattered.

"Dr. Kim, I need you to come back," Dr. Choi’s voice was urgent, tense.

Sunoo frowned, gripping the phone. "What? Why?"

There was a pause.

Then, softly—

"He’s gone."

Sunoo’s stomach dropped.

"...What?"

"Riki." Dr. Choi’s voice wavered. "He escaped."

The world blurred.

Sunoo gripped the edge of the counter to steady himself, his breath coming too fast, too sharp.

"When?" he forced out.

"Two nights ago," she admitted. "We didn’t think he would—" She hesitated. "He hasn’t been found, Sunoo."

Sunoo closed his eyes.

Of course.

Of course Riki would come for him.

He knew this wouldn’t end easily.

And now, he had no idea where Riki was.

Or worse—when he would show up.

But Sunoo knew one thing for sure.

He had never been free of Riki.

And he never would be.