22.

Chapter 22

A chill slithered down Sunoo’s spine.

The apartment was silent.

Too silent.

His grip tightened around the note, heart hammering against his ribs. The weight of the words on the paper sank into his bones, pressing down like hands around his throat.

You should’ve stayed gone.

His pulse pounded in his ears as he scanned the room. The air smelled the same—faint traces of coffee and clean linen—but something felt off.

Sunoo’s fingers twitched toward his pocket, where his phone sat like a lifeline. He should call someone. Dr. Choi. Security. The police.

But his body refused to move.

Because deep down, he already knew.

No lock, no phone call, no amount of distance would stop this.

Riki was already inside.

A whisper of movement came from behind him.

Sunoo barely had time to react before a hand clamped over his mouth.

His body seized. A strong arm wrapped around his waist, jerking him back against a firm chest. The scent hit him instantly—musk, faint traces of soap, and something darker underneath.

Something dangerous.

"You took too long," Riki murmured against his ear, voice calm. Too calm.

Sunoo thrashed, but Riki didn’t budge. His grip tightened, fingers digging into Sunoo’s ribs like a silent warning.

"Shh." The sound was almost soothing. Almost. "You wouldn’t want to wake the neighbors, would you?"

Sunoo stilled, breathing shallow.

"You—" His words muffled against Riki’s palm.

Riki sighed, pressing closer. "I missed you, you know."

A slow, creeping dread settled in Sunoo’s stomach.

This wasn’t the same Riki he had left behind at the asylum.

No.

This Riki was calculated.

Controlled.

A predator that had waited patiently for his moment to strike.

Sunoo forced himself to breathe. Think.

He wasn’t powerless.

He had studied people like Riki for years—patients who thrived on control, who played with their prey before striking the final blow.

And right now, Sunoo was prey.

Slowly, he forced his body to relax, letting his weight sink against Riki’s. He felt the other boy pause, muscles flexing beneath his grip.

"That’s better," Riki murmured.

Sunoo’s nails dug into his palms.

"Let me go," he rasped.

Riki’s chuckle was warm against his skin. "You don’t sound very convincing."

Sunoo clenched his jaw. "What do you want?"

There was a pause.

Then—

"Don’t act like you don’t know."

The words sent a shiver through him.

Riki’s grip loosened just enough for Sunoo to jerk forward, ripping himself from his grasp. He stumbled a few steps away, heart pounding as he turned to face him.

Riki stood in the dim glow of the kitchen light, head tilted slightly. His eyes flickered, dark and unreadable.

He looked… different.

Gone were the loose asylum-issued clothes, the tired eyes. Instead, he wore all black—fitted sleeves pushed up his forearms, dark jeans, a silver chain glinting against his throat.

He had planned this.

Carefully. Methodically.

Sunoo’s stomach twisted.

"You shouldn’t be here," he said, voice steadier than he felt.

Riki smiled. "Neither should you."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, Riki stepped closer.

Sunoo instinctively backed up.

"Do you regret it?" Riki asked, voice deceptively soft.

Sunoo swallowed. "Regret what?"

Riki’s gaze flickered—just for a second.

Then—

"The kiss."

Sunoo’s breath caught.

His fingers curled around the edge of the counter. "That was a mistake."

Riki’s expression didn’t change. But something in the air did.

The temperature seemed to drop.

"You don’t believe that," Riki murmured.

Sunoo’s throat tightened.

"Go back, Riki," he forced out. "Turn yourself in. It’s over."

Riki chuckled. "Over?" He stepped forward again, and Sunoo pressed back against the counter. "Sunoo, this was never over."

His voice was like silk, wrapping around Sunoo’s throat, squeezing.

"You left," Riki continued. "And you thought that was it? You thought I would just let you go?"

Sunoo forced himself to hold his gaze.

"You should have."

Riki exhaled through his nose, a humorless sound. "You think you’re different from me," he said, voice almost amused. "That you’re the doctor and I’m the patient."

His fingers traced the edge of the counter, slow and deliberate.

"But you came back."

Sunoo’s jaw clenched. "Because you escaped."

Riki’s lips curled. "No." He leaned in, his breath ghosting over Sunoo’s skin. "You came back because you couldn’t stand not knowing where I was."

Sunoo’s pulse spiked.

He was too close.

Too warm.

Too right.

Riki’s head tilted. "Tell me I’m wrong," he murmured.

Sunoo’s throat was dry.

He should lie.

He should shove Riki away, call for help, run.

But his body betrayed him.

Because Riki was right.

Sunoo had left—but he had never truly let him go.

And now, it was too late.

Riki’s fingers brushed his wrist, the touch feather-light.

"Come with me," he whispered.

Sunoo’s breath hitched. "Riki—"

His grip tightened. "Come with me."

A demand. A plea.

And for one terrifying second—

Sunoo almost said yes.

His resolve wavered, his fingers trembling at his sides.

But then—

A sharp knock at the door.

Sunoo sucked in a breath.

Riki’s eyes flickered toward the sound, lips pressing into a thin line.

The moment shattered.

Sunoo moved.

He shoved Riki back with all his strength, twisting away before the boy could react.

"Help!" Sunoo’s voice rang through the apartment as he stumbled toward the door. "Someone’s—!"

A hand snatched his wrist, yanking him back.

Sunoo choked on a gasp.

Riki’s grip was iron, his expression dark.

"Sunoo." His voice was sharp now, the playfulness gone. "Don’t."

The knock came again—louder this time.

"Dr. Kim?"

Sunoo’s chest heaved.

Riki’s fingers loosened.

A fraction of a second.

But it was enough.

Sunoo ripped himself free, staggering toward the door. His hands fumbled for the lock, heart slamming against his ribs.

And then—

The door burst open.

Two security officers flooded inside, their voices sharp.

Sunoo barely registered them.

Because when he turned—

Riki was gone.

The window was open, the curtains fluttering in the night air.

Sunoo sucked in a shaky breath, gripping the doorframe to steady himself.

He had gotten away.

Again.

But as the officers asked if he was alright, as Dr. Choi’s voice echoed through the hallway, only one thought filled Sunoo’s mind.

This wasn’t over.

Riki was still out there.

And he was waiting.

_________________

Damn what a flirt is ni-ki