Elic thought about how Deni had seen everything in his room. He was worried about what to do next. Meanwhile, Deni regained consciousness, rushed to her wardrobe, and frantically started packing her bag.
Elic grabbed her hand and said, "What are you doing, Deni? Stop it!"
But she pulled her hand away and snapped, "Sir, I don't know what you are, but I don't want to spend another second here with you!"
Tears streamed down her face as she continued packing, her hands shaking. Elic forcibly grabbed her wrist again and made her sit on the bed.
"Are you in your senses, Deni? Do you even realize what you're doing? How many times do I have to tell you that from now on, you are my responsibility?"
Deni clenched her fists and replied, "I am releasing you from that responsibility! Just let me go!"
Elic's voice softened, but his eyes darkened with intensity. "Why do you want to leave, Deni? What are you thinking about me?"
She scoffed bitterly. "You're asking me? You know exactly what you are."
Elic leaned in slightly, his voice low yet demanding. "Then tell me, Deni. What am I?"
Fury burned in her eyes as she shouted, "You really want to know? Then listen! You are a killer!"
Her voice echoed in the room.
"Yes, you're a murderer! I saw everything—the blood-covered charts, the horrifying mess in your room! It was terrifying! You are a mysterious, dangerous man. I don't want to live here! I don't want to become a monster like you! I don't ever want to see you again!"
She sobbed uncontrollably. "Just let me go! I promise I won't tell anyone, just… please, let me leave!"
Elic exhaled sharply, his voice eerily calm. "Sometimes, what we see is not the full truth, Deni. What we hear can be misleading. Just like that, what we see is not always what it seems."
Deni wiped her tears angrily. "You can't deny what I saw in your room! There was blood everywhere! Do you think I'm blind? Do you think I can't tell the difference between blood and paint? My head hurts just thinking about it! I can't take it anymore—just let me go! Please!"
Elic suddenly grabbed her hand again and pulled her toward his room. "You want the truth? Fine! Come with me!"
He dragged her inside. The room was just as she remembered—covered in blood-stained charts.
Elic turned to her and said, "You want the truth, right? Look carefully. Yes, these charts are covered in blood. But do you know whose blood this is?"
He took a deep breath and rolled up his sleeves. Deni gasped in horror. His arms were covered in scars—some old, some fresh. One hand was still wet with blood.
"This is my blood, Deni." His voice was raw with emotion. "Have you ever seen me in half-sleeves? No, you haven't. Do you know why?"
Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at his wounded arms.
"If you still have doubts," he continued, his voice rising, "you can take these charts to a lab. Get them tested. When you find out the truth, don't forget to tell me."
Deni's hands trembled. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Sir… your arm is still bleeding… Where's the first aid box? And why… why are you doing this to yourself?"
Elic's expression darkened. He suddenly yelled, "Who are you to interfere in my life, Deni?! This is my house! My body! My pain! My choice! You are nothing to me!"
Deni flinched at his outburst.
He continued, "The only reason you're here is because I promised your grandfather. But even that doesn't mean much to me. Do you know why? Because your grandfather was nothing to me!"
Her breath hitched in shock.
Elic's voice trembled with frustration. "But the truth is… I felt guilty. That day, I forced you to finish your work, and you got sick. Because of that, your grandfather died. That guilt has been eating me alive ever since. This…" he gestured to his scars, "this is my punishment! So don't stand here judging me!"
Deni opened her mouth, but no words came out. She looked at his wounded arm again and reached out hesitantly. "But your hand…"
Elic jerked away and shouted, "Go! Just go, Deni!"
Tears spilled down her cheeks as she turned and ran to her room. She locked the door behind her and collapsed onto the bed, sobbing.
That night was dark for both of them. Both lay awake, haunted by their own thoughts, questioning what had just happened and what would come next.
Deni, who had just started believing her boss was a kind-hearted man, felt her world shatter into pieces. The image she had built of him crumbled into nothing.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she lay in the suffocating silence. If only she could turn back time—to when her grandfather was alive, to when she could warn him that Elic was not the man he thought he was.
But then, her thoughts drifted back to Elic's wounded arm. She shook her head furiously. "No, that's not my concern anymore!" she whispered to herself. "I don't want to think about him! Not anymore!"