Prologue
The sound of footsteps echoed and Chunhee's ears sprang. His eyes were still on the cake he was currently decorating. With a joyful smile plastered on his face, he opened his mouth, "Youngjae, is that you? Good, I just finished-"
He turned around to see the man he had expected, his smile immediately froze mid-air as he found a completely another person standing by the entrance.
Park Yujin.
He couldn't help but freeze, feeling cold sweat trickling down his back.
Was he seeing things right? Park Yujin … This person… What was he doing here?
Chunhee forced himself to swallow down his fears. Lately, he had been too jumpy whenever he would see this person. But nobody could blame him for that if they knew the truth and of the kind of future that awaits Chunhee. Still, he couldn't show such weakness to the enemy. It would just be akin to surrendering itself. And there was no way he would surrender. Not to anyone, most especially to Park Yujin!
Chunhee's eyes remained on the entrance, his heart throbbing as his mind began to muddle; he wasn't sure if the dark gaze he was getting was real or just an illusion.
Yujin's eyes could seem to burn a hole on Chunhee. Walking to him, his eyes scanned the kitchen that was filled with different ingredients, then finally stared at the cake before Chunhee. "What's this?" Just simple words but they held a deep level of murderous intent.
Chunhee remained silent. His eyes only stared at Yujin, confusion looming over his entire being. Again, why was Yujin here?
When Chunhee didn't answer, Yujin's eyes turned darker, his tone heavy and grave, "... So, it's true, you're secretly meeting Youngjae?"
Chunhee's mind went blank. For a long time, he didn't know what to do or say. Honestly, he didn't expect to hear Yujin's words, never mind his reaction. No, actually, he didn't expect Yujin to come and see him at this time at all. The third examination was fast approaching so he should be in the library studying or making plans in the student council room. In other words, he should be busy. In addition, Yujin had been ignoring him. So why was he here and looking at Chunhee like he wanted to cut his throat alive? And what did he say? Secretly meeting? Who was secretly meeting who?
It was probably out of habit, an inevitable reaction from the old Chunhee as he forcibly opened his mouth to explain, "Y-Yujin, it's not what you think... t-this is..."
If things couldn't get way more surprising.
Before Chunhee could even finish, Yujin already stood close to him, his hand grabbed Chunhee's wrist with force. Chunhee froze, his body turning cold as he faced the killer of his past lives.
And what's with this contact anyway? Did he really come to finish Chunhee off right here and now? How bold! Didn't he know there were CCTVs all over this place? He could never get away from this!
However, Yujin just stared at him coldly, his eyes seemingly wanted to penetrate Chunhee's heart and make him surrender. "Watch your behavior. You're still engaged with me."
Upon hearing such words, Chunhee finally sobered up and realized his situation. Knowing he should stick to his character and get some drama rolling, he began to let out some fake glistening tears in front of Yujin.
In the first place, it was Yujin who didn't like him at all, Yujin was the one who strongly opposes to their arranged marriage, so why was he here and acting some strict husband who caught his wife doing some things behind his back?
Of course, Chunhee was having none of it. Whatever Yujin was up to, Chunhee would only stick to his own goal, too.
He wanted to live. He wanted to survive. He would continue living in this sixth life.
So Chunhee braced himself. His face twisted in pain as he stared at his beloved fiancé and almost cried out, "You say that but didn't you want to break off this engagement? You don't even like me..."
"So if I ignore you, you will run to another man's arms?" Yujin sneered in disbelief and disgust.
Chunhee's acting halted and he instantly frowned. He tried to pull his arm away from Yujin but failed. His voice came out harder than he intended. "Why? Did that bother you?"
Of course, these lines were just said to provoke Yujin and ignite more flames of hatred in his heart. Chunhee knew Yujin was the type to think of his own reputation first before anything else. Actually, Chunhee understood well where Yujin's anger was coming from, the man might have been afraid Chunhee would taint his reputation, but this way of letting it all out on Chunhee alone was a bit childish. He couldn't help but want Yujin to hate him even more. They could hate each other all in this sixth life and Chunhee would still live in peace. Actually, that would be better. Compared to the intense emotions Chunhee had for Yujin in their past lives, this kind of endless hatred that caused irritation and frustration only felt like a tickle
Hating and being hated were nothing to the pain Chunhee suffered from before and during his downfall to his very own death.
"You said you only like me..." Yujin uttered softly, his tone carrying emotions that were not previously there.
"What? What did you say?" Chunhee asked, failing to hear what Yujin just said.
Before Chunhee could ask any further, Yujin had already gripped his wrist harder, his face coming closer to Chunhee too close Chunhee could already hear his breathing. The direct threatening contact already told Chunhee that Yujin was indeed, the villain of his life.
In an instant, Chunhee was trapped, his back reaching the edge of the kitchen counter.
"You can't start something you can't finish," Yujin said, his voice holding a deep and dangerous tone.
Chunhee frowned, "What do you mean―"
But his words froze mid-air, his eyes wide open as Yujin leaned in even closer, with only an inch remaining between their faces.
Then Yujin looked into Chunhee's eyes, as if boring him into Chunhee's system making Chunhee take every word as a statement that would never change.
Like fate repeating its course once more, Yujin uttered in a low but loudest voice Chunhee had ever heard.
"I'm not cancelling our engagement. Han Chunhee."
With that, Yujin leaned down, capturing Chunhee's lips.