Minsoo walked out of the sliding door of the building as he silently fumed. Way to go Daehyun. Today of all days. You just had to pick this one day.
He stopped in his tracks and looked at a puddle that was on the paved road of the street since it had rained earlier. Memories of the past washed over him:
The rain fell in heavy torrents—the storm nearly blinding him as he numbly walked barefooted on the highway.
His heart was numb of feelings but his teeth chattered due to the freezing temperature.
Minsoo just stood dazed as an incoming driver swerved swiftly to avoid running him down.
"Crazy fellow," the driver spat in a growl and zoomed off as he recovered from the shock of seeing a teen roaming about aimlessly underneath the heavy downpour.
Minsoo slowly limped to the sidewalk.
His brain was disoriented as he listlessly moved on. . .destination unknown.
He paused in his tracks and stared at the rapid water caused by the rain gushing on the floor.
His gaze trailed its movement backwards.
His blue lips softly parted when he saw the bloody trail from his dragged feet mingling with the water as it flowed below.
Just then his personal manager walked up to him with a bunch of security men snapping him out of his reverie.
"Minsoo-ah, you're supposed to let me know when you leave. You can't walk about like this, you know. Celebrities aren't supposed to be without their guards," his manager complained.
Minsoo parted his lips but no words came out.
He sighed and put his hands in his pocket and turned and started walking away.
"Hey! Where are you going now?!" his manager yelled as he ran after him with the bodyguards.
The memories resumed playing in his mind stronger than ever. . .
The all too familiar route he had taken countless of times in the past—be it in sunshine or in snow, in the day or during the night. . .the place he found peace the most.
His feet led him there.
The most visited place in his teenage years.
The second family he had.
He stared blankly at the neat blue bungalow with well-trimmed lawns before he used the remaining strength he had to drag himself towards the building.
Just as he got to the bin right in front of the house, he collapsed right beside it.
Minsoo's eyelid fluttered close and his mind went blank as he fell unconscious.
"Minsoo, here's your car!" his manager said after much panting once more pulling him back to the present.
He seemed to have a knack of doing that.
Minsoo turned his head slightly as a chauffeur opened the back door for him.
His past however made him hesitate before entering.
They didn't want to erase.
They couldn't be erased so easily.
He kept staring at his bloodied hands.
His distraught gaze lifted and stayed transfixed on the motionless body that laid in front of him.
Minsoo's voice choked up as he whispered, "I. . .I killed her."
All around him the noise became overwhelming.
A little child was wailing in the room while someone was on the phone, his panicked voice pleading for the medics on the other end to hurry with an ambulance.
Someone else was saying something in soft voice beside Minsoo, grabbing hold of his hand and at the same time crying.
Minsoo's gaze returned to his bloodied hand the person was holding.
"I killed her," he repeated in a murmur then pulled away his hand from the grip and immediately turned and fled out the exit.
A faint echo of his name carried by the gentle night breeze rang in his ears as one word, sharp and accusing;
'Murder!'
"Let's go." Minsoo finally entered the car with his entourage and the vehicle roared to life.