I had spent most of the night crying, curled up on the couch. Sleep had come in short, fitful bursts, and by the time the first light of dawn broke through the windows, I was wide awake, feeling emotionally drained. The weight of everything—the near assault, Jun's anger, the tension with Seong—pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket.
I wasn't prepared for what was about to happen next.
It was barely 4 a.m. when I heard the sound of the front door unlocking. My heart leapt into my throat. At first, I thought Seong had gotten up early for work, but then I saw the figure stumble into the room. Jun.
He was drunk.
His eyes were bloodshot, his clothes disheveled, and he reeked of alcohol. My heart sank as he closed the door behind him and swayed unsteadily toward the couch where I sat.
"Jun... what are you doing?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't respond, just kept moving toward me, his eyes glazed and unfocused. I could see the anger simmering beneath the surface, mixed with something darker—something I hadn't seen in him before.
"Censia," he slurred, reaching out for me. "Come here. I need you."
I instinctively pulled back, my pulse quickening. "Jun, you're drunk. Please, let's talk when you're sober."
But he wasn't listening. In one swift motion, he grabbed me by the wrist, yanking me off the couch and pulling me toward him. His grip was too tight, and I winced in pain.
"Stop it, Jun! You're hurting me!" I cried, trying to pull away, but he was relentless.
He pushed me down onto the couch, his weight pressing me into the cushions as he leaned over me. I could smell the alcohol on his breath, feel the heat radiating from his body as he pinned me down.
"I love you, Censia," he murmured, his words slurred. "Why can't you see that? Why do you keep pushing me away?"
Tears filled my eyes as I struggled against him. This wasn't Jun—the man I had fallen for. This was someone else, someone consumed by anger and alcohol. I could barely breathe, fear and panic clawing at my chest.
"Jun, please," I begged, my voice breaking. "You're hurting me."
But he didn't stop. His hands roamed over my body, too rough, too fast, his grip painful as he tried to kiss me. I turned my face away, desperate to escape his grasp, but he wouldn't let go. He made to rip off my underwear under my night dress and I struggled, kicking my legs forward,his hand bruised my thigh,leaving visible red marks.
It wasn't until Seong appeared in the doorway that things finally shifted.
"Jun! Stop!" Seong's voice cut through the room like a whip, sharp and commanding.
In an instant, Seong was by my side, pulling Jun off of me. Jun resisted, still caught in his drunken haze, but Seong was stronger. He grabbed Jun by the shoulders, forcing him to look at him.
"Look at what you're doing, Jun!" Seong shouted, his voice full of anger and heartbreak. "This isn't you. You're hurting her."
For a moment, Jun seemed to come to his senses. His body sagged, his eyes wide with confusion and regret. But then, as if unable to face what he had just done, he collapsed into Seong's arms, his body shaking with silent sobs.
Seong held him, his own anger melting into something softer, something more tender. He pressed a kiss to Jun's forehead, whispering something too quiet for me to hear, before leading him to the bedroom.
I stayed on the couch, trembling, my heart racing as I tried to process what had just happened. Tears streamed down my face, and I hugged myself, feeling both numb and shattered at the same time.
Seong returned after a few minutes, his face pale and drawn. He looked at me, his eyes full of sorrow. "Censia... I'm so sorry. He didn't mean it. He's just—"
"I can't do this," I whispered, cutting him off. My voice shook, and my throat felt tight. "I can't stay here."
Before he could respond, I grabbed my coat and rushed out of the apartment, my heart pounding in my chest. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I just needed to get away—from Jun, from Seong, from everything.
The cold morning air hit me like a slap in the face as I ran down the street. I had no idea where I was going, but I didn't care. All I knew was that I couldn't go back.
After what felt like hours, I ended up at my cousin's apartment on the other side of the city. Her place had always been my safe haven, a place where I could escape when the world became too much.
When she opened the door and saw the state I was in, she didn't ask questions. She just pulled me inside and wrapped her arms around me, holding me as I sobbed into her shoulder.
I spent the entire day curled up in her bed, too drained to move, too broken to think. My phone buzzed endlessly with missed calls from Jun, Seong, and even Ji-Ho, but I ignored them all. I couldn't face them—not after what had happened.
By the time the sun set, I was still in the same spot, my mind a blur of pain and confusion. My cousin brought me tea and sat with me, her presence comforting even though I couldn't bring myself to talk.
I called in sick at work the next day, unable to face the world. I knew I couldn't hide forever, but for now, all I wanted was to disappear.
And so, I stayed there, locked away in my cousin's apartment, wondering how everything had gone so wrong, and if I'd ever be able to fix it.