★YUNA★
"Finally! I got his picture!" Hera squeals beside me. We're seated on the bus, her excitement drawing a few side glances from other passengers. She had insisted on escorting me home, despite my warnings that her driver wouldn't approve. Her driver, by the way, is dutifully trailing behind us in his car.
"Let me see." I lean closer as she thrusts her iPhone into my view. It's either the iPhone 13 or 14—I can't tell. Honestly, differentiating between phones with three cameras isn't exactly my priority.
She tilts the screen toward me, and I get a good look at the guy's face. He's handsome. The kind of handsome that screams trouble. Druggie-vibes handsome. And somehow… familiar. Really familiar. But I can't figure out where I've seen him before. Maybe one of the men I've robbed?
"Gosh! He's so fine!" Hera practically melts beside me, her voice a pitch higher than usual.
I roll my eyes and pull back from the phone. "He told you he was enrolling at PNU, right? Wonder why he hasn't shown up yet."
"Maybe he's just busy," she says with a dreamy sigh. "He's from Seoul, you know. His dialect totally gave it away."
"Seoul, huh? Sounds like he just wanted your attention. He probably has a girl in every city," I tease, smirking.
Hera gasps dramatically. "He's not like that!" Then she pauses, her face falling slightly. "But… what if he is? Ugh, I can't even think about that."
"Better hope your dad doesn't find out you're crushing on some Seoul playboy," I quip.
Her smile instantly disappears. "Yah! Why would you bring that up?"
I chuckle at her pouty face. "Just saying. Anyway, we're almost at my stop."
When the bus halts, we hop off, and, as expected, her driver's car is parked right behind us.
"Seriously, Hera-ya, go home. Your dad will lose it if he finds out you're playing chaperone for me."
She grins mischievously. "I think Seojin oppa—the driver—is secretly in love with me."
"You're calling your driver 'oppa' now? You've got a death wish, don't you? Anyway, go on. He's waiting for you." I nudge her playfully.
"Aish! Fine, fine. Bye, meanie!" She plants a quick kiss on my cheek, skips to the car, and takes the passenger seat—something I'm pretty sure drivers don't appreciate.
---
I make it home without incident, which is rare. The thought reminds me of the man I killed, but I shove it aside. It's done. Over.
When I reach the front door, my heart stops. The handle is broken.
Panic grips me as I push the door open and step inside. The small sitting room is eerily quiet, except for the sound of the TV. Three men are seated. One is beside my grandpa, and the other two are spread across different chairs.
The man next to Grandpa turns to face me, a sinister smirk spreading across his face.
"Ah, finally. Our little doll has arrived." His voice is slimy, oozing menace. He stands and strolls toward me, his heavy boots echoing on the floor.
"You know," he sneers, circling me like a predator, "with that face of yours, you could be a model. Dark hair, grey eyes, freckles—it's almost unfair how beautiful you are."
"Give me more time. I'll pay you," I say, forcing my voice to stay steady.
The man chuckles darkly. "More time? I've already been generous, sweetheart. I don't usually give second chances, but I made an exception for you because you're still just a kid." He leans in close, his breath hot against my ear. "Bring me my money by the weekend, or say goodbye to dear old Grandpa."
His words twist like a knife in my gut.
He pulls back, his gaze drilling into mine. "Hmm, you've got a look in your eyes. Tell me, Yuna—have you ever killed someone before?"
His words hit me like a sledgehammer, dragging me back to that night. The dark figure. The knife. The blood.
The ringing in my ears is deafening.
"Seems like you have," he murmurs, his tone almost amused. He pats my head like I'm some obedient pet, then turns to leave. His two lackeys follow him out the door.
It's only when the door slams shut that I realize I've been holding my breath.
---
I rush to Grandpa's side. He's watching TV, seemingly unbothered by what just happened.
"Halabeoji, did they hurt you?" I ask, my voice soft but urgent.
He slowly turns his head toward me, his warm smile easing some of my tension. "Oh, sweet Yuna, they didn't touch me."
Relief floods through me as I lean against his shoulder, closing my eyes for a moment.
Gi-hun hasn't called, which means there's no work tonight. That's good. I need time to figure things out. More money. I need more money to pay off those bastards.
For now, I just want Grandpa safe. That's all that matters.