The days that followed felt different — more suffocating, yet oddly tranquil. Sangwoo had kept his distance, barely interacting with Yoon Bum. But the silence between them was thick, filled with an unspoken tension that was heavier than any physical restraint.
Yoon Bum had learned to tread carefully around him, even more so than before. He never asked too many questions. He never made eye contact for too long. He knew better than to give Sangwoo any reason to hurt him, even if there was an unfamiliar flicker of something else behind his eyes. Something that wasn't pure malice.
Today, Sangwoo had been particularly quiet, almost too quiet. He'd spent most of the day pacing around the apartment, making phone calls, and scribbling things on a notepad. He looked… distracted. Disturbed, even. And for some reason, it made Yoon Bum uneasy.
It wasn't just the usual game anymore. It felt like something was about to snap.
Sangwoo walked over to the couch where Yoon Bum sat, curling his legs beneath himself. Yoon Bum instinctively shrank back, but Sangwoo didn't seem to notice. Or perhaps, he simply didn't care.
"I've been thinking," Sangwoo said, his tone casual, almost too calm. "I've been too lenient with you."
Yoon Bum's heart skipped a beat. The air suddenly felt colder.
"Too lenient?" Yoon Bum repeated, barely able to speak.
Sangwoo tilted his head, that sickly smile curling at the corners of his lips. It wasn't a grin. It was something darker. More dangerous.
"You've been so good," Sangwoo continued, sitting down beside him, his eyes scanning Yoon Bum's face. "Too good. I've been giving you too many breaks. I've let you breathe, let you feel safe."
Yoon Bum swallowed, instinctively pulling his knees up to his chest.
"What do you mean?" Yoon Bum whispered, barely above a breath.
Sangwoo's smile widened, but it was colder now, like the edge of a blade. He leaned closer, the scent of his cologne overwhelming in the air between them.
"I've realized I've been treating you like a pet," he said, his voice soft but laced with an underlying edge. "But pets can't think for themselves. They need to be reminded who's in charge."
Yoon Bum's blood ran cold. He wanted to pull away, but his body wouldn't move. Every part of him wanted to scream, to run, but the fear kept him rooted in place, his mind spinning with the realization of just how little control he had.
Sangwoo continued, his voice smooth and almost soothing now.
"You've been so obedient, Bum-ah," he said, brushing a strand of hair away from Yoon Bum's face. "But obedience isn't enough. It's boring. I need more. I need to know if you'll break. If you'll bend. If you'll be useful."
Yoon Bum's breath caught in his throat, his chest tight. The way Sangwoo spoke — like he was a scientist, testing an experiment, evaluating Yoon Bum's every move — made him feel even smaller. More insignificant. And that was exactly what Sangwoo wanted.
Yoon Bum opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.
Sangwoo laughed softly, a sound that made Yoon Bum's skin crawl.
"You're scared, aren't you?" Sangwoo asked, leaning in even closer, his breath warm against Yoon Bum's ear. "You don't know what I'll do next. You can't predict it. But here's the thing, Bum-ah. You have to play the game."
Yoon Bum didn't answer, too afraid to even move.
Sangwoo's hand reached out, brushing his fingers against Yoon Bum's cheek — a casual touch, but there was nothing casual about it. The contact felt like a chain, a reminder of who held the power. Who held the control.
"You have a choice, Bum-ah," Sangwoo said, his voice low, almost gentle. "You can keep being good. Keep playing the victim. Or…"
He leaned back, a dark glint in his eyes.
"You can show me something. Show me that you're more than just a helpless little thing. Show me you can fight back."
Yoon Bum's heart pounded in his chest. His mind raced, trying to process what Sangwoo was saying. This wasn't the Sangwoo he had come to know — this was something different. More calculated. More dangerous.
Sangwoo chuckled to himself, as if he could read every thought in Yoon Bum's mind.
"You don't have to decide right now. But know this, Bum-ah," Sangwoo said, his voice dripping with amusement. "The rules are changing. You're not just my prisoner anymore. You're part of the game. And I'm going to enjoy seeing just how far you'll go to stay alive."
Yoon Bum stared at him, frozen. The room felt colder than ever before. Sangwoo wasn't just playing with him anymore. He was reshaping the game, and Yoon Bum had no idea how to play by these new rules.
Sangwoo stood up, looking down at Yoon Bum with that same calculating gaze.
"Think about it. Think about what you want to be. A good little toy, or something more." He paused, a smirk spreading across his face. "But don't take too long, Bum-ah. You won't have forever."
End of Chapter 3.