The Calm Before the Storm

Jeonghan's Pov:

The first rays of sunlight pierced through the light curtains of my window, casting a soft, golden glow over the room. It was a sight that I always cherished—a reminder that even in the darkest moments, light found its way. I stretched out of bed, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, and for a fleeting moment, everything felt calm. I closed my eyes, savoring the tranquility before pulling myself out from under the covers.

My morning routine was simple, methodical. I freshened up, brushed away the lingering sleep from my eyes, and dressed for the day ahead. Today would be busy. I had a lot to do, but I also had somewhere important to be later. A place that held memories—pieces of my life that I cherished and held onto, despite everything that had happened. I was planning to close the shop early today. Joshua could handle it for me; he was always dependable like that. I smiled faintly at the thought of him. Good friends were hard to come by, and I was lucky to have him in my life.

The day started as usual. The flower shop was bustling with customers, as it always was during the mornings. People came in with their usual requests—bouquets for loved ones, flowers for special occasions, or just a small bunch to brighten their homes. But as I worked, my mind wasn't really here. It was elsewhere, with the memories of my parents, my childhood, and everything I'd been through. I handed over the shop keys to Joshua in the early afternoon, giving him a small nod of thanks as I told him, "You take care of things here, Josh. I've got somewhere I need to be."

He flashed me a smile, one of those knowing smiles he always had when he understood more than I said. "Of course, Hannie. Don't worry about the shop. I've got it."

With that, I left the shop and made my way to the one place that always left me feeling both at peace and unsettled—my parents. Life had changed so much over the years, and not just for me. Everyone had their own stories, their own pains that shaped them, justified their actions. I was no different. I had endured my fair share of struggles, and while some might say that everything happens for a reason, I wasn't always sure I believed it. Still, there was a small part of me that clung to that belief—that all the hardships, all the challenges I had faced were signs, guiding me to some unknown destiny.

Destiny. That word always scared me. Sometimes, I wondered where mine would lead me. Would I end up in a place where I felt like I truly belonged? Or would I forever be searching?

I arrived at the graveyard late in the afternoon, the sky slowly fading from the bright blue of day to the soft pinks and purples of early evening. The air was cool, carrying the scent of earth and flowers, a bittersweet reminder of both life and death. I walked through the entrance, feeling an overwhelming wave of emotion wash over me as I approached my parents' grave.

It was always the same feeling. A sense of loss, of longing. But also... gratitude. They had given me so much, and even though life had been hard without them, I knew they had done their best to raise me in a way that allowed me to see the world differently. Peacefully. Innocently. It was because of them that I could still find beauty in the world, even when things were dark. They had shown me a version of life that was gentle, calm, and full of love, and for that, I would always be thankful.

I knelt down in front of their gravestone, the grass beneath me soft and cool. I placed two bouquets of roses—one for each of them—on the ground before me and just... sat there for a moment. The silence of the graveyard was almost comforting, like the world had paused just for me, just for this moment.

"I miss you," I whispered, my voice barely audible, as though speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile peace I had found here. "I miss you both so much."

I glanced at the names etched into the stone, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Things have been... difficult, but I'm doing okay. My friends are back, and for the first time in a long while, I feel... I don't know... complete, I guess." I chuckled softly, wiping away the tears that had already started to form in my eyes. "You raised me to be this innocent, naive kid, and sometimes I wonder if that's why life's been so hard. I wasn't prepared for all of this. I wasn't ready."

I swallowed hard, my voice growing shakier. "But... I'm grateful. I wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for you. You showed me a world that was kind and beautiful, and even when things got tough, even when I was losing hope, I held onto that."

My gaze dropped to the ground, and that's when the tears finally came. Slowly, quietly at first, but then all at once. I bent down, resting my forehead against the cool stone of their grave, my shoulders shaking as I let out the sobs I had been holding back for so long.

"I love you," I whispered through my tears. "I love you so much."

I stayed like that for a while, letting the weight of everything I had been holding inside finally fall away. It was as though all the pain, all the uncertainty, all the fear was pouring out of me in waves. And for once, I let myself feel it. I let myself break down completely, knowing that I was safe here, that my parents would understand.

After what felt like hours, I finally lifted my head, wiping my tear-streaked face with the back of my hand. There was a strange calmness in the air now, a stillness that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I looked around, suddenly feeling a chill run down my spine, and instinctively, I stood up.

"I should go," I whispered, my voice barely a breath.

I said one last goodbye to my parents, my heart still heavy but somehow lighter than before. As I turned and walked back toward the entrance of the graveyard, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wasn't alone. But when I glanced back, there was no one there. Just the graves, silent and still.

The walk back to my car was peaceful, though. The sun had nearly set by now, leaving the sky a deep shade of blue, with the first stars starting to twinkle above. I took a deep breath, letting the cool evening air fill my lungs. For the first time today, I felt... okay. I had said what I needed to say, and I could move forward, even if just a little.

When I reached my car, I sat in the driver's seat for a few moments, letting the quietness settle around me. Joshua or Taehyung would be opening the shop tomorrow. Joshua had mentioned that it was a day off at the college he worked at, so I decided I could sleep in. It was a rare luxury, but after today, I felt like I needed it.

I drove back to the shop, the streets quiet and empty, the city settling down for the night. When I reached the shop, I took a moment to sit on the porch, staring out at the quiet street. There was something comforting about the stillness, about knowing that tomorrow was a new day, another chance to move forward.

After a while, I left my car parked by the shop and decided to walk the rest of the way to my apartment. The walk was quiet, peaceful, just what I needed. I let my thoughts drift, feeling the cool night air against my skin as I made my way home. By the time I reached my apartment, the exhaustion from the day had settled deep into my bones. I changed into something comfortable, crawled into bed, and let myself sink into the soft warmth of my blankets.

As my head hit the pillow, I felt a sense of peace I hadn't felt in a long time. Today had been hard, but necessary. I had visited the past, faced my grief, and now... now I could rest.

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Jeonghan lay asleep, peaceful and unaware as the darkness gathered just beyond his reach. His quiet world, one he'd worked so hard to build, was about to fracture in ways he couldn't imagine. While he slept, a presence lurked outside. unseen and relentless.

For Seungcheol, the sight of Jeonghan that night at the graveyard had awakened something raw, something dangerous. The frail beauty of Jeonghan's grief—the way his fingers traced his parents' tombstone, the whispered "I love you"—triggered a twisted need that Seungcheol hadn't felt before. It wasn't about control or power this time; it was possession, pure and consuming.

Seungcheol had watched him from the shadows, unseen yet fixated. For a man who thrived on control, this was new, dark territory. Jeonghan wasn't just another face in the crowd or a pawn to manipulate. No, he was something Seungcheol wanted to cage, to own completely, to bind to himself in every possible way. As he observed from his car parked blocks away, the lights in Jeonghan's apartment flickered, a silent beacon of the prey he'd soon ensnare.

The storm wasn't one that announced itself with thunder or warning. It was a silent, creeping thing, hungry and intent. And as Seungcheol's gaze remained fixed on Jeonghan's window, he felt the thrill of his obsession grow sharper, colder. He didn't care what it would cost—consequences had no meaning when his need to possess was this consuming. For now, he would wait, savoring the moment when he would finally move in, knowing that, when the time was right, Jeonghan would have no escape.

Seungcheol would be the storm that Jeonghan never saw coming

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