In the Web of Obsession

The flower shop was a haven of soft light and the scent of fresh blooms, spilling laughter out into the evening street. Joshua had arrived earlier, and now, with the sun dipping low, casting a golden warmth over everything, the others began trickling in. Mingyu strolled in first, carrying a box of pastries and coffee, with Seokmin close behind, his smile bright as he held extra bags.

Jeonghan sat on the porch, a peaceful smile gracing his face as he sipped the coffee Mingyu had brought. The gentle breeze played with his hair, and he felt a warmth settle over him. "You really know how to spoil us, Gyu," he said, reaching out to pat Mingyu's head as the taller man joined him. "Your pastries are just perfect."

Mingyu's cheeks flushed, scratching the back of his head. "I try, Hannie hyung, I try."

Seokmin, already munching on a croissant, dramatically leaned against Joshua. "Yah, Hannie hyung, what about me? I helped carry everything!" He pouted, his head on Joshua's shoulder as if wounded by neglect.

Joshua chuckled, wrapping an arm around Seokmin's shoulders. "You did great, Seokmin-ah. We'd starve without you."

Before Jeonghan could respond, Seungkwan's excited voice rang out as he sprinted down the street, arms waving wildly. "Hannie hyung! I'm here, and you won't believe what I have to tell you!"

Jeonghan stood up, arms open, greeting Seungkwan with a warm hug. "Kwani-ah, tell me everything," he laughed, pulling him close.

Seungkwan barely contained his excitement as he began his story, hands waving animatedly. "So, that girl I told you about? She showed up today looking like she got a 'discount' at the plastic surgeon's!" His exaggerated expression had everyone chuckling, their laughter filling the porch with warmth.

Minghao, who'd arrived quietly with Woozi, gave a small smirk. "Maybe she thought you'd pity her enough to give her notes."

"Please," Seungkwan scoffed, "if I wanted to feel sorry for someone, I'd start with Mingyu and his coffee."

Mingyu's ears turned red, drawing laughs all around as Woozi added dryly, "It's definitely... unique."

Mingyu slumped, defeated. "You're all mean..."

Seokmin leaned back, patting his shoulder dramatically. "We still love you, Gyu, even if your coffee tastes like it's been through a fire."

Jeonghan chuckled, his fingers brushing through Seokmin's hair as he reassured him. "Your pastries are amazing, Gyu, and honestly, I love the coffee." His voice was soft, his smile a calming presence.

Mingyu looked up, visibly brightened by the praise. "See? Hannie hyung has taste," he retorted with a triumphant grin.

Seungkwan rolled his eyes. "It's called pity, hyung."

As they continued to tease, Seokmin sighed, dropping his head in Jeonghan's lap. "Save me, Hannie hyung; they're relentless."

Jeonghan's gentle laughter and the way he ran his fingers through Seokmin's hair brought a quiet peace to the group. "You're all so lively today. It's... comforting, hearing everyone like this."

The others fell silent, comforted by Jeonghan's warmth. Mingyu leaned closer to Jeonghan, soaking in the tranquility of his presence. "Yeah... it really is."

As they sat there together, surrounded by laughter and the warm evening glow, Jeonghan looked at his friends, feeling a deep contentment. In these simple moments, with their laughter echoing around him, he found his solace.

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Seungcheol leaned back in his sleek black car, engine idling at a safe distance from the flower shop. His sharp eyes, cold and calculating, observed everything happening in front of him. He had been watching since the early afternoon, catching sight of Jeonghan from the moment he'd emerged onto the porch, his angelic figure bathed in soft golden light.

Seungcheol's jaw tightened as he saw Jeonghan laugh—his soft, genuine laughter stirring something foreign inside Seungcheol, something unsettlingly blissful. What is this? Seungcheol thought. It wasn't like him to feel anything other than control, power, and dominance. Emotions like this, that crept in unnoticed, made him feel vulnerable, exposed. But seeing Jeonghan's face light up, the corners of his eyes crinkling in pure happiness as he spoke to his friends, did something to Seungcheol's stone-cold heart. It was a spark, a fleeting warmth he couldn't ignore.

But then the possessiveness crept in. It gnawed at him, slowly at first, then more intensely as he watched Jeonghan interacting with the others—Mingyu, Seokmin, Joshua, and the rest of that group. Each laugh, each gentle pat on the head that Jeonghan gave Mingyu, each playful nudge and teasing word made Seungcheol's blood simmer just beneath the surface. There was something deeply unsettling about it, something that triggered a possessive rage inside him. He wanted Jeonghan—wanted to take him away from this peaceful life, away from the laughter and light. Away from the others who got to enjoy his presence.

'He belongs to me', Seungcheol thought darkly, though he didn't even understand fully why. He barely knew this man, yet everything about Jeonghan made him feel like he had the right to possess him, to claim him. And the more he watched Jeonghan's interactions—the casual touch of his hand on Mingyu's head, the way Seungkwan leaned into him—the more Seungcheol's chest tightened with jealousy and an unshakable need.

From across the street, his cold eyes remained locked on Jeonghan, the laughter and joy of the moment contrasting with the darkness swirling within Seungcheol's mind.

Meanwhile, Dino sat hunched in front of his laptop, eyes flickering with a mix of awe and frustration as he stared at the hacked CCTV footage. His fingers danced across the keys as he zoomed in on the screen, focusing entirely on Jeonghan, who was smiling with that same radiance Dino had glimpsed the day before.

Dino had done what Seungcheol asked, despite the rising panic within him. He had found every detail of Jeonghan's life—his schedule, his routine, where he went, who he met. Dino even tapped into the CCTV feed from both Mingyu's café and Jeonghan's flower shop, watching every movement of the man he found so intriguing, so... different. Jeonghan was everything Dino longed for—kind, gentle, and surrounded by warmth and love.

But as Dino watched Jeonghan laugh and chat with his friends, something bitter curled inside him. It wasn't just jealousy—it was a deep, aching longing. 'I want to be there... I want to be the one beside him. Why is it so unfair?' Dino thought, eyes narrowing as he watched Jeonghan playfully nudge Seokmin, then lean his head on Joshua's shoulder with a peaceful smile. He wanted that affection, that warmth, that closeness.

Jeonghan felt like the last shred of hope in the darkness Dino had been trapped in for so long. He didn't know why, but something about Jeonghan made him feel that maybe, just maybe, there was a way out. Maybe... maybe he could save me from this hell, Dino thought desperately.

But then, fear. Fear gripped Dino's heart as he remembered who Seungcheol was. Seungcheol had asked for Jeonghan's details, and Dino knew exactly what that meant. His hyung was never interested in anyone unless it served a purpose. And Dino feared what Seungcheol's cold obsession might do to someone as pure as Jeonghan.

He can't have him. He can't drag him into this darkness, Dino thought, feeling a surge of panic. He had seen what Seungcheol was capable of—his cruelty, his ruthless obsession with control. And now, with Seungcheol's sights set on Jeonghan, Dino felt the weight of that inevitable destruction looming over them.

But what could he do? Dino was terrified of standing up to Seungcheol, terrified of what might happen if he tried to interfere. He wanted to steal Jeonghan away, to protect him, but he was scared—scared of the world he lived in, scared of dragging someone so innocent into the darkness that suffocated him every day. He felt trapped between his fear of Seungcheol and his desperate need to be saved by someone like Jeonghan.

As Dino stared at the screen, watching Jeonghan and his friends share laughter, his chest tightened with a painful longing. I wish... I wish that was me. I wish I could be part of that world.

Back in his car, Seungcheol was still watching. His eyes hadn't left Jeonghan for a second, and the more he watched, the more he felt something new take root inside him—something dark and obsessive. His mind raced with thoughts he didn't quite understand yet but couldn't suppress. He needed to know more, to see more of Jeonghan. And after the shipment was handled, he would make sure he got exactly what he wanted.

Jeonghan had no idea that he had attracted the attention of the most dangerous man in the city, a man who was already spinning a web of obsession and control. Nor did he know that a lost boy named Dino was quietly, desperately wishing for his salvation.

The storm was brewing, and Jeonghan was at the center of it—unaware, blissfully unaware of the monsters closing in on him.

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