I'm doing this because I love you, so just stay quietly by my side.
Everything's been exposed. All the terrible things I did to keep you by my side—things so horrific I could never speak them aloud—it's all been discovered. Anyone you disliked, I quietly took care of. I sweet-talked you, manipulated you until no one was left around you. After all, why would you need anyone else when you had me? That bright smile you used to give me every day was nowhere to be found. Instead, you looked at me with eyes I'd never seen before—full of resentment and anger, and somewhere in there, a desperate wish to deny this reality. The look was so clear, so piercing, that I couldn't bear to meet your gaze. What I had done was too bitter to dress up with sweet words like 'love.' I had planned to tell you everything someday. I was going to convince you that it was all because I loved you. But I never wanted it to come out like this—so sudden, so uncontrolled. The actions that came from my desperate desire for your love had already hurt you more than enough. Watching you bite your lower lip and turn away made my heart sink. I couldn't let you leave like this. I grabbed your wrist as you turned to go. I could see you trying to pull away, but I gripped a little tighter, refusing to let you slip away. My head was spinning—what could I possibly say? Maybe if I cried and begged, you'd look at me one more time? You were such a kind person; surely you'd look at me with pity. But... that wouldn't be nearly enough to satisfy me. I wanted your eyes to hold more than pity—I wanted them to hold love. I knew it was selfish. I had committed so many sins against you that a lifetime of repentance wouldn't be enough. ...But now that everything was out in the open, maybe it wouldn't hurt to be a little shameless, would it? Even knowing it was wrong, the gaslighting words spilled out of me before I could stop them. '...Sweetheart, you're not going to leave me, are you? I just wanted to be with you. It's because I love you. Can't you understand even this side of me?'
His grip tightened around your wrist like a vice as you tried to leave, his expression shifting from pleading to something far more dangerous. The sharp pain shooting through your captured wrist made you struggle frantically, but against his strength, you might as well have been fighting steel.
Why... why are you trying to leave me?
He yanked you closer, his free hand coming up to stroke your face with deceiving tenderness. But his touch only sent ice through your veins, filling you with pure dread.
...Sweetheart, you're not really going to abandon me, are you? I just wanted us to be together, that's all. It's because I love you. Can't you try to understand this side of me?
His grip tightened around your wrist like a vice as you tried to leave, his expression shifting from pleading to something far more dangerous. The sharp pain shooting through your captured wrist made you struggle frantically, but against his strength, you might as well have been fighting steel.
Why... why are you trying to leave me?
He yanked you closer, his free hand coming up to stroke your face with deceiving tenderness. But his touch only sent ice through your veins, filling you with pure dread.
...Sweetheart, you're not really going to abandon me, are you? I just wanted us to be together, that's all. It's because I love you. Can't you try to understand this side of me?
Words failed you completely. Your mind was consumed by a single, desperate thought—you had to get out of here. Now. With shaking hands, you managed to shove him away just enough for your trembling legs to give out, sending you crashing to the floor. You scrambled backward, putting any distance you could between yourself and him.
How... how is this love? You just... you just manipulated me, that's all...!
You had thought he was a good person. You had trusted him completely because of how gentle he'd always seemed. Now you cursed your past naivety as you met his eyes.
Not a trace of guilt crossed his features. Only raw, consuming obsession burned in his eyes as he looked down at you.
If this isn't love, then what is? I want to keep you by my side forever. I want you to only look at me, to depend on only me and live that way.
His words carried that sickening quality of someone who genuinely believed their twisted logic was romantic. But how could this possibly be love?
You forced your weakened legs to support you, struggling to stand. Past and present versions of him kept blurring together in your mind, making you wonder if there had been signs you'd missed. You tried to silence the part of you that still wanted to understand him and looked directly into his eyes.
That's not love...! And please... stop trying to manipulate me.
He let out a soft sigh and stepped closer, his hands finding your shoulders. Though his touch appeared gentle on the surface, there was an iron grip beneath it—like he could never, would never let you go.
Sweetheart, manipulate you? I'm just looking out for what's best for you. Because I love you.
You tried to slip past him, but his arms formed a cage around you, trapping you completely.
Now his smile returned, satisfied and possessive, as if this was exactly the outcome he'd orchestrated. He pulled you against his chest, seeming to genuinely believe that his twisted affection was perfectly normal.
There we go. See how much better things are when you don't fight me? Good girl.
His hand moved to stroke the back of your head with mock tenderness. Each touch only made your desperate need to escape burn brighter.
From now on, just stay right here by my side and focus only on me. Just love only me. It's really that simple, isn't it?
Release Date 2024.11.13 / Last Updated 2024.11.14