The applause still echoed through the auditorium walls when they stepped offstage.
Sera held her script close, but her hands trembled just slightly — like the performance had left something raw inside her.
"Hey," Jisoo said, gently tapping her elbow. "You alright?"
She turned to him.
Smiled.
A small, practiced smile.
"I'm fine. Just… tired."
He blinked.
They always walked home together after meetings. Or talked a bit. Or at least waited for the other to finish packing.
But this time?
Sera slipped her bag over her shoulder and said, "I'll head out first, okay?"
Jisoo nodded slowly. "Sure."
She left without another word.
He stood there, half-packed, watching the door swing closed behind her.
Alone.
And suddenly everything felt heavier than it should've.
Later That Night – Jisoo's POV
He tried to sleep.
Tried turning on music, dimming the lights, even switching sides of the bed like that would fix the knot in his chest.
But it didn't work.
Because when he closed his eyes—
The dream came.
He was ten.
The house was shaking.
Voices shouted behind the door.
His brother's door.
He knocked, over and over.
No one answered.
Blood on the floor.
Knuckles red.
Jisoo stood there with a hand full of broken pens and a voice full of silence.
It was always the same ending.
Always the same scream.
He woke up drenched in sweat, gasping.
Chest tight.
Throat dry.
And pain.
That deep, crawling pain in his ribs — the one that begged to be pulled out of him, even if it meant using his fists.
He sat up.
Stared at his trembling hands.
He didn't want to.
God, he didn't want to.
But his mind screamed for it.
Quiet. I need quiet.
He punched the mattress once.
Twice.
The wall next.
His knuckles split, just barely.
His body stilled.
But the shame? It stayed.
Blood in his palm.
His breath shallow.
The phone buzzed.
His shaking hand reached for it.
He opened Sera's contact.
Hovered over the call button.
She said to call. She said she'd answer.
He hesitated.
Then pressed it.
Once.
It rang.
Twice.
No answer.
He hung up.
Threw the phone across the bed.
And sat in the dark.
Head between his knees.
Tears burning.
The damage was done.