Chapter 113: Whispers in the Dark

“Why do you look like that?

Did something bad happen today?”

“Uh….”

“Who was it? Hm? Just say the word.”

“…….”

Hyunwoo lost his words.

Was he not dreaming about the past anymore?

Seunghyuk looked exactly the same as he had back then.

The familiar suit and watch he always wore around this time of year.

Not a single thing that Hyunwoo had given him was on his body—exactly like before.

But his words and actions were so different that the disconnect felt jarring.

“Hyung, you really look pale.”

“Hm… no, nothing happened.”

Avoiding Seunghyuk’s persistent questioning, Hyunwoo turned his head away.

But Seunghyuk frowned and leaned in even closer.

When he lowered his head as if to examine Hyunwoo’s face, Hyunwoo had no way to escape.

“W-why are you doing this?”

“…You didn’t overwork again and collapse, right? Hm?”

“Collapse? Me?”

“Yeah. You scared me to death back then.”

“…….”

There had only been one time during their marriage when Hyunwoo collapsed.

Hearing him bring that up made the dream feel strangely detailed.

It really did seem like a mix of past and present—an odd, tangled dream.

Flustered, Hyunwoo forced himself to calm down.

If he just thought of it as a dumb dream, it became easier.

He only needed to play along.

“Sorry. I guess I’m just tired these days.

But I’m really fine….”

“Hm….”

“…….”

But Seunghyuk let out a dissatisfied sound, clearly not believing him.

His face came even closer.

He looked like he was sure Hyunwoo was lying.

Seunghyuk’s fingers brushed Hyunwoo’s cheek.

Even though it was a dream, the touch felt a little too real.

A shiver ran down Hyunwoo’s spine.

Was he crazy?

Why did his lower body feel hot?

Was he that pent-up lately?

And of all people—why was Seunghyuk the one appearing in a dream like this?

Even worse, Seunghyuk as he was before the regression.

Hyunwoo bit down on his lip.

“You’re biting your lip again.”

“Ha… what kind of cursed hybrid is this?”

“What?”

“…Nothing.”

He looked exactly like the pre-regression Seunghyuk,

yet acted like the current one.

No—maybe even gentler and more affectionate than the current one.

“…….”

Maybe this was the version of Seunghyuk he had always wanted.

Someone who, even if their marriage started forced, eventually accepted him and loved him back.

Everything was just as he once wished.

And that made it bitter.

Because it felt like he still hadn’t managed to let go of those foolish lingering feelings.

That’s why he was dreaming like this.

Hyunwoo let out a small laugh at himself.

“Hyung… you really are okay, right? Hm?”

“I said I’m fine.”

“If it’s hard, tell me.

We can take a vacation and go somewhere to rest.”

“…….”

A trip.

Come to think of it, they had never traveled together.

Their relationship had been so strained that even going to the supermarket together was difficult.

But after the regression, they’d spent so much time together.

He no longer acted cold at home or ignored him.

He always initiated conversations.

If Hyunwoo tried to go out alone, he would insist on coming along.

He followed Hyunwoo everywhere—to the point it felt annoying.

Hyunwoo chuckled at the memory.

The Seunghyuk in this dream felt like both versions combined.

And that somehow made sense.

“Where do you want to go?”

“Well… if there’s somewhere you want to go, tell me.

I’ll prepare everything.”

“Hm….”

Hyunwoo felt more and more drowsy.

A faint scent—like clean forest air—seemed to drift from Seunghyuk.

It relaxed him.

His eyelids slowly drooped.

Maybe he didn’t need to overthink this.

It was just a dumb dream.

And honestly… meeting a Seunghyuk like this wasn’t exactly unpleasant.

Hyunwoo decided to be a little more honest—at least in a dream.

“Hyung… are you trying to fall asleep on me right now?”

“Mm… don’t. That tickles.”

“You’ll sleep even if I do this? Hm?”

“…….”

Seunghyuk chuckled and wiggled his fingers.

His touch tickled Hyunwoo’s face.

It wasn’t fully vivid like reality, but somehow warm spots spread across his cheeks.

Hyunwoo kept his eyes closed, listening to that low, soft laughter.

Ah… he could probably fall asleep like this.

Good.

He didn’t want to think about anything anymore.

Better to drift off again.

Just as Hyunwoo relaxed his tense body—

“Hyung.

Do you really think everything will be okay?”

“……!”

The whisper in his ear sounded chilling.

Hyunwoo’s eyes flew open.

Dark brown eyes stared back at him up close.

“You…”

“You still don’t realize it after everything I did to you? Hm?”

“Ugh….”

His body felt pinned down, unable to move.

Hyunwoo groaned and tried to twist away, but nothing budged.

The playful tone slowly shifted into mockery.

Hyunwoo trembled as Seunghyuk’s face warped into something grotesque.

“You’re too stupid, that’s why things never go right.”

“Get away… ugh.”

“So you got fooled again this time too, didn’t you?”

Thump, thump—his heart pounded wildly.

He didn’t want to hear this.

The words kept stabbing his ears.

He couldn’t bear that mocking voice anymore.

He wanted to run away—anywhere but here.

“Go on, keep ignoring it.

It won’t change anything.”

“…….”

“Pathetic, stupid Hyunwoo-hyung.”

The small voice faded like a breeze—

yet those words stuck vividly in his ears.

His body trembled.

He felt like crying.

He wanted to curse at that sneering Seunghyuk until he was satisfied,

but just like his frozen body, his lips wouldn’t move.

Then everything went dark.

“Hah…!”

Hyunwoo shot his eyes open, gasping for air.

“Ugh, damn….”

His head throbbed horribly.

He clutched it, wincing.

He’d known from the start the dream was strange—

but a dumb dream turning into a nightmare like that?

He grit his teeth and shook his head.

Seunghyuk’s words still echoed in his ears.

The expression, the tone—they wouldn’t fade easily.

Why had he dreamed something like that?

Probably because he’d been feeling uneasy.

Unlike before the regression, Seunghyuk now said he liked him.

But others warned Hyunwoo not to trust him.

Little unpleasant incidents piled up.

Everything tangled together and came out as a nightmare.

“Haa….”

He sighed and stood up.

It was still dark—too early to wake up.

Stumbling slightly, Hyunwoo left his room.

The faint pre-dawn light seeped into the hallway.

He headed to the bathroom, sweating too much to ignore it.

Splash.

After washing his face, he stared at his pale reflection.

He looked like he’d seen a ghost—almost funny.

He let out a small laugh, turned off the water, and left the bathroom.

He was going to return to his room,

but since he was already up, he decided to get some water.

As he walked, he faintly heard a voice.

“……?”

A familiar voice.

Drawn by it, he approached quietly.

“…It takes time, I said.”

“……!”

He arrived in front of Seunghyuk’s room.

The door was slightly open, and Seunghyuk’s calm voice came through.

Hyunwoo instinctively held his breath and froze.

“Stop rushing me.

I need time too.”

“…….”

Who was he talking to at this hour?

Everyone was asleep.

Who could Seunghyuk be secretly talking to?

“Sigh… keep pushing like that and I’ll call it off.

You know how long I’ve been working to make that person like me, right?”

“……!”

“Do you think gaining someone’s trust in a short time is easy?

I put a lot of effort into this.”

He didn’t mention any names…

but Hyunwoo somehow understood exactly what he meant.

He stepped back.

His heart pounded violently again.

It felt like the nightmare hadn’t ended at all.

“If something goes wrong… like last time…”

As he distanced himself, the voice grew faint.

Hyunwoo turned away, fear tightening around him again.