As he stepped out of the car,
Right in front of him stood Mr. Hyunwoo's grand bungalow—one that belonged to one of South Korea's most powerful and successful politicians.
Kian (on call):"I thought you forgot."
Joon Hyunk:"You know I never forget anything, Kian."
Still talking, he moved toward the backside of the bungalow—careful to avoid the main entrance where someone might spot him.
He had already surveyed the security.
The cameras? Hacked earlier by Min-jae.There were no alarms—only a few guards stationed outside.
Slipping past them with practiced ease, he scaled the outer wall and landed quietly in the lawn.
Joon Hyunk (still on call):"I'll join you for breakfast in the morning."
Before Kian could respond, he ended the call.
Due to his work—and for their own safety—he kept Kian in a separate house.Besides, Joon Hyunk cherished his privacy like a religion.
He already knew which room was Yeo-jun's.He had studied every detail about the bungalow and its residents.
Reaching the balcony outside the boy's room, he climbed up without making a sound.
The glass door was locked, but it only took a second to realize—it was more for aesthetics than actual security.
Using the right technique, the lock gave in with a soft click.And the beast stepped inside.
The moment he entered, he was caught in a gentle, intoxicating scent—roses.
Fresh, blooming roses.
Their softness stirred not just his senses, but something deeper—something strangely calming in his chest.For a moment, every dark thought seemed to quiet.
That fragrance held him there—until his gaze finally landed ahead.
On the large king-sized bed, a boy lay sleeping.
Moonlight filtered in through the open glass, falling gently over his face.The room was dark, but the pale glow lit his features in a soft, hazy outline.
Joon Hyunk moved closer, footsteps soundless in the dark.
He didn't take his eyes off that peaceful face—the innocence of it, the vulnerability, made it impossible to look away.
It felt like something pulled from a dream.Like a scene straight out of a fairytale.
But this wasn't a fairytale.And he… he wasn't the prince.
He was the beast.
And now, the Beast had taken the Beauty as his prisoner.(But this story was slightly different from the tale of Beauty and the Beast—In that one, it was the beauty who broke the beast's curse with the power of love.But in this story, it would be the beast who breaks the curse of his beauty.)
He stepped closer, and now he stood right in front of him.Even in his sleep, Yeo-jun seemed to sense someone's presence—Because the peaceful expression on his sleeping face slowly turned into one of discomfort and fear.
The beast's steps moved on their own, drawing him closer to Yeo-jun.He leaned down slowly, eyes fixed on the boy's delicate face.He wanted to know what kind of pain had painted such fear across this innocent face.
Strands of hair were scattered gently over his forehead,making him look even softer—almost fragile.Despite the air-conditioning, beads of sweat shimmered lightly on his forehead,a sign of the nightmares haunting him.Even in sleep, he could feel the presence of a stranger nearby.
Beast's gaze grew more intense as he looked at him—And that's when he noticed the faint scar running across his cheek.One look, and he understood—this wasn't just any scar.His eyes traveled lower, toward his arms.There too, were marks—cuts, burns, fading bruises.Pain. So much pain, etched into his skin.
He looked like someone who had survived something terrible.A victim of cruelty.
In his dream, Yeo-jun was now seeing a dark shadow slowly approaching him,whispering something into his ears—His sleeping face twisted more with unease.
Seeing this, Beast leaned even closer,bringing his face to his ear, and whispered softly—
"Ssshh... relax, Yeo-jun.No one's going to hurt you.You don't need to be afraid of me."
It was perhaps the first time even Beast himself heard this softness in his own voice—a gentleness he didn't know he could carry.
And just like that…Yeo-jun's breathing began to calm.Even in sleep, he was responding to this unfamiliar kindness.
When he drifted back into deeper sleep,Joon Hyunk gently lifted a hand toward his face—carefully reaching for the wounded skin.His fingers hovered over the scars as if trying to memorize their story.
The scent of roses returned—subtle, delicate, intoxicating.That fragrance, he realized, was coming from Yeo-jun himself.And it was driving Beast mad.
Even without meaning to—He could feel his control slipping.
Lost in thought, Joon Hyunk slowly extended his hand toward him.Now, there was only a small distance left between his fingertips and the scars on Yeo-jun's face.Without touching, he began to trace the marks with his eyes, as if memorizing every line of pain.His hand moved gently from Yeo-jun's cheek… and stopped right at his lips.
His gaze lingered.Those soft, rosy lips seemed to pull him in like a quiet gravity.Carefully, with just his thumb, he brushed against the small cut on Yeo-jun's lip.The tender feel of that touch sent a jolt through his chest.
For the first time in his life, he felt his heartbeat race like this.So intense… so loud… it was as if his chest could barely contain it.
But just then—Yeo-jun suddenly stirred.A strange sensation had pulled him from sleep.He sat up, startled.
But all he could see in the dim moonlight was his quiet room.Nothing seemed out of place.He blinked, confused. Maybe—maybe it was just a dream.Just like every other night…
But no—Tonight's dream had a voice.A new voice.A voice he had never heard before…And yet, that voice… had calmed his fear.
He turned his head and noticed the balcony door slightly ajar.He slowly got up and walked toward it to lock it.
But when his fingers reached the handle—It came off in his hand.
His breath hitched.
That door had been broken… someone had come in.
He wasn't imagining it.
His body froze.Fear started creeping in again.That presence he'd felt—It had been real.
Panicking, Yeo-jun quickly turned on all the lights in his room and on the terrace.His voice trembled as he tried to speak—
"W-Who… who's th-there?" he called out shakily."I-I-I s-said w-who… who is it?! Is… i-is s-someone h-here…?"
But the room remained silent.No response.Just the light, and his racing heart.
Tears welled up in his eyes,and his hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
He looked around once more, terrified—But still… no one.
He turned and ran—Rushed straight to the guest room, where he finally gasped for air.
The moment he stepped in, he locked the door behind him.Then he went to the windows, closed them tightly, and pulled the curtains shut.After that, he crouched behind the bed and sat there, arms wrapped around his knees.
His heart was pounding so loudly that he could barely hear his own breathing.He inhaled deep, shaky breaths—Trying to calm himself.
After a few minutes, when he was finally sure that no one was around,his hands slowly stopped trembling.
He could finally breathe.
This wasn't new.He had learned this way of coping a few years ago…Ever since that incident.
Whenever he felt this kind of fear,whenever he couldn't control his own state,he would hide.Lock himself in.Sit behind a bed, and wait for the terror to pass.
He had endured so much alone—All at an age far too young.
The trauma had broken something inside him,Left him mentally fragile in ways no one could see.
And so, he tried to calm himself again tonight.
But deep inside, he knew—This night… would be yet another sleepless one.Haunted, just like the rest.
Somewhere far away, down a quiet, empty road,The Beast drove through the night, his car slicing through the darkness.And even now—All he could think about… was Yeo-jun.