Chapter 10 - {My Name And My Curse Kim Soo-Jin}

Silence. The room felt colder. Then Carlos leaned forward. "I killed them because they made you small. I kill because they made you believe you didn't deserve love. But you do. You do." Soo-jin stepped back, choking on rage and guilt. "Stop. This ends now." Carlos's eyes flicked to him still calm, but something darker stirred behind them. "Then prove it." "What?" "Prove you don't want me to." Soo-jin's breath hitched. He couldn't say it. Because deep down, some sick part of him liked knowing they were gone. That someone had chosen him so absolutely. That someone had burned the world for him. He backed away from the glass. "I'll find a way to stop you." Carlos just smiled faintly, like he already knew that Soo-jin wouldn't. "Then I'll be waiting, love." Soo-jin's hand froze on the glass door. His heart pounded. He could walk out. Pretend he was above this. Pretend the blood didn't bother him because it did. But the truth The truth was worse. He turned back. Carlos hadn't moved. "Then stop," Soo-jin said quietly, not begging… but close. "Stop killing for me." Carlos tilted his head. "You don't want me to stop. You want me to wait." Soo-jin's voice was thin, shaky. "I want something different." A pause. "Tell me." Soo-jin stepped forward, jaw set. "You want to prove you love me?" Carlos's eyes lit up subtly. "Always." Soo-jin stared at him, like he was trying to see the person beneath the monster. "Then give me something. One thing. Let me choose a name. Someone you don't touch." That actually surprised Carlos. A flicker of confusion. Maybe hurt. "A name?" "Someone I protect. Someone off-limits. My rule." Carlos leaned forward slowly, expression unreadable. "Is that what I am now? A weapon you can point at?" "I'd rather point it out than clean up after it." They stared at each other. Two liars. Two people in love. Two people slowly losing who they were. Carlos chuckled under his breath. "Fine." He leaned back. "One name. Choose carefully. I won't touch them." Soo-jin nodded once. "You'll swear it?" "I already have." His eyes gleamed. "For you, always." Carlos waited, patient as ever. Eyes fixed on Soo-jin. Watching. Studying. Loving. Soo-jin opened his mouth to speak. The name should've come easily anyone. A friend. A neighbour. A target in line. Someone innocent. But the words caught in his throat. His chest tightened. The walls felt like they were leaning in. He's not the only one falling apart. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to think. But all he saw was blood. All he heard was Carlos's voice whispering through his dreams, telling him it was okay to let go. To fall. To need. To be needed. And then… "…Kim Soo-jin." The words fell out before he could stop them. Carlos blinked. Then smiled. Not his usual grin not playful, not teasing. This one was softer. Sadder. Almost reverent. "You finally said it." Soo-jin's breath hitched. "No, I..." Carlos leaned forward slowly, hands resting on the table, voice low. "Is that your request, love? That I spare you?" Soo-jin couldn't respond. His mouth stayed open, trembling. "You think I'm here to destroy you." Carlos tilted his head. "But I already told you… I love you. And love like mine?" "It doesn't kill you." "It becomes you." Soo-jin stumbled back from the table like it burned him. But Carlos didn't chase. He didn't need to. Because he knew. Soo-jin was already his. Rain beat against the windows. The TV played white noise in the background, a blue glow stuttering across the walls. Soo-jin sat on the couch, unmoving. Still in his uniform. Still wearing the blood from today's crime scene like a second skin. He hadn't blinked in minutes. His phone buzzed again. A message from the precinct. "Need a statement on Seung-hwan. People are asking questions." He didn't answer. He couldn't. Instead, he muttered under his breath: "Kim Soo-jin."