PSS - 9

Chapter 9: Possession

After the men left the room, Hae-in quietly slipped into the bedroom where Soo-hyun lay.

“…Hnn.”

Whether from a bad dream or some other torment, sweat beaded on Soo-hyun’s forehead. He occasionally groaned and furrowed his brows but showed no signs of waking up.

“What on earth did they do to him…?”

Even with several well-built guards struggling to restrain him, Soo-hyun was clearly a force to reckon with. Seeing him now, writhing in discomfort, stirred pity within Hae-in.

She went to the bathroom, soaked a towel in warm water, and gently wrung it out. Returning to his side, she carefully dabbed at the sweat on his brow.

As she leaned close to his face, wiping it tenderly, his uneven breaths brushed against her cheek.

Hae-in paused, her hand hovering over his damp skin as she studied his features.

His firmly closed lips were slightly parted, releasing hot, labored breaths. His straight nose and neatly arched brows framed a troubled expression. Occasionally, his breathing grew heavier, causing his brows to knit together before relaxing again, accompanied by faint groans.

“…Sunbae.”

Leaning awkwardly against his side, Hae-in whispered his name softly. When he didn’t respond, she sighed deeply.

Confronted with an unconscious person, words she’d been holding back began spilling out naturally.

“I wish you wouldn’t hate me so much. I don’t know all the details of your situation, but I’ll try to understand… Hatred only brings pain to oneself too.”

Believing he couldn’t hear her, memories long buried resurfaced.

“…Do you know?”

A faint smile crossed Hae-in’s lips as she recalled the distant past.

“When I first saw you at school, you left quite an impression on me. No matter what you wore, you always seemed so striking. People called you dangerous, but to me, you just looked… lonely. Like someone who needed someone to hold their hand…”

His closed eyes remained shut, his lips still sealed. Soo-hyun appeared to have fallen into an even deeper slumber.

“…Isn’t that strange? Everyone around you seemed so rough, yet for some reason, I thought you were different.”

Reflecting on those old memories made them feel foreign now. There had been a time when Hae-in was a fresh-faced twenty-year-old stepping onto campus for the first time.

It was spring then, and the excitement of starting university buzzed among the new students. But for Hae-in, there were no gifts or celebrations—her brother’s hospitalization had turned her family upside down. From day one, she plunged headfirst into a relentless life of survival.

Soo-hyun was the infamous senior she avoided eye contact with whenever their paths crossed. Rumors swirled about how he smashed bottles in anger when drunk and indulged in reckless nights.

And yet, every time their eyes met, his gaze lingered hauntingly in her memory. There was something feral in his eyes—a wounded beast’s cry, raw and distant.

“…I think meeting you again like this is fate. Please don’t hate me too much. Just think of me as someone trying hard to live, briefly relying on you. I’ll make sure not to be a burden.”

Finishing her quiet confession, Hae-in gazed at him. His ragged breathing had calmed somewhat; he seemed more at ease.

After lingering by his side for a moment, she slowly rose to leave.

“…Don’t go.”

Still seemingly asleep, Soo-hyun suddenly pulled her wrist toward him.

“Ah!”

Before she could react, Hae-in found herself yanked closer, pressed against his body. Startled, she stared at him, but his eyes remained closed.

Was he dreaming?

For a moment, she wondered if he had regained consciousness, but his face twisted in pain, and his eyes stayed stubbornly shut.

“Um, could you let go of my hand?”

“No…”

His grip tightened painfully, cutting off circulation. Trapped in his arms, Hae-in felt herself being pulled deeper into his embrace.

What should she do?

Caught between fear of discovery and uncertainty about his state, Hae-in hesitated. She tried prying his arm off her waist, twisting her body until she faced him directly.

“…Um, Sunbae, can you please…”

Turning fully revealed their chests pressed tightly together—an embarrassing realization. The movement had loosened her robe, exposing the slip and lingerie underneath. Her partially uncovered chest pressed awkwardly against his shirt.

“Let me change into something else. This outfit is too embarrassing…”

If they were going to spend the night like this anyway, it would be better to wear her original clothes to avoid awkwardness in the morning.

Knowing how quick he was to insult her, imagining his reaction to finding her in such revealing lingerie filled her with dread.

“Um…”

As Hae-in pushed lightly against his chest with both palms, Soo-hyun suddenly murmured her name.

“Hae-in-ah!”

Startled, Hae-in looked up at him. His eyes fluttered weakly, still lost in a dreamlike haze.

Why had he called her name? Had he been awake earlier than she realized? Confused, Hae-in froze as the hand cradling her shifted, sliding sensually over the silk of her slip.

“Ah…”

An involuntary moan escaped her lips as his touch sent shivers through her.

“Sunbae, are you… are you conscious?”

Trying desperately to pull away, she asked, but Soo-hyun tilted his head, eyes still closed, and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Hot breath scorched her skin, followed by the soft press of his lips. His voice, muffled by her hair, whispered her name.

“…Hae-in-ah.”

Was he calling her name so earnestly, or was it someone else’s? She couldn’t tell.

Without giving her time to breathe, Soo-hyun collapsed onto her, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss.

“Haaah…”

Her escaping breath was caught by his lips, swirling back into her mouth. His tongue invaded her depths, exchanging saliva in a heated exchange.

Swallowing his essence, Hae-in let out a fervent moan.

Their bodies burned together. Every exhale, every touch of his palm against her skin, radiated heat.

The delicate lace and straps of her bra had long since lost their purpose.

“Sunbae! I’m scared. Please wake up.”

Fear gripped Hae-in as she realized he was undressing her while seemingly unconscious. It wasn’t just the intimacy—it was the fact that he wasn’t fully aware. What would happen when he woke up? Would he pressure her mercilessly, forgetting everything she wanted to say?

“…Hae-in-ah, Hae-in-ah. Please…”

He repeated her name over and over, though it felt surreal.

‘Is he calling me? Why does he look like this…’

With his eyes closed, Soo-hyun’s expression oscillated between anguish and desperation.

“Soo-hyun Sunbae!”

When his grip loosened slightly, Hae-in quickly freed herself and cupped his cheeks. Calling his name firmly, she watched as he collapsed heavily atop her.

“Ugh… My head…”

Breathing heavily, Soo-hyun remained sprawled over her for a while. When he finally lifted himself, his eyes focused sharply on hers.

“Yoon… Hae-in? Yoon Hae-in?”

“Are you feeling more lucid?”

“What’s going on here…?”

As Soo-hyun spoke, Hae-in hurriedly adjusted her disheveled clothing, covering herself.

“I was trying to wipe your sweat, but you wouldn’t let go of my hand…”

She explained hastily. Soo-hyun frowned, glancing between himself and her as he processed the situation.

“Damn it. This is insane.”

With swift movements, he rolled off the bed and stood, turning his back to her.

“Whatever happened, just forget it.”

“Wait…”

“I’m leaving.”

As soon as he spoke, Hae-in rushed forward and wrapped her arms around his back.

“S-Sunbae…”

“…”

“Don’t leave. Look at me.”

Her chest pressed flat against his back. Bracing herself for rejection, Hae-in clung to him with all her strength.

“You really…”

But despite her effort, Soo-hyun easily captured her wrist with one hand, causing her grip to falter. Still holding her wrist, he turned to face her.

“So this is how you want to live?”

“…Chairman Park said I’m your possession now. I’ll behave, so…”

With her free hand, Hae-in reached for his and clasped it tightly. In a small, trembling voice, she whispered:

“Hold me.”