(The theme of this story is dark)
Ryu stared at Ziyan as if he had just heard something impossible—something that didn't belong in reality.
"What?!! You're in love with a married woman?!"
His voice echoed with disbelief, sharp and loud enough to slice through the silence of the car.
Ziyan, however, remained unfazed.
Leaning back slightly, he bit his index finger—a habit of his when he was deep in thought—and nodded once.
A simple gesture, yet it carried the weight of a confession he wasn't ashamed of.
Ryu ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
"What is wrong with your taste, huh?! You really have a weird taste, Ziyan!"
There was irritation in his tone, but beneath it lay concern—raw and unfiltered.
Ziyan tilted his head slightly, his expression calm, almost indifferent.
"Is it really weird to be in love with a married woman?"
The question hung in the air.
Ryu fell silent for a moment. His anger dimmed, replaced by something more thoughtful.
"I don't know if it's weird…" he finally said, his voice lowering, "but it's definitely rare."
Ziyan's eyes softened, though his face remained composed.
"So… what should I do?"
Ryu let out a sigh, long and tired.
"From when did you even start loving her?"
Ziyan's gaze drifted somewhere far away, as if he were replaying a memory he couldn't escape.
"This month."
"Do you remember the date?"
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"2nd of October."
And just like that, the memory unfolded—
A quiet afternoon.
A car pulling up beside the neighboring house.
A woman stepping out.
She wore a long black dress that flowed like shadows around her feet. In her arms rested a white cat, its fur contrasting beautifully against the darkness of her attire.
Her presence was… unreal. Like something not meant for ordinary eyes.
Ziyan had watched from a distance.
Watched as she walked into the house.
Watched as a man—her husband—followed behind her.
And just like that, she disappeared from his sight.
"That's when it started," Ziyan murmured.
Ryu looked at him, stunned.
Even if he wanted to argue, the sincerity in Ziyan's voice made it difficult.
But reality was harsh.
"Even if you love her that much… you can't do anything," Ryu said firmly. "She's married. She has a husband. And… letting someone go is the purest form of love."
Ziyan's smile faded.
"That's the problem."
Ziyan whispered. His voice was in pain. The pain of not being able to do anything.
"Her husband… is the reason I can't let her go."
Silence.
"What?"
"He's abusive," Ziyan said, his voice eerily calm.
"He beats her. I don't know why. But no matter the reason… he has no right to raise his hand on her."
Ryu's expression hardened instantly.
"What?! Who is he? Tell me. I'll file a case right now."
Ziyan let out a low chuckle.
"I could do that too."
"Then why aren't you?"
A pause.
"There's a reason."
"What kind of reason?"
Ziyan's smile returned—but this time, it held secrets.
"You'll find out… in the future."
That night, the atmosphere in Hayuel's house felt suffocating.
Roselia stood before the mirror, her reflection staring back at her with lifeless eyes.
Her beauty was undeniable—but there was something hollow behind it.
Hayuel entered the room without knocking.
"Are you obsessed with yourself?"
His tone carried mockery.
Roselia turned slowly.
"No. Why?"
He walked closer, his gaze shamelessly scanning her from head to toe.
"It just feels like it. I mean… you keep looking at yourself all the time. But I guess it makes sense," he smirked, "you do have a beautiful face… and body."
Roselia didn't react.
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
He stepped closer, lifting her chin.
"By the way… next week is Andrew and Iu's engagement party. When are you buying a dress?"
"I already have dresses. Why would I need another one?"
His grip tightened slightly.
"I don't want people to think low of me. Andrew is my close friend. I want you to look better than everyone else."
His face moved closer to hers.
Too close.
Roselia's breathing slowed.
Cold.
Detached.
Elsewhere, Ziyan lay on his couch, one arm resting over his eyes.
His thoughts were far from peaceful.
"Why are you making me crazy… Roselia?"
The next day, the city mall buzzed with life.
Amidst the crowd, Roselia stood out effortlessly.
She wore a long dark blue dress, simple yet elegant, her presence drawing eyes from every direction.
"Who is she?"
"She's so pretty…"
"Is she single?"
Whispers followed her wherever she walked.
Neel stood beside her, slightly uneasy.
"Mrs. Roselia, why come to a mall? I can take you to the best boutiques in the country."
"I don't like those shops."
Her voice was calm—but firm.
Suddenly
A familiar gaze locked onto her.
Ziyan.
Standing at a distance, watching her with a faint smile.
"Why are you here?" he murmured.
"She is so pretty"
"Is she a model"
"Should I go and ask for her number"
Ziyan smiled on the whispering.
"Look, you just came outside your house and many guys already is interested in you" he muttered.
The he went towards her.
"Isn't that Ziyan?"
"Does he knows her?"
"I guess she is with him"
The whispering didn't stop.
Neel froze.
"Mr. Ziyan?!"
Shock flashed across his face.
Roselia turned.
"You?"
Ziyan smiled slightly.
"Have I ever told you my name?"
She frowned.
"We never had a proper conversation."
"Then let's have one."
"I'm busy."
And while they were talking, there was Neel unaware of the fact they know eachother.
"How do they know eachother?" He thought.
Many questions were hitting him.
"Then let me suggest a place."
Their conversation flowed in low voices—barely audible.
"Hmm?... Do you think I will like the place that you will suggest?" She asked, directly looking at him
He smiled.
"Definitely you will"
She raised a eyebrow.
"And what if I don't?"
She asked.
He came closer to her. Only inches of distance between them.
"Then I'm ready to do anything that you will ask me to" he said in teasing way.
Roselia froze.
A voice whispered in her mind.
"I'm ready to do anything for you my little princess"
A manly voice.
Roselia stared at him.
"You will do anything?" She asked for the confirmation.
He smiled.
"I will"
Neel was just standing there analyzing the scene unaware of the fact what they are talking.
"So.... Neel, let me take to the place where this man is talking about" she ordered.
"Okay!... Mam" he replied.
"How did he manage to convince her?" He thought.
Soon, they arrived at Aru's boutique.
"It's been so long since we met Mr.Ziyan and Mr.Neel" Aru said. An excitement in her voice.
They were sitting on sofas. Only Roselia wasn't there.
"Yea... It's been so long, Ms.Aru" Neel said.
But Ziyan wasn't interested in the conversation the only thing he was interested about was Roselia.
Roselia was looking at the dresses, where the staffs were escorting her.
Aru took a look at Roselia.
"Who is she?" She wondered.
"She is pretty tho"
"And why did she come with Ziyan and Neel" she thought.
Then she gazed at them, "is she Ziyan's girlfriend? Even if she is why did Neel come with them then?" Many thoughts were running through her mind.
And she let one of her thoughts win against herself.
"Who is she?" She asked to both Neel and Ziyan.
Ziyan didn't look.
He was just admiring Roselia.
A beautiful figure.
Her everything was beautiful for him.
Aru noticed that he was kept looking at her.
"Oh!... Sorry, I forget to mention... Actually she is Mr.Hayuel's wife" Neel spoke.
This one sentence shook everyone in boutique except for Ziyan and Roselia.
"What?!!" Aru exclaimed.
"She is Mr.Hayuel wife??" She couldn't believe what she heard.
Eyes turned. Whispers spread.
"Hayuel's wife?"
Shock rippled through the staff.
Roselia, however, remained indifferent.
Cold.
Untouched.
The staffs started to show all the best dresses of the boutique.
"Damnn... I mean, I can't decide whom to call lucky? Should I call her lucky because a billionaire like Hayuel is her husband or should I call Hayuel lucky to have a pretty wife like her?" Aru thought.
"She is undeniably pretty"
"Mam, did you like these dress?" A staff asked while showing many dresses.
Roselia stared coldly.
"No!..."
Roselia then stared at Ziyan, and came towards him.
Ziyan just looked at her.
"You said that I will like the dresses here but I didn't..." She claimed.
Aru clenched her fists.
But said nothing.
Ziyan, silent until now, walked toward a corner.
"Hey!... I'm talking with you" Roselia said.
His eyes scanned the racks.
Then
He picked one.
A strapless black gown.
Simple.
Elegant.
Quietly beautiful.
Roselia approached.
Her fingers brushed the fabric.
"Do you like it?" Ziyan asked softly.
"…It's beautiful."
And just like that
"This one." Roselia said.
Neel blinked in disbelief.
Of all the dresses…
She chose the simplest.
But Ziyan just smiled.
Because he understood.
"But! Mr.Neel this is quite simple" Aru said.
"No!... It doesn't matter as long as she liked the dress" Neel claimed and took a sigh.
Evening fell.
The sky turned golden.
A soft breeze filled the air.
Standing beside the car, Roselia hesitated.
Ziyan stood at a distance.
Watching.
"Thankyou for your help today, Mr. Ziyan." Neel thanked him
He didn't say anything just smiled.
Neel then walked towards the car.
"Are you not coming with us?" she asked.
For a moment
Time paused.
Ziyan smiled and replied.
"I can't. I have somewhere to be."
She nodded.
"…Okay."
Then, softly
"Bye, Ziyan."
A small smile appeared on his face.
And as she waved
He realized something.
This wasn't just love.
This was something far more dangerous.
Something he couldn't walk away from.
And maybe…
Didn't want to.
To be continued…