The Murderer's Favorite

A tall, raven-haired man stepped into the premises of L Publishing House with a quiet hope blooming in his chest—that one of his works might finally be published again. Sirius Kim, a twenty-four-year-old writer, had been crafting novels since high school. In college, he pursued creative writing despite his parents’ strong objections. Still, he pushed forward, determined to prove that his dreams were not a mistake. “Good morning,” he greeted the receptionist with a polite smile. “Good morning, Mr. Kim. Do you have an appointment today?” the lady asked. She already recognized him—Sirius came here often. “Yes, with the Head Editor,” he replied. The receptionist nodded and told him to head to the second floor while she informed the secretary. Sirius obeyed and quietly made his way upstairs, settling into the waiting area. After a few minutes, the secretary finally called his name. Sirius stood and walked toward the Head Editor’s office. He gently knocked on the mahogany door. “Come in,” a soft voice answered from inside. He turned the doorknob and entered. “Have a seat, Mr. Kim,” the Head Editor instructed. Sirius sat on the empty chair beside the desk. “What will we be discussing today?” he asked with a small, hopeful smile. The Head Editor exhaled deeply before speaking. “I won’t beat around the bush, Mr. Kim.” Sirius already felt it—like he somehow knew what was coming. “The director decided to drop your novel.” His world shattered in silence. This wasn’t the first time. It was probably the fifth rejection or removal of his work. And yet, it still hurt the same. “Why?” Sirius asked, though part of him feared the answer. The Head Editor sighed. “Don’t take this the wrong way. Your work is good, but the boss feels it’s lacking impact. And your genre… it’s no longer appealing to the market. It’s not generating profit.” Sirius forced a small smile. “I understand.” He stood, bowed politely, and left the office. The moment he stepped out, he saw it—his novel’s promotional poster being taken down and replaced with another. A janitor was about to throw it away when Sirius quickly stopped him. “Kuya, can I have that instead?” he asked softly. The janitor handed it over without hesitation. At least… he could keep one memory of it. Sirius walked out of the building in silence, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. Another loss. Another failure. Another step away from his dream. And worse—another reason he couldn’t bring himself to go home. Not when all he’d hear were sharp words and disappointment from his parents. He had taken multiple jobs before, but nothing ever felt enough. His thoughts broke when a hand landed on his shoulder. “Hey. How are you?” Julius asked. Only then did Sirius remember—Julius worked nearby at L News Center as a reporter. “This one got rejected again,” Sirius replied flatly. Julius sighed and gently squeezed his shoulder. “Come on. There’s always a next time. Don’t give up so easily. You’re Sirius Kim—the guy who was always top of essays back in high school.” That earned a small, reluctant smile from Sirius. “Thank you,” he murmured. “Hey, that’s what friends are for,” Julius said, letting go. “Cheer up. There are still plenty of opportunities.” Sirius didn’t know what he would do without him. At least someone believed in him. “Come on, Edward’s waiting for us,” Julius added, suddenly pulling him along. “Wait—hey!” Sirius protested, but he was already being dragged toward a familiar restaurant. They used to hang out there all the time during high school and college. “Hey! Over here!” Edward called, waving enthusiastically. Julius finally released Sirius and went ahead to greet their friend. Sirius paused for a moment, a strange feeling brushing through him—like something in that place was tugging at a forgotten memory. “Sirius? You okay?” Julius asked. He blinked and shook his head slightly. “I’m fine.” He walked over and sat down beside them. “Oh, the 3D squad is here!” the waiter greeted cheerfully. “Same order as always?” Edward nodded immediately. “You know it already, kuya. Extra soup, please.” After lunch, they went their separate ways—Edward back to his detective work, Julius to the news center. Sirius, having nothing else to do, returned to his apartment. Since leaving his parents’ house, he had been living alone. He sat on his swivel chair, staring blankly at his computer screen. He needed to write a new novel—but his mind was empty. If only he could smash his head on the table and magically get inspiration. Then he remembered—he had posted online that he was open for commissions. Maybe a client would reach out. That hope alone kept him from spiraling completely. Hours passed. His stomach growled loudly, snapping him out of his thoughts. Night had already fallen. “Great…” he muttered. He checked the fridge—empty. He sighed. Grocery shopping had completely slipped his mind. Reluctantly, he grabbed his hoodie and wallet. He couldn’t afford to starve, even if he hated spending money. Locking his apartment behind him, he walked toward a nearby 24/7 store. He remembered the shortcut through an alley rumored to have robberies—but it was still early. He’d be fine. He quickened his pace. Thankfully, nothing happened, and he arrived safely. He bought a cup noodles and sat by the window while eating, his thoughts spiraling again. Then he saw it. A man running through the street—urgent, frantic. Something inside Sirius snapped. He quickly finished his food and followed him outside. He ended up back near the dark alley he had passed earlier. The man went deeper inside. Sirius hesitated… then followed. A scream shattered the silence. He froze. And in that moment, Sirius Kim witnessed something he would never be able to forget.