TELL ME YOU WILL STAY (b×b)

The pulse of the Eclipse was intoxicating. Strobe lights danced over the crowd, illuminating faces lost in the haze of music, alcohol, and something darker. It wasn’t Donghyun’s scene, but he had a job to do. Dressed in a black hoodie and ripped jeans, he blended into the crowd as much as someone with his sharp, observant eyes could. He moved through the club with purpose, scanning for signs of illicit activity—hidden exchanges, suspicious characters, anything that might confirm the rumors surrounding Eclipse. It wasn’t long before he noticed the bouncers. Large, intimidating men sweeping the floor like hawks. Donghyun avoided their gaze, slipping toward a door marked Employees Only. He pressed his ear to the door, listening for voices on the other side. “Nothing yet,” he muttered under his breath, pulling out a small device to plant on the doorframe—a bug to catch conversations he might miss. Just as he leaned closer to fix the device, a voice cut through the music behind him. “You lost, buddy?” Donghyun froze, his heart dropped to his throat. Turning slowly, he found himself face-to-face with one of the bouncers—a mountain of a man with arms crossed over his chest. “Just looking for the bathroom,” Donghyun said smoothly, trying to keep his voice casual. The bouncer’s eyes narrowed. “Bathroom’s on the other side of the club. You don’t belong here.” Donghyun nodded and stepped back, but the man didn’t move. Before Donghyun could react, a hand clamped down on his shoulder, and another bouncer appeared. “Boss wants to see you,” the second man said, his tone leaving no room for argument. Donghyun although could easily bring those mens on their knees didn't fight back. He knows his purpose well. They dragged Donghyun straight towards the VIP section, towards a man scanning the crowd while sipping his wine "Sir he was found peaking around" the bouncer said with a loud tone. "Where do you think you were going?" The men asked. Donghyun stiffened, looking strong to face the voice. His breath caught in his throat when he saw the familiar face sitting before him—one he hadn’t seen in years but would never forget. Kim Minwoo. For a moment, everything else in the room faded into background noise. The music, the chatter, the flashing lights—they all became distant, replaced by the rush of memories that flooded Donghyun’s mind. Minwoo had changed, of course. The soft, Cry baby boy from high school was gone, replaced by a man who radiated power and danger. Donghyun’s heart skipped a beat. Minwoo. “You?” Minwoo said, his voice a low rasp. Flashback of everything donghyun did to Minwoo starts playing in front of his eyes like an old movie, Minwoo knuckles turned white as he tightened his grip around the wine glass he was holding. Minwoo spend all these year hating only one men - Cho Donghyun “Long time no see? ” Minwoo asked, getting up, stepping closer. His voice was dangerously calm, as though he was deciding whether to strike. Donghyun’s chest tightened, but he held Minwoo’s gaze. Donghyun replied, his voice steady despite the storm brewing inside him. “I’m here to do my job.” The tension thickened as Minwoo’s eyes turned cold. "Work?" Judging by Donghyun's look Minwoo turned to one of his men. “Check him.” Donghyun tried to resist, but he couldn't take his thoughts off Minwoo, a strong hand grabbed him and started patting him down. The small recording device was found quickly. Minwoo held it up, his smile turning darker. “Investigating huh?” Minwoo mused, his gaze never leaving Donghyun. “You never learn, do you?” Donghyun clenched his fists at his sides. “I’m here to investigate about—” Minwoo leaned in, his voice dangerously soft. “what are you? A hero? Which you failed to become years ago? Cho Donghyun or Detective Cho” Donghyun swallowed hard. The room felt like it was closing in around him. His body feels weak in front of Minwoo. He was caught by someone he always wanted to apologise to someone he can't fight back. He never thought the density would play this dirty with him. Minwoo turned to the men standing behind Donghyun, his eyes cold and calculating. “Take him to the back. I’ll deal with him later. THE CAGE Donghyun’s head throbbed as he lay on the cold concrete floor, blindfolded and his hands tightly bound behind his back. The darkness was suffocating, the absence of sight only amplifying the feeling of helplessness. He struggled against the ropes, trying to twist his wrists free, but the bonds were tight. Sweat drenched his shirt, his breath shallow as the tension in his body built up with every passing second. His mind was in chaos. Minwoo.....Minwoo was in front of me? The room felt like it was closing in on him. His thoughts drifted back to the past—back to the moments when he had been nothing more than a cruel, selfish bastard. Minwoo... Donghyun squeezed his eyes shut beneath the blindfold, trying to block out the memories, but they came flooding back, one after the other, relentless and unforgiving. He could still see Minwoo's face—the innocent boy who had trusted him. The boy who had believed Donghyun's lies. He had used Minwoo. Played with him. Pretended to love him, just to watch him break. He could still hear the sound of Kang Soo Hyun's slap—the sting that had echoed in Minwoo’s face as the entire school watched. What have i done? The door creaked open, and Donghyun froze, his heart hammering in his chest. He strained his ears to catch any sound, any clue as to who was entering. Then, he heard it—the unmistakable sound of footsteps he could never forget. His voice cracked as he whispered the name he had never dared to utter aloud for so many years. “Minwoo?” There was a pause, a heavy silence that made Donghyun’s chest tighten. Then, a cold, mocking laugh echoed in the room. Donghyun’s heart clenched painfully in his chest. He wanted to apologize, wanted to explain himself, but the words wouldn’t come. He could only lie there in the darkness, helpless, as Minwoo’s footsteps drew closer. “Minwoo...” Donghyun whispered again, more desperately this time, the weight of his regret sinking in. “Yeah, it’s me,” Minwoo’s voice came, dripping with sarcasm. He took a few steps closer, his presence filling the room with an air of danger. The blindfold was suddenly yanked off, and Donghyun squinted against the harsh light. His eyes watered, struggling to adjust to the brightness, but there, standing above him, was Minwoo. The man he had wronged so terribly. Minwoo was still as handsome as ever, but there was something darker about him now. He wore a sharp suit, his posture rigid, as though he was a different person entirely. A far cry from the fragile boy Donghyun had once known. “Look at you. All tied up, desperate, and helpless. Funny, this is how I used to feel every day in high school. But now... Now, the roles are reversed, aren’t they?” Minwoo waved his hand dismissively, signaling for the men to leave them alone. They obeyed, leaving Donghyun laying, weak and defeated, before Minwoo. The door clicked shut behind them, and for a moment, the two men were alone, the silence between them oppressive. Minwoo’s eyes narrowed as he took step closer, his tone turning even colder. “You know, I always wondered—why did you do it? Why destroy me like that? Was it because you were bored? Or maybe it was just a game to you, wasn’t it?” Donghyun’s chest tightened as he tried to swallow his guilt. He was still in the dark about the consequences of his actions, but standing here now, in the presence of the man he had once torn apart, he knew just how deep the damage went. “Why did you do it?” Minwoo asked, his voice low, almost dangerous. “I was... I was a fool,” Donghyun finally choked out, his voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t know what I was doing, Minwoo. I didn’t think it would... It would get this far.” Minwoo let out a bitter laugh, stepping back as if Donghyun’s words disgusted him. "You have no idea how glad — happy I'm to see you Minwoo, I was searching for you every where, everyday, to..... apologise to you" Minwoo’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “How can you be happy to see your death right in front of you donghyun?”Minwoo slipped his sleeves up showing his old scars of self harm. stepping closer, his voice dropping into a low whisper. “ I'll make you live the hell i lived" Minwoo stood at the door, looking at Donghyun one last time before giving a cold, dismissive wave of his hand. "Keep him in there. Make sure he stays weak, under control. He’s not going anywhere until I say so." His men nodded, and Minwoo turned away without another glance, leaving Donghyun alone in the small, dimly lit cage. The door slammed shut behind him. Donghyun shivered as the thought crossed his mind. It wasn’t just the cold that made him tremble—it was the realization that Minwoo had no mercy for him now. I deserve this. Suddenly, the door to the room creaked open, and the faint sound of footsteps signaled the return of Minwoo’s men. Donghyun’s head snapped up, Donghyun’s chest tightened as he struggled to breathe as one of the men held his head still pulling his hairs He could feel something sharp being injected into his arm—cold, sterile, and invasive. He wanted to scream, to fight back, but his body felt sluggish, weak. The needle was pushed deeper, and the cold fluid coursed through Donghyun’s veins, making him feel like he was drowning in the darkness of his own mind. His mouth was dry, his throat tight, but even the simplest of movements seemed impossible. He couldn’t fight it. He couldn’t even escape his own mind. I’m sorry, Minwoo. I’m so sorry. But the words never made it past his lips. The drug was too strong, his body too weak.