Chapter 5: Somebody is watching
840 Words
Kai started sleeping with the lights on.
It was stupid.
Childish, even.
But every time darkness filled the dorm room, his mind replayed those messages over and over until breathing became difficult.
Be careful around Manager Lee.
You looked uncomfortable tonight.
I'm watching.
Kai stared at the unknown number glowing on his screen while anxiety curled tightly inside his chest.
Nobody should know those things.
Nobody.
His members noticed nothing.
Of course they didn't.
Everyone inside the industry learned quickly not to notice too much.
Kai leaned back against the headboard and rubbed tiredly at his eyes. The dorm remained quiet around him while distant traffic lights painted faint colors across the ceiling.
His phone buzzed again.
Kai physically flinched this time.
Unknown Number.
Slowly, he opened it.
Ice your wrist before it bruises further.
His blood ran cold instantly.
Kai looked down.
A faint red mark circled his wrist beneath the sleeve of his hoodie where Manager Lee had grabbed him earlier during rehearsal.
Hidden.
Impossible to see unless-
Unless someone had been watching.
Fear crawled slowly beneath his skin.
Another message arrived.
Sorry.
I didn't mean to scare you.
Kai stared at the words silently.
Then another:
I just don't like seeing you hurt.
His chest tightened painfully.
Who was this?
A fan?
Staff?
Someone inside the company?
His breathing became uneven as paranoia slowly settled into his bones.
The messages continued over the next few days.
Never excessive.
Never openly threatening.
Which somehow made them worse.
Eat something after rehearsal.
You looked exhausted today.
Don't stay alone with him tonight.
Kai stopped eating properly after that.
He started checking reflections behind him unconsciously.
Watching crowds longer than necessary.
Double-locking doors.
During performances, his eyes drifted nervously across audience sections searching for something he couldn't explain.
Someone was always there.
Watching.
And the terrifying part?
They seemed to know him better than anyone else did.
-
"Kai."
He looked up immediately.
Manager Lee stood near the practice room doorway.
Smile sharp.
"You've been distracted lately."
"Sorry."
"Sorry isn't fixing it."
The older man stepped closer slowly while the rest of the members quietly avoided looking at them.
Nobody intervened.
Nobody ever did.
Manager Lee lowered his voice.
"Investors complained you looked tense at the dinner."
Kai swallowed hard.
"I'll do better."
"You will."
A hand gripped Kai's shoulder tightly.
Painfully.
Kai forced himself not to react.
Then suddenly-
CRASH.
Everyone startled.
One of the massive lighting stands near the back of the practice room collapsed violently onto the floor, shattering equipment beneath it.
Staff members immediately rushed toward the commotion in panic.
Manager Lee cursed and released Kai instantly.
Kai stepped backward instinctively, heart pounding.
The accident felt strange.
Too sudden.
Too perfectly timed.
His phone buzzed quietly inside his pocket.
Kai froze.
Slowly, he pulled it out beneath everyone's distraction.
Unknown Number.
Leave through the east exit after rehearsal.
His throat tightened.
Another message appeared immediately after.
Don't let Manager Lee follow you tonight.
Fear surged sharply through him.
This wasn't normal anymore.
This wasn't just a fan.
Someone was monitoring his schedules.
His movements.
His surroundings.
Kai looked around the chaotic practice room uneasily.
For one horrible moment, he felt trapped.
Like invisible eyes followed him constantly now.
-
Rain poured heavily outside by the time rehearsal ended.
Kai kept his hood low as he hurried toward the east exit exactly as instructed despite every instinct screaming not to.
This is insane.
Absolutely insane.
But fear and curiosity pulled him forward anyway.
The hallway outside remained empty.
Too empty.
Rainwater echoed softly beyond the back door leading toward the alley behind the building.
Kai's heartbeat thundered painfully in his ears.
Then-
A figure stepped from the shadows.
Kai stumbled backward immediately.
The stranger raised both hands slowly.
"Wait."
Kai froze.
Black hoodie.
Dark hair dampened by rain.
Familiar voice.
Familiar eyes.
Eli.
The boy from the river.
For several seconds Kai could only stare blankly while adrenaline still shook violently through his body.
Eli looked equally startled seeing him panic this badly.
"I didn't mean-"
"You?"
Kai's voice cracked.
Weeks of fear, exhaustion, paranoia, and sleepless nights crashed into him all at once.
"You've been sending those messages?"
Eli hesitated.
That tiny hesitation answered everything.
And suddenly-
Kai laughed.
A shaky, breathless sound bordering dangerously close to tears.
Relief hit him so hard it almost hurt.
Because all this time, Kai imagined:
dangerous men
blackmailers
obsessed sasaengs
company spies
But instead-
it was Eli.
The quiet boy from the bridge who bought instant ramen with him at 2AM.
Kai covered his eyes briefly, shoulders trembling faintly.
"I thought I was losing my mind..."
Rain poured softly around them.
Eli stared at him silently, something unreadable flickering across his expression.
Not satisfaction.
Something deeper.
Something frighteningly tender.
"I'm sorry," Eli said quietly. "I just wanted to protect you."
Kai lowered his hands slowly.
And for the first time since the messages started-
he felt safe.
That realization should have terrified him.
Instead, it nearly made him cry.
- Writer
