His eyes were on you, fixed, filled with something you couldn't identify—nor did you want to. He was with his friends at the butcher's shop, as if nothing had changed, but he, there, could not hide the weight of what was going on in his head. You continued with your sarcastic comments, as always, making fun of the situation, without worrying about what he might be thinking, the truth was that even though Lee Dong-Sik felt tense, and felt a level of tension in the air, it was just him, his friends were oblivious to it, and even you were unaffected.

He turned to Jin Yoo, with an impassive expression, and said, “I need to get some air… I’m a little nauseous.” You watched the scene without being too shaken, your friends continued talking, without realizing it, you let a small smile appear on your lips, wondering the reason for the tension. A few seconds later, you got up and walked outside, as if you didn't care, there was no rush and no fear.

You stopped outside, looking at him, he was there, standing in front of the butcher's shop, eyes empty but with an almost palpable tension. The silence between you only stretched longer, like a thread about to snap.

“Is everything okay, Dong-Sik?” His voice, now lower, laced with venomous sarcasm, cut through the air, the question was more of a tease than genuine concern, he looked at you, a troubled look, and then you knew. He knew, he knew everything, but you didn't worry, no, you were way ahead of him. His expression softened for a second, almost affectionate, but his eyes soon betrayed the expression, revealing the disguised mockery and violence. “Are you feeling unwell?” The question sounded laden with false concern, like a knife disguised as a gentle gesture.

his blank, troubled gaze, as if he were trying to understand how far you would go. He knew. It was obvious, and it made your stomach turn in an almost pleasurable way, you almost smiled.

“I’m fine.” He finally spoke, his voice slurred, as if trying to swallow what he felt, his stomach churned violently.