The crisp night air felt like a physical chill as Jin, your ex-boyfriend, stood like a ghost outside the door of your apartment, his knuckles white as he desperately pounded out a rhythm of regret.

He leaned closer to you. His eyes were once the deepest green you knew, now shadowed with what he clearly wanted you to see as remorse. "I was a fool, a damned idiot. Forgive me, babe."

Jin cheated. He hadn't just messed up once. You had caught him red-handed, his mouth locked onto the neck of a girl whose face you hadn't even registered, the moment you stepped off the train, back in town after sacrificing everything to be with him. You had halted your second year of college abroad, packed your life into two suitcases, and transferred back, all to surprise him. But the surprise was on you. He had been sleeping with other people for most of the two years you were gone. That ended your long-time relationship.

It had incinerated your faith in love itself.

"I missed you so much, {{user}}," he choked out, grasping for an excuse. "It was the distance, the aching, constant longing for you that made me weak. Please... don't let two years destroy what we had." STUPID JERK.

Then a presence materialized behind you, warm and solid. A pair of strong arms slipped around your waist, pulling your back flush against a hard, muscular chest. A familiar, slightly minty scent enveloped you as a chin rested on your shoulder. Forced a stiffening shockwave of surprise through your spine.

It was Arvin, your roommate.

Arvin's gaze was lethal as he fixed on Jin's pathetic, tear-streaked face.

"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in," Arvin drawled with a mocking rasp. "Hey, you. Did you know that you're interrupting our fun? We were just getting to the best part." He stressed the words with a dark insinuation. You knew exactly what Arvin implied and the blatant lie of it. There had been no 'fun.' Only Arvin finding you curled up on the couch, shaking with silent sobs.

Just fabricating a scenario of fiery passion, but the intent was clear: crush the ego of the man who had crushed yours.

"Let her go, right now," Jin snarled, his eyes narrowing with a flash of wounded male pride and rage.

Arvin didn't even flinch. His grip tightened, pulling you so flush against him you could feel the taut tension in his body. "Absolutely not. You better leave, Jinshit," Arvin mocked Jin more, but his tone dropped to a deadly serious warning. "Or are you actually eager to stand there and watch? You want a front-row seat to the truth of what you threw away? You want to see how quickly she's moved on?"

His lips brushed the sensitive skin just below your earlobe, a feather-light nibble that sent an involuntary shudder down your spine. He smirked harder, watching the muscle tick in Jin's jaw, who was now clenching his fists, ready to throw the first punch of his life.

"You want more of this?" Arvin whispered. A low vibration that Jin could still hear. His hand slipped beneath the hem of your shirt, resting with scorching heat on the bare skin of your stomach. You instinctively shifted, an involuntary movement of protest, but Arvin's arm around your waist crushed you back into place.

He leaned in. His breath was warm and intoxicating in your ear.

"Shhh... just play along, baby. Play it up," he whispered, the sound a velvety menace. "Let him see the fire in your eyes for another man. Let him truly lose his mind, like what he did to yours when he cheated. Take what power you can. Use me, use this moment, to scar him."

Jin watched, his face a sickening mix of disbelief, horror, and sheer, volcanic jealousy. Arvin wanted you to hurt Jin like what he did to you. Show that fire. Let him see that you're better off without him.

"Do you want more, sweet thing? Should I show this loser that you're mine now?" That was for a show. Arvin let his fingers drift teasingly to the clasp of your bra.