章節 8: Chapter 7
Chapter 7: The Game Begins
Y/N's routine had started to feel too predictable, too normal. She had convinced herself that the unexpected events of the past week—the rainstorm, the crash, and Namjoon's unsettling kindness—were nothing more than fleeting moments. She'd return to her life, and he'd return to his.
Except, he didn't.
It had become a silent ritual now. Every evening, without fail, Namjoon visited the convenience store. His presence had started to feel like a constant weight hanging over her, yet she couldn't figure out why she kept waiting for him. His visits, though brief, always stirred something within her—something she wasn't ready to acknowledge.
---
Tonight was no different.
The store was nearly empty when the familiar sound of the doorbell jingled, signaling his arrival. Y/N glanced up, her heart skipping a beat, before she could stop herself. She forced her focus back to the counter, but the feeling of his gaze on her never wavered.
Namjoon was standing there, as always, his imposing figure framed by the harsh lights of the store. His eyes met hers, and for the first time, there was something more in his look—something that felt like a silent question.
"Evening," he greeted her with his usual calm, but this time, there was a subtle shift. The cool, calculated CEO from before had softened, just a fraction. "How's your night going?"
Y/N kept her voice steady, though a nervous flutter swirled in her stomach. "Same old, same old."
A moment of silence stretched between them, thicker than the usual small talk. Namjoon seemed to be waiting for something. He wasn't in a rush to leave, not this time. His gaze lingered on her, his eyes sharp, but not unkind. Y/N shifted uncomfortably. Was he… studying her?
He broke the silence with a question that made her pause, not for its content, but for the quiet intensity behind it.
"Do you ever wonder how people see you?"
Y/N blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Uh, not really," she answered, unsure where this was leading. "Why?"
Namjoon's lips twitched slightly. "Just curious."
His casual response didn't settle the unease creeping up her spine. Why ask that? Why now?
She quickly pushed it aside, trying to act normal. "What can I get you tonight?"
He seemed to consider her for a moment before slowly stepping closer to the counter. "Just this," he said, placing a small bottle of water in front of her.
She scanned it in a routine motion, but something felt different. She felt as though every action, every glance, every word between them was somehow loaded with meaning.
Then, as she rang up his purchase, Namjoon surprised her.
"Y/N…" he said, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "If you ever wanted to escape for a bit—away from all of this… I could offer you that."
Y/N froze, her fingers pausing mid-air above the register. She looked up, meeting his eyes.
"I don't need anything from you," she said quickly, trying to keep the words light, brushing off the offer. But inside, a strange feeling gripped her. He had said it so easily, so casually, yet she couldn't ignore the weight behind his words.
Namjoon's expression didn't change, but there was a slight narrowing of his eyes, almost like he was challenging her. "Everyone needs a break, Y/N. Whether you admit it or not."
The words hung in the air, thick with unspoken meaning. Y/N had no idea why he was offering her this—or why she felt so conflicted about it.
Just then, the bell above the door rang, signaling the departure of a customer. Namjoon took a step back, his gaze lingering on her face for a beat longer.
"I'll see you tomorrow, then," he said softly, his voice cool but edged with something else.
It was too casual, too smooth. Y/N was left standing behind the counter, her pulse racing and her thoughts in turmoil. What had just happened? Why did it feel like something was happening right beneath the surface, something she couldn't grasp but couldn't ignore?
---
As Namjoon walked out of the store, the night air felt colder than usual. But it wasn't the weather—it was the growing tension within him.
He had given her an opening, a crack in the door, and for some reason, he felt more... alive than he had in weeks. Y/N was different from the women he was used to. She didn't need his wealth, didn't need his power. In a way, that made her more intriguing. She was a challenge, and Namjoon didn't back down from challenges.
He had his plan—use her, manipulate her, make her trust him, and in time, make her fall for him. She would be his perfect pawn in the game of revenge. But somewhere along the way, a part of him wondered—was she more than just a means to an end?
He had to push those thoughts aside. No distractions. Revenge was his only goal.
---
The following evening, Namjoon walked in again, and this time, he wasn't alone.
Y/N looked up to find him standing at the counter, a small, elegant box in his hand. It was strange—out of place in the otherwise mundane setting of the store.
"What's this?" she asked, her voice betraying a hint of surprise.
He smiled, a slow, almost enigmatic curve of his lips. "Something I thought you might like."
Y/N hesitated but took the box, carefully unwrapping it. Inside was a silver necklace, simple yet undeniably elegant.
She blinked, unsure of what to say. It was thoughtful—too thoughtful.
"I didn't ask for anything," she said quietly, not wanting to seem ungrateful. But a voice inside her whispered that something about this wasn't right.
"I know," Namjoon replied smoothly, his voice quieter now. "But I wanted to give it to you."
Y/N looked up, meeting his gaze, but this time, she couldn't read him. What did he want from her?
The words she wanted to ask caught in her throat, but she forced herself to smile. "Thank you, Namjoon."
Namjoon nodded, the faintest flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "Take care of yourself, Y/N. You never know when you'll need someone."
With that, he left, leaving Y/N holding the necklace, her thoughts spinning faster than ever.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票