Love Candidate - The Serial Killer - Chapter 2

"Jimin," I whispered and placed my hand between our lips when his lips slightly grazed mine. He blinked at me in silence, so I exhaled and took a step back from him with a dejected expression.

"Jiyoung, please-"

"You can stay for the night, but you have to leave tomorrow," I gulped and hurried up the stairs before he could respond to me.

"Jiyoung- listen-" Jimin rushed up the stairs after me, but his voice was cut short when I slammed the door to my bedroom shut. Jimin rattled the door handle and tried to come in, but I locked the door and hurried into the bathroom to drown his pleading voice. Should I call Jungkook? It's past midnight though! Aish. I gripped my hair in distress and finally exited my bathroom when Jimin stopped knocking on my door, so I crawled onto my bed and collapsed onto the mattress. I twisted and turned on my bed when the heaviness within my chest wouldn't subside. Exhaling heavily, I stared at the ceiling in silence until my eyes dropped, and I fell asleep on the spot.

I woke up early in the morning when my annoying alarm went off, so I quickly got out of bed to get dressed, then hurried down the stairs in my usual outfit. I slowly walked into the living room and glanced around in confusion when I couldn't find Jimin anywhere. Did he leave? Shrugging, I strolled into the kitchen to search for food, only to remember I don't have any. So, I searched the cupboard until I found a single ramen pack hidden deep inside it.

"This should be enough," I muttered as I tore the package open and placed the ramen into a bowl after boiling the water on the stove. I added the ingredients and carefully poured the boiling hot water into the cup, then placed a plate over the lid to let the noodles soften. Sighing, I pulled out my phone to find a few texts from Jungkook.

Jungkook: I'm going to visit you today.

Jungkook: Do you have food at home? If not, I'll bring some food over.

Jungkook: Yah. Are you ignoring me?

I blinked at the texts, then lowered my fingers to type on the screen.

Me: Oh. Bring the food and drinks too. I need to tell you something.

I sent the message and glanced at the steaming ramen on my side when Jungkook immediately sent me another text.

Jungkook: I'll pick you up after your shift.

I exhaled after slipping my phone back into the pockets of my jeans, lifted the bowl and turned around to place it on the table but halted immediately-- when I found Jimin sitting at the table with his hand rested under his chin.

"Wae? Did I startle you?" Jimin questioned as I stared at him in disbelief.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned as I carefully settled the ramen bowl on the table.

"You took me inside," Jimin shrugged, glancing at his bandaged arms.

"You need to leave. This place isn't a motel," I exhaled and sat down on the opposite side of the table to stir my ramen. I didn't want to look at him, so I kept my eyes on the bowl.

"Thank you," Jimin weakly smiled as he watched me eat from across the table. I paused with my eyes on the soggy ramen.

"You don't have to thank me. We don't owe each other anything," I shrugged and slurped the ramen but halted when I noticed Jimin staring at my bowl with a hungry expression. I tried to take another bite, but I lost my appetite when he wouldn't stop staring, so I exhaled in frustration.

"Wae?" Jimin questioned when I pushed the bowl across the table and quickly got up.

"Eat and leave. I have to go now. Lock the door and keep the key in the usual place. Don't come back!" I snapped in irritation and tossed the house key across the table. I hurried out of my house before he could react and left him alone in my house.

"Why is he back!? Aish! I'm going crazy!" I whined in frustration while walking down the street in a hurry. I greeted my manager as soon as I arrived at the local goods delivery company and hurried inside to prepare for my workload.

You're probably wondering how a rich girl like me ended up working at the local company with minimal wages? Well, I ran away from home when I was nineteen and have been living by myself for four years now. Why did I run away, you may ask? I prefer not to go into details, but I hate my parents. I didn't grow up a happy kid, despite having all the materialistic things and privileges. So I ran away.

Ah? Jungkook? Our parents are close friends. We've grown up together since we first met when I was only three and he was four. He's only a few months older than me, so we agreed to be friends. Well, not until I caught feelings for him. Jungkook was sweet and kind toward me, so we dated for a short period, but it didn't last. We broke up but remained good friends. Young love. We only held hands and our relationship was pretty much platonic. We didn't even kiss.

Anyways, Jungkook stayed by my side even after I ran away from my parents. As a matter of fact, he was the one searching for me after I disappeared. He took me to his penthouse after he found me soaked under a rainstorm on the street and gave me food and warm clothes. I stayed with him for awhile, a few months. Then moved out to live at my father's old property. It was a house he used to reside in as a child, inherited from his parents. My father registered the estate as my property, so I had every right to live there. My mother and stepfather tried to reach me, but I refused to return, so they stopped bothering me for some time. I refused to go to school and decided to work instead because I didn't care much about my parents. They didn't give a shit about me either until now.

Until they need me to seduce their competitor's son to form a coalition with their business rival.

"Aigo! Take a break! You're working overtime again!" Ajumma suddenly smacked my butt, so I whined at her as I shoved the boxes into the truck.

"It's fine! If I don't carry this- You'll have to do it yourself! Your knee condition is worsening!" I playfully scolded ajumma as she sat down on the boxes to wipe her sweat.

"I know your back is aching! You keep on rubbing it! Go home! It's getting dark!" She snapped at me. I shook my head and headed inside the store to grab a bottle of water.

"Here. I'll help you close your store. Stop complaining and just raise my salary. I'll be beyond grateful," I smiled after handing ajumma the uncapped water bottle.

"Aigo. I wonder why you chose to work like this when you can live a comfortable life with your parents?" She shook her head at me. I chuckled and turned to look at the empty road when I noticed a black car pulling up by the sidewalk on the opposite street.

"Oh?" I muttered when the person stepped out of the car in his coat.

"Omo. He's really handsome," Ajumma stared at Seokjin with her eyes wide open as he crossed the street to approach us.

"Omo. Is he approaching us? Omo!" Ajumma gasped in excitement when Seokjin waved at me.

"What is he doing here?" I muttered and slowly got onto my feet.

"Hey," Seokjin smiled at me. I quickly grabbed his arm and dragged him aside to avoid ajumma's gawking eyes.

"Why are you here again?!!" I stared at him in shock.

"To see you, of course-"

"You don't have to see me every day! It's really uncomfortable!" I furrowed my eyebrows at him in shock.

"I'm here to pick you up for our date," Seokjin cluelessly blinked at me.

"Date? What date?" I scanned his face in confusion.

"Didn't my secretary contact you? I told him to inform you this morning," Seokjin furrowed his eyes at me. I quickly reached into my pocket and took out my phone but realized it was dead. Fuck.

"I'm sorry- I didn't know my phone was dead. I don't think we can go on a date today. I'm a bit... dirty," I shrugged, awkwardly glancing down at my dusty gloves and back at his neat clothes. Seokjin pursed his lips and scanned my face in silence before nodding at me.

"Well. I can reschedule the date, but since I'm here... I'll take you home," Seokjin offered as he placed his hand into his pocket.

"Neh? Ani! It's okay! I can get home by myself," I shrugged at him.

"You don't live in the safest neighborhood. I'm taking you home," Seokjin shook his head and suddenly walked off before I could respond to him. He went back to his car and got inside to wait for me. I stared at him in disbelief, then turned to look at ajumma to find her peeping at us through her store's window.

"I'll leave now~" I mouthed her awkwardly as I took off my gloves.

"He's really handsome! Go with him!" She excitedly waved at me, so I chuckled and turned towards Seokjin's car. He suddenly got out of the car, rounded it, and pulled the door open for me.

"You didn't have to..." I muttered awkwardly and slipped inside to buckle my seatbelt. Why is he acting so... nice? What is he? A fictional character from a romance book? Men like this don't exist in real life, but here he is... sitting right beside me.

"Did you eat yet? If not, I'll take you-"

"I ate already! You don't have to take me anywhere!" I blurt in panic. Seokjin awkwardly glanced at me and nodded as he drove down the street.

"Araso. I'm sorry if I'm making you feel uncomfortable in any way. It's just that I'm curious about you, so I asked my secretary to check your whereabouts," Seokjin shrugged.

"You don't have to pretend as if you care. I know you're only doing this because you want to benefit from my parent's business," I shrugged at him and glanced out the window.

"You're right. We're stuck in this situation because our parents want to benefit from one another. The Kim's group was never on good terms with your father's group. But what's the point of challenging one another when we can simply make peace and join forces to extend our influence in the industry?" Seokjin sighed at my words. He's well-educated.

"You realize I don't have a good relationship with my parents, right? That's why I chose to live this kind of life instead of staying with them? My family is not as perfect as they seem," I muttered with my eyes trained on my fingers.

"I know. I'm still getting to know you, and you're still getting to know me. I'm not going to pressure you into choosing this relationship. I will respect your decision but at least give it a chance," Seokjin exhaled as he pulled up into my street, and we finally came to a stop before my gate.

"Give what a chance?" I questioned, turning to look at him with my eyebrows raised.

"Love?" Seokjin slightly smiled at me. I stared at him in silence. How can a person be this warm? He doesn't feel real... at all.

"I don't believe in love," I exhaled. The car grew quiet as we sat staring at each other in utter silence. Seokjin is clearly taken aback by my statement.

"YAH! WHY DIDN'T YOU ANSWER MY CALL!" Someone knocked on the window, startling us. I quickly turned to find Jungkook glaring at me through the car window.

"I gotta go! Thanks for the ride!" I snapped my head back to Seokjin and quickly got out of the car.

"Anneonghaseyo," Seokjin got out as well to greet Jungkook.

"Jeon Jungkook," Jungkook greeted Seokjin.

"You guys seem close," Seokjin nodded at Jungkook as I stood by his side.

"He's my childhood friend," I weakly smiled at Seokjin. After a brief talk, Seokjin eventually left, so I turned to look at Jungkook awkwardly.

"Why didn't you answer my call?" Jungkook questioned with his eyes trained on Seokjin's car as he drove away from us.

"My phone died. I was supposed to go on a date with him," I shrugged.

"You really got into another man's car at night? Are you nuts?!" Jungkook bumped his shoulder into mine, sending me stumbling across the pavement. I turned to glare at him in irritation after regaining my balance.

"He might be my future husband for all I know-"

"But you shouldn't get into his car! We still don't know him! His parents used to be your parent's rivals! AH! YAH!" Jungkook snapped back at me but whined in pain when I smacked his arm and stomped towards the gate.

"You dragged me into this! You should be thankful!" I grumbled as I searched underneath the pot through the gap underneath the gate until I found my key.

"I said I'll pick you up! But you got into another man's car! What if he kidnaps you! The Kim's group is infamous for networking with mafias," Jungkook scolded me as I unlocked the gate and pushed it open.

"He left?" I muttered as Jungkook drove his motorbike through my gate to park inside my yard.

"Who left?" Jungkook questioned. He carried the bag in his hands and followed me inside the house.

"Oh, why didn't he turn off the lights-" I muttered when I strolled towards the living room. The lights are on.

"Yah! Answer me! Who- ah!" Jungkook gasped in shock when I suddenly halted, making him bump into me from behind. My eyes grew wide open in shock when I found Jimin sitting on the couch with his eyes trained on the television. Jungkook snapped his head towards Jimin and back to the television, then turned to look at me in confusion.

"You're home," Jimin smiled and sat up on the couch when he found us staring at him in bewilderment.

"What are you doing here!? I told you to leave!" I snapped at Jimin. Why is he still here?!

"I don't have a place to stay. I'll sleep on the couch-"

"What do you think you're doing?! How dare you show up here! Get out!" Jungkook snapped at Jimin in annoyance.

"Is this your house?" Jimin questioned with his eyebrows raised.

"No. But you don't deserve to be here! Leave now before I drag you out!" Jungkook glared at Jimin in anger.

"Jiyoung let me in though," Jimin nodded at me. I rubbed my nose bridge and turned to smack my head in disbelief.

"JIYOUNG!" Jungkook turned to glare at me with a disapproving look.

"I told him to leave- I didn't know-"

"GET OUT!" Jungkook roared angrily at Jimin and launched toward him. Jimin didn't react when Jungkook roughly grabbed his collar in rage.

"Don't tell me what to do," Jimin calmly stared at Jungkook's angered eyes.

"The audacity to return to her after dumping her for another woman? Hmm? Get the fuck out of here before I drag you out of this house," Jungkook glared at Jimin in anger until his arms trembled.

"Oh? And you think you deserve to be here after the night you left her alone with her fucking parents to see your stupid girlfriend? Hmm? Jiyoung almost died!" Jimin snapped back at Jungkook in anger.

"Hajima~ Stop arguing- Jungkook- What are you-" I gasped when Jungkook suddenly thrust Jimin back onto the couch and dragged me out of the living room.

"You're staying at my place from now on! Come on!" Jungkook hurriedly dragged me out of my house, so I tugged my arm back to resist him.

"This is my house. Stop," I sighed. Jungkook turned to stare at me in disappointment.

"Jiyoung. I know I did you wrong, but how can you let that asshole in your house!? Are you insane-"

"He was hurt yesterday! He collapsed- so I-"

"So you brought him into your house?! If he collapses, then leave him to die! It's not your responsibility! He deserves to rot in hell!" Jungkook seethed at me in shock. I exhaled and shook my head at him.

"He was hurt. I'm afraid he's gotten in trouble with the gangsters again-"

"So what? Why do you care? You know he's only here to manipulate you again! You should know it by now-"

"I know. I know. Calm down. I'll make him leave. I won't let him break me again, so trust me. He won't leave yet. We know him. But he will leave again. Eventually," I exhaled. Jungkook glared at my open door and followed me back inside to find Jimin munching on the fried chicken Jungkook bought for me.

"Thanks for the food," Jimin nodded at us as Jungkook warily glared at Jimin.

"I'm staying here tonight," Jungkook gripped his fists, stubbornly turning to glare at me.

"Jungkook-"

"I won't let you stay in the same house with this fucking asshole," Jungkook muttered and stomped into the kitchen. I shook my head in disbelief and walked up the stairs to wash up. I returned to the living room afterward to find Jungkook and Jimin glaring at each other in absolute silence.

"Can you guys please stop?" I mumbled, carefully sitting down between them to open the chicken package.

"I will call the police!" Jungkook threatened Jimin with his arms crossed, so Jimin scoffed and rolled his eyes at Jungkook's immature attitude.

"What did I do wrong, Mr. Policeman?" Jimin mocked Jungkook with a pouty expression until Jungkook's face turned bright red.

"You broke into her home-"

"No, I didn't," Jimin interrupted and lifted the cup to drain the beer. Jungkook snapped his head towards me with a disappointed glare. He was about to say something when his phone vibrated, so Jungkook got up with his fierce eyes trained on Jimin as he walked out of the room.

"You should leave," I sighed and turned to look at Jimin.

"You forgave him because he's your best friend, huh?" Jimin nodded at me with a sulky expression while poking the fried chicken with his chopsticks.

"It wasn't his fault. Stop bringing-"

"If I didn't go to you that night- What would have happened? Hmm?" Jimin exhaled, turning to look at me with his angered eyes, making me purse my lips at his sudden confrontation. I turned to find Jungkook talking on the phone at the front door, then turned back to Jimin.

"I'm thankful. I can never repay you for what you did for me, but... I'm tired of this. I'm tired of us. Let's end it here," I shook my head at him just as Jungkook returned to the living room.

"Come here," Jungkook muttered and dragged me upstairs without explaining himself, so I quickly followed him with a baffled expression.

"What's the matter-"

"My girlfriend called to meet up, but it doesn't matter. I'll give you two options. You either leave with me to stay at my penthouse, or I call the police to drag that asshole out of your house," Jungkook turned to look at me with an uptight look.

"Go and see your girlfriend, she must be waiting," I smiled at Jungkook.

"Yah! I'm serious- I don't trust that jerk-"

"I'll deal with him. Go. I'll talk to him. I promise," I exhaled heavily. Jungkook rubbed his nose and turned to exhale at the wall with his hands on his hips in irritation.

"Fine. If something happens. Call me," Jungkook nodded in difficulty and quickly stormed back down the stairs.

"Leaving already?" Jimin smirked. Jungkook stopped dead in his tracks at Jimin's words, sideways turning to glare at Jimin's smug expression.

"Touch a strand of her hair, and I'll snap your neck," Jungkook snarled before striding off. I closed the front door after Jungkook left with his motorbike and turned to find Jimin pulling on his jacket.

"We need to talk- Where are you going?" I questioned as Jimin slipped on his sneakers.

"I'm going to grab a few drinks. Let's talk when I return," Jimin smiled. He suddenly leaned forward to peck my cheek before striding out of my house, leaving me paralyzed beside the front door.

"Where's the key-"

"I'll lock the door~" Jimin lifted the key in his hand and left with it before I could stop him, so I smacked my head in distress and walked into the living room to wait for him. However, Jimin didn't return that night, so I eventually fell asleep on the couch waiting for him- BUZZ BUZZ. I quickly reached into my pocket when I felt my phone vibrating.

"Mohyah?" I whispered while blinking at the bright phone screen with my eyes half-open.

Unknown Number: Good morning Ms. Jiyoung. I am Kim Seokjin's personal secretary. I'd like to inform you your first date is scheduled today at 5:00 AM. Please be ready by 4:30 AM.

"Huh? Is he out of his mind? A date at 5:00 AM in the goddamn morning?" I grunted and collapsed back onto the couch to rub my face but accidentally fell asleep again until my phone vibrated. I quickly answered the phone and pressed it against my ear to receive the call.

"Yeoboseyo?" I grunted with my eyes closed.

"Good morning Ms. Jiyoung. Are you prepared for the date? I'm waiting outside your house," The secretary answered. I didn't respond and slowly closed my eyes again when it suddenly struck me, so I quickly sat up with my eyes wide open.

"NEH? YOU'RE HERE- WHAT- HUH? What the fuck?! This is crazy!" I quickly scrambled across the floor and rushed towards the door. I swung it open to find the secretary waiting outside the gate by his car. He turned to look at me and slightly waved, so I scoffed at him with my mouth hanging open.

"Fuck! What's the matter with him!? Aish! It's 4:30 AM!" I groaned after slamming the door shut and rushed up the stairs. I hurried into my room to get changed and quickly dashed down the stairs when the door suddenly opened and Jimin appeared.

"You're heading out? At this time...?" Jimin halted to look at my dress, then turned to eye the clock in confusion.

"Oh! I have an important interview today- Oh! And let's talk after I return!" I rushed past him while pulling on my short heels in a hurry.

"Wait-" Jimin caught my arm when I tried to close the front door, so I turned to look at him in confusion.

"Jimin, I really don't have time-"

"Do you have 20000 won? The fridge is empty," Jimin questioned. I pursed my lips at him and eased my body at his words. He's broke?

"Oh- Yeah. Here- I'll see you later," I nodded while digging into my purse, then pushed two 10000 won notes into his hand before rushing out of the house. I flung the gate open and toppled onto the pavement, so the secretary held the door open for me as I scrambled inside the backseat.

"Are you wearing that for the date?" The secretary turned to look at me from the driver's seat as I buckled my seatbelt. I halted and looked at him in confusion.

"Was there a dress code?" I awkwardly questioned him. He bitterly eyed my dress and turned to the steering wheel to start the engine after checking the time on his watch.

"It's okay. Good thing I came prepared," The secretary shrugged and drove forward. I stared at him in confusion but fell hushed as we passed through the empty city. I accidentally fell asleep during the ride and was awakened by the secretary when we arrived. Stumbling out of the car, I sleepily turned to look at the dark woods while rubbing my eyes- Woods? Huh? I blinked in confusion and turned to stare at the forest around me in utter shock when I realized we were in the middle of who knows where.

"Why are we- in the forest?" I whispered as I turned around to look at the dirty path. The secretary didn't answer me as he rounded the car to open the back trunk. I gripped my dress in fright as I watched him bend over to search for something. FUCK. WHAT IF HE KIDNAPPED ME?! WHY AM I IN THE FOREST!? WHY ELSE JIYOUNG? DON'T YOU SEE IT IN THE MOVIES!? THE SERIAL KILLERS ALWAYS BRING THEIR VICTIMS TO AN ISOLATED PLACE TO MURDER THEM!

"No way..." I whispered in horror, frantically snapping my head towards the secretary in panic as he dug into the trunk. I need to get out of here! I quickly turned to scan the dark forest as I cautiously backed away from the car with my frightened eyes trained on the secretary. Crack. I accidentally stepped on an empty bottle. The secretary snapped his head towards me from the car, so I froze in place until I felt my own heart thumping against my chest.

"Miss. What are you-"

"ARGH! HELP! HELP! HELP!" I screamed in panic and turned around to sprint in the opposite direction when THUD. I collided hard into someone, and we both tumbled onto the rough gravel ground. I groaned in pain when I suddenly felt a firm grip on my forearm, so I screamed in fear and punched the person in the face.

"GO AWAY! AH! LEAVE ME ALONE-" I frantically smacked the person with all my might until he collapsed onto the ground.

"OW! JIYOUNG-SHI! IT'S ME! KIM SEOKJIN!" The man screamed under me. I immediately halted in shock when I found Seokjin... laying beneath me with his hand clasped over his bleeding nose.

"What- Are you- uh-"

"Boss! Are you alright!?" The secretary gasped and rushed up to us with a concerned expression as I sat on Seokjin with my dirty dress and messed-up hair.

"I'm fine- Are you alright?" Seokjin grunted as he pushed himself up into a sitting position while I remained frozen on his thighs with my fists clenched. I glanced at the secretary as he settled a pair of sneakers down on the ground beside us.

"What the hell-" I whispered, turning to look at Seokjin as he rubbed away the fresh blood from his nose.

"Did you have a nightmare during your nap?" Seokjin questioned, averting his puzzled eyes to mine. I blinked at him and turned my head to the side when a couple of other vehicles pulled up on the gravel opening, and a few middle-aged people stepped out in their sportswear. They eyed us awkwardly before jogging up the hill, so I blinked and turned back to Seokjin in confusion.

"Where are we-"

"We're at the national park. I wanted to go hiking with you," Seokjin mumbled. What? Hiking? This place- I froze when my eyes landed on the texts engraved on the massive rock.

BUKHANSAN NATIONAL PARK.

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Another update!!? Yes! I'll be posting as frequently as possible before my break ends so you'll get many updates for sure! <3 I really don't know what to expect from this story but I'm working on the characters and storyline so... I hope it'll suit your expectations! I'll introduce the remaining characters soon~~~ please wait a little! <3