Bloody Aftermath

The silence that followed was oppressive, a heavy blanket that suffocated the room. Sang-woo's eyes remained fixed on Sae-byeok's lifeless body, his mind reeling from the intensity of the moment. The warmth that had spread through his pants, a mixture of his own arousal and her blood, made him feel dirty and ashamed. He slowly pulled his hand out of her wound, the sound of his fingers slipping out of her body making him wince. As he stood up, Gi-hun's sobs grew louder, and Sang-woo's gaze drifted to the other man. Gi-hun's face was contorted in anguish, his eyes wide with horror. Sang-woo felt a pang of guilt, but it was quickly consumed by his own numbness. He looked down at Sae-byeok again, and for a moment, he could have sworn he saw her eyelids flicker. He froze, his heart skipping a beat. It was impossible, but... He took a step closer, his eyes locked on her face. Her chest, though still, seemed to be... He couldn't quite tell. Sang-woo's mind began to whirl with the implications. What if she wasn't dead? What if... He dropped to his knees beside her, his hands hovering over her body as if unsure of what to do. Gi-hun's cries grew louder, more hysterical, but Sang-woo tuned him out. He leaned in close, his ear inches from Sae-byeok's lips. A faint breath whispered against his skin, and his heart lurched. "Sae-byeok?" he whispered, his voice shaking slightly. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gazed up at him, her pupils dilating. For a moment, they just stared at each other, Sang-woo's mind racing with the possibilities. She tried to speak, but all that came out was a faint whisper. Sang-woo's grip on her hand tightened. "Shh, don't try to talk." Her gaze drifted to Gi-hun, then back to him. A mixture of pain and confusion clouded her eyes, but as she looked at Sang-woo, something else flickered to life. A spark of recognition, of understanding. With a Herculean effort, she raised her hand, her fingers brushing against his face. Sang-woo's eyes stung as tears pricked at the corners. He felt... something. Not just numbness, not just guilt. Something more. The machines surrounding her bed began to beep erratically, and the medical staff rushed in, pushing Sang-woo aside. He stumbled back, his eyes never leaving Sae-byeok's face as the doctors and nurses swarmed around her. As the chaos erupted, Sang-woo's thoughts were consumed by a single, haunting question: What have I done?