The itch is growing stronger.
It started as a whisper beneath his skin, a faint hum in his bones. Now, it's a gnawing hunger, coiling in his gut, demanding release.
Seong Jiwon sits in class, watching the students around him with the same detached interest a scientist might have for lab rats. They talk, they laugh, they gossip—so predictable, so painfully dull. None of them know that behind his polite smiles and perfect posture, something is unraveling.
He needs to kill again.
Jiwon doesn't make impulsive decisions. His first kill was a success because it was planned to perfection. He won't let recklessness ruin the high he's chasing. The next one has to be deliberate.
He lets his gaze drift across the room, cataloging every student, assessing their value.
The Selection Process
Some are too quiet. Their absence would be noticed immediately.
Some are too socially connected. Too many people would ask questions.
Some are too insignificant. Killing them wouldn't be satisfying.
And then there's Kang Daehyun.
Jiwon's eyes settle on him, and something clicks into place.
Daehyun is everything Jiwon despises—loud, arrogant, entitled. He walks through the halls as if he owns them, tormenting the weak because he enjoys their fear. He's the kind of person who thinks power is something you're born into.
Jiwon knows better.
Power is something you take.
Daehyun is the perfect choice. He's strong enough that his suffering will be satisfying. Hated enough that people might celebrate his disappearance. And reckless enough that no one will suspect a thing.
Yes. Kang Daehyun will be his next victim.
The Art of Patience
Jiwon doesn't act immediately. He studies Daehyun, slipping into his orbit without raising suspicion. He notes his routines, his habits, his weaknesses.
He learns that Daehyun smokes behind the gym after school, away from cameras. That he sneaks out to clubs on weekends, often alone. That he trusts his own strength too much—too arrogant to be cautious.
Perfect.
Jiwon doesn't rush. He waits, refining the details, ensuring everything is in place.
Because when the moment comes…
It won't just be a killing.
It will be a masterpiece.