After school, the building was nearly empty. I stood in a quiet corridor near a closed classroom, my breath steady and my mind clear. I had already planned every move. Today, Kang Daehyun would pay for his arrogance.
I waited in the dim light, my fingers tight around the hidden knife in my pocket. Soon, I heard his heavy footsteps echoing down the hall. He turned a corner and walked toward a small, deserted area behind the school—a place we had agreed upon. His usual confident stride faltered for a moment as he saw me waiting, and he hesitated.
I stepped forward, my face calm and controlled. "Daehyun," I said in a quiet tone that carried no warmth, "you look like you need a break from all that noise." I offered a faint, reassuring smile, the perfect mask of concern.
He looked at me, uncertainty in his eyes. Before he could form a question, I moved with precise speed. I grabbed him by the collar and forced him against the cold, tiled wall. In one swift, clean motion, I pulled the knife free and drove it into his throat. The blade cut deep. His eyes widened in shock as bright red blood began to flow, staining his shirt and pooling on the floor.
I held him tightly so that he could not call for help. Every detail was exact—no wasted movement, no hesitation. His body convulsed for a moment, and then he went limp, the sound of his final breath swallowed by the empty hall.
For a few seconds, I simply stood there, listening to the silence that followed the act. Then, I wiped the blood from the blade with a piece of my own shirt, every move calculated and cold.
Later, when the news of the murder spread through the school, I played the role of the concerned student to perfection. I joined in the shocked whispers in the hallways and helped gather Daehyun's scattered belongings. My face showed just enough sorrow and disbelief to blend in with the rest, even as I carried the weight of my dark deed silently inside.
The chaos of the day—calls, whispers, and hurried glances—only confirmed that the trap had been set flawlessly. I had become the face of a tragic loss, while the true face of the monster remained hidden behind my perfectly crafted mask.