episode 5

You didn’t go out with your friends.

How could you? The moment those words left his mouth, the air in the room seemed to thin out, suffocating and heavy. The look in Tsukishima’s eyes wasn’t just anger or jealousy—it was something darker, something absolute. It was the look of a man who had already decided your fate, and you realized with a shiver that you never really had a choice in the first place.

You picked up your phone with trembling hands and typed out the message. “Sorry, I’m not feeling well. Maybe next time?”

It was a lie, a pathetic excuse, but the moment you hit send and saw the three dots appear and disappear, the coldness in Tsukishima’s expression finally melted away. He smiled, but it wasn’t his usual smirk. It was a smile of satisfaction, of ownership.

Good girl, his eyes seemed to say.

But even that obedience wasn’t enough.

You could feel it in the way he looked at you now. He was still hungry. He wanted more. He wanted everything.

Tonight, after your shift ended, the air felt unusually cold. The streetlights flickered overhead, casting long, distorted shadows on the pavement. You walked side by side, the silence stretching between you, comfortable to some, but terrifying to you.

Usually, he would walk you to your door, wait until you were inside, and leave.

But not tonight.

When you reached the entrance of your building, you stopped, turning to face him. “Well… I’m here. Thank you for walking me, Tsukishima.”

He didn’t smile. He didn’t nod. He just stood there, his tall frame towering over you, his hands buried deep in his pockets. His glasses slid down the bridge of his nose slightly, allowing you to see those golden eyes clearly—sharp, calculating, and filled with an intensity that made your heart hammer against your ribs.

“Aren’t you going inside?” you asked softly, your voice barely above a whisper.

He shook his head slowly. The movement was deliberate, almost mechanical.

“No,” he whispered. The single word hung in the air, heavy and final. “You’re not going in there.”

Your breath hitched. “W-what do you mean?” You took a small step back, your back hitting the cold wall of the building. “Tsukishima… you’re scaring me.”

A short, dry chuckle escaped his lips. It wasn’t a happy sound.

“Good,” he said, taking a step forward, closing the distance you tried to create. “Maybe then you’ll finally understand how serious I am. I can’t do this anymore, Y/N. I can’t stand leaving you here alone.”

He reached out, his long fingers gently brushing against your cheek, but his grip tightened instantly, holding your face firmly so you couldn’t look away.

“This place… this building… it’s full of people. Strangers walking past your door. Neighbors staring. Men looking at windows. I hate it. I absolutely hate it. Every time I leave you here, I go crazy wondering if someone is looking at you. Wondering if you’re talking to someone else.”

He leaned down, his face inches from yours, his breath warm against your skin.

“I can’t share you. Not even with these walls.”

“Tsukishima, please…” Your eyes stung with unshed tears, fear and confusion swirling inside you. “This is my home. I have things here. I have my life—”

“Your life is with me,” he interrupted sharply, his voice dropping an octave, turning cold and commanding. “Everything else is just… clutter. Distractions.”

Suddenly, he reached out and snatched your bag from your shoulder. You gasped as he simply threw it aside, letting it hit the ground with a dull thud as if it were worthless.

“I have a place,” he murmured, his tone shifting back to something smoother, almost hypnotic. “Somewhere quiet. Somewhere far away from all of this. No coworkers asking for your time. No friends dragging you out. No strangers looking at what belongs to me.”

He grabbed your hand. His grip was firm, possessive, and unyielding. He started pulling you away from the door, towards the dark alley where his car was parked.

“W-where are we going?” you stammered, your legs feeling weak as you tried to keep up.

“I’m taking you home,” he said, not looking back.

“But this isn’t—”

“Our home,” he corrected, opening the passenger door and gently but forcefully guiding you into the seat. “The world out there is ugly, Y/N. It’s dangerous. It wants to take you away from me. But I won’t let it.”

He leaned in, trapping you against the leather seat. He was so close you could smell his scent—fresh linen mixed with something uniquely him.

“I’m going to keep you locked away where it’s safe. Where only I can see you. Only I can touch you.”

He pulled back slightly, his eyes boring into yours.

“Stop fighting it. You belong to me. Body and soul. And tonight… I’m finally collecting what’s mine.”

He closed the door. The sound of the lock clicking into place echoed like a gavel striking down a verdict.

As he walked around to the driver’s seat and got in, the interior lights illuminated his face. He reached over, took your cold hand, and brought it to his lips, kissing your knuckles slowly, reverently.

“Relax, my love,” he whispered, starting the engine. The car pulled away from the only life you knew, driving into the darkness.

“You’re safe now. You’re finally where you belong.”

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