Redemption

"A Hallmark feature of psychopath's disorder is that they don't get bothered by much anything. They don't ruminate and they don't get depressed."

– Kent Kiehl

After the concert...

"Hah! That was very tiring. But also amazing." Ae-rin thought.

"Good work everyone. It was amazing. You are on trending right now." Thomas told them.

"Really!" They were shocked and shouted with happiness.

"Let's see what are the top searches then.".

As Ae-rin and her friends opened their phone. Something...

"Huh! What is this video that's been going viral." Rumi said.

—hmm...what video...

—wha...what? M-me with Eun-woo w-when did this happen."

"What? What happened? Are you okay Ae-rin?" Thomas asked with a worried face.

–t-this video... I-I have n-never done anything like this b-before. W-why would I sleep with Eun-woo...

All were very shocked to see. But what they saw, they can't deny it. Tears were pouring out of her eyes.

Thomas slowly approached her and asked, "Please tell me everything that you know."

***

–that day I was j-just going on my evening run. I was s-sitting at t-the park, that's when he approached me. I reacted as a ch-childhood friend would. H-he offered me a bottle of water. I was exhausted s-so I didn't th-think much and took a sip from it. W-when I was returning t-to my home, I-I felt very dizzy and I think I fell unconscious. Later I woke up at my room...

After she told everyone what had happened that day. Thomas gently rubbed her tears from her eyes and said, "Don't worry it'll be alright, we will see what we can do. So you go to your room and rest for now."

"Yeah, just do what Thomas said. We are all with you so don't worry it's going to be alright." They all said.

Everyone went to their rooms. Thomas helped her to reach her room.

"Kughh! Ahh! Mom, dad w-whay should I do now?" As she cried she hugged Thomas.

–its going to alright. Don't worry we are here for you.

He said with a sad face.

Thud! [Door closes]

After she went to her room and shut herself up inside the room. Thomas stood still infront of the door.

Tap! Tap...[footsteps]

He slowly left...

The next day..

***

"Hey Ae-rin, are you there? Open the door!" Ha-yoon asked.

But she got no response.

Inside her room...

Ae-rin was coiled up on her bed, covered with a blanket. She opened her phone and stared at it blankly. Her eyes showed no emotions. She opened her Instagram account.

[Sdeaa1 : what happened bitch! You wanted to get famous so you slept with Eun-woo

huh!]

[Ohsw3 : just fuckin' die you mother fuckin' whore]

[Yudasy : what happened you attention whore]

[Jackiy : poor Eun-woo that he got to meet someone like you.]

[Samy : just go kill yourself bitch]

[Dicku : code? Sauce]

[Lovelyyy : fuck you bitch die die die]

As she was scrolling down she thought, "Just what did I do wrong to get humiliated like this? I-its not my fault, it's all Eun-woo's fault...but why am I getting criticised. Eun-woo, did he only wanted my body."

Soon 2 days passed and Ae-rin has not come out of her room. Everyone is worried about her.

Thuck! Thuck!

"Hey Ae-rin, reply, it's not healthy for you to be alone. Come down to eat something, you haven't eaten for days..." Tears started to pour from Ji-a's eyes.

–Everyone is v-very worried about you."

Ha-yoon and Rumi came and tried to console Ji-a. They also called out for Ae-rin but she didn't answer, not a thing...

***

Later that night, at the rooftop...

"Ah! The sky is very cloudy today, looks it will rain...a perfect weather to murder someone. Because of the rain the blood gets washed up. Finding the body also becomes very very hard, all we have to do is just throw it in sewer or river. That way no evidence will be left. But one thing to keep in mind is to be careful when cleaning up evidences as footprints might be left as the soil will be wet."

–I wonder what that Eun-woo guy is doing? I never thought someone like him would interfere in my plan. If only I had that there was someone close to her then this mess wouldn't have happened.

Anyways it's still very fun to watch this way."

Thomas thought while gazing at the dark cloudy sky.

Later that night...

"Huff! Huff! Kughh! Why do you blame me? Why don't you blame him? Isn't it his fault? Why,why don't you all believe me?"

Even after posting many apologies and saying it wasn't her fault and about everything...it didn't change a thing.

"Humans are very greedy and imbecile creatures. They are hungry animals which crave for entertainment even in darkest moments. Hah! They try to be good, show gender equality, help those in need; it's nothing but a facade, through this they hide their real intentions and nature. A human can make others humans believe him and make them question their own nature, which in turn helps the other human to receive his goal: they call this human manipulators or psychopaths. All you need to do is show a good nature and make them that all you do is good things, you can never ever do anything bad; this makes them believe that you are never wrong even though you are wrong. Gaslighting, spreading propaganda are one of the most useful and effective ways in which a person can make a large amount of people into his own. Even Hitler used propaganda to share his schemes and people believed him since he was telling lies but truths. No matter how good you try to be, there will always be an evil awaiting for you in the deep depths of darkness."

–You know what I think,

Life is just a lie if you don't have someone to hate on, so hate him all you want to the point that you want to kill him...

Ae-rin stopped typing...

"No! I don't want to do that. I'll just die like all these creatures want. Thank you for everything you have done for me...

"If you die now, will it change everything? Will you be able to gain peace. Well how can you since you'll be dead; so why not help me in your last moments." Thomas told with a slight smile.

"You should come out of the room now, leave everything to me."

***

***

At an apartment in Seoul.

"Hahah! What happened, you scared? What happened to your apologies? Do you not want me?"

"Ring! Ring! Ring! [Phone ringing]

Click!

"Hello! "

"Hi! How are you doing dear Eun-woo, now that you have done what you intended to do with Ae-rin from the very beginning; how are feeling?"

"Who are you?" Eun-woo said in a rough voice.

"Oh me! Well you could say I'm your—friend~"

***

The next day...

Thuck! Thuck!

"Hey Ae-rin come out and see what is on the news. You will be shocked to see; come out." Ji-a shouted.

She slowly comes out of her room. She was like a completely different person. Her clothes and hair were messy, her eyes were all dark; like the bright sun has set, but a moon never rose. Her emotionless face said it all...

She hugged her and brought her to the living room. Everyone were there waiting for her.

[Big breaking news; a YouTuber named Eun-woo with more than 800k subscribers was found dead in his own apartment room. According to the witnesses, he jumped from the rooftop of the 15 floor apartment building. Hi fans are now in complete sadness and bade goodbye in his social media platforms. It is also found that he committed many crimes like kidnapping and murder. Also the case of idol 'Ae-rin' was done by him. The real victim was Ae-rin.]

As she heard this news she was shocked but inside she was a little happy. The glow on her eyes slowly returned. Thomas hugged her from behind and said,

"Didn't I tell you that you won't have to worry about anything. Now show me that shine of yours."

She started to cry and said, "I-I'm sorry everyone, I made you all worry for nothing. I-I'm very s-sorry."

"It's alright, at the end of the day what are friends for." They all replied as they hugged her...

***

"Yes, just shine like a star and full–fill your dreams. This is the least I can do for you." He thought and showed a beautiful smile as they all were happy, now that Ae-rin had somewhat recovered from it...