It was a usual day for Kang Daesung.

He woke up at the time he usually did, which was eight in the morning sharp. His usual routine consisted of running down the stairs, eating breakfast with his mother and father, and then doing whatever he wanted after. He received the usual, "At least study for two hours," from his father, to which he did obediently.

Kang Daesung never stepped a foot out of line.

That day, however... everything changed.

Daesung hummed to himself as he brushed his teeth, making sure to thoroughly clean his mouth. He rinsed his mouth quickly, smiling at his reflection in the mirror. A brown haired teen stared back at him with a slightly large nose, closed eyes, and wide smile. Daesung was pretty confident in himself, though. He knew looks didn't define a person, and he definitely wasn't going to let it define himself.

He let out a small fist pump, whispering "Fighting" to himself. Plastering on a bright expression, he glanced at the clock. It was currently five, so he was free to do what he wanted.

Rushing down the staircase, Daesung saw his mother and father on the couch whispering to each other. He saw them speak lovingly to each, and almost gagged in disgust. Ew, did not want to see this, He thought as he inched toward the front door.

Unfortunately, he didn't go unnoticed by his mother.

"Daesung!" She stood up abruptly as soon as she saw Daesung's hand on the doorknob, face flushed and obviously embarrassed that Daesung had seen them like that. "Wh-Where are you off to?"

"Well, I studied for two hours, finished my schoolwork, and read, so I was hoping to go hang out with Hyunseung..." Daesung admitted to her hopefully, giving her the puppy eyes that could soften anyone's heart. She immediately faltered from her hard stare, which left Daesung's father to step in and take charge.

He and Daesung locked eyes, with the latter swallowing his saliva nervously. Daesung's father spoke first. "Did you study?" He asked firmly, eyes watching Daesung's face for any lies.

"Yes, father," Daesung replied confidently, "I studied for two hours and thirty minutes, as you suggested."

"You're free to go," Daesung's father gave his son a frown, which the younger man returned with an awkward and relieved smile, "remember to come back before eight."

Daesung nodded enthusiastically, pulling his mother into a hug. She patted his cheek, pointing a finger. "You be good," She reminded him.

"I promise," Daesung laughed, "nothing bad will happen, gosh."

...Wrong.

Poke.

Poke.

Poke.

Daesung aggressively poked the doorbell button ten times, bored with waiting. His friend, Hyunseung finally answered, an annoyed look across his young features. "Dae," He smacked his friend's hand from the button, "one time pushing it would have sufficed."

The brunette snickered amusedly, cradling his hand. "Couldn't help myself, sorry."

"Just get in," Hyunseung rolled his eyes, pulling the other man inside. Daesung was greeted with the aroma of food, mouth watering. He hadn't eaten since lunch at noon, and it was close to seven... "I'm not done with cooking yet," Hyunseung informed Daesung as he shut his front door, carefully locking it.

"It's fine," Daesung replied brightly, "I can wait."

He plopped down on the comfy couch, flipping through channels to find something that would catch his interest. He watched the preview for an upcoming drama, the plotline actually quite intriguing. Mental note: watch The Innocent Man, Daesung nodded. He was planning on using the washroom when he heard Hyunseung make a small yelp.

Hurrying toward the kitchen, he found the younger man glaring at a knife and his bloody hand. Daesung blinked. "Uh, Hyunseung...?" He stepped into the tiled room, eying the fellow teen's bleeding hand.

"Daesung," Hyunseung raised an eyebrow, "why'd you come in here? Me getting cut is no big deal. You don't have to be all worried."

Daesung shook his head, insisting on seeing Hyunseung's wound. It was just one on his index finger, a little deep but obviously not that painful. It was overflowing uncontrollably, which was odd since it was such a small cut. Daesung accidentally got some blood on his own hand, but he didn't give it any attention. "I'll get a bandage for that," Daesung informed him, setting off to find the first aid kit stashed in Hyunseung's washroom.

He found it and opened the bathroom door. Placing a hand on the counter to balance himself, he crouched down to find the bandages through the counter. Luckily, there was some stashed in the first drawer, and Daesung grasped one. Noticing that his hand was covered in blood as well, Daesung hurriedly washed it in the porcelain.

Hyunseung was still in the kitchen, running his hand over warm water in the sink. The younger man turned when he saw Daesung go in, wiping his hand off with a nearby tissue and throwing it away. "Here," Daesung opened the bandage's package, "I'll put it on for you." He gently put it over the cut, before smiling. "There! All done!"

"Thanks, Daesung," Hyunseung said gratefully, curling his finger after Daesung had applied the bandage, "I'm actually done cooking, I just accidentally cut myself while putting the stupid knife into the sink to wash it."

"So...that means we can eat, right?" Daesung muttered hopefully, glancing at the steaming rice cooker and rubbing his stomach pitifully. Hyunseung chuckled, nodding his head. "Yay~," Daesung cheered, hurrying to set the table.

After they ate, Daesung almost had a panic attack when he saw the time. His eyes widened as he saw the blaring green light that read "7:46" on Hyunseung's clock. "Oh no," Daesung stood up abruptly, panic etched throughout his face, "father's going to be pissed if I come home late..."

"Wait, Daesung," Hyunseung called out as Daesung searched for his jacket. The brunette turned to his friend, who held a cardboard package in his arms. Daesung raised an eyebrow, but Hyunseung continued on. "I need you to drop this off at the post office."

"But they're not even open right now," Daesung paused, "at least I don't think so. But do I really have to?"

Hyunseung nodded quickly, holding out the box for him to take. "Please, I really need you to do this for me."

Daesung groaned, but took the item tightly in his grasp. "Fine, fine." He grabbed his jacket, slipping it on. "But you owe me, y'hear?" Daesung turned to him, pointing a finger.

"Yeah, see you later!" Hyunseung grinned as he waved Daesung goodbye. Daesung shut the door, stepping out into the chilly night air with the box in his arms. He yawned as he walked off, oblivous to watching eyes...

Police sirens.

They blared throughout the small city, and Daesung worriedly glanced around. He had just dropped off the box that Hyunseung gave to him, and was hurriedly heading home. It was already past eight, which meant that Daesung was inevitably screwed and going to get a thorough talking to from his parents for arriving late.

More police sirens sounded again, and Daesung really wondered what had happened.

And then his phone rang.

He pulled it out of his pockets, not too surprised that it was his mother calling him. And it turned out he had a lot of text messages from people. He abruptly wondered why his phone didn't vibrate, but just decided to focus on listening to the lecture he was about to obviously receive.

"Mom?" Daesung asked as he accepted the call, ready to listen to the speech and hurry home to the comfort of his bed.

"D-Daesung-ah..."

He froze. His mother was crying. Did something horrible happen? Did something happen to his father? That would make sense as to why the entire city had police sirens blasting throughout it. "M-Mom, what happened?" Daesung inquired worriedly, pressing the phone closer to his ear.

"I-It's Hyunseung-ah," His mother sobbed, "I know ―"

"What happened?!" Daesung demanded, horrified. He had just been at his best friend's house less than an hour ago, and apparently something terrible had occurred after he left. Hyunseung can't be dead, Daesung thought blankly, not Hyunseung, please...

"Dae," His mother cried into the phone, her shaky voice apparent, "give it up!"

"Give what up?" Daesung wondered aloud, eyebrows furrowed. "What's wrong with Hyunseung?! What happened?! Tell me!"

"I know ― we know," His mother sniffled slightly, her voice becoming more and more difficult to understand, "we know that you tried to kill Hyunseung."

Daesung's phone almost slipped from his grasp as soon as heard those words.

"Wh ―" He tried to process those words thoroughly. "We know that you tried to kill Hyunseung" replayed through his mind again and again. Daesung didn't know how to react ― okay, Hyunseung was apparently alive, but apparently he was the murderer? How the hell could that happen? Daesung was far from a murderer, he couldn't even find the strength to kill spiders.

Hyunseung, his closest friend... Daesung couldn't help the uncontrollable tears rolling down his face. Hyunseung and Daesung had went through elementary and middle school together for years, and bonded closely. It didn't make sense as to why he was being blamed for Hyunseung's attempted homicide. Frustration and worry flowed throughout Daesung as he began to comprehend the dire situation.

"Mom, I'm not a murderer! I didn't try to kill Hyunseung," He begged, pleaded, cried into the phone desperately, wanting someone to be on his side, "believe me, Mom! I'm your son, you have to believe me! I didn't do anything to him; Hyunseung's like a brother to me ― I couldn't hurt him! I'm completely innocent!" He took in a large breathe, forcing the last words out frantically. You have to believe me, please believe me!"

He cried and sobbed uncontrollably, sounding much like his own pained mother.

"Then run, Daesung," His mother whispered from the other line, "I know my son better than anyone else ever would. I know my Daesung, and he wouldn't do this. You need to get help somewhere else. No one else will help you here, and no one else will believe you, even ―"

His mother and brief comfort was suddenly interrupted, and it sounded as if the phone was taken from her. Her cries were quieted down, replaced with an eerie silence. Daesung raised a shaky hand to end the call when somebody spoke. "Daesung," His father's cold voice blasted from the other side, causing Daesung's blood to chill, "I'm ashamed that my own blood would try to do this, especially to an old friend. Turn yourself into the police already."

The call abruptly ended after that last sentence.

Daesung fell to the floor, cell phone in hand as he tried to figure out what to do next. Who...? ran through his mind. Who did this...?