Page 63 of Wish Upon a K-Star

“B ut you already punished her, didn’t you?” I blurt out, and it’s enough to distract Jeongho. He stops mid-stride, his angry glare turning to me.

Ana is fully sobbing now.

“The pill bottle,” I clarify even though my own voice is shaking. “You gave it to the police to punish Ana, right?”

“The police?” he says, frowning like he’s trying to recall the details. “Yes, there were two, so I gave one to the police and the other…”

“You sold it, right? To another fan,” I provide. I’m inching closer to the door. Ana is clinging so tight to me that I’m practically dragging her along the floor.

“It was compensation!” Jeongho shouts so loud that I flinch as I reach for the handle. “I’ve spent thousands on Ana. Going to concerts, bulk buying albums, traveling to international events. I deserved compensation for that after Ana failed to keep up her part of the deal.”

“The deal that she would be perfect?” I prompt, hoping it’ll distract him into another tirade. Now that I feel the cold metal of the handle in my hand, I’m terrified. What if I’m not fast enough?

I take a deep breath, readying myself to yank it open. My hand is so slick with sweat that the knob seems slippery beneath it. But I grip it tighter, counting to three in my head. One. Two.

I start to twist the knob, but the gesture turns my arm and my elbow nudges at Ana.

She lets out a terrified scream.

It pulls Jeongho’s attention back to us. His eyes flare with rage as he lunges forward.

I pull on the door, but Ana is pushed too hard against me. I can’t move her back and the door swings into us. We both go tumbling to the floor.

Jeongho plows into the open door, slamming it shut again.

I pull Ana to her feet, dragging her after me to the other end of the room, where there’s another door. If I can get to it in time…

But Ana lets out a scream a second before she’s yanked out of my arms.

Jeongho pulls her back by the hair.

I pitch myself at him, using nails, teeth, anything to make him let go.

The two of us tumble to the ground together.

I land the wrong way. Something in my shoulder pops, and my vision goes searing white for just a second.

It’s long enough for Jeongho to get the upper hand. He’s perched over me, knee on my chest.

I faintly hear Ana crying. She’s begging him to stop.

I try to tell her to get out, to get help, but I can’t breathe, let alone speak.

“You two are the same. Two lying, manipulative gijibes.” Jeongho lifts the shears. I grab his wrist, but the movement causes a stab of pain in my shoulder.

The sound of the door slamming open is quickly followed by someone shouting my name.

Jeongho and I look over at the same time. Just as Minseok launches himself at Jeongho.

Even with his weight removed, it hurts to move, but I have to get up. I see my discarded trophy and grab it with my good arm.

Minseok and Jeongho are tumbling across the floor, bumping into Ana, who lets out a scream. The sound has Jeongho glancing back, and I take my chance, pitching the trophy at him. It catches Jeongho in the temple. With a scream of pain, he pitches backward.

Surprised, Minseok turns to me, calling my name. But Jeongho rears up behind him, gripping the discarded pair of scissors.

“No!” I shout, but the warning is too late.

I watch Jeongho plunge the shears into Minseok’s back.