Overthinking

Foreword:

“Filthy History” is a story filled with harsh truths, psychological tension, fear, and moments that may break your heart.

Everything in this story — the events, the world, and the characters — are purely fictional, born from the author’s imagination.

Any resemblance to real people or organizations is entirely coincidental.

Chapter 1: Overthinking

The room was cloaked in darkness, lit only by a faint, dim glow seeping through the window.

Tenuun’s eyes had yet to adjust to the dark when a familiar voice groaned somewhere in the room — it was his father.

He leapt toward the sound and knelt down.

“Dad? What happened?!” he asked in panic.

“It… it shouldn’t be like this… I can’t die like this…” his father mumbled weakly.

Tenuun quickly pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight.

His father’s mouth was overflowing with dark red blood, dripping onto the floor in a thick trail.

His hands trembled as he tried to call an ambulance, but the only sound in the room was his father’s ragged breathing.

And then — footsteps. Slow, heavy. They stopped right beside him.

Tenuun turned the light toward the sound… and froze.

Standing there was his closest friend — his hands drenched in blood, staring at him with cold, empty eyes.

***

He gasped awake, drenched in sweat. That same dark figure was standing at the foot of his bed again, staring silently. He sat up, wiped his forehead, and muttered,

“You again? Why do you keep staring at me like that? Just… go away. Leave me alone.”

At his words, the dark figure dissolved into thin air.

He reached for the sleeping pills on his desk, swallowed two, and crawled back into bed.

It was 3 a.m.

For seven years, Tenuun hadn’t had a single night of peaceful sleep.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw his father’s death… and his friend’s empty gaze staring back at him.

***

Morning came.

Tenuun searched for his missing sock, found one of a different color under the bed, sniffed it briefly, shrugged, and put it on. Breakfast wasn’t part of his routine — he barely made it to work on time most days.

When he arrived at the job, the night-shift girl frowned.

“You’re late again. I had a class this morning, you know. I’m leaving,” she said, scowling.

Tenuun scratched his head apologetically and immediately started mopping the floor.

On the TV in the corner, a news anchor was saying,

“Former parliament member “B” was found hanged in the city center early this morning.”

Tenuun glanced at it briefly, then went back to cleaning. That was his everyday life — dull, quiet, repetitive.

By evening, he clocked out and walked home.

At his door, a paper note was taped up:

“PAYMENT OVERDUE.”

He silently tore it down, crumpled it, and stepped inside.

It wasn’t unusual — his salary was barely enough to cover rent on time.

He kicked off his shoes, threw his bag into the corner, and collapsed onto his bed, staring at the ceiling. Then — his phone buzzed.

An email notification.

Reluctantly, he picked it up.

The sender: Mr. X

Subject: “Do you remember?”

He scrolled down.

“Dulguun is alive.”

His heart pounded. A sharp pain shot through his head as flashes of that night surged back — his father’s lifeless body, and Dulguun’s cold stare.

Alive?

The friend who killed his father and then jumped out the window seven years ago? Impossible.

He scrolled further.

“Dulguun is alive. Remember what happened. Here’s the proof. Tomorrow, 7 p.m. Come — or don’t. It’s your choice.”

A location was attached.

Tenuun’s head throbbed violently.

He took more pills and curled up under the blanket, hands covering his ears.

Seven years ago, Dulguun — his best friend — had murdered Tenuun’s father… and then taken his own life.

***

Elsewhere — The Rich District

In front of a white two-story mansion, two bodyguards stood silently.

Inside, laughter echoed through the halls.

The President of Mongolia was having dinner with a young man.

President: “You used to be such a timid kid. I can’t believe how sharp and confident you’ve become after all that. Hahaha!”

Young Man: “Well, I’m your dog, aren’t I? When you say sit, I sit. When you say roll, I roll. It’s nothing special.”

President: “Good, good. I trust you, and you trust me, right? Eat, come on. Why so little?”

Young Man: “Alright, alright, I’ll eat. But you don’t usually invite me like this. You’ve been talking a lot about ‘trust’ lately. Something bothering you?”

President: “You caught on, huh? That bastard is still alive. You told me you dealt with him already, didn’t you? So tell me — what’s going on?”

Young Man: “Bastard? Who are you talking about?”

President: “Don’t play dumb. You know. Look—this email came to my private inbox. Who could’ve sent it?”

He slid his phone across the table.

The young man adjusted his glasses slightly.

Young Man: “Mr. X? You don’t actually believe this, do you?”

President: “It came to my private address. Only a handful of people know that. So yes, I believe it. Find this Mr. X — and confirm whether that guy is really alive.”

The young man sighed.

Young Man: “Understood.”

He stood up, walked outside, and looked at the two bodyguards.

Young Man: “Good thing I’m not one of this old man’s bodyguards. I’d hate to stand around like a lamp post all day, like you two. Hahaha!”

One of the guards frowned.

Guard: “Cut the crap and get lost.”

Young Man: “Heh.” He grinned and walked away.

The other guard muttered, “I can’t stand that guy’s jokes…”

***

That night, Tenuun woke up again. His head throbbed. He had fallen asleep. As he rubbed his temples, the email flashed in his mind again.

His chest tightened.

He picked up his phone, opened the message, and stared at the address. Should he go?

Just as he was hesitating, there was a knock on the door. He ignored it.

The knocking came again — louder this time, until it turned into pounding.

“W-Who is it?” he called out weakly.

No answer.

He turned away, but the pounding grew even more violent.

“Who is it?! It’s the middle of the night!” he shouted.

Then, one last powerful slam.

He lost his patience and flung the door open.

“GET THE HELL AWAY! I’M TRYING TO SLEEP—!”

Standing in the doorway was someone he never thought he’d see again.

“Long time no see… Tenuun.”

To be continued…