After classes ended and the closing bell echoed through the halls, Linda, Alex, and Sophia decided to hang out together. The week had been long, and all three were eager to unwind.
As they strolled across the school courtyard, Sophia's eyes suddenly lit with excitement.
"Hey," she said, turning quickly to the others, "why don't we invite the new boy, Jae-min, to hang out with us?"
Before Linda or Alex could respond, Sophia darted off toward Jae-min, who was quietly packing his bag at the far edge of the schoolyard.
"Hey, Jae-min!" Sophia called, her smile bright as she crossed the yard.
Startled, Jae-min looked up. "Hi, Sophia."
"My friends and I are heading to this cool spot to eat. There's a restaurant nearby—the food is amazing," she said eagerly, almost bouncing on her feet. "You should come with us. I promise, you won't regret it."
Jae-min hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
Before he could answer, Alex jogged over and chimed in. "Don't say no," he said with a playful pout. "It'd be rude to turn us down—please?" His tone was teasing, almost childlike in its charm.
Jae-min glanced away shyly, then gave a small nod. "Okay… sure."
The four of them left the school together. The restaurant was cozy and warm, the air rich with spices that made their stomachs rumble. They ordered a variety of dishes, chatting and laughing as plates crowded the table. When Jae-min tried the spicy tofu stew, his brows lifted in pleasant surprise.
"This is the first time I've tried Korean food like this," he admitted.
Linda tilted her head, puzzled. "Really? I thought you were Korean."
Jae-min paused, choosing his words. "Well… I am. But my mother is Chinese, and I actually grew up in China."
"Ohhh," Sophia teased with a grin. "That explains why you're so handsome."
The group burst into laughter. Jae-min only smiled modestly, unused to being the subject of such playful teasing.
Later, they stepped out into the soft evening glow, the sky brushed with fading light.
"Will you hang out with us more often?" Linda asked quietly as they reached the crossroads, her tone carrying a note of hope.
Jae-min hesitated again. His reply came gentle. "I'm not really used to being around people. Most of the time… I prefer to be alone."
The others exchanged a glance, understanding in their eyes.
"That's okay," Alex said with a reassuring smile. "We get it."
"Anytime you feel like joining, though," Sophia added warmly, "just know you're welcome."
Jae-min gave a small nod, his guardedness softening a little at their kindness.
They parted ways, the bond between them fragile, but beginning to take shape.
When Jae-min arrived at his apartment, he shut the door softly and let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. The space was clean and minimal, a reflection of his nature. Cool lighting bathed the living area, where a sleek black couch faced a low table. A few books rested neatly on a shelf, and the faint scent of fresh linen lingered in the air.
Still in his white singlet and joggers, he walked into the bathroom. The shower hissed to life, steam fogging the mirror. Jae-min stepped under the water, letting it soak through his clothes and run down his skin. He stood motionless, as though trying to wash away more than just the day.
When the heat became too much, he wiped a corner of the mirror and stared at his reflection.
From the glass stand, he picked up a small silver case. Flipping it open, he pulled out a pack of pills, slid one into his mouth, and swallowed without hesitation. His chest rose and fell heavily before his breathing steadied. His fingers tightened on the sink, grounding him.
Dressed now in a fresh black T-shirt, he stepped into his bedroom just as his phone rang. He picked it up.
"I said watch her, not hang out with her," a deep voice snapped through the line.
Jae-min's lips curled into a smirk. "Do you think I can watch her without getting close?" His tone was sharp, edged with defiance. "She's surprisingly easy to reach."
There was a tense pause. Then the voice hardened. "Don't fail this mission. It's important to the master."
"I won't fail," Jae-min said coolly before ending the call.
He tossed the phone onto his bed, crossed to his desk, and flipped open his laptop. His fingers flew across the keys, swiftly, like muscle memory. Minutes later, he closed it again, his expression unreadable.
Without another word, he stretched out on the bed. The quiet hum of the city seeped through the walls. Slowly, the night wrapped around him as he drifted to sleep.
The next morning, sunlight spilled lazily through the blinds, painting faint stripes across the white walls. A cool breeze slipped through the slightly open window, carrying the faint sounds of traffic.
Jae-min sat up slowly, dragging a hand through his messy hair. His brows furrowed briefly, caught between dreams and waking reality. With a muted yawn, he rose and moved into the kitchen.
The apartment still carried the quiet warmth of the night before—silent and orderly, yet not without life. A faint trace of citrus cleaner lingered in the air. Jae-min switched on the coffee machine, set a pan on the stove.
He sat down to eat with his phone by his elbow. For a while, he scrolled through a news feed, but the words barely held his attention. With a faint sigh, he set it down.
After breakfast, he cleaned up, brushed his teeth, and took a quick shower.
Back in the living room, he dropped onto a mat and moved through a light workout—sit-ups, push-ups, nothing too intense. Just enough to stay in control. His face shifted between blank focus and faint irritation, as if his own body wasn't keeping up with him.
Then his phone rang.
He froze mid-stretch, frowning when he saw "Unknown Number."
Grabbing a towel, he wiped his hands, walked over, and answered flatly. "Yeah?"
"Hey, Jae-min!" came an excited voice.
He blinked. "…Who's this?"
"It's Sophia!"
He stared at the phone, incredulous. "Sophia? You mean Sophia from school?"
"Yep, that's me!" she replied brightly.
He scoffed under, shaking his head. "How did you even get my number?"
There was a guilty pause before she admitted, "Okay, don't get mad, I kind of… looked through the school register. I stalked you. Just a little."
Jae-min tilted his head, his tone dry with sarcasm. "You're nosy. You know that, right?"
Sophia only laughed. "I know. But I was just wondering if you were coming to school. It's already started, and you're not here."
Pulling the curtain aside, he looked down at the street below. "I'm not coming to school today," he said simply, then ended the call before she could respond.
Back in her room, Sophia stared at her phone in disbelief. "What an unserious boy," she muttered, tossing it aside. "Second day of school and he's already skipping."
Meanwhile, Jae-min dropped his phone on the couch and dragged a hand through his hair. "Why is everyone in this town so energetic in the morning?" he muttered under his breath.
He grabbed his jacket from the chair, slipping it on. No books. No bag. Just keys and his phone.
Locking the door behind him, he stepped into the quiet hallway. His footsteps echoed softly as he moved into the waiting day—unbothered, unreadable, but anything but ordinary.