It started as something unclear.
A dream that didn't feel like a dream.
Everything was blurred—like a memory trying to exist but failing to stay whole. Shapes moved without edges, voices echoed without direction, and the world around him felt distant… like he was there, but not fully.
But one thing was clear.
A presence.
Someone was in front of him.
Close.
Too close to be a stranger.
"Stop moving."
The voice was familiar.
Annoyed—but not really angry.
CJ let out a quiet laugh, though even that felt distant in his own ears. "I'm not moving. You're just slow."
"I'm fixing your bandage, idiot."
"Then fix it faster."
"You're impossible."
"And you like it."
A pause.
A small one.
The kind that meant something—but CJ couldn't tell what.
"…Shut up."
CJ smiled.
He didn't know why.
He couldn't see the boy's face clearly—every time he tried, it blurred, like something was stopping him from remembering.
But he knew him.
Somehow… he knew him.
Familiar.
Important.
Close.
Too close.
"You worry too much," CJ said, his voice softer now.
"And you don't worry enough."
"Balances out."
"That's not how that works."
"It works for us."
Silence.
But not empty.
It felt full—like there were a thousand things they had already said before this moment.
CJ shifted slightly, stepping closer.
He didn't hesitate.
His body moved like it already knew what to do.
Like this wasn't the first time.
"…You're staring," the boy said.
"Can you blame me?"
"…Yes."
CJ laughed again.
Then leaned forward—
Their foreheads touched.
And for a second—
Everything felt real.
Warm.
Safe.
Like nothing bad could ever reach them.
"…You're such a problem," the boy whispered.
"Then don't solve me."
A breath.
A fragile moment.
And then—
The world changed.
A sound.
Sharp.
Wrong.
The air shifted, and the warmth disappeared instantly.
CJ frowned. "Did you hear that?"
"…Stay behind me."
The tone changed.
Serious.
Urgent.
CJ tried to see his face again—
But it blurred.
More than before.
Like the dream was slipping.
"Relax," CJ said, though his voice felt weaker now. "I can handle—"
"I'm not joking."
Another sound.
Closer.
The space around them started to crack—like glass under pressure.
"…Hey," CJ said, suddenly uneasy. "What's going on?"
No answer.
Just movement.
The boy stepped in front of him.
Protecting him.
Like it was instinct.
Like he had done it before.
Like he would always do it.
"Stay behind me."
This time—
CJ didn't argue.
Because something felt wrong.
Terribly wrong.
"Hey…" CJ's voice softened. "If something happens—"
"I said don't."
"You can't protect me from everything."
Silence.
Then—
"…Watch me."
Everything broke.
A loud sound tore through the space.
The world shattered.
Noise. Chaos. Something rushed toward them—
And before CJ could react—
He was pushed back.
Hard.
"—!"
The dream distorted.
Faster now.
Out of control.
CJ tried to move—tried to reach him—but his body felt heavy.
Slow.
Like he was being pulled away.
"Wait—!"
The boy was still there.
Still standing.
Still in front of him.
But something was wrong.
"…You're okay."
His voice—
It sounded weaker.
CJ's chest tightened. "No—no, you're not—"
"I'm fine."
"You're not—!"
The world blurred harder.
The boy's face—
Still unclear.
Still out of reach.
"I didn't make it in time," he whispered.
CJ shook his head. "What are you talking about? I'm right here—"
"I couldn't protect you."
The words hit—
Even if they didn't make sense.
Even if CJ didn't understand why they hurt so much.
"Hey—stop saying that—"
"…If there's another chance…"
The voice was fading.
"No—wait—don't—"
"I'll do it right."
The world was collapsing now.
Falling apart piece by piece.
CJ reached out—
But his hand went through nothing.
"No—!"
"I'll protect you…"
The boy's voice was barely there now.
"…next time."
"WAIT—!"
Darkness.
Silence.
And then—
CJ's eyes snapped open.
His breath came out uneven.
Sharp.
Like he had been running.
The ceiling came into view slowly, unfamiliar for a split second before reality settled back in.
Morning light slipped through the window.
Everything was normal.
Too normal.
CJ sat up, running a hand through his hair, his heart still beating faster than it should.
"…What was that?"
His voice sounded rough.
He frowned, trying to piece it together.
The dream—
It felt important.
Too real to just disappear.
"There was someone…"
He closed his eyes, trying to remember.
A face.
A name.
Anything.
But—
Nothing.
Every time he tried to focus, it slipped away.
Blurry.
Gone.
"…Who was that guy?"
He exhaled slowly, frustration creeping in.
He could remember the voice.
The feeling.
The way the boy stood in front of him.
The way he said those words—
"I'll protect you…"
CJ's chest tightened slightly.
"…next time."
He opened his eyes again.
The feeling lingered.
Heavy.
Unexplainable.
Like he had lost something—
Or someone—
Without even knowing who it was.
CJ clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Whatever."
Just a dream.
It didn't mean anything.
It couldn't mean anything.
And yet—
As he got out of bed, that strange feeling followed him.
Quiet.
Persistent.
Like something was waiting.
Like something had already begun—
Before he even understood it.
And somewhere in his mind…
A name almost surfaced.
Almost.
But not quite.
Because no matter how hard he tried—
CJ couldn't remember
the name of the boy
he was never supposed to forget.