Something unexpected

Ju Min Ji

I stumbled on the stairs—but before I could fall completely, someone stepped in front of me.

I fell onto him.

Nam Woo.

I shut my eyes instinctively. His lips brushed my forehead, soft and accidental, while his hands held firmly around my waist. Time froze. For five long seconds, I stayed completely still—terrified. All I could think was, I’m dead. This is it. My time has come. Tears welled up in my eyes.

Nam Woo sat down on the floor, carefully moving me away from his chest.

“Hey… are you okay?” he asked.

His words echoed inside my head. My heart was pounding wildly against my ribs as I breathed heavily, trying to stop the tears from falling.

When I finally opened my eyes, I saw Nam Woo clearly.

He was still holding my hands, steadying me so I wouldn’t fall again. I remained quiet, breathing unevenly, lost in his eyes, before pulling my hands away and standing up.

“I’m sorry… are you hurt?” I asked, wiping my tears with my fingers.

“Not sure,” he said lightly. “You fell on me. I think my elbow got hurt,” he added with a small laugh, clearly trying to make me smile.

No one had ever done that for me before—except Im Sol.

“I’m sorry,” I said again, forcing a smile despite my worry.

I glanced back instinctively toward the girls, but they were gone.

“Should I take you to the nurse?” I asked softly.

“No, it’s not needed,” he replied. “But are you fine?”

I nodded, offering a small smile in return.

“I’m sorry again,” I murmured.

“Did those girls push you?” he asked quietly.

I nodded once more.

I stood there for a moment longer, then smiled at him—just once—and walked away toward home.

When I reached home, no one was around. I went straight to my room.

I get panic attacks whenever situations like this happen. It’s normal for me now. Sometimes, when Im Sol is with me during those moments, it feels different. But today… today felt comforting in a strange way.

With him, I felt protected—even if it was only for a moment.

“No. No, whatever I’m thinking—stop,” I scolded myself as I rolled onto my bed.

But my mind betrayed me. The memory replayed itself: the fall, his lips against my forehead, his arms around my waist.

A small smile crept onto my face. I realized I was blushing.

“No,” I whispered aloud. “I should stop thinking about this. It was just a mistake. There’s a long distance between us—one that can never be crossed.”

Ping.

A message arrived.

My heart sank. The messenger had gone silent—and whenever it went silent, I knew something was coming. A warning. A threat.

Your small tries won’t do anything. This time you were saved, but what will you do next time? Do you want to hurt your loved ones? If not, increase your love points. Because of you, not only will you get hurt—but your loved ones too.

I stared at the message.

Im Sol? Ri Sook?

“Who?” I shouted in frustration, then fell silent, thinking.

Nam Woo… but he’s not my loved one.

Then how does he know him—when even I don’t?

I covered my mouth with my hand, my thoughts racing.

Exhausted, I lay down and closed my eyes. My body relaxed for just a second—

and I fell asleep.

Above me, the fan began to make an unwanted noise. It started spinning faster and faster, producing a sharp, ticking sound—and suddenly, it felt as if it was falling onto me.

“Ahh!” I woke up gasping for air.

It was just a dream.

I closed my eyes again, trying to calm my racing heart.

A knock echoed through the room. I stumbled toward the door, still half-lost between sleep and reality.

“Min Ji?” Ri Sook’s voice came from outside.

“Yeah,” I replied as I opened the door.

“We’re going out for dinner. Are you coming?” he asked.

“We?” I repeated softly, my eyes shifting behind him.

It was Nam Woo.

“With him?” I asked, glancing at Nam Woo.

“Yes,” Ri Sook replied casually. “Hwang Nam Woo—you probably know him.” He looked at Nam Woo, then back at me. I nodded slowly.

“Hello,” Nam Woo said, waving at me with a soft, polite smile.