Chapter 4

Chapter 4 — Mine

The stranger smiled softly.

“But you don’t.”

Lue hated how confident he sounded.

As if he already knew the answer.

As if he understood Lue better than Lue understood himself.

“You talk too much,” Lue muttered.

The boy tilted his head.

“You think too much.”

“That doesn't even make sense.”

“It does.”

Lue groaned and rubbed his temples.

This entire night felt unreal.

A mysterious boy appeared from his laptop, read his thoughts, refused to explain anything, and somehow acted as though they had known each other for years.

Any normal person would have called the police by now.

Instead, Lue found himself arguing with him.

Which was somehow worse.

The stranger suddenly glanced toward the apartment door.

His expression changed.

Only slightly.

But Lue noticed.

“What?”

The boy remained silent.

“What is it?”

For a moment, the silver-eyed stranger simply stared at the door.

Then he quietly asked:

“Who is Kai?”

Lue froze.

“…What?”

“Who is Kai?”

The question sounded harmless.

Almost casual.

Yet something about it made the room feel colder.

Lue frowned.

“A friend.”

The stranger didn't respond.

“A classmate,” Lue corrected. “Why?”

The silence stretched.

Then—

“You smile when you talk to him.”

Lue blinked.

“How do you know that?”

The stranger looked away.

His fingers tightened slightly.

“I've seen it.”

“Seen it where?”

No answer.

The boy's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

Lue stared.

Then realization hit him.

“Wait.”

The stranger remained quiet.

“Have you been watching me?”

The apartment suddenly felt much smaller.

Much quieter.

The silver-eyed boy lowered his gaze.

And for the first time since appearing—

He looked guilty.

Lue's eyes widened.

“You have.”

The stranger said nothing.

“You were watching me before tonight?”

A long silence followed.

Finally—

“Yes.”

The answer came so quietly it almost sounded like a confession.

Lue stared at him.

His mind completely blank.

“How long?”

The stranger hesitated.

Too long.

Far too long.

“…I don't know.”

“What do you mean you don't know?”

“I don't know how time works.”

The answer should have sounded ridiculous.

Instead, it sounded sincere.

And somehow, that was worse.

Lue took a step back.

The stranger immediately noticed.

His expression darkened.

Not with anger.

With panic.

A brief flash of panic.

“Lue.”

“What?”

“I don't want you to be afraid.”

“Then stop saying creepy things!”

The words came out louder than intended.

The room fell silent.

The stranger froze.

For the first time all night—

He looked hurt.

Actually hurt.

Like someone had physically struck him.

A strange feeling twisted inside Lue's chest.

Guilt.

Why was he feeling guilty?

The creepy stalker should be the one apologizing.

Not him.

The stranger lowered his eyes.

“…Sorry.”

The apology was almost a whisper.

Lue sighed.

This was exhausting.

Nothing about this situation made sense.

And somehow that made the boy's next words even worse.

“…I don't like Kai.”

Lue stared.

“What?”

The stranger looked directly at him.

Silver eyes glowing softly in the darkness.

“I don't like him.”

“Why?”

“He takes your attention away.”

The room went silent.

Lue's brain stopped working for a full second.

Then another.

Then—

“You've officially lost your mind.”

The stranger frowned.

“You asked.”

“Normal people don't say things like that.”

The boy looked genuinely confused.

“…Why not?”

Lue opened his mouth.

Then closed it again.

Because somehow—

He didn't have an answer.

The stranger stepped closer.

Only one step.

But it felt dangerous.

“Lue.”

“What?”

Silver eyes met his.

Calm.

Patient.

Terrifyingly sincere.

“If I stay here…”

His voice softened.

“Will you keep talking to me?”

Lue's heartbeat suddenly felt too loud.

The question sounded simple.

But somehow—

It didn't feel simple at all.

And for the first time that night—

The stranger looked afraid of the answer.

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