Chapter 1 — The Boy Who Shouldn't Exist

Warm sunlight spilled through the classroom windows, painting golden rectangles across rows of worn wooden desks. Students laughed, traded snacks, and complained about the upcoming exams.

The room buzzed with ordinary life.

Yet Ji-an felt like he was living in a different world.

Dark circles rested beneath his soft brown eyes, evidence of another sleepless night. His black hair, slightly messy from repeatedly running his fingers through it, framed a face that was handsome in a quiet, understated way. At first glance, he looked calm.

Anyone who looked closer would notice the exhaustion.

He hadn't slept properly in twelve years.

Minho: "Ji-an!"

A loud slap landed on Ji-an's shoulder.

He barely flinched.

His childhood friend, Kang Minho, grinned from ear to ear while balancing two cartons of strawberry milk.

Unlike Ji-an, Minho was impossible to ignore. His chestnut-brown hair refused to stay neat, his school tie hung loosely around his neck, and his energetic smile somehow made teachers forgive almost anything.

Minho: "You look worse than yesterday."

Ji-an let out a tired sigh.

Ji-an: "...Thanks. That's exactly what everyone wants to hear before first period."

Minho laughed so loudly that a few classmates turned to stare.

Minho: "Seriously, though. Did you sleep at all?"

Ji-an hesitated.

Could he tell anyone the truth?

That every single night he dreamed of the same impossible world?

Of the same boy...

Waiting.

Watching.

Calling his name.

No.

He'd sound insane.

Ji-an: "Just another nightmare."

Minho scratched the back of his neck.

Minho: "You should really see a doctor."

Ji-an forced a small smile.

Ji-an: "Maybe."

His smile disappeared the moment he looked out the window.

The clouds had rolled in without anyone noticing.

The bright morning sky had become strangely gray.

For some reason...

His chest felt heavy.

Like something was coming.

The classroom door slid open.

Every conversation stopped.

Their homeroom teacher entered with a stack of papers tucked beneath one arm.

Mrs. Han: "Good morning, everyone."

The class answered in lazy unison.

"Good morning..."

Mrs. Han smiled knowingly.

Mrs. Han: "Wake up. We have a transfer student joining us today."

Instantly, whispers spread through the room.

"A transfer?"

"In the middle of the semester?"

"I heard he's from Seoul."

"No, another country."

Ji-an paid little attention.

Until...

A familiar scent drifted into the room.

Rain.

Not fresh rain.

The scent of standing outside during a storm.

His heart skipped.

The classroom suddenly felt too quiet.

Mrs. Han looked toward the hallway.

Mrs. Han: "Come in."

A boy stepped through the doorway.

The room fell silent.

He was tall—almost exactly Ji-an's height—with a lean, athletic build hidden beneath a neatly pressed uniform.

His ash-gray hair framed a sharp yet gentle face, strands falling carelessly over one eye. Beneath long lashes were striking amber eyes that seemed to glow even in the dim classroom.

Beautiful.

But distant.

His expression was calm enough to seem emotionless.

Almost...

Too perfect.

As though he had practiced smiling without ever learning how.

He looked around the classroom.

His gaze passed over every student.

Then...

Stopped.

On Ji-an.

Only for a second.

Yet in that brief moment...

Ji-an saw something flicker across those amber eyes.

Relief.

Then it vanished.

Transfer Student: "My name is Seo Haon."

His voice was smooth and quiet.

"I'll be in your care."

The girls near the window immediately started whispering.

"He's gorgeous."

"Did you see his eyes?"

"I think I'm in love."

Haon ignored all of it.

His eyes remained fixed somewhere Ji-an couldn't understand.

Mrs. Han glanced around the classroom.

Mrs. Han: "There's an empty seat next to Ji-an."

Ji-an's stomach dropped.

No.

No, no, no...

Not him.

Haon walked between the desks with slow, steady footsteps.

The closer he came...

The louder Ji-an's heartbeat became.

I've seen him before.

Countless times.

Standing beneath that black umbrella.

Smiling at me.

Waiting for me.

Haon placed his bag beside Ji-an's desk and sat down.

Neither of them spoke.

For nearly a full minute.

Finally...

Haon turned slightly.

Their eyes met.

His expression softened almost imperceptibly.

Haon (quietly): "...You really don't remember."

Ji-an froze.

"...What?"

Before Haon could answer—

Mrs. Han: "Mr. Seo."

Haon calmly looked toward the teacher.

Mrs. Han: "Please pay attention."

Haon: "...My apologies."

He never looked back at Ji-an.

Classes dragged on endlessly.

Ji-an couldn't focus.

Every time he glanced sideways...

Haon was already looking out the window.

Watching the gray clouds.

As if he were waiting for nightfall.

The final bell rang.

Students hurried from their seats.

Minho stretched dramatically.

Minho: "Finally! Freedom!"

He nudged Ji-an with his elbow.

Minho: "Walk home together?"

Before Ji-an could answer—

Haon stood.

He picked up his bag.

Walked past Ji-an.

Then stopped beside his desk.

Without turning around, he spoke so quietly that only Ji-an could hear.

Haon: "Whatever happens..."

"...don't stay after sunset."

Ji-an blinked.

"What?"

Haon continued walking.

As though he hadn't spoken.

An hour later...

The school was almost empty.

Rain tapped softly against the classroom windows.

Ji-an zipped his backpack closed.

"Guess I really lost track of time..."

The hallways echoed with silence.

Too much silence.

Even the fluorescent lights buzzed strangely.

He stepped outside.

The rain had stopped.

Yet the pavement was already drying.

Something wasn't right.

His phone vibrated.

An unknown number.

«Don't turn around.»

Ji-an frowned.

"...Seriously?"

Another message appeared before he could lock the screen.

«Keep walking.»

His pulse quickened.

Someone had to be messing with him.

Right?

He laughed nervously.

"I'm not falling for—"

A wet dragging sound echoed behind him.

Scrrrape...

His smile disappeared.

The sound came again.

Closer.

Scrrrape...

Every hair on his body stood on end.

Slowly...

Ji-an turned around.

At the far end of the empty hallway stood a figure nearly touching the ceiling.

Its body was wrapped in layers of soaked black cloth that hung like rotting funeral robes.

Long arms dragged across the floor.

Its fingers were impossibly thin.

Its face...

Had none.

Only smooth darkness.

Until—

One enormous white eye slowly opened in the center of its head.

It stared directly at Ji-an.

Without blinking.

Without moving.

Then...

It smiled.

Not with a mouth.

The eye itself curved upward.

Ji-an couldn't breathe.

His legs refused to move.

The creature took one slow step.

Scrrrape...

Another.

Closer.

The hallway lights exploded one after another.

Pop.

Pop.

Pop.

Darkness swallowed the corridor.

A warm hand suddenly grabbed Ji-an's wrist.

He spun around.

Haon.

For the first time since meeting him...

His calm expression was gone.

His amber eyes were filled with genuine fear.

Not for himself.

For Ji-an.

Haon: "Run."

He didn't wait for an answer.

He tightened his grip and pulled Ji-an into the darkness just as an inhuman screech echoed through the empty school.

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