Chapter 3: The Boy Outside My Window

The power stayed out.

Only flashes of lightning illuminated my room now, turning everything white for a split second before drowning it back into darkness.

My breathing sounded too loud.

Too uneven.

I stared at the message on my phone until the words blurred together.

"Dont be scared, Nari. I would never hurt you."

My fingers tightened around the device.

Because there was only one thing replaying inside my head now.

He knows my name.

I never told him my name.

Another flash of lightning lit the room.

Instinctively, I looked toward the window again.

He was still there.

Standing beside the motorcycle beneath the rain.

Watching my apartment.

Watching me.

My stomach twisted painfully.

This couldn't be real.

There was no possible explanation for any of this.

Dreams didn't become real people.

People from dreams didn't text you in the middle of thunderstorms.

And yet—

there he was.

Buzz.

I flinched immediately.

"You still do that.."

I stared at the screen.

"Jump whenever your phone vibrates."

A cold shiver crawled down my spine.

Slowly...

I looked back toward the window.

He tilted his head slightly, almost amused.

Like he had just confirmed something.

My heart pounded harder.

How could he know that?

How could he know anything about me?

I stepped back from the window instinctively.

Then another message appeared.

"You always got scared too easily."

My chest tightened strangely.

Not fear this time.

Something else.

Something warmer.

Like hearing a memory through a locked door.

A sudden image flashed through my mind—

A hand reaching toward mine.

Warm fingers.

Soft laughter.

Then gone.

I grabbed the edge of my desk quickly.

"What is happening to me..?"

Thunder cracked loudly overhead.

At the same moment—

a knock echoed through the apartment.

I froze instantly.

Three slow knocks.

My blood ran cold.

Mom was working a night shift.

Nobody else should've been home.

Another knock.

Slower this time.

My heartbeat became painfully loud in my ears.

I looked toward my bedroom door.

Then toward the window again.

The street below was empty.

The motorcycle remained.

But he was gone.

My breath caught.

No.

No, no, no.

Buzz.

"Open the door, Nari.

I backed away immediately.

Every instinct screamed not to move.

But somehow—

despite the fear curling inside my chest—

another feeling pushed against it.

Curiosity.

Recognition.

Like part of me already trusted him.

And that terrified me more than anything else.

Another knock echoed through the apartment.

"Nari."

I nearly dropped my phone.

His voice.

Low and calm from the other side of the front door.

How did he even get inside the building?

Slowly, I stepped into the hallway, my feet feeling numb against the floor.

The apartment was completely dark except for occasional flashes of lightning through the windows.

Another knock.

"Nari."

Why did hearing him say my name feel so familiar?

I approached the front door cautiously.

Every step made my pulse pound harder.

I stopped directly in front of it.

Silence.

Rain poured heavily outside.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Then quietly—

"...You're really here."

His voice sounded softer now.

Closer.

Almost relieved.

My hand trembled near the lock.

"Who are you?" I whispered.

For a moment, there was only silence on the other side.

Then—

"You used to know me."

Something in my chest physically hurt hearing those words.

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.

"No," I whispered shakily. "I would remember you."

Another long silence.

Then finally—

"...That's what scares me."

My breath caught.

Lightning flashed through the hallway window.

And for one split second—

I saw his shadow beneath the door.

Still.

Waiting.

Not forcing his way in.

Not angry.

Just there.

Like he'd waited a very long time already.

I swallowed hard.

"What do you want from me?"

The storm outside seemed quieter suddenly.

Then his voice came again.

Soft.

Honest.

"I want you to remember me."

And somehow—

those words hurt more than they should have.

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