The next morning sunlight cutting through Jin's room so brightly,
harsh and unforgiving—like it was trying to erase the dreams, the whispers, everything that had happened last night.
Jin sat up slowly. His body felt heavy, as if sleep hadn't helped at all.
He rubbed his face. The memory of the dream still clung to him like a second skin.
Before he could even stand—
A knock at the door.
Not gentle at all. Not official at all.
Just three sharp thuds… followed by low laughter on the other side.
Jin froze.
He knew that sound.
Knew *who* it belonged to—the same group of Espers from yesterday. And this time… they weren't hiding their intentions.
"Open up, pretty boy!" one shouted mockingly. "We've got unfinished business!"
Another voice: "Ming Ji won't always be watching! Let's see how brave you are when nobody's around to save you!"
They laughed again—crude, hungry sounds vibrating through the thin wood of his door.
"We'll break that calm act," one sneered louder. "We'll make you scream until your voice cracks… make you beg for us…"
Jin didn't move right away.
His breath stayed even.
His hands—resting on his knees—didn't tremble.
But behind quiet eyes? Something shifted.*
Cold.*
Sharp.*
Like ice forming beneath still water.*
And then—he stood up silently,
walked toward the door,
placed a hand flat against it…
And spoke—not loud—but clear enough they'd hear every word:
"I warned you yesterday."
"You don't touch me."
"And now?"
A pause—so brief but so heavy it made them stop laughing.*
Now…" Jin whispered through the door,* "...you've made *him* angry."
Outside—
The air dropped ten degrees in an instant.
Frost began crawling along their feet from nowhere.
Shadows stretched unnaturally across walls—even though sunlight should've erased them by now.
One Esper backed away first.* "T-that chill…"*
Then—
From directly behind them—a whisper touched each ear at once:
***"I said…"***
***"...don't touch what's mine."***
They turned—
Just in time
to see Ming Ji step out of thin shadow,
eyes glowing faint silver beneath dark bangs, coat flaring slightly like wings unfolding, and smile so cold—it looked more like a threat than a human expression.*
Their faces drained of color.*
No words.* No screams.* Just pure instinct:
RUN
But Ming Ji didn't let them go far before shadows rose from ground—and wrapped around limbs, lifting two off their feet mid-sprint while another tripped into frozen grass that cracked under sudden ice growths with *his name etched into its surface.*
"I'll say this once," Ming Ji said calmly,*.* "If any part of any one of you comes near Jin again…"
He leaned forward slightly,* gaze burning holes into theirs:*
**"I won't stop next time."**
Silence swallowed everything—even birds stopped singing overhead…
Only wind dared carry those words back…
into room where Jin stood quietly by window…
watching…
listening…
and realizing—for first time—not just who protected him…
but how deeply someone already wanted him.
Without fear...
without hesitation...
for forever. Even if he wasn't ready yet...
someone already owned every breath he took.
And just like that ming ji left without a word.
Only a faint wind touched Jin's skin—as if someone had just brushed by.
He stood silently by the door for several seconds—trying to process what had happened outside.
He was still shaking—from fear, from anger… but now also from something else entirely.
Something deep beneath the surface… a feeling like heat blooming into light in the dark.
Until finally he managed to speak, softly into the silence around him:
"Ming Ji…"
It was the first time he'd said that name out loud.
Each syllable felt strange… but somehow familiar.
Something stirred inside him—like a flower opening—as he repeated it on a whisper:
Ming Ji…
He said the name again. Even quieter this time.
And like a secret he wanted to keep just for himself.
Ming Ji…
Then he closed his eyes and leaned back against the door—letting the sound of it fill his mind.
*Ming Ji.*
Jin slid down slowly against the door until he sat on the floor, arms resting over his knees.
His heart hadn't slowed.
Not from fear.
Not from anger.
From *awareness.*
He could still feel it—the cold pressure of Ming Ji's presence even though he was gone. The way time stilled when he spoke. The way those Espers froze like statues before vanishing into shadows.
But more than that…
That warmth in his chest—steady now, pulsing softly with each heartbeat—like a second pulse not his own.
*The soul chain.*
Real.
Alive.
Connected… to someone who watched him through dreams and silence.
Jin exhaled shakily.
"I don't even know you…" he whispered into the empty room.*
"But why do I miss you already?"
No answer came.*
Just quiet.*
Until—
A single black feather drifted down from nowhere… landing gently in his lap.*
Still warm to touch.*
And as Jin picked it up between two fingers—he smiled for since waking up in this world…
Small. Weak. But real.*
Because somehow,* without seeing your face,* hearing your voice,* or knowing your past…
You already knew what it meant
to belong to someone. And maybe…
He didn't want to fight it anymore.
***
*In the dark forest beyond the city, two figures moved silently... Until they paused beneath a tall tree. Soft grass and shadows muffled their footsteps. Moonlight filtered through branches above, leaving their faces in shadow.*
"We should... stop," the smaller said softly, trying to catch his breath.
The larger—who was still standing—turned back, breathing just as heavy.
"Are you sure?" he replied. He stepped forward until their bodies were almost touching in the dark.
The smaller man swallowed dryly, suddenly aware of just how close they were. His heart pounded fast.
"Yes…" he answered eventually—barely a whisper. But there was a hint of hesitation in his voice.
The other man noticed it, too. He moved closer now, so their arms were brushing.
Close enough to hear every soft exhale… every quickened breath…
The smaller man tried to move away—but then warm fingers touched his chin, turning his head gently.
Their faces now inches apart, he could see the other man's eyes shining in faint moonlight just beyond the shadows.
"Are you afraid?" the larger murmured.
Heat rushed instantly to the smaller man's cheeks. His heart was like a hammer in his chest.*
"No," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
The other man's fingers brushed the side of his face.
"You're shaking."
"I'm cold," the smaller said, trying to step away again.
But the other man caught his wrist and pulled him back—so their bodies were pressed close, no space between them.
The smaller man's breath hitched softly.*
"You're not," the other whispered.
His fingers trailed down the smaller's neck… lingering at his pulse… feeling how fast his heart was beating.
The smaller man inhaled sharply, eyes fluttering shut. He could feel the other's chest against his.
"This… this isn't—" he protested weakly.
But the other man's thumb brushed his lower lip gently, silencing him.
"If you want me to stop," he murmured, leaning closer, "Say it."
Heat washed over the smaller man in waves. He tried to gather his thoughts—but it was impossible, standing this close.
And the other man was still touching him, holding his wrist. He could feel warm fingers tracing small, burning paths along his arm... up… along his shoulder…
Then the smaller man felt teeth graze the sensitive skin of his neck, just beneath his ear. He shivered... and swallowed hard.
"Say it," the other repeated quietly... breath hot against his ear.
The smaller man's head started swimming.
He should've said "stop".
Or moved away.
But his body was responding—in ways he hadn't expected—to the other's touch…
That warm breath against his ear…
Those fingers that moved ever so slowly down…
He couldn't think—couldn't speak—couldn't do anything except...
He exhaled shakily. "Don't stop..."
Heat rushed through the smaller man like fire, spreading to every part of him… even the air suddenly felt heavy, thick with tension*
The other man's hand touched his waist—his grip tightening. His voice came out rough.
"Say it again."
*God help him,* the smaller thought—as his own answer whispered into the silence:*
"Don't… stop…"
The other man's fingers pressed hard into his hips, pulling them even closer. The air escaped the smaller man in a soft gasp.
He could feel *everything* now—all of the other's body against his, every point of contact burning like flames.
Then the other man's voice came again—low and *needing*...
"Say my name."