That night, Seo-yoon's body burned.
Her head felt heavy. Her thoughts blurred.
A high fever.
But no one came.
She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, her breathing uneven.
"…Just… one night…" she whispered.
"…Please…"
But the house stayed quiet.
Morning came too fast.
Her door opened.
Her mother stood there, expression unchanged.
"You're going to school."
Seo-yoon's voice was weak.
"…I'm not feeling well…"
Her mother didn't step closer.
Didn't check her temperature.
Didn't ask anything.
"School is important. You'll go."
Seo-yoon slowly sat up.
Her vision swayed slightly.
But she didn't argue.
She never did.
"…Okay."
🏫 At School
The world felt different.
Too bright.
Too loud.
Too much.
Seo-yoon walked through the hallways slowly.
Her steps unsteady.
Her head still pounding.
"Seo-yoon!"
A familiar voice.
Yujin.
Her best friend.
Yujin rushed over, worry clear on her face.
"Hey—are you okay? You look terrible…"
Seo-yoon tried to answer.
But her vision blurred slightly.
"…I'm fine…"
Yujin frowned immediately.
"No, you're not."
Before Seo-yoon could say anything—
Her legs weakened.
And everything tilted.
⚡ Collapse
The world went dark for a moment.
But she didn't hit the ground.
Strong arms caught her.
"Hey—!"
A boy's voice.
Seo-yoon's eyes barely opened.
A figure above her.
"…Yunhao…" Yujin's voice echoed faintly.
Yujin's older brother.
Yunhao looked down at Seo-yoon, concern in his eyes.
"…She's burning up…"
Seo-yoon's breathing was weak.
Her eyelids heavy.
"…I… didn't…" she murmured.
Yunhao adjusted his hold slightly, steadying her.
"Don't talk. I've got you."
There was something calm in his voice.
Something steady.
Something she wasn't used to.
🌙 A New Presence
For the first time in a long time…
Seo-yoon wasn't alone in that moment.
Yujin stayed close, watching worriedly.
"…She pushed herself too hard again…"
Yunhao didn't respond.
He just looked at Seo-yoon.
Carefully.
As if noticing something deeper.
Something others couldn't see.
"…She's not just sick," he said quietly.
Yujin blinked.
"…What do you mean?"
But Yunhao didn't answer.
Because in that moment—
Seo-yoon's eyes slowly opened.
And she looked straight at him.
Their eyes met.
For a second—
Time felt still.
Something passed between them.
Silent.
Unspoken.
Recognition.
"…You…" Seo-yoon whispered.
Yunhao's expression changed slightly.
"…You can feel it too, can't you?"
Yujin looked between them.
Confused.
"…What are you talking about?"
But neither of them answered her.
Because both of them knew—
This meeting wasn't random.
It was the beginning of something much bigger.