Nara stepped into the hall, dressed in a sleek, black silky dress that flowed softly around her, catching the light with every movement.
Her short, layered bob was perfectly styled, with gentle waves that added a touch of elegance, framing her face beautifully.
As she entered, she looked around with a gentle smile, her mesmerizing eyes shimmering softly in the festive glow.
Every breath she took caused her to tremble slightly, a mixture of excitement and joy.
Finally, her gaze settled on Ha-Joon.
She approached quietly, tapping his shoulder gently. He turned around just as she did, and his mouth opened slightly in surprise.
She looked stunning—her big, captivating eyes shining brightly, full of warmth, and her smile was sharp and radiant, lighting up her entire face.
"Hi, Ha-Joon," she whispered softly, "happy birthday."
Ha-Joon blinked, momentarily caught off guard, then quickly came back to himself. With a warm smile, he nodded and said, "Thanks, Nara. You look amazing."
Nara giggled softly, a playful glint in her eyes. "Thank you," she replied cheerfully. "And you look mature now—not so soft, like you always used to look." Her words made Ha-Joon smile proudly, and he gently ruffled his hair, feeling a surge of confidence.
Suddenly, a brief pause filled the air—a moment of silence—before a cheerful voice announced, "Ha-Joon, it's time to cut the cake!"
With a gentle squeeze of Nara's hand, Ha-Joon led her toward the cake table.
They moved together, ready to celebrate, when Ji-Woo was walking nearby with a tray of drinks in her hand.
Out of nowhere, she bumped into In-Su, causing his glasses to slip from his face and fall onto the floor with a soft clink.
His striking red eyes widened in panic as he instinctively tried to step back, trying to conceal his surprise.
" In-Su," Ji-Woo softly called, recognizing him instantly. Her eyes widened with shock, and in a sudden move, she dropped the tray from her hands.
The clattering sound drew everyone's attention, all eyes turning toward her and the fallen tray.
In that moment, just before Ha-Joon was about to cut the cake, the atmosphere shifted—tension rising as the unexpected encounter unfolded, halting the celebration for a brief, tense second.
Ji-Woo's voice cut sharply through the party's festive atmosphere.
"In-Su? What are you doing here?" she asked, her hands pressed against her chest, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.
In-Su tried to explain himself, but before he could, Ji-Woo swiftly yanked off his mask. Stumbling slightly, he looked vulnerable, revealing his face for everyone to see.
"Why is he here? To cause trouble?" Mr. Kim asked, moving forward with concern etched on his face. His voice was firm, alarmed by the unexpected appearance of In-Su.
Mrs. Kim's voice, soft at first, grew harder and sterner, her eyes narrowing with fury.
"Why is he here?" she demanded, her tone sharp. Her gaze fixed on In-Su, who now moved back, breathing heavily and looking anxious.
Min-Ju's voice was accusatory. "Who invited him?"
Ha-Joon stepped closer to the scene, trying to assert himself.
"I did," he said firmly. "I invited In-Su… he's my friend." His words echoed with a mix of conviction and confusion.
Mrs. Kim snapped, her voice rising.
"Friend? We told you not to talk to him! Do you even know who he is?" Her shout startled everyone, including Ha-Joon, who looked taken aback.
The party's mood shifted as worry grew—something felt wrong. From the back of the room, Joy whispered urgently, "This is bad," and quickly moved to intervene.
She stepped between the tense group, trying to calm the situation.
Shocked, Ji-Woo looked at her, and Min-Ju's frustration grew.
Mrs. Kim's anger boiled over, and she pushed Joy aside, causing her to fall to the ground.
Joy quickly got up and pushed Min-Ju back, her voice trembling with anger. " stop now or else... " she shouted.
Mrs. Kim, furious, grabbed Ha-Joon's arm and glared at In-Su. "If I ever see you close to my son again, I will burn you alive... you monster," she spat.
Ha-Joon, trying to defend In-Su, yanked his hand from his mother's grip. "Mom, why are you being so harsh on him?"
''His my friend... just leave him alone.''
Then Ji-Woo stepped forward, her eyes fixed on In-Su, then on Ha-Joon.
"He's a vampire," she revealed dramatically. The crowd gasped. "He's here to destroy us—you, me, everyone. His parents sent him," she added with disdain.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock. "Vampire? Pffft…" Ha-Joon hesitated, not believing her.
But Ji-Woo moved closer to In-Su, trying to prove her point. She lifted In-Su's face with her hand and smirks.
"Look at his fangs—vampires have fangs," she said, pointing to his mouth. "And look at his eyes—red as blood." Her voice was full of conviction, letting go of his chin.
Suddenly, an idea struck her. She grabbed a knife meant for cutting Ha-Joon's birthday cake and sliced her own hand.
Blood started flowing down her palm. Holding her bleeding hand up, she showed it to In-Su with a smirk.
Overwhelmed by temptation, In-Su's eyes flickered. He closed his eyes, as if trying to shake off the urge, but failed.
His eyes glowed red, his fangs sharpened, and his skin took on strange patterns of pale purple and gray.
He struggled to hide his true nature, but it was impossible. His body trembled, and he almost fell over, knocking aside the cake and other objects.
Ha-Joon watched in silence, his mouth agape and eyes wide. Yuki, Nira, Nara, and Joon-Seo observed with curiosity and confusion.
'' what's happening?'' Nira whispered to the rest as she held Yuki's hand in fear.
Ha-Joon moved forward carefully, voice low and concerned. "In-Su, are you okay? do you need my help? don't listen to them In-Su I know you're a great person" he asked softly.
In-Su, overwhelmed and struggling to control himself, nearly attacked.
But he fought it back, forcing himself to run outside. The crowd quickly followed, calling his name, but he vanished into the night.
As everyone stood there in stunned silence, suddenly, rain began to pour down, drenching the scene in a cold, grey mist.
Ha-Joon remained rooted in place, head bowed low, motionless. His mind was overwhelmed with what had just transpired—confusion, sadness, and frustration swirling inside him.
Nira and Yuki exchanged glances, silently understanding each other's feelings. They nodded at Joy, who responded with a small, determined nod.
Without a word, they turned and walked away, leaving the tense scene behind.
Joon-Seo lingered for a moment, arms in his pockets, his face unusually softened, his hair getting drench he has—no longer the usual grumpy expression but one filled with concern.
He stared at Ha-Joon, who was getting soaked in the rain, droplets clinging to his hair and clothes.
After a moment, Joon-Seo turned and walked off, leaving Ha-Joon alone in the rain.
Nara glanced at Ha-Joon's parents, offering a small wave of goodbye before she too left, her figure disappearing into the distance.
Joy, holding Ji-Hoo's hand tightly, dragged him away, both their faces filled with worry and regret.
Meanwhile, Ji-Woo tried to speak, her voice trembling, holding her bloody hands. "Ha-Joon, we're sorry..." she began, but Ha-Joon cut her off sharply.
"Quiet," he snapped, water dripping from his hair, tears streaming down his face, his nose red from crying.
His voice was thick with emotion. "I don't want to talk to you."
He looked up, eyes filled with pain and confusion. "Why did you do this? To him? What has he done? I told him—my parents value friendship. What will he think now? Am I a liar?"
Mrs. Kim moved hesitantly toward him, but then stopped, unsure whether to approach.
Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the scene in a brief, harsh light. Ha-Joon wiped his tears with his sleeve, voice trembling.
"All I ever wanted," he whispered, "was to be friends with In-Su. But you didn't let that happen..." His voice broke, and he looked down, devastated.
The others, seeing his pain, quietly decided to leave him alone outside in the pouring rain, letting him cry in solitude as the storm raged around him.