Someone's breathing sounded ragged, fast, and uncontrolled. The surrounding atmosphere was chaotic, punctuated by faint screams of pain. To the observer, a lifeless body could be seen leaning against the wall, its clothes soaked and smeared with blood.
Their eyes then fixed on the scene ahead. A young man was swinging a knife, killing without mercy. The repeated stabbing filled the space, causing blood to gush onto his clothes and cling to both his hands.
"Jo... Jo..." A weak voice escaped their lips, as their right hand tried to reach out to the young man. However, their strength failed them.
The killer looked young, no more than fifteen years old. Slowly, he turned around, staring at the individual who was witnessing his act. His expression was clearly anxious, as if he was worried about the gaze that was watching him.
"Hyun Jin!... Hyun Jin!" His voice reverberated, full of urgency. "Wake up! Hyun Jin, wake up!" His scream echoed sharply, trembling through the atmosphere.
The vision blurred, the world around him slowly sinking into darkness. Yet, the voice persisted.
"Hyun Jin... Hyun Jin..." The voice, which initially belonged to a young man, suddenly turned into a soft, warm female voice. "Hyun Jin, wake up."
The young man opened his eyes with a start, his breath momentarily caught as if he had just woken from a seizing nightmare. His eyes darted around, full of fear, before his gaze fell upon his mother sitting by the bedside.
"Huff... huff..." Hyun Jin breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly after enduring the bad dream.
"Hyun Jin," his mother's voice resonated softly, full of affection, "get ready to help your mother. Dawn is breaking."
The mother's gentle tone seemed to soothe the lingering chaos in Hyun Jin's soul.
"Hm? Why is your face soaked with sweat? Did you just have a strange dream?" Hyun Jin's mother asked, her voice laden with worry.
"No... I didn't dream anything strange...," Hyun Jin replied, trying to conceal the truth from his mother.
"Oh, alright... if that's the case, get up and come help me." A small smile graced his mother's face, slightly relieved by her son's answer. "But if you ever want to talk about it, let me know, okay? I'm always willing to listen."
Hyun Jin smiled at those words. After his mother stepped out of the room, he slowly got out of bed. His hands reached for his toiletries to get ready.
Before heading to the bathroom, Hyun Jin opened his room's window panes one by one. The morning light streamed in, illuminating the gloomy space. A faint smile still touched his face, even though the nightmare was still fresh in his memory.
"Ugh... why does my face look so terrible after waking up?" Hyun Jin slapped his forehead while staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His hair was messy and still damp with sweat droplets from the nightmare. His eyes were still a little puffy, but a faint smile tried to mask the lingering fear.
The sound of running water from the shower could be heard, washing over his body. Slowly, he lathered soap onto his body, while the morning sun began to pierce through the bathroom window, casting a warm glow into the small space. The scent of soap and fresh morning air collided, providing a sense of calm distinct from his dark dream just moments before.
"La da la dada, la da da da!" His voice echoed loudly, filling the bathroom with a cheerful tune. Hyun Jin's voice seemed to be trying to ward off the shadow of his nightmare, transforming it into morning spirit.
"He's started again," sighed his younger sister, Lee Hae Rin, slapping her forehead. Her face showed a mixture of disgust and amusement, already accustomed to her brother's habit of singing every morning.
"Yes, he's started again," their mother replied with a wide smile, stifling a laugh behind the door as she prepared to open their eatery. The morning air felt warm and full of affection, contrasting with the nightmare that still lingered in Hyun Jin's mind.
"The sky is blue and I feel so new, singing along to the happy tune, I only got one thing on my mind..." Hyun Jin's voice grew louder, echoing throughout the bathroom. He danced a little, slapped the wall, and let the water wash over his body as he continued to sing with sheer delight.
"Oppa!" shouted Hae Rin, her voice full of impatience from outside the bathroom.
"Yes? What is it?" Hyun Jin replied, still smiling, his voice remaining loud even though he knew his sister couldn't stand the noise.
"COULD YOU PLEASE SING SOFTER? YOUR VOICE IS SO LOUD!" Hae Rin yelled, emphasizing her desire for her brother to sing quietly.
Hyun Jin smiled faintly, suppressing a laugh. Although he had just gone through a terrifying dream, the cheerful morning atmosphere, the sunlight streaming through the window, and his family's antics made the world feel warmer and more real. For a moment, the dark shadow felt distant, replaced by a momentary sense of peace and happiness.
Far outside the shop, the clear sound of bicycle tires scraping against the sandy surface broke the morning silence. When Hae Rin stepped out of the shop, her gaze fixed on the end of the road where two teenage boys were cycling quickly, as if racing toward her.
"OII!!! HAE RIN!" shouted one of them, his right hand waving high.
Hae Rin immediately turned around. "Huh!? Ji Hwan!? Hurry up and come here!" Hae Rin shouted, her face cheerful with her sweet smile remaining intact on her lips.
"Don't get distracted, Ji Hwan! I'm going to get there first!" yelled Ji Hwan's friend from behind, accelerating hard, his cycling steady and fast.
"HWANG DOO HO! I WON'T LOSE TO YOU!" Ji Hwan shouted enthusiastically, deliberately speeding up his pedaling to overtake his friend.
The competition was fierce during the race. However, Doo Ho played dirty, threatening him with a wide grin.
"Hehehe, Nam Ji Hwan, if you don't let me win... I'm going to tell Hae Rin that you wrote her name in your history notes."
Ji Hwan almost fell off his bike. "You... you were spying on me??"
"Not spying...but investigative curiosity," Doo Ho replied casually.
Ji Hwan let out a small shriek of annoyance, "YOU ARE A TRAITOR TO FRIENDSHIP!"
"A traitor with a noble mission," Doo Ho countered, continuing to speed up, now with hope and a threat on his side.
"YAYYY, I WIN!! SERVES YOU RIGHT FOR LOSING!" Doo Ho taunted Ji Hwan who had lost.
"Cough... cough! You guys are so fast!" Hae Rin coughed lightly, covering her nose as the dust from the race hit her face.
"Uhh... agh, hahaha, sorry about that," Ji Hwan chuckled slightly while raising his hand, feeling a bit guilty seeing Hae Rin getting hit by the dust their cycling had kicked up.
"Ugh! Annoying!" Without warning, Hae Rin delivered a light punch to Ji Hwan's stomach, enough to make him stumble back slightly.
"Ouch! Ow! Was that a punishment?" Ji Hwan groaned while laughing, still managing to grin.
"HAHAHA! Serves you right!" Doo Ho burst into loud laughter, nearly falling off his bike.
However, just moments later, he received a 'punishment' himself. "OWW!! That hurts, man!" Doo Ho cried out when his ear was forcefully pulled by Hae Rin.
"Serves you right for joking around," muttered Hae Rin as she let go of Doo Ho's ear, who was now wincing and rubbing the 'injured' spot.
"Hae Rin... don't be so rough. They came here to help carry the goods," a woman's gentle voice interjected. Their mother emerged from the shop doorway, holding some items to be arranged on the front shelf.
"Ha, ha! Auntie supports me, right? See, I came with a noble intention!" Doo Ho immediately teased, still sporting a mischievous grin.
"Shut up," Hae Rin retorted with a sharp glare, yet a smile was still subtly visible on her lips.
Suddenly, a small voice echoed from inside the house.
"Sister... where are you?"
Hae Rin spun around quickly. "Huh? Tae Rin? You're awake already?" Her expression softened instantly. She immediately stepped quickly into the house, leaving the chaotic scene with the gentle smile that never left her face.
"I thought you two were just talking, but you actually followed through," Hyun Jin's mother said with a small laugh as her son's two friends arrived at the house.
"Ehh... of course we'd help, Auntie. We're close friends with Hyun Jin, after all. Besides, we promised yesterday that we'd come and help today, hehe," Ji Hwan replied in a gentle tone while lifting some items and placing them on the table.
"Hm? Is Hyun Jin well today, Auntie? How is he doing?" asked Doo Ho, also helping to carry the goods.
"Hyun Jin is fine, he has recovered from the fever. He's taking a shower right now," replied Hyun Jin's mother with a smile.
"If you two want to see him, you can go in. But please wait until he finishes showering, alright?"
Ji Hwan and Doo Ho nodded in understanding. They finished their work outside first before entering Hyun Jin's house.
"Uhh, what's the date today?" asked Ji Hwan, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"May 8th, 2007. It's Saturday," Hyun Jin's mother and Doo Ho answered simultaneously.
"That's a very complete answer, hahaha. Thank you," Ji Hwan replied with a light laugh.
"But..." Hyun Jin's mother's voice trailed off.
"Hm? Why, Auntie?" Ji Hwan turned, asking softly. Beside him, Doo Ho remained silent, his eyes not shifting from the woman's face at all. His gaze was sharp, as if scrutinizing every expression on her face.
The atmosphere in front of the house suddenly became silent. Only the rustling of the wind could be heard, growing stronger, making the leaves in the yard sway slowly.
Hyun Jin's mother took a small breath before looking back at Doo Ho. "Hm... you can probably guess, can't you, Doo Ho?" her voice was soft but laden with unspoken meaning.
Doo Ho did not answer immediately. He just closed his eyes for a moment, as if collecting his breath. "Yes... of course," he finally replied, his tone heavy.
"Hm? Guess what, Doo Ho?" Ji Hwan furrowed his brow, clearly confused. That was why he asked, he genuinely didn't understand what Doo Ho meant.
Doo Ho lowered his face slightly, his voice low but clear, as if every word carried a heavy burden. "That thing... it will haunt him forever, even if he tries to forget. Including you too, Auntie."
Silence fell once more. Only the sound of the wind rustling the leaves in the yard accompanied them.
"You mean—" Ji Hwan couldn't finish his sentence.
"Yes. That's right." Doo Ho immediately cut in, his tone firm and without hesitation, causing Ji Hwan to fall silent.
"Oh, Auntie... please don't cry. Besides, that time has long passed, hasn't it?" Ji Hwan quickly rushed towards Hyun Jin's mother, trying to console her with a soft voice.
Hyun Jin's mother smiled thinly through the tears that were still flowing. "Thank you... for staying with my family ever since Hyun Jin was ten years old... until now you are both seventeen."
She wiped her cheeks slowly, then pulled Ji Hwan into a tight embrace, like a mother hugging her own son.
Doo Ho, observing from the side, stood for a moment before slowly stepping towards them. He patted Ji Hwan's shoulder several times, without saying a word, only offering a gentle, sweet smile.
"HAE RIN! GIVE ME BACK MY PANTS!"
Hyun Jin's loud shout echoed from inside the house, strong enough that the birds perched on the fence scattered in panic.
In the yard, Nam Ji Hwan, Hwang Doo Ho, and Hyun Jin's mother, who were conversing, immediately flinched.
Ji Hwan and Doo Ho quickly turned towards the house, while Hyun Jin's mother merely shook her head slowly and smiled faintly.
"Oh dear... Ji Hwan, Doo Ho. Why don't you two go see what those siblings are up to this time," said the mother, as she arranged the items for her eatery, which was about to open shortly.
With an understanding smile, Ji Hwan and Doo Ho nodded before stepping into Hyun Jin's house.
Upon entering, they froze.
In the middle of the living room stood Hyun Jin wearing only boxers, his face flushed red, clearly struggling between embarrassment and anger. Across the room, Hae Rin stood with a victorious smile, waving her brother's pants in the air.
Ji Hwan and Doo Ho exchanged glances, then burst into simultaneous laughter.
"WHAT IS THIS?! YOU'RE NOT WEARING PANTS?! HAHAHA!!"
Hyun Jin clenched his jaw, trying to salvage what little dignity he had left. But before he could say anything, Hae Rin had already run out, the pants still in her hand.
"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?! GIVE ME BACK MY PANTS!!"
Hyun Jin shouted, pushing his friends aside and chasing Hae Rin out of the house. He quickly glanced left and right, making sure no neighbors were watching, before bolting out with a look of resignation.
Outside, Doo Ho and Ji Hwan could only laugh hysterically as they followed behind.
Hae Rin managed to run towards her mother and hide under the sales table. She put a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. The mother merely smiled, her face clearly struggling to hold back laughter.
A few moments later, a panting Hyun Jin appeared.
"Mom... have you seen Hae Rin?"
he asked, half-hopeful.
His mother shook her head slowly, but the corner of her eye pointed towards the space under the table.
Hyun Jin gave a small nod and then spoke.
"Hae Rin... oh Hae Rin, where are you? This kid is quite good at hiding, huh?"
he said sarcastically, while slowly bending down under the table and lifting the tablecloth.
"AH, THERE YOU ARE, YOU LITTLE MOUSE! QUICKLY, GIVE ME BACK MY PANTS!!"
But before he could reach her, Hae Rin jumped out from under the table like a ninja and immediately ran off again with her brother's pants.
Doo Ho, Ji Hwan, and the mother finally burst into loud laughter together, watching the siblings' chase drama which, apparently... was not yet over.
After running for quite some time, Hae Rin finally started panting heavily. Her breath was shallow, her steps were slow, and she finally had to stop.
"Got you!" Hyun Jin smiled contentedly while pulling his pants back. "Don't ever challenge a tall brother like me again. You'll lose, hahaha!"
"Oh, please," Hae Rin retorted with a slight glare, "it took you forever to catch me. This is only because I got tired!"
Those words silenced Hyun Jin for a moment, and his mother beside them just chuckled lightly at the siblings' conversation.
***
The sun was now beginning to set in the west. Time had passed unnoticed, and the previously noisy house was now calm again. The evening breeze blew gently, carrying the warm aroma of cooking from the kitchen.
[6:40 PM]
After hours of selling and working together, the time to close the shop was finally approaching. They would stop at seven o'clock. Everyone worked together to sweep the floor, clear the tables, and cover the pastry containers a simple atmosphere but full of closeness.
A few dozen minutes later, Nam Ji Hwan and Hwang Doo Ho walked slowly toward Hyun Jin's mother. Their faces looked a little nervous.
Hyun Jin's mother, noticing their reaction, immediately asked softly, "What is it, you two?"
Doo Ho glanced at Ji Hwan briefly before speaking. "Can we sleep over at your place tonight, Auntie? We already asked our parents... and they said yes."
The atmosphere went quiet for a moment. The sky began to turn orange, the last rays of sunlight illuminating their faces.
Then Hyun Jin's mother smiled broadly. "Yes, of course, you can. Hahaha."
Doo Ho's and Ji Hwan's faces brightened instantly. They nearly cheered with joy.
Hyun Jin, who was still sweeping in the back, suddenly shouted, "WOOHOO!! WE'RE PARTYING TONIGHT!"
He raised the broom high like a flag of victory, making everyone present burst into laughter.
The twilight atmosphere felt warm, filled with simple laughter laughter that made their day end perfectly.
***
[12:23 AM]
The house was submerged in silence. There was no sound besides the soft rustling of the wind outside the window. Darkness enveloped every corner, while all the occupants of the house were sound asleep, lulled by dreams.
Hyun Jin slowly opened his eyes. He got up from bed carefully so as not to wake anyone, then stepped off the bed one step at a time. His throat felt dry, and the urge to urinate made him head towards the toilet.
Before leaving, he glanced at his two friends sleeping beside him, Ji Hwan and Doo Ho. A small smile appeared on his lips seeing them so soundly asleep.
"Doo Ho..." he whispered softly, stifling a laugh.
He stepped into the bathroom. The sound of the tap water and the soft flush of the toilet briefly echoed before everything returned to silence.
After cleaning up, Hyun Jin stood in front of the mirror. A faint light from a small lamp illuminated his dimly lit face. He stared at his reflection for a long time, as if searching for something within himself.
Little by little, his expression turned confused. He bent down, both hands resting on the edge of the sink, his mind wandering.
That dream again... why can't I forget it?
He took a deep breath, then whispered softly, his voice almost lost in the sound of the night.
"Joo Hyun..."
He paused. His gaze was empty, looking far into the sink full of his reflection.
"How is your life now...? Is everything alright..."
Silence swallowed the entire house again. Only the slow rotation of the fan accompanied those unanswered words.
"I hope so..."
Hyun Jin let out a heavy sigh, a thin mist fogging the surface of the mirror. His eyes still stared sadly and emptily at his own reflection.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
A strong tremor shook the entire bathroom. The floor vibrated, the walls groaned, and the ceiling light began to flicker. The sound of an electrical buzzing filled the space, creating a stifling atmosphere.
Hyun Jin flinched, his face pale.
"What... what is this...?!"
He immediately turned towards the door and twisted the doorknob as hard as he could.
"HEY!! OPEN UP!! HELP!!!" he shouted in a panic. But the door wouldn't budge, as if locked from the outside.
He kept banging on the door with his hands and shoulder.
"JI HWAN! DOO HO! HAE RIN!! MOM!!"
But there was no reply. No footsteps, no answering voice.
Hyun Jin stood rigid, his chest heaving rapidly. And suddenly...
A rough, deep, heavy voice resonated from all directions.
"HYUN... JIN..."
Hyun Jin froze. His breath caught.
Then the voice came again, this time louder, echoing in the small space.
"HYUN JIN! HYUN JIN!"
He immediately screamed, covering his ears and squeezing his eyes shut tightly.
"Go away!! Don't bother me!!"
The tremor intensified. The mirror began to crack little by little, the sound of crack... crack... crack filling the space.
And then CRASH!
The ceiling light exploded, shattering into pieces, spraying small sparks before everything fell into total darkness.
Hyun Jin's voice was swallowed by the darkness.
All that remained was the sound of his own breathing, heavy, fast, and full of fear.
Darkness enveloped the entire space.
Hyun Jin slowly opened his eyes, and through the gap beneath the bathroom door, a line of bright white light began to penetrate.
He paused. His breathing was heavy, his chest heaving rapidly.
The light grew stronger, shining across the cracked floor, illuminating the walls that were previously shrouded in shadow.
With hands still trembling, Hyun Jin got up. He stared at the door for a long time... before gripping the doorknob tightly.
One deep breath.
And click!
As soon as the door was opened, a blinding light immediately rushed in. It was so bright that he had to tightly squeeze his eyes shut.
A few moments passed.
The light slowly faded, receding like a vanishing morning mist.
Hyun Jin opened his eyes again... slowly.
And before him was something that made him disbelieve what he was seeing.
He fell silent, his body rigid, his gaze empty. He was still confused and had no idea what had just happened.
He only wished that all of this was just a nightmare that would come and go, just like before.
TO BE CONTINUED