Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kim Seungmin was just an ordinary student.

Diligent. Disciplined. Above average grades. A textbook example of what a model student should be—just like most students in Korea.

No more. No less.

But everyone carries secrets.

And so does Seungmin.

“Seungmin-ah, I think it’s time you cut your hair,” his homeroom teacher said, eyes shadowed with a difficult-to-read expression, fingers steepled on the desk. “That fringe of yours ... it’s covering your eyes. Can you even see properly?”

“There’s no issue,” Seungmin replied quietly. “I can see just fine.”

“I see.” The teacher coughed into his fist—clearly a deflection. He rearranged the stack of files in front of him. “Well then, let’s return to the matter at hand.”

They were in the middle of a guidance session—something mandatory for all third-years. A time to fill out the future plan sheets: whether to pursue higher education, jump into the workforce, or start their own path.

And for Seungmin ...?

“I don’t know.”

Kim Seungmin didn’t know what to do after graduation.

He had no plans.

He lowered his gaze, staring at the blank form in front of him—so clean, so painfully empty.

His teacher gave a gentle smile. “That’s okay. That’s what these consultations are for. Just take your time and think it over.”

“Thank you, Seonsaeng-nim.”

He rose from his seat and stepped out of the staff room.

Think it over ….

Seungmin had never had many choices to begin with.

Choices felt like a luxury people like him didn’t get to have.

“Hyunjin-ah! What’s your plan after graduation?”

“Eehhh, no idea. Still confused.”

“Really? You don’t have anything yet?”

“Nope, hehe.”

“Well, it’s you, Hyunjin. I’m sure you’ll be fine~”

Seungmin walked down the corridor, head low as he passed a group of laughing students. Their voices trailed into his ears—warm, carefree, a little too bright for someone like him.

It made him ... a little envious.

Thud.

“Oh?”

He accidentally bumped into one of the boys in the group—tall, dark-haired, and wearing a black earring on his left ear. On anyone else, it might've looked rebellious. But somehow, on him, it fit—maybe it was the face. Striking like a prince, almost unreal.

“Sorry. I didn’t see you,” he said politely.

“No worries.” Seungmin continued walking.

“Wait, hey—”

“Hyunjin-ah, let’s go home!”

“Ah ... yeah.”

Seungmin glanced back. The group walked off, their closeness unmistakable.

If I were normal ... could I have had friends, too?

If only he were normal.

But Kim Seungmin had a secret.

A secret that made “normal” impossible.

***

The sky was folding into dusk. The sun had slipped behind the horizon, cloaked in soft clouds like a tired god preparing for slumber. Seungmin picked up his pace—he needed to get home before dark. That consultation had taken longer than expected.

He reached a street corner and stood at the crossing, eyes on the traffic light. It was quiet—barely any cars. But still, Seungmin waited for the red light. He didn’t like taking risks.

“Oh, you!”

He turned.

It was the same boy—the one with the earring. Dark hair, sharp eyes that somehow still looked gentle. The kind of gaze that didn’t demand, didn’t threaten. He smiled wide, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons.

“Ah ... yeah …?”

Truthfully, Seungmin had no idea what to say. They’d barely exchanged more than two words in the hallway.

“You’re from the other class, right? I’ve never seen you around!” The boy was bright. Energetic. His presence alone was exhausting.

“Yeah. I don’t really socialize.”

“Ohhh? That explains it! So what do you do during lunch?”

“Eat in class. Or ... the library.”

“Whoa, you must be a top student, huh?”

“Not really tho ....”

Seungmin itched to leave. The conversation felt like a trap with no way out. The boy— Hyunjin, wasn’t it? —just wouldn’t stop talking.

Mercifully, the traffic light turned red.

“Let’s cross!” Hyunjin chirped.

Seungmin moved to follow—but something hit him.

A sudden wave of vertigo.

His vision blurred and shifted.

A flicker of a scene.

A car.

Speeding.

Running the red light.

Crashing into students crossing the street.

Blood.

And then—gone.

Seungmin gasped. The world snapped back.

Far off, the low rumble of an engine.

Shit. Not enough time.

A car—fast, far too fast—was approaching.

And Hyunjin had already stepped onto the road.

Seungmin closed his eyes, fighting the pounding in his skull.

And something shifted again.

The car slowed.

The world slowed.

Even the sound of a cat’s meow nearby slowed, drawn out like stretched film.

Time itself was bending.

Seungmin grabbed Hyunjin’s arm.

“Don’t—!”

“Huh?”

He pulled him back, hard, until both of them tumbled against the sidewalk’s edge.

Time snapped back.

The car roared past them at full speed, missing them by inches. And behind it, a convoy of police cruisers howled in pursuit. Only when the noise faded did Seungmin allow himself to breathe again.

“H-Holy shit ... what was that?” Hyunjin’s voice trembled.

Seungmin blinked, his head still spinning. “I ... don’t know,” he murmured.

“Good thing you pulled me back. Thank you.” Hyunjin clutched his chest, visibly shaken. “But how’d you know the car was coming?”

“Ah, I ... heard it in the distance,” Seungmin lied. “I looked before crossing.”

“Still, your reflexes are insane!” Hyunjin laughed—nervous, breathless. “You yanked me back so fast.”

“Haha ... yeah ....” Seungmin wiped sweat from his brow. “I’m just glad no one got hurt.”

“Right! Oh—” Hyunjin held out his hand. “We haven’t introduced ourselves. I’m Hwang Hyunjin.”

Seungmin scratched the back of his neck.

Introductions ... now? Really? At the end of the school year? Right before graduation?

Isn’t that a little—

Still, he took the hand.

“Kim Seungmin,” he said.

“Seungmin-ah!” Hyunjin grinned. “Thank you for saving my life! Seriously, what can I do to repay you?”

“H-Huh? That’s not necessary.”

“No way! I owe you. I could’ve died!”

Technically ... Hyunjin wasn’t wrong.

In Seungmin’s vision, they had died. Both of them.

But Seungmin didn’t save Hyunjin just for Hyunjin.

He did it for himself.

Hyunjin just happened to be there.

“You’re overreacting,” Seungmin said, more seriously this time.

Hyunjin’s smile dimmed, just a little.

Something in his expression flickered—disappointment?

“I should go,” Seungmin added softly.

“But—” Hyunjin bit his lower lip. He didn’t chase after Seungmin, who had already turned and started walking away. “Then ... I’ll see you tomorrow at school!”

Weird guy.

Seungmin didn’t look back.

He just kept walking, as the shadows lengthened behind him.

***

“Monster!”

“Look, his eyes changed! He’s terrifying!!”

“Get away from me, monster!”

“MONSTER!!”

“Gasp!”

Seungmin jolted awake, breath ragged and sharp.

His hand clutched at his chest, as if it might stop the trembling. Cold sweat traced icy lines across his forehead.

That dream again.

The one he could never forget.

The one rooted deep in his past.

He stared down at his palms, unmoving.

The secret he bore—

The reason he would never be just human.

The reason he could see that car, moments before it would have killed him and Hyunjin.

The reason time bent just long enough to pull them out of its path.

The reason he kept his bangs covering his eyes.

Kim Seungmin could manipulate time.

This power had saved him more times than he could count—from accidents, danger, even death.

But of course, like all powers, it came with limitations.

He could slow time, but never speed it up.

He couldn’t rewind it.

He couldn’t leap into the future.

Time, to him, was like a river. A current.

He could slow the water’s flow, he also could stop it for a moment, but never reverse it, never jump ahead. No matter what he did, the river would keep moving.

Still, there was something.

He could see into the past and the future.

Sometimes, visions came to him. A glimpses of what would be. If danger was involved, it meant he had the chance to change it.

And when he touched objects—sometimes even just places—memories surfaced. Ghosts of moments that had once been. People. Feelings. A time long gone.

But there was more.

Something deeper.

He could stop time completely.

And the price for doing so?

Pain.

He touched his eyes. His room was quiet—he was alone. He didn’t need to hide them behind his fringe now.

Whenever his powers awakened, his irises shifted to gold.

A luminous, unnatural gold.

He could control when to slow or stop time. But the visions?

The past. The future.

Those arrived without warning. No pattern. No mercy.

That’s why he always hid his eyes behind that curtain of hair—just in case. Just in case the vision broke through.

The last time someone saw the change ....

It hadn’t ended well.

He reached for his phone.

5:00 a.m.

He got out of bed, stretched, and made his way to the shower. School awaited.

***

“Oh! Seungmin-ah!”

Ugh.

Seungmin grimaced at the sight of Hyunjin bounding toward him with that ever-present, overly radiant smile—rows of perfect white teeth on full display.

“Seung—”

“I’m actually busy,” Seungmin cut in, grasping for an excuse, any excuse. “Maybe next time?”

“In that case ... do you have time after school?” Hyunjin puffed his cheeks in mock frustration. “Let me treat you to a meal! Please? I want to repay you!”

Seungmin scratched his head. He knew if he refuse now, Hyunjin would never let him go until he say, “yes.”

With a long, quiet sigh, he gave in. “Fine.”

Hyunjin lit up like a sunbeam. He waved and jogged off, practically skipping. “See you after school, Seungmin-ah!!”

Seungmin waved back, slowly.

Since when had they gotten ... this familiar?

His fingers brushed the bangs over his eyes.

If Hyunjin ever sees my eyes ... he’ll be just like the others.

“Monster!”

Seungmin shook his head.

Why did he always think like this?

No—this wasn’t negativity. He is just being realistic. He was simply bracing for the worst.

It’s better this way.

Better to stay in his shell, where it was safe. This peaceful monotony ... it was something he needed to protect. That, at least, was what Kim Seungmin believed.

He didn’t know yet.

Didn’t know that something worse was coming.

Something that would drag him out of hiding, whether he was ready or not.

***

“Seungmin-ah. Seungmin-ah!”

Hyunjin’s voice dragged him back to reality.

“Huh? Yeah?”

“What do you want to order?” Hyunjin blinked. “You’ve been spaced out this whole time. Is something bothering you?”

“No.” Seungmin shook his head. “I was just ... thinking about the future.”

“Oh, same!!” Hyunjin groaned dramatically. “Honestly, I do have a rough idea of what I want. But when I start thinking too deeply, everything feels complicated!”

“It’s good that you at least have a rough plan,” Seungmin replied, flipping through the menu absently.

Everything looked expensive ....

Even if Hyunjin was paying, it felt wrong to order anything that cost too much.

“You’re not going to ask what my plan is?” Hyunjin pouted.

Was he terrible at hinting, or was Seungmin just particularly dense?

“You want me to ask?”

“Well—yeah? Aren’t you curious??”

Not really. But Seungmin didn’t say it out loud. He exhaled instead. “So what’s your rough plan?”

“Hyunjin,” the other boy said, still pouting. “Come on—say my name properly! You’ve never called me by my name!”

Seungmin blinked.

He noticed that?

“You want me to change the subject?” Seungmin’s face fell into an unreadable expression.

“I’m kidding!” Hyunjin laughed, scratching the back of his neck. “I plan to go to Melbourne after this!”

“Melbourne?” That actually caught Seungmin’s interest. “As in ... Australia?”

“Exactly!” Hyunjin’s eyes sparkled. “I want to visit the Opera House—you know, the iconic one! And there’s this bridge there, they say it’s beautiful. I want to paint it!!”

Seungmin stayed quiet, letting Hyunjin’s excited voice fill the space. These dreams felt like distant stars—pretty, but far. Out of reach. And yet, Hyunjin made them sound ... light. “That sounds nice,” the words left his mouth without thinking, followed by a small smile.

Hyunjin blinked, surprised. “If I ever become a famous artist, I’ll take you there! No, wait—I'll paint you instead!!” He clenched his fists with comical passion. His eyes burned with unshakable determination. “Actually—why wait?! I’ll paint you right now!”

A soft laugh escaped Seungmin’s lips.

The first real one Hyunjin had ever seen. It took him off guard—and made his own mouth curve upward, helplessly.

So stupid, Seungmin thought.

And yet, the smile didn’t leave his face.

“What’s so special about my face that you want to paint it?”

“What do you mean? You’re handsome. Of course people would want to look at you!”

“Stop it. Who’d ever want to look at someone like me?”

“I’m serious!!”

“Haha.”

That evening felt warmer than most.

***

Who would’ve thought a casual conversation in a small café would bind their friendship tighter than before?

“Seungmin-ah, come to the library with me!!”

“… You can go by yourself—”

“C’mon~”

To be fair, it was usually Hyunjin who dragged Seungmin around from place to place.

Of course, Seungmin could say no. But something in his heart had started to loosen—just a little—making space for Hyunjin to stay there.

Hopefully.

“Seungmin-ah, have you ever thought about cutting your hair?” Hyunjin asked out of nowhere.

Seungmin froze mid-reach, his fingers just inches from the spine of a book. His expression shifted cold. “No,” he replied curtly.

It was a sensitive topic. Hyunjin wasn’t the first to ask about his hair.

If it weren’t for his condition, of course he’d cut it. Who wouldn’t be annoyed with bangs that always fell into their eyes?

“Same! Me neither!”

That response completely caught Seungmin off guard. He’d been bracing himself for a remark like ‘why not?’ or ‘can you even see?’

“I want to grow my hair out! Don’t you think long hair sounds fun? I want to braid it, maybe tie it up! Just wait, once we graduate, I’ll grow it out—ow!”

Seungmin stepped on his foot.

“We’re in the library. Keep your voice down,” he muttered, exhaling as the librarian glared at them from across the room.

“Hehe, sorry.” Hyunjin whispered, grinning wide. “What about you? Want to grow yours out too?”

“Ah … Not as extremely as you.”

“Hey, I’m not that extre—”

“ Sshhh!”

“Sorry….”

Seungmin turned away, hiding a faint smile tugging at his lips.

He wished this day could last forever.

***

Or maybe … he didn’t?

“Hyung!” Hyunjin waved enthusiastically at the man standing in the doorway of the café.

Hyunjin and Seungmin was just chilling at the cafe like usual, but then a tall figure approached them. His hair jet black and his features bearing the sharp precision of East Asia—Japanese, maybe. Seungmin tilted his head, glancing at Hyunjin with a look full of silent question marks.

“Ah, this is my brother! Not by blood, technically—but he’s my brother!” Hyunjin explained brightly. “Hyung, this is my friend!”

The man took the seat beside Hyunjin. His face was unreadable, rigid. His fingers tugged at the tie around his neck, and the look in his eyes wasn’t exactly welcoming.

Seungmin instinctively bowed his head slightly. No need to start a fight. “Kim Seungmin,” he said quietly.

“Yeah.” That was the only reply.

How arrogant, Seungmin thought.

“Hyung, don’t be like that!” Hyunjin pouted. “You’re always like this—you scare all my friends away!”

“Hyunjin-ie, I told you—”

“Shushhh! Shut your mouth, Hyung!!” Hyunjin looked genuinely upset. “Don’t scare off another one!”

Ah. So this wasn’t the first time. Seungmin could understand now.

Hyunjin was the kind of person who attracted people. He’s warm and sociable. Naturally, he had a lot of friends. But Seungmin hadn’t expected that those same friends ran away … because of this ‘brother.’

He started to feel sorry for Hyunjin.

“You said you wanted to meet my friend, so I brought you here,” Hyunjin sighed, rubbing his temples. “Had I known you’d act like this, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

The man’s expression darkened. “I was just making sure—” He stopped. His eyes flickered toward Seungmin, then away. With a long sigh, he stood up. “I’m leaving. Why are your friends always the loser types?”

L-Loser …?

Seungmin’s dignity shattered into pieces.

Okay, so maybe he did look strange. Black, straight hair that fell over his eyes, pale skin, and a thin body that made it seem like he hadn’t eaten in days. But Seungmin did eat regularly! He tried to take care of himself. His clothes were always clean and neat. He couldn’t possibly look that pitiful … right?

Right??

“Hyung!” Hyunjin groaned in frustration.

“Whatever. I’m going.”

Once the man disappeared, Hyunjin let out a long, heavy sigh. “Ughhh, I’m so sorry, Seungmin-ah! He’s always like that … I should’ve known better!”

“… It’s fine.” Seungmin went quiet, brows furrowed. He was genuinely bothered. “Do I really look like a loser?” he asked, uncertain.

Hyunjin blinked, taken aback. “No!” he replied immediately, barely a second after Seungmin’s question left his mouth—so fast it startled him.

“Minho-hyung just has terrible taste! I think you’re incredibly, incredibly handsome!”

Hyunjin said it so seriously, Seungmin suddenly felt embarrassed for asking in the first place. He turned his head, pretending to cough. “Ah—okay, thanks.”

“What do you want to order?”

“… A-Anything.”

“How about—hey, why is your face all red?”

“Ah, just warm in here.” Of course it’s because I’m embarrassed, you idiot! But he couldn’t exactly say that out loud.

Seungmin had spent half his life with this look—eyes hidden beneath his fringe. The last time someone complimented his appearance was before this strange power had awakened.

His power .…

He still didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.

***

Lately, Seungmin had the distinct feeling he was being followed.

He wasn’t sure if it was just paranoia—but he felt eyes watching him. Always from a distance. Always just out of sight.

He had no proof. Every time he glanced around, everything looked normal. But the unease remained.

“You’ve been spacing out a lot lately.”

“It’s just your imagination.” Seungmin popped a potato chip into his mouth and returned to solving problems in his workbook. “I’m just stressed about the graduation exams.”

“But you’re smart, Seungminnie. I’m the one who should be freaking out!” Hyunjin groaned, flopping down onto the carpet. He pushed his notebook and pen away like they were diseased. “Why do graduation exams even exist? Can’t we just graduate without all this pain?”

“If that were the case, everyone would be stupid,” Seungmin rolled his eyes. He wasn’t sure when Hyunjin had started calling him Seungminnie like that. But … he didn’t mind it. “Like you,” he added under his breath.

“Huh? What did you say?”

“Nothing.”

“Hey, I heard that!”

“You’re imagining things.” Seungmin smirked slightly. “Now get back to work. You were the one who asked to study together.”

“Huffft, fiiine.” Hyunjin sat up with a groan and reached for his pen again.

They were currently studying together at Seungmin’s house. The atmosphere was quiet—no, almost too quiet.

“By the way, I haven’t seen anyone else around. Where are your parents?”

Seungmin’s hand paused momentarily, then continued as if nothing had happened. “They already passed away. I live alone.”

This time, Hyunjin froze. His expression turned regretful. “Sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault.” Seungmin shook his head. “I receive a stipend from the scholarship board. My parents also left me a decent amount of savings, so I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I meant—never mind.” Hyunjin sighed. “So, after graduation, are you planning to work or go to college?”

“Work, of course,” Seungmin said without looking up. “I’ve got savings, but it’s not enough. I need to earn more.”

He paused for a beat.

Then, he looked up, meeting Hyunjin’s eyes.

“Maybe I’ll save up for college too. If I manage to, I’ll come visit you in Australia,” he said, chuckling softly.

Hyunjin blinked. “Hey, didn’t I tell you? I’m the one taking you there!” he exclaimed. “You won’t have to pay a cent!”

It would be nice … if that could really happen. Seungmin’s gaze softened.

“Waiting for you to become a famous painter takes too long. You’ll forget me first.”

“No, I won’t! Who said that? I’ve got an amazing memory!”

“Then explain the history of the Joseon Dynasty.”

“W-What?? That’s totally different—!”

“You can’t even remember exam material. How are you supposed to remember me?”

“I told you it’s not the same!!”

If Seungmin’s power allowed him to stop time forever—he might’ve already done it.

Chapter Text

Time flowed like water.

The pages of the calendar had turned. Summer had passed, winter too had slipped away, and now spring had arrived.

The exams were carried out well. His life went on, smooth and quiet. No—he had never felt this peaceful in his entire existence.

Seungmin held tightly to his graduation certificate.

Today was graduation day.

He felt like crying.

“Huwaa, Seungminnie! At last I am free!” Hyunjin braced himself on his knees, breathless. “Why ... are there ... so many people ... asking for photos ...?!”

“You’re rather popular, aren’t you?” Seungmin grinned. “A lot of girls came up to you. I’d bet a few even confessed their love.”

“Ugh, I know! I didn’t even know how to keep rejecting them!!!” Hyunjin sulked, his arms overflowing with flower bouquets, paper bags stuffed with love letters, and chocolates. “What am I supposed to do with all of this?”

Seeing Hyunjin so troubled brought laughter to Seungmin. “Just keep them. Graduation only happens once in a lifetime.”

Hyunjin let out a breathy laugh. “True. All right, let’s take a picture! Here, use my phone! My camera has better quality than yours.”

“Say that again and I’ll throw it.”

“I’m just joking!”

Seungmin still took Hyunjin’s phone. Its camera was indeed much better than his own, so he accepted it without protest. They took a few photos. The results were so bright and clear that Seungmin grew curious how much Hyunjin’s phone had cost.

“Seungminnie, you really aren’t creative, huh?” Hyunjin burst out laughing. “Every pose is the same—either a peace sign or a thumbs up. Are you an old uncle or something?”

“What matters is we’re together in the picture,” Seungmin rolled his eyes. “Don’t forget to send them to me.”

“Yes, yes, of course. Ah, right, I almost forgot—this is for you!” Hyunjin handed him a small bouquet of roses. “Happy graduation day!”

“What the heck.” His tone was sharp, but Seungmin could not stop the smile blossoming on his lips. “Why are you suddenly giving me flowers?”

“Why not? Everyone is holding flowers!” Hyunjin exclaimed.

“Eehh, wait, is this maybe from one of your secret admirers?”

“Hey, no way! That bouquet, I bought it myself!! I prepared it especially for you!!!”

Seungmin let out a bright laugh. “Thank you,” he said, bringing the flowers close to his nose to breathe in their fragrance.

Naturally, Hyunjin would not miss that chance. He quickly lifted his phone and snapped a picture.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

“Hehe, look!” Hyunjin proudly showed him the photo. “Nice, right? You should smile more, Seungminnie!”

Seungmin gazed at his own face on Hyunjin’s screen. His bangs were caught by the breeze, revealing his eyes narrowing like crescent moons. His face shone with a wide smile, the red rose bouquet nestled in his arms.

He had never thought he could look so happy.

Hyunjin’s phone suddenly rang. Hyunjin raised both brows. “Ah, my brother is calling. I think I need to go see him first—and, well, drop off ... all of this stuff.”

Seungmin nodded with a quiet chuckle. “All right. I’ll wait here.”

“I’ll come back, wait for me!”

Seungmin watched as Hyunjin jogged off, disappearing into the crowd. In truth, seeing such a crowd usually drained Seungmin’s energy. But, unexpectedly, this graduation day felt rather pleasant.

Was it because he had a friend?

Seungmin’s eyes grew glassy. He could never cry in front of Hyunjin, and he would never want to admit it.

But Hyunjin’s presence felt like a miracle.

Seungmin was deeply grateful.

The boy leaned against the wall of the auditorium, observing the students absorbed in their own affairs. Some took photos with friends, with family, with lovers. If his parents were still alive, would they have been proud of him?

“I’m living well,” he whispered to himself.

He kept waiting for Hyunjin, but his throat was dry. He had brought no drinks with him. So, pulling out his phone, he sent a message.

Seungmin
I’m going to the convenience store for a bit, okay?

Without waiting for a reply, Seungmin slipped his phone back into his pants pocket and headed for the store. It was not far, right across the school’s main gate. The street was crowded, of course, on graduation day. It was no wonder the small convenience store was packed tight with students and parents alike.

Seungmin tilted his head.

Just seeing the crowd at the cashier already made him feel weary.

Should I just go back?

But he was thirsty.

Then, an idea sparked in his mind.

Seungmin knew there was another convenience store around here. It was about fifteen minutes on foot. Not too far, but not exactly close either. That was why most students preferred the store in front of the school, since it was so near.

But with that store packed, of course Seungmin would rather go to the other one.

Still clutching the rose bouquet, Seungmin turned and walked in the opposite direction. He could only hope people would not think it strange to see him carrying roses like this.

Little by little, the atmosphere returned to normal. He walked away from the school, away from the clamor of graduation day. Seungmin savored that brief moment of quiet, before hastening his steps.

Someone was following him.

Seungmin did not need to look back to make sure. It was proven by the sound of footsteps behind him that sped up, matching his own pace.

Seungmin’s calm view abruptly darkened.

A vision he had not seen in a long time came rushing back to him.

No good thing ever happened whenever he had these visions.

Always disaster.

Seungmin saw the man behind him suddenly cover his mouth. A van appeared, forcing him inside. That vision ended, at the same time Seungmin spun around and hurled the bouquet of roses at the mysterious man.

The man looked startled, clearly not expecting Seungmin’s reaction. That was enough time for Seungmin to run.

“Help!” he screamed, praying someone would hear him. But damn it, the street was empty. No one at all, not even a passing car.

“Catch that kid!”

Seungmin had not expected that it was not just one pursuer, but three of them altogether. They were frighteningly fast, nearly catching Seungmin if he had not activated his power to slow down time. The problem was, using his power while running drained him. Several times his ability cut off on its own, and several times he nearly got caught.

Up ahead, Seungmin saw a figure in the distance. Seungmin shouted, hoping whoever it was would help him.

“Help me!” he cried until his throat burned. “Please!”

The figure came running toward Seungmin. Just as Seungmin let out a breath of relief, another vision crashed into him.

His heart dropped.

In that vision, the person in front of him also seized him.

It was only a brief glimpse, but enough to send Seungmin into panic.

He did not have time to reactivate his power to slow time. He could not change direction either, since he was being chased from both sides. In the end, the dreadful vision came true.

He got caught.

A large hand smothered his mouth with a handkerchief. A sharp scent stabbed his nose, making his head spin.

The last thing Seungmin saw was the grinning face of the man who had captured him.

Before everything turned to darkness.

***

When Seungmin regained consciousness, he felt his body lying upon an unfamiliar surface.

He chose to keep his eyes closed as distant voices filtered into his ears.

"He's still asleep, right?"

"Yeah, don’t worry."

"Don’t forget to tie him up, in case he wakes suddenly."

"Seems like the kid has a defensive-type power, not combat. That day, he only ran away—didn’t fight back."

"Which is exactly the problem. What if he tries to escape again?"

"We just need to catch him. There’s no way he could run far in a forest like this."

Seungmin’s heart pounded.

A forest? That day?

Where was he now?

How long had he been unconscious?

Who were these people?

Power? What exactly were they talking about?

"This new sedative is crazy effective. Was it the Boss who made it?"

"That’s what I heard. Apparently, it could even put an elephant to sleep. No wonder the kid’s still out cold."

Seungmin felt tears prick at his eyes.

How long had he truly been here?

He could imagine it now—his face broadcast on TV screens, printed in newspapers, labeled as a missing person.

But Seungmin steeled himself.

It was fine. No one would notice. No one would care. Even if he’s gone, no one would shed a single tears. He’d always been alone, from the very beginning—

"Seungminnie!"

Hyunjin’s face suddenly flashed in his mind.

No.

Seungmin clenched his teeth.

He had to escape.

"How much longer are we staying here?"

"The Boss is arriving tomorrow morning. If he’s still unconscious, it’ll be easier to take him to HQ."

"Well, he’s in the trunk, right? Even if he wakes up and tries to run, we can just restrain him again."

That was all Seungmin needed to grasp his situation — even as he lay motionless, pretending to be unconscious.

There had been five people who captured him that day.

Now, it was confirmed that two of them were outside the car, chatting.

He couldn’t sense anyone else nearby. Most likely, the others were away.

Good.

He just had to wait for the right moment.

“Check on the kid again.”

“Huff, I bet he’s still out.”

He heard the car trunk open. Afternoon sunlight pierced beneath his still-shut lids.

“See? I told y—”

Seungmin opened his eyes.

And at the same time, his pupils gleamed gold.

The man’s words halted.

The world around them halted.

No sound of dripping water. No chirping birds. Even the birds mid-flight froze in the air.

Everything stopped.

Time itself stopped ticking.

The highest level of time manipulation—

Seungmin had stopped time.

He had never dared to use this power before, the side effects were far too brutal.

Seungmin moved his hand.

Slash.

A scratch appeared on his skin.

He bit his lower lip, bracing against the pain.

Whenever Seungmin moved while time was frozen, a slash of scratch would mark his body. As if something invisible was cutting through him with every step. That was the price he had to pay to move within stopped time.

Seungmin rose from his position. He crawled out of the car’s trunk, past the two guards. They wore black cloaks and cloth masks. He couldn’t see their faces, but the crimson infinity symbol stitched onto their backs caught his eye for a fleeting second.

Slash. Slash.

Blood began to seep through his white shirt.

Seungmin bit down harder on his lip.

He made it out of the car, took three steps—

And already his body was covered in wounds.

His white shirt now stained red.

Seungmin dared not look down at himself. The only thing he felt was pain. Pain as though his body were being shredded by unseen blades. He drew in a deep breath and steeled his will.

Then, he deactivated his power.

"What the—"

Only to reactivate it immediately.

This time, he slowed time.

Seungmin ran with every ounce of strength he had. His energy was unstable—his ability wore off quickly.

“Catch him!”

“Ugh?!”

Seungmin forced his power to activate once again when he saw a man appear ahead, armed with equipment. He darted away before time returned to full speed.

“Idiot! Don’t let him get away!”

This time, Seungmin pushed his power again and again in bursts. He glanced over his shoulder. They were pointing guns at him.

His foresight—combined with his ability to slow time—had kept him alive up to this point.

But Seungmin was still far from safe.

He kept running.

Blood dripped from his nose and ears, but he didn’t care.

New cuts from wild branches marked his skin, but he didn’t stop.

He fell more than once, came close to being caught more than once, wanted to give up—more than once.

But no.

He couldn’t give up.

He wouldn’t give up.

Seungmin wanted to live.

Another vision surged into Seungmin’s senses.

He braced for the worst.

But this one ….

This vision was different.

In this one, he saw himself surrounded by a group of people—

Protecting him.

Fighting off the dark-cloaked pursuers.

They were saving him.

For the first time, Seungmin’s vision wasn’t a disaster.

It was hope.

So, Seungmin ran.

He followed the path from his vision, until—

He saw them.

A silhouette in the distance.

“Help!” he screamed, until his throat felt like it would tear. “Help me, please!!”

The silhouette grew clearer with every step.

Seungmin reached out his hand.

He had nothing left.

His legs gave out.

His body collapsed.

But a hand caught him.

The warm orange of sunset filtered through the trees, just enough for Seungmin to see the figure before him.

A figure he never expected to find in a moment like this.

“Seungminnie?”

Seungmin’s eyes widened.

It was Hyunjin, holding him up so he wouldn’t fall.

That face—

Is he really Hyunjin?

He wasn’t hallucinating, was he?

Not just seeing the one person he longed for, now that he was on the brink of death?

“Hyunjin ....”

Seungmin broke down in tears.

He didn’t know what he was crying for.

For the pain, the fear, or the relief.

He didn’t care whether this Hyunjin was real or not.

Right now, he could see his best friend’s face—

And that was enough.

“Seungminnie, it’s okay.”

Hyunjin’s voice was soft and steady. His arms wrapped tightly around Seungmin.

“Everything will be alright. I promise.”

Seungmin had never placed his hope in others.

He never wanted to live depending on someone else.

But just this once, he wanted to believe in that promise.

Seungmin closed his eyes.

He let his body fall fully into Hyunjin’s embrace.

And before he could realize it, Seungmin lost consciousness once more.

Chapter Text

Hyunjin’s first impression of Seungmin was ... strange.

When he accidentally bumped into him in the hallway, the response he got was cold and brief.

"Who’s that?" Hyunjin asked one of his friends.

"Oh, he’s in my class. He’s not very sociable. More of a loner, but not anti-social," the friend explained. "He’s a good person, really. But, well ... his appearance is a bit odd."

"His bangs, right?"

"Exactly. The teachers have scolded him many times, but he just doesn’t care. Well, as long as it’s still within the school’s rules, no one can really forbid it."

Strange.

A strange boy.

But Hyunjin’s second impression of Seungmin changed drastically.

Still the same day, just a different time.

Wow, his reflexes are incredible! Hyunjin thought, right after Seungmin pulled him back to keep him from getting hit by a speeding car.

He watched the car speed past them, followed quickly by several police vehicles.

Suspicious.

I should report this to Hyung later.

Hyunjin turned to look at Seungmin. The wind and the movement from his quick action had disturbed his hair, shifting the bangs that usually veiled his eyes.

For the first time, Hyunjin saw the large hazel eyes hidden beneath them.

Pretty.

His eyes reminded him of a puppy’s.

Hyunjin reached out his hand to introduce himself.

He had made up his mind—he wanted to make more friends before graduating high school.

And Kim Seungmin was, without a doubt, interesting.

He was a relatively simple student. Not exactly quiet, just calm—only speaking when necessary. Seungmin was also brilliant in academics.

An ordinary student, yet … not quite.

Hyunjin couldn’t find the right words to describe him.

At first, Seungmin had been hard to approach.

That’s why when Hyunjin saw him smile for the first time, he couldn’t contain his joy.

They only had a few months left until graduation, so Hyunjin planned to make the most of it—with his new friend.

"Hyunjinnie, you seem happier lately."

Hyunjin looked up from where he was sketching on the sofa, glancing at the man sitting across from him.

"Is that a problem?"

"No, I’m just asking."

Hyunjin swung his legs, thinking for a moment before finally saying, "I made a new friend. He’s really interesting!"

The man’s expression changed—clearly displeased.

"Hyunjinnie, how many times have I told you not to get too close to the kids at your school?"

Hyunjin rolled his eyes. "Why not, Hyung? This is my last year. Let me enjoy a little freedom!"

"But—"

"Even Chan-hyung said it’s fine to get along with schoolmates." Hyunjin pouted. "Minho-hyung, you’re too controlling!"

"Haaahhh, do what you want." Minho scratched his head in defeat. "Just make sure he doesn’t find out about your powers."

"Heh, I’m always careful. Relax~"

"The last time you got caught using your powers, you had to transfer schools again. Remember that?" Minho glared at him, pointing a stern finger. "Don’t let that happen again."

Hyunjin began to sweat. "O-Okay, I’ll be careful."

Minho sighed once more. "Let me meet this friend of yours."

Hyunjin's face soured. "No way! You’ll make him uncomfortable, just like the last time you met my other friends!"

"I won’t. I just want to see him. You said he’s interesting."

"... You promise?"

"I promise."

And of course, Minho broke his promise.

"I’m leaving. Why are your friends always the loser types?"

Hyunjin was furious.

"Hyung!"

What if Seungmin didn’t want to be friends with him anymore—just like the others?

"It’s fine." Seungmin’s face remained flat as he said it.

Which made things worse! Hyunjin couldn’t tell if Seungmin was angry or sad!

What if he doesn’t want to be friends anymore? What if—

"Do I really look like a loser?"

Hyunjin froze.

It didn’t even take a second for him to answer:

"No! Minho-hyung just has terrible taste! I think you’re incredibly, incredibly handsome!"

He meant it.

The face Hyunjin had seen the first day they met—truly handsome. He couldn’t forget it.

He felt like painting Seungmin’s face and hanging it in a museum.

From that moment, Hyunjin felt much closer to Seungmin.

They exchanged phone numbers.

They talked about dreams and their futures.

Hyunjin even managed to convince Seungmin to study together at his house.

Seungmin lived alone in an apartment. It was spacious, clean, and tidy.

At first, Hyunjin thought he was just an only child with parents who worked a lot.

He never imagined Seungmin’s parents were actually gone.

A new feeling began to bloom within Hyunjin.

He wanted to protect Seungmin.

Even if, perhaps, that wasn’t possible.

Because after graduation, Hyunjin had to leave for Australia.

Not for college, not for holiday, nor visiting the Opera House.

No.

He had a mission far more important than that.

"Hyunjinnie, I just got a report about their movements."

Hyunjin straightened up. His expression turned serious.

"So … they’re starting to move?"

Minho nodded. "Chan-hyung and Jeongin are arriving the morning after tomorrow. They’re almost done with their investigation in Gangnam."

"I’ll send the coordinates to Jeongin."

The reason Hyunjin couldn’t get too close to his classmates, and the reason he had to leave for Australia after graduating.

Hyunjin had one small secret.

He could raise the temperature of his body, high enough to create fire.

Whenever he activated his powers, his eyes would turn red.

Right now, Hyunjin was keeping tabs on a mysterious organization—an organization targeting kids with special abilities like his.

"Do you think there are still others like us in Seoul?" Hyunjin asked, his gaze fixed on Minho’s monitor.

"No idea." Minho shrugged. "If there were, we would’ve already gotten an order to go get them."

"What if someone slipped through our radar, and that crazy organization finds them first?"

Minho tore his eyes from the screen and flicked Hyunjin’s forehead. He grinned. "Then we save them, of course."

"Pfft, you always say that."

But Minho was right.

No matter what happened—Hyunjin would save them. They would save them.

What Hyunjin didn’t expect was .…

That someone turned out to be someone really close.

On graduation day, Hyunjin planned to say goodbye to Seungmin.

He felt a little sad.

Seungmin was a friend he deeply cherished.

And now, they had to part ways.

Hyunjin was determined to preserve every moment of the day. Maybe after the ceremony, they’d go to a restaurant for lunch.

Oh, they had to visit the park too!

Hyunjin had already made a list of everything they should do before they said farewell. After taking some photos together, Hyunjin handed Seungmin a bouquet of roses. He knew there wouldn’t be any family to celebrate with him.

So let Hyunjin fill that empty space instead.

Seungmin’s face lit up. A soft breeze blew by. He inhaled the scent of the roses. His eyes shimmered like stars. Without thinking, Hyunjin raised his phone.

Click.

"Hey, what are you doing?"

"Hehe, look!" Hyunjin showed the photo proudly. "Nice, right? You should smile more, Seungminnie!"

I hope you’ll always smile like this, Kim Seungmin. Hyunjin whispered a wish in his heart.

"Uh, my brother is calling. I think I need to go see him first—and, well, drop off ... all of this stuff."

Seungmin nodded with a small chuckle.

"All right. I’ll wait here."

"I’ll come back, wait for me!"

Hyunjin planned to leave his belongings with Minho,

And then ... finally tell Seungmin about his departure to Australia.

Seungmin
I’m going to the convenience store for a bit, okay?

Yet Seungmin never came back.

"Where is that friend of yours?" Minho asked with a sneer. "The one you're always so proud of."

Hyunjin turned his face away, his expression sour. "I'm staying here. I'll wait."

"Seriously? Everyone else has gone home. The event is over. How long are you going to wait?" Minho crossed his arms. "He's probably already left."

Hyunjin stared at his phone screen. None of his messages were answered. His calls, ignored.

"Seungmin ... he’s not the type to just disappear ...."

… Or was Hyunjin simply wrong about him?

Had he overestimated their closeness?

Was it all just in Hyunjin's mind?

What truly happened?

Minho let out a long sigh and gently stroked the crown of Hyunjin’s head.

"Come on. Let’s go home."

Hyunjin turned to look at the school one last time, hoping—just maybe—that Seungmin would appear in the distance.

But of course, that hope was only a dream.

"... Yeah."

Hyunjin decided to leave.

He desperately wished that afterward, Seungmin would text him—an apology, an explanation, anything.

But reality offered him silence.

No replies. No returned calls.

Even when he went to Seungmin’s house, no one came to the door. The door was locked.

As though Seungmin had vanished from the world.

Days passed, with Hyunjin trying to find any trace of him.

But all his efforts were in vain.

Was it time to give up?

Hyunjin stared at his phone’s lock screen.

There it was—a graduation day selfie of him and Seungmin.

Had their friendship only ever existed in his head alone?

Was he the only one who had cherished it?

“Hyunjin-ah, is something wrong?” A soft voice broke through his thoughts—the curly-haired man beside him spoke with concern.

"Chan-hyung …," Hyunjin glanced at him briefly, then looked away out the window. "No, I’m fine."

"You know you can tell me anything, right?"

Hyunjin gave a faint smile, then nodded.

Bang Chan, the man beside him, smiled in return. "Alright, for now, let’s focus on the mission." He looked over at Minho, who was in the driver’s seat. "How far are we from the target?"

"Almost there," Minho replied seriously. "I didn’t think that crazy organization would make a move here, in Busan."

"Yeah, absolutely insane," Chan muttered. "Good thing we didn’t leave for Australia yet. We managed to trace them in time."

"What are they doing here anyway? Busan is a long way from Seoul." The man sitting beside Minho—quiet until now—finally spoke.

"There are only two possibilities," Chan said, clenching his fist. "One, they’re on a routine patrol. Their branch base is nearby. And two ...."

"... They’ve captured someone."

Hyunjin’s eyes widened. "How could they have gotten information before we did?"

"I don’t know," Chan said, massaging his temple, trying to stay calm. His powers reacted dangerously when he lost control.

"This is as far as the car goes." Minho parked outside a chain fence. Beyond it lay only dense forest, untamed and unreachable.

"From here, we go on foot."

"Let’s hurry."

They ran through the woods like shadows—swift, steady, as if the terrain was second nature.

Yet Hyunjin’s heart pounded strangely and restlessly.

Something felt off.

This wasn’t his first mission.

But why was he this nervous?

"—ep."

"Huh, Hyunjin?"

They all halted in surprise.

Hyunjin had stopped dead in his tracks, his gaze locked in one direction.

"I heard something. Over there."

Without waiting for an answer, he dashed forward.

"Hyunjin! Wait!"

This feeling ....

This uneasiness ....

He had always trusted his instincts.

"Help!"

A voice. Hoarse. Familiar.

His chest tightened with dread.

From a distance, a silhouette emerged—friend or foe, he couldn’t yet tell.

But there was no threatening aura.

Instead, it screamed of pain … of someone in need.

Hyunjin ran without hesitation.

And when he saw who it was—

His heart stopped.

N-No ... it couldn’t be—

He reached out, grasping the outstretched hand and pulling it into his arms.

"Seungminnie?" His voice trembled, barely a whisper.

His dearest friend, who had vanished without a word—

Hyunjin never imagined he’d find him here.

No—he never would’ve imagined this.

Seungmin was soaked in blood.

He still wore his graduation uniform.

His pants and jacket torn in places, revealing wounded skin. His face is paler than snow.

"Hyunjin …?"

Hyunjin nearly broke into tears.

He couldn’t bear to see Seungmin like this.

He looked into Seungmin’s eyes—

And saw golden light in their depths. Seungmin’s eyes were shining.

He’s one of us.

Why hadn’t he seen it before?

From afar, cloaked figures approached—dark-robed men.

That wretched organization must have been chasing Seungmin.

Unforgivable.

"Seungminnie, it’s okay. Everything will be alright. I promise."

Hyunjin cradled Seungmin’s head to his chest.

He would not lose him again.

He would protect him—no matter what.

"Hyunjin-ah!"

His teammates caught up to him, rushing to where he knelt with Seungmin in his arms.

Minho’s eyes widened in recognition.

He looked from Seungmin to Hyunjin—whose eyes now glowed red.

"Hyunjinnie, calm down! You’ll burn him too!"

Hyunjin sucked in a breath, then nodded.

His eyes faded back to normal.

"Hyunjin-ah, hand him to Jeongin." Chan placed a hand on Hyunjin’s shoulder, his gaze fixed on the enemy ahead. "Jeongin, take him back to Australia. You can do it, right?"

Jeongin nodded. "Leave it to me." He gently lifted Seungmin onto his back. "Hyung, don’t worry. He’ll be alright."

Hyunjin forced a small smile. "I’m counting on you."

The moment the words left him, Jeongin’s eyes turned a brilliant white.

Light enveloped him and Seungmin, and they vanished.

"Now then."

Hyunjin cracked his knuckles.

His eyes glowed crimson once more.

"It’s time I deal with you."

***

“How could he survive the crash, but not his parents?”

“They were in the same car ....”

“Something’s not right.”

Seungmin had never asked for it.

When the car was struck by a truck and slammed into the guardrail—

Time stopped.

He was only eleven.

And in that frozen moment, pain lashed his body each time he moved. But the instinct to survive was stronger. Fighting through the agony, he opened the car door. He saw everything clearly—

The wrecked front of the car, the truck, his parents’ frozen expressions.

He tried to reach his mother first.

But then—

He saw a vision.

Their car plunging over the guardrail into the ravine. Like any terrified eleven-year-old, he screamed and ran. And then—

Time resumed.

The crash played out.

Seungmin survived.

But at what cost?

He should’ve died that day, alongside his parents. But something saved him—

An unwanted power.

He opened his eyes to a white room. The beeping of a heart monitor was steady in his ears. It was comforting and unbearable at the same time.

"Huh?"

Tears stained his cheeks. He had cried in his sleep. The dreamt his parents were gone.

But it wasn’t a dream.

They were gone for real. He was just dreaming the past. He was dreaming about reality.

And he was truly alone.

The door creaked open, Seungmin quickly wiped his tears, as if that could erase them.

"Oh—hello." A blonde-haired man with freckles smiled gently at him. But worry flickered in his eyes at Seungmin’s swollen gaze. "How are you feeling?"

Seungmin was unsure at first, but when he heard the man speak fluent Korean, he relaxed a little.

He only nodded in response.

The man reached to touch his forehead—

Seungmin flinched. He quickly withdrew.

"Ah—sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just checking your fever. You were burning up when you arrived. Your injuries were severe. You’re lucky to be alive."

Yes … that much was true.

"A-Ah—wh-where ... am I?" Seungmin’s voice trembled. He clutched the blanket tightly to hide his shaking hands.

"You’re safe now. You’re at JYP headquarters."

"Headquarters ... what?"

"I know you want answers, and you deserve them. But your body needs rest first." He poured water into a cup and handed it to Seungmin.

Seungmin only stared at it.

Could he trust this stranger, after nearly dying?

"H-Hyun ...."

"Yes?"

The man waited patiently.

"Hyunjin ... is he here?"

The stranger paused, then smiled. "Would you like me to call him?"

Seungmin nodded.

"Alright. Wait here, okay?" 

He nodded again.

He didn’t have the strength to speak much more, but he forced himself to sit up. He couldn’t let his guard down. He could hear a footsteps approached, then the door opened.

"Seungminnie!"

Hyunjin ran in.

At the sight of that familiar face, Seungmin exhaled in relief.

He wasn’t hallucinating.

"My god—look at you! Covered in bandages! You look like a mummy!"

Seungmin hadn’t expected to miss Hyunjin’s annoying jokes this much.

Hyunjin smiled, clearly relieved to see even the faintest smile on Seungmin’s lips. "I was so worried," Hyunjin whispered. "I couldn’t find you anywhere. It’s like … after graduation, you vanished for good."

"I’m sorry," Seungmin muttered.

"It’s not your fault. It’s those bastards’ fault!"

Seungmin was stunned. He’d never heard Hyunjin curse before.

"Hush, Hyunjinnie!" the blonde man scolded with a glare.

"Oops—sorry," Hyunjin scratched his head, sheepish.

The blonde sighed, then smiled again. "Ah—I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Lee Felix Yongbok. Bit of a long name, huh?"

"Yongbok …," Seungmin echoed, "... or Felix?"

"You can call me whichever’s more comfortable." Felix laughed. "As long as it’s my name, I don’t mind."

"Then, Yongbok ...."

Seungmin clung to the familiar language like a lifeline. "I’m Kim Seungmin."

"Nice to meet you, Seungmin-ah. I hope you get plenty of rest."

Felix handed him the cup again. "You trust me now, right?"

Seungmin gave a small nod and accepted the water.

At least, for now—he felt safe.

"I promise I’ll explain everything," Hyunjin said gently. "But first, rest."

Seungmin knew—Hyunjin always kept his promises.

The weight on his shoulders lifted—just enough so he could rest.

Finally, without fear.

Chapter Text

The next day, Seungmin woke to the light shake of a hand on his shoulder. Maybe it was because of the recent trauma—his sleep had become light, and even the smallest disturbance could pull him out of it.

“Oh.”

He certainly hadn’t expected the first person he’d see today to be Hyunjin’s unrelated older brother—Minho. Minho stood beside the bed, a tray of food balanced in his left hand while his right hand had been used to wake Seungmin.

“I brought you breakfast,” Minho said, setting the tray down on the bedside table. Seungmin gave a small nod in response. Truthfully, he hadn’t had much appetite since yesterday. But the rich, tangy scent of kimchi-jjigae was tempting enough to make him swallow down some saliva.

“Thanks,” Seungmin murmured. He thought Minho would leave and let him eat in peace. But instead, Minho pulled up a folding chair and sat down beside the bed.

… Huh?

Seungmin scratched his head awkwardly. What was this guy’s deal? Was he planning to sit there and watch until Seungmin finished eating? That’s kinda .…

Well, not that Seungmin exactly minded. But their first impression of each other hadn’t been good. He still remembered Minho calling him a “loser” in the café that day.

Trying to act normal, Seungmin reached for the bowl of kimchi-jjigae and took a sip of the broth. The sour and savory flavor washed over his tongue—a taste he hadn’t experienced in far too long. He’d lost his appetite for so long that he’d almost forgotten food could taste this good.

Unfortunately, his enjoyment didn’t last. Minho’s intense gaze—whether naturally sharp or just his resting face—felt like it was drilling holes into him. If this kept up, Seungmin was sure his face would actually have holes.

He exhaled, unable to bear the heavy atmosphere any longer. “Minho-ssi—”

“Hyung,” Minho corrected flatly. “Call me that.”

Seungmin frowned, but obeyed to avoid an argument. “Minho-hyung, do you … have other business here?”

“I’m waiting for you to finish eating,” Minho replied.

“… Eh—” Seungmin felt uneasy. “Were you told to do that? I’ll eat quickly, then.”

“No, take your time,” Minho said. “I just want to watch you eat.”

Okay. This is kinda creepy.

Minho frowned at the way Seungmin’s expression twisted into horror. “Don’t look at me like that, as if I’m some kind of pervert.”

“Lee Minho-ssi, honestly, you’re scaring me.”

“I told you—call me hyung, Kim Seungmin.” Minho rolled his eyes. “Okay, fine, actually I have something to tell you.”

Seungmin narrowed his eyes. Just as I thought.

“Actually, I—Could you stop looking at me like that?” Minho clicked his tongue. “Ah, forget it.”

“Hey, where are you going?” Seungmin asked as Minho suddenly stood. The man’s ears were turning red—was it really that cold in here? No, it was still early spring, it shouldn’t be that cold. “What did you want to say?”

“Forget it. Just finish your food,” Minho muttered, shutting the door behind him with a loud—

Bang!

Seungmin stared at the door, dumbfounded. “What’s wrong with that guy …?”

Lee Minho was truly strange. Seungmin decided then and there that he’d rather not deal with someone like that again—too troublesome and impossible to understand.

Still, with the strange man gone, he could finally eat his kimchi-jjigae in peace. Whoever had cooked it deserved to have their feet kissed—it was that delicious.

There wasn’t much Seungmin could do during the day. Every few hours, Felix would come by to check on him, give him medicine, and make small talk. Hyunjin would visit too, though less often.

As for Minho .…

Every breakfast, lunch, and dinner, without fail, he came by with food. He would hand it over and leave immediately—though not without grumbling things like, “You eat so little. You should eat more.”

And so, Seungmin’s days went on like this for three days.

Until Hyunjin came, looking different this time. Instead of his usual casual clothes, he wore a white shirt, black tie, and a thigh-length red blazer. His plaid trousers fell just below the knee. He looked like a student from some elite private high school.

“How are you feeling?” Hyunjin asked, snipping the stem of a rose and arranging it in a vase beside the bed.

“My wounds are healing,” Seungmin said with a bright smile. “Some are already gone. Yongbok said I’ll be able to take off the bandages soon.”

“That’s great to hear!” Hyunjin smiled back, adjusting his collar. “So, I know you’ve had a lot of questions these past three days. Today, you’ll get your answers. Come with me.”

Finally, Seungmin thought. He’d been patient long enough. Whenever he tried to ask about this place or about them, they would always change the subject—and that was all the proof he needed that they weren’t allowed to answer.

It felt strange to walk again after three days in bed. His legs felt weak, but Hyunjin supported him, one arm around his waist, letting Seungmin lean on him for balance.

It was his first time outside the infirmary. The hallway looked like something out of an office building—white marble floors, dark blue walls, and large glass windows every few meters. Looking out, Seungmin’s heart skipped when he saw just how high up they were. In the distance were rows of other buildings, with the ocean stretching far beyond.

This … this definitely wasn’t Korea.

They walked in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing down the hall. They entered a glass elevator. Hyunjin pressed the button for the 31st floor—the top of the blue building.

“Hope you’re not scared of heights,” Hyunjin joked.

They arrived in under a minute. When the doors opened, a wide, mostly empty room awaited them. There were a few bookshelves along the walls, a single desk in the center, and behind it, a wall made entirely of glass. Light poured in, making the man seated at the desk appear like a silhouette.

“PD-nim,” Hyunjin bowed respectfully, prompting Seungmin to hurriedly do the same—he had no idea who this man was, but what if he’s somewhat important?

“Hello,” the man greeted warmly.

Seungmin squinted, trying to make out his face. “Ah, hello.”

The man rose from his chair and walked toward the center of the room. Now Seungmin could see him clearly. He was around fifty, in good shape, though wrinkles lined his face. A bold black ring encircled his eyes, giving him an eccentric look.

“I heard you were badly injured. How are you now?”

“I’m fine now. Thank you,” Seungmin replied with another polite bow.

“That’s good. I’m sure you have a lot of questions. First, let me introduce myself—I’m Park Jinyoung. People call me JYP or PD-nim, though I never asked them to.” He chuckled, sounding like the friendly old neighbor Seungmin used to have. “Right now, you’re at JYP Headquarters. In short, this place is a safe haven for people with abilities like yours.”

Seungmin stiffened.

Abilities .…

“You might wonder how we hide from the outside world. From the outside, this building is simply a university. You’ve heard of JYP University, right?”

“JY—what?!” Seungmin blinked, stunned. No wonder the name had sounded familiar. “You mean that prestigious private university? The one you can only enter through invitation? The one that rivals Harvard and Oxford? Wait—hold on! Does that mean … I’m in Australia?!”

Too much information at once—his brain felt like it needed an ice bucket to cool down.

“To answer your question—yes, all of it is true.” Jinyoung smiled knowingly, as though he’d heard this reaction many times.

“But if this place is for people with special abilities … isn’t the image and publicity a little too flashy? Wouldn’t that invite suspicion?”

“Exactly,” Jinyoung said, stroking his chin. “That’s why no one suspects a thing. People from all over try to get their children in, offering absurd amounts of money. Ridiculous, isn’t it?”

“Why a university?” Seungmin pressed.

“Because people’s abilities usually appear between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one,” Jinyoung explained patiently.

Seungmin blinked. “W—Huh? What do you mean?”

Between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one? That’s ridiculous!

“Abilities usually awaken at that age,” Jinyoung clarified.

“What?” He turned to Hyunjin for confirmation.

“It’s true,” Hyunjin nodded. “Mine appeared when I was 17. In some rare cases, like mine, it can happen earlier—but never before 16. That’s the absolute minimum.”

“But …,” Seungmin’s voice trembled. “Mine appeared when I was eleven.”

Hyunjin’s eyes widened. “What? Eleven?!”

Jinyoung nodded slowly. “That explains why we had trouble tracking you. Let me guess—you’ve been hiding your power all your life?”

Seungmin nodded. “I grew my bangs to hide my eyes. My power came suddenly, and whenever it did, my eyes would turn gold.”

“Your ability isn’t something normal people can easily see either,” Jinyoung said, turning toward the glass wall. “Unfortunately, they found you before we did.”

They. Seungmin stiffened. He must be referring to that organization.

Hyunjin squeezed Seungmin’s hand, guilt in his eyes. The latter looked at him. Why would Hyunjin feel responsible for what happened to him? It is what it is. Seungmin squeezed back, silently telling him he was fine.

“Ah, anyway, everyone who comes here must pass a special entrance test,” Jinyoung said suddenly.

Test? What kind of test? Just having an ability wasn’t enough? Before Seungmin could ask, a wave of dizziness hit him. A vision came—

Fuck.

He saw an arrow drop from the ceiling—aimed straight at him and Hyunjin, right for their heads. The vision ended instantly. Just like that.

No time.

He activated his highest level of power, stopping time. Even so, the arrow was already only thirty centimeters from their heads. Just slowing time wouldn’t be enough—it had to be stopped entirely.

Damn it, I just recovered! he cursed as a fresh scratch tore open on his newly healed skin. He shoved Hyunjin with all his strength, then leapt as far as he could before releasing his hold on time.

Slash. Slash.

Hyunjin’s eyes widened as his body slammed into the wall. Arrows clattered to the floor where he had been standing. It felt like a dream—he’d blinked once, and suddenly he was somewhere else.

“Seungmin!”

He rushed over to where Seungmin was grimacing in pain—only to see Jinyoung clapping with a satisfied look.

“PD-nim, that was too much!”

“Hyunjin-ah, you know every new student has to pass the test,” Jinyoung said, picking up one of the arrows. “Besides, they’re toys.” He bent it easily, the rubber shaft flopping.

Seungmin stared in disbelief. All those freshly healed wounds—just for this?!

Old bastard! He wanted to shout it, but held it back.

“Impressive, Seungmin-ah. You pass,” Jinyoung said, offering a hand to help him up.

Seungmin ignored it and stood on his own. No apology, of course.

“Aigoo, don’t look at me like that,” Jinyoung laughed nervously. He pulled a blue card from his pocket and handed it over. “Your student ID. It also works as a payment card. Every new student gets an initial balance of one thousand Australian dollars. Spend it however you like.”

Wait—one thousand Australian dollars? That was … about one million won?!

Seungmin snatched the card and shoved it in his pocket before the man could change his mind.

“I’ll forgive you … a little,” Seungmin muttered.

Jinyoung laughed. “Hyunjin-ah, take him to the dormitory. Explain the rules to him too.”

“... Fine,” Hyunjin said reluctantly.

And just like that, Seungmin had been officially accepted into university—in a way he never could have imagined.

***

“Hyunjin-ah,” Seungmin spoke up in the middle of their walk. Hyunjin was a few steps ahead, moving like some casual tour guide. They were walking to the dormitory building—of course, after Hyunjin took him to the infirmary. Felix was furious when he saw Seungmin, who was just fine this morning, coming back with another episode of wounds.

“Yeah?” Hyunjin slowed his pace until he was walking beside Seungmin. Tilting his head slightly, he waited for the rest of the question.

“You said your powers appeared when you were seventeen?”

“That’s right.”

“In that case, you must’ve been here for a while, right?”

To Seungmin’s surprise, Hyunjin merely shrugged. “This is actually my first time living here. I mean, sure, I’d been here before, but I couldn’t stay. The people who live here are all university students, and back then I was still in high school.”

“Then …?”

“Of course, I went back to Korea and continued my life as a regular student,” Hyunjin said with another shrug. “After graduating high school, I just told everyone I got invited to study here. Easy, right?”

“Honestly? No. That’s not as simple as you make it sound.” Seungmin let out a long sigh, which made Hyunjin chuckle.

They walked for quite a while. It turned out the place they had been earlier was the main building. The 31st floor was entirely the PD-nim’s office, followed by the staff offices and other important rooms. Floors 5 to 10 were classrooms for lectures. The 4th floor was an indoor sports hall—though there was also an outdoor field outside—usually used for matches. The 2nd and 3rd floors were dedicated to student clubs, while the 1st floor housed the main lobby and cafeteria.

There were still many more floors with different functions, but Hyunjin admitted he didn’t really know all of them—too many to remember, and frankly, he was too lazy to care.

The dorm building was separate from the main building, about 800 meters away, passing through a park Hyunjin said was a popular jogging spot for students. They called it the dorm park.

The dorm itself was a massive structure, reminding Seungmin of a hotel. The 1st floor was the main lobby and lounge area where students could relax. The dorm had seven floors in total, each one spacious and wide.

“This is the Division One dorm,” Hyunjin explained. “Don’t ask me why it’s called that. It’s super weird. Whoever named it had a bad naming sense. But over there, there’s a Division Two dorm, and even a Division Three .…”

So, in short, there wasn’t just one dorm.

Seungmin shook his head in disbelief. He didn’t even want to imagine how much money had been poured into building all this.

“Your student card says your room’s on the seventh floor,” Hyunjin said, scratching his head. “Mine’s on the sixth. Makes sense, since you just moved in today.”

“Just one floor apart,” Seungmin offered with a small smile. “You can come to my room anytime.” The light returned to Hyunjin’s face at that.

Hyunjin walked him all the way to his door, giving him a quick rundown of the dorm’s important rules.

There was a curfew—11 p.m. sharp. Dorm guards would patrol the area. According to Hyunjin, he had a night-owl ability—basically, his energy and senses multiplied several times over at night. He was in charge of locking the dorm gates, patrolling, and ensuring everyone’s safety. All for the sake of protecting the students.

He also explained that, from time to time, they would receive missions. Think of it as “repaying the favor” for being allowed to live here and receive protection. These missions were assigned by the student president—more or less the university equivalent of a high school student council president.

Lastly, students were free to leave campus for recreation, just like any normal university student. But aside from that, there was something called a patrol schedule, where they would circle around the city at certain hours and report any suspicious activity.

Seungmin collapsed onto the bed that was now his. The room was huge, complete with a private bathroom. More than enough—actually, far too luxurious. His life had flipped one hundred and eighty degrees in the blink of an eye, and his weary brain needed time to catch up.

“Whatever … I’ll think about the rest tomorrow,” he murmured, letting the weight of drowsiness slowly pull him under.