Episode 5
He was called in by Seungwoon. Beomjin’s eyes shifted slowly, this time as if he’d been expecting someone inside.
When Junyoung realized his gaze had landed on Seungwoon’s hand resting on hers, she instinctively pushed him away—an awkward heat spread across her face.
“Why—are you hurt? The teacher’s gone, you know.”
Seungwoon spoke to Beomjin as Junyoung withdrew. She’d never seen them talk before—Beomjin never talked to anyone at school.
Considering Beomjin’s reputation, it took guts for Seungwoon to casually speak to that frightening face without flinching.
Naïvely brave, maybe. Or just never harmed before.
Just as Junyoung thought that, Beomjin approached, expressionless, and opened the drawer. Junyoung had never witnessed this kind of normalcy from him in the nurse’s office.
Even quieter than the clicking of pills, the silence stretched.
When Beomjin finally found what he was looking for, he silently exited the nurse’s office—leaving the two of them alone in the still air.
The strange pressure of his presence stuck with Junyoung. She twisted her lips slightly.
Look at him—he’d even been willing to do laundry for me when I glared.
Seungwoon let out a short sigh, looking sheepish.
“He and I are still a bit… awkward.”
Who isn’t at this school?
Junyoung answered calmly as she slowly rose from the chair. Seungwoon followed closely beside her.
“I’ll walk you home… if you’d like.”
“No—that’s okay.”
Her voice came sharper than intended. The thought of him seeing her enter that house filled her with unease.
She ignored Seungwoon’s surprise and muttered under her breath:
“I said it’s okay—just stop worrying about me.”
Silently, Seungwoon watched her leave the nurse’s office. Her heavy exhale echoed behind her as she disappeared down the red-tinted corridor.
—
The cabin in the woods was locked. Beomjin wasn’t home. Junyoung stepped in slowly, dropped her bag on the desk—and felt utterly drained.
There wasn’t much time before the exams. Maybe it was stubborn, but she refused to give up the school’s top spot before graduation.
That title was her own strength manifest—a medal she’d earned. She couldn’t bear the thought of not being first at such a trivial school.
Still, her eyes drifted toward the stairs. She was hungry—lunch had been sketchy—but more than hunger, her eyelids drooped and her body felt feverish.
I wonder when he’ll come. He was supposed to wake me up, right?
Slipping into bed, she thought: He won’t kill me just for sleeping in “his” area, would he?
Ugh—what was with his timing at the nurse’s office anyway? I was practically half-hugging Seungwoon—did he think I was flirting?
But none of that mattered now. Sleep was the goal. With a light flicker of courage, Junyoung climbed the stairs.
She hadn’t been upstairs since that day—they never needed the bed—but the space felt unfamiliar even though she’d been there before.
At the top, she surveyed the empty surroundings, then quietly sat on the mattress.
Why does it feel like he’s going to show up right now?
She nuzzled the edge of the blanket, but fatigue overwhelmed her. She finally flopped down.
Though it was only a mattress on the floor, it was still more comfortable than the cold stone—or her basement.
But wait—
“What if he doesn’t come…?”
She mumbled. Beomjin had just told her to go home if he didn’t show. Recently, they didn’t even bring flashlights—since they walked together now.
Sleep overtook her as she drifted off.
—
Faintly, she heard footsteps. Her senses, buried under exhaustion, flickered back to life.
Someone came up the stairs—heavy, deliberate steps.
Junyoung’s eyes opened. A dark shape collapsed onto her mattress.
She screamed.
It felt like something heavy and solid pressed her into the bed. She kicked and thrashed, striking arms and legs in her panic.
It felt like a seizure—or maybe she was trying to beat her way out. Eventually, firm hands grabbed her arms and pinned her.
“Yoon Junyoung?”
The voice was familiar—raspy with surprise in the darkness. Recognizing Beomjin’s shirt scent loosened her fear.
Of course it’s him—who else would visit here at this hour?
Realizing who it was, she freed her hands and started punching his chest.
“Get the hell away from me! Go away!”
“Hey, wait—stop, this is…” he tried to reason, stepping back.
As Junyoung pushed him, her head hit the low ceiling with a clang. Beomjin’s head did the same. Both collapsed onto the mattress, clutching their heads.
“Damn you!” Beomjin growled, breaking the tension.
Junyoung rubbed her scalp and glared.
“Why’d you suddenly crush me like that?!”
“This is the second floor—it’s my spot.”
His growl sounded low and rumbling. Junyoung retorted loudly:
“Oh really? You should brake before laying down stairs—what if someone fell off? People do die from that!”
“Does that make sense right now…? Never mind. What are you doing here? Do you even know what time it is?”
“How the hell do I know? I just woke up!”
“It’s past 2 AM.”
Junyoung gasped. He’d slept that long?
Noticing the shock, Beomjin—still seated—sighed and rubbed his head. Junyoung mimicked him, settling down.
“You should’ve expected me to find you. I knew the lock would be open.”
“It’s this late, why the hell would you think—I forgot to lock it, okay?”
“Are you all right? At this hour, mind-lock is basic—what if I had to sleep here? You just crashed without a thought? Are you crazy?”
Her frustration soared—especially after waking up to this. But she couldn’t help snorting a laugh.
“Are you stupid? How am I supposed to lock the door when I’m already inside?”
Beomjin clicked his tongue, low and annoyed. Then he whirled and shouted:
“Then sleep at home! Don’t crawl in here at 2 in the morning!”
Junyoung shrugged.
“You—go sleep at home. Why were you sneaking in here at 2AM?”
Beomjin, still seated, smacked the mattress with a grunt.
“This is not your area.”
Light—or lack of it—made her feel invincible. She stood her ground:
“My area? If I need this spot, I’ll use it. My body’s aching—I feel half-dead—yet there’s a bed and you’re not here. So I lay down. Am I being punished for breathing?”
Her words hung in the air. Then she pressed her temples with dull pain.
Beomjin clicked his tongue, exhaling heavily. A brief silence.
She sighed, resignation in her tone.
“Fine. I’m going. Take the bed, use it forever if you want.”
He blocked the stairs with his leg. Junyoung glared at his broad shoulder, waiting for him to move.
“Too late. We’re going together.”
His voice was calm, the excitement gone. She scoffed.
“Right—after you nearly crushed me, now you act all concerned?”
He hesitated mid-sentence, eyes flicking to her head in surprise.
He was… actually worried?
That caught her off guard.
Thanks for Reading…
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