Ep 5

Episode 5

I still remember clearly how cold my fingertips felt that night. The small knife in my hand felt incredibly heavy. But out of nowhere, Lala's words popped into my head.

“If you disappear, who’s gonna take care of me?”

I slowly placed the knife on the table. My breathing was ragged, like I’d just run a marathon. But it wasn’t from physical exhaustion—it was my heart, completely overwhelmed.

The next day, I woke up with swollen eyes. But I forced myself to go to school anyway. Maybe because I was tired of crying. I thought, if I gave up now, that dark.boy.__ would win. And I didn’t want that.

When I stepped into the school gate, something felt different. It was noisy. All the girls were whispering, glancing around.

"Hey, that’s the new guy!" whispered a girl from the other class.

I followed her gaze. And oh my god…

Tall guy, slightly messy hair, just a hint of a smile—but enough to make the entire school go crazy. He looked like one of those actors I always watch in late-night dramas. Seriously.

I froze. Thump. My heart felt like it was about to explode.

“Ren... Ren... REN!” Lala's voice snapped me out of my daze.

“Huh?”

“You’re drooling. Close your mouth,” Lala teased with a laugh.

I gave an embarrassed grin. But in my heart, I already made up my mind. I had to get a photo of him.

“La... please... take a picture of him for me. Just one. Please...”

“What the heck? No way. You’re being so lame.”

“Please, La... I swear I’ll treat you to meatballs for a month!”

“Three months.”

“What?! Fine, deal!”

And so began the great struggle. First, Lala tried taking the photo from afar. Failed—blurry. Then she tried faking a selfie, but the guy walked off. Finally, we pretended to walk near him. Lala dropped her pencil on purpose, bent to pick it up... click! Mission complete.

“YES! Finally!” I kissed my phone screen out of happiness. Lala just shook her head, already resigned to my antics.

That afternoon, I couldn’t focus at all. My brain was filled with him. I even zoned out when the teacher asked a question.

“Rena, are you daydreaming?”

“Eh? No, Ma’am! I was just thinking... about the future.”

The whole class burst out laughing. I was mortified, but whatever—as long as I had him in my thoughts. I mean... his photo.

That night, I lay in bed, phone in hand. I opened the photo again. Zoom in, zoom out. I don’t know why... but he felt familiar. Still, I didn’t think too much.

I fell asleep. And the dream... was wild.

I was sitting alone on a bench at school. Then he came, sat beside me. His smile… so warm.

“Do you like the sky?” he asked in the dream.

I just nodded. “Yeah. Because the sky is always there, even when people leave.”

He smiled. Then took my hand. “Then don’t just look at the sky. Look at me too. I won’t leave either.”

BOOM. I woke up with my heart racing like crazy.

“What kind of dream was THAT...”

The next morning, I went to school earlier than usual. I didn’t know why, I just wanted to see him again. And sure enough... he was at the gate.

He smiled at me. And I swear... it was the sweetest smile I’d ever seen.

“Morning,” he said softly.

I could only nod. My mouth froze. FROZE. Lala had to smack my shoulder hard.

“Rena. Breathe. Just breathe.”