RHEIN'S POINT OF VIEW
Without thinking, I kicked him in the face just as he was about to get up. He dropped back to the floor and groaned in pain.
"D-Don't come any closer if you don't want a beating!" I threatened, though my voice shook with fear.
"Crap. Is this how you treat your sister's friend?" he asked—not angry at all, even managing a smile.
Is he abnormal or—wait, what did he just say? He's my sister's friend?
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. I needed to calm down. I looked at him again. My teeth sank into my lower lip when I noticed blood at the corner of his mouth.
What on earth was Sister thinking? Why would she let a guy sleep over—and in my room, of all places?
"Ah… um… I-I didn't know. I'm really sorry," I stammered, apologizing.
He sat up and smiled again. "It's fine. I get it. That kind of reaction is natural."
I looked away. "Sorry if this sounds rude, but I need to ask… why are you in my room?"
"Rona left last night. She had an important client meeting. She asked me to come here and watch over you. Just in case your headache comes back."
"Thank you, but… sleeping in my room wasn't necessary, Sir."
"Your sister insisted. I didn't mean to invade your personal space. She's just really worried about you."
Even though I was touched by my sister's concern, I still felt annoyed. How could she entrust me to her guy friend like this? Didn't she think he could just be pretending to be nice—what if he had bad intentions?
I narrowed my eyes at him as something dawned on me. If he really slept in my room, why didn't I feel his presence? I was up all night—how could I have missed him?
I looked at him from head to toe. He looked normal… innocent, even. He didn't seem like a demon or ghost. So why didn't I notice him?
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. Maybe, I was just too deep in thought last night that I didn't sense anything.
"You didn't sleep, did you?"
I nodded slowly. "What happened yesterday was… a little shocking. Were you the one who helped me and my sister get home?"
"Yeah. That was me."
"T-thank you, Sir."
"Dylan."
"Huh?"
"I'm Dylan Wilder. Call me Dylan," he said with a smile.
My eyes widened when he suddenly pinched my cheek like it was the most normal thing to do. "Come on, I'll make you breakfast. You must be starving. Your sister said you didn't eat anything last night."
I glanced at him again—good-looking? Yes. Kind? Yes. Patient? Yes. Trustworthy? Yes. Caring? Definitely.
I grinned at myself. This might just be what I've always wanted for my sister—a boyfriend!
Just as he was about to leave the room, I blurted, "Brother Dylan… are you my sister's boyfriend?"
Deafening silence followed.
The next thing I knew, he was rolling on the floor laughing. What the heck? I didn't even say anything funny.
"W-what made you think that?"
"Err… I was wrong? I just thought it was odd. As far as I remember, you're the only guy Sister has ever introduced as her friend. And then she entrusted me to you. She trusts you so much, so I assumed you two are, you know, lovers…"
He stopped laughing and sat up properly. "Silly. You've got it all wrong. She's like a sister to me."
"What a shame," I muttered, scratching my cheek and chuckling. "But do you think there's a chance you two could end up together? I'm just curious. You two seem like a perfect match—"
"Rhein."
The moment I heard that voice, a shiver ran down my spine. My eyes scanned the room, searching for the source of the elderly-sounding voice.
That's when I saw it—a crow outside my window. One eye peeked through the curtain, staring straight at me. Despite the fear tightening in my chest, I stepped forward to approach it. But before I could get close, it flew away.
A strange calmness washed over me as it disappeared.
"What were you looking at? Is there something wrong with your curtain?" Brother Dylan asked.
He must've noticed me staring earlier, but I don't think he saw that black bird—hence his confusion.
"Ah, no. It's nothing. I just thought… violet curtains don't match green walls. I was planning to change them later," I lied.
"Oh, I see," he said with a smile. "By the way, to answer your question… I think the possibility of me and your sister becoming a couple is… impossible. And no, don't try matchmaking me with her. You might regret it."
I sighed deeply. There goes my dream for Sister Rona. Another false hope.
While we ate, he shared stories about what kind of person Sister is at work. According to him, she was cool, very professional.
I wanted to absorb everything he was saying, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't focus. That bird's voice and eye kept replaying in my head. I couldn't stop wondering—was it just a coincidence? Was I just hallucinating?
I tried to convince myself it was due to lack of sleep. But my mind refused to rest. A crazy thought even crossed my mind—could it be related to the witch… or what happened to me yesterday?
"Rhein, are you okay?"
I forced a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine."
After breakfast, he said goodbye. He needed to get ready for work. Sister Rona was on her way home too.
Feeling restless, I threw on my gray hoodie, shorts, and white sneakers, then headed out to the mall. Sister allowed me, with the condition that I must call her when the headache returns.
I wandered around different stores aimlessly.
I was so out of it, I somehow ended up in the men's underwear section of the department store. One saleslady teased me, saying I must be buying for my boyfriend—who didn't exist. Good thing I had enough self-control, or I'd have wrecked her face.
I grabbed a bite at a fast-food place before continuing my random stroll.
My feet took me to the arcade. It had been so long since I last came to a place like this. I was just a young kid back then—and our family was still whole.
Nostalgia hit me hard. Tears began to fall as memories surfaced. I quickly wiped my cheeks when I noticed people staring.
I smiled faintly as I entered through the glass doors—but the moment I stepped inside, that smile disappeared.
Everything around me changed.
"W-why… how…?"