The classroom buzzed with the quiet shuffle of papers and soft whispers of students packing their bags. Gyeonwoo leaned over Do Doyeon's desk, helping her organize her notes with meticulous care. His fingers brushed hers occasionally, drawing brief sparks of warmth, though he was too focused to notice.
From across the aisle, Kim Jun Ung narrowed his eyes, his expression a mix of jealousy and curiosity. "What are you doing with my girlfriend?" he demanded, his voice low but firm, attempting to mask the concern beneath.
Gyeonwoo looked up, a faint smirk forming. "Just helping her with her notes. Isn't that what friends do?"
Kim Jun Ung huffed but said nothing, his hands tightening slightly around the strap of his bag. Seong Ah, seated a few rows away, tilted her head, observing Gyeonwoo's behavior with growing confusion. Something about the way he moved, the small gestures he made—it wasn't quite Gyeonwoo. She pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a soft groan, clearly facepalming at the oddity before her.
Meanwhile, Bongsu, the spirit inhabiting Gyeonwoo's body, was gleefully roaming around the classroom, humming a childish tune under his breath. He inspected pencil cases, nudged books off desks, and occasionally waved at imaginary friends, completely oblivious to the world around him.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Kim Jun Ung approached Gyeonwoo with a small, wrapped lollipop in his hand. "Here," he said, offering it. "For helping her."
Gyeonwoo blinked, then his eyes widened like a child seeing a treasure. "Candy?" Bongsu's voice slipped out, high-pitched and gleeful, startling Seong Ah. He grabbed the lollipop with exaggerated excitement, examining it as though it were a priceless gem, and then popped it into his mouth with childish delight.
Seong Ah stared, frozen in place, her eyebrows knitting together in a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief. "What… what is happening with him?" she muttered under her breath, the only sound the faint, happy crunch of the lollipop echoing in the classroom.
Kim Jun Ung blinked, momentarily taken aback. "Uh… thanks, I guess?" he mumbled, still unsure whether to be annoyed or amused at the strange spectacle.
Gyeonwoo—or rather, Bongsu—swayed slightly from side to side, humming a tune and seemingly enjoying every second, as Seong Ah facepalmed once more, silently praying this peculiar behavior would subside before anyone else noticed.
The moment the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, a ripple of chaos spread across the classroom. Bongsu, still inhabiting Gyeonwoo's body, spun around like a toddler caught in a candy store, humming loudly and inspecting every object in reach.
Seong Ah leapt forward, grabbing Gyeonwoo by the shoulder. "Stop! Sit down before you break something!" she hissed, her face a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
But Bongsu had other plans. He plopped down onto Gyeonwoo's chair with a dramatic flop, lifting the lollipop high as if holding a trophy. "I'm the king of sweets!" he announced, much to the confusion of nearby students.
Do Doyeon blinked, unsure whether to laugh or panic. "Gyeonwoo… I mean… what's happening to you?" she asked cautiously, wriggling slightly to avoid Bongsu's flailing arms.
From the back of the classroom, Kim Jun Ung groaned. "I swear… he's acting like a hyperactive five-year-old! What did you do to him?"
Seong Ah pinched the bridge of her nose again. "He's not doing it on purpose! It's… complicated," she muttered under her breath.
Bongsu, ignoring all adult-like pleas, began hopping from chair to chair, waving his hands like a conductor orchestrating an imaginary symphony. "All hail the candy king! You shall not steal my lollipop!" he cried, pretending to fend off invisible enemies.
Jiho, who had quietly entered the room to check on things, let out a long sigh. "I leave him alone for one hour, and this is the circus I come back to?"
Seong Ah darted over, catching Gyeonwoo's hands mid-hop. "Bongsu! Stop before you—" She didn't finish; Bongsu yelped, twisting dramatically as if in defeat. "Noooo! The candy king never surrenders!"
The entire class erupted into laughter, some students capturing the chaos on their phones. Kim Jun Ung, torn between wanting to join in and being protective, pinched the bridge of his nose and muttered, "I can't deal with this."
Finally, with a deep sigh, Seong Ah dragged Gyeonwoo/Bongsu to a desk. "Enough. Sit. You're embarrassing yourself… and me."
Bongsu pouted but complied, resting his chin on the desk dramatically. "Fine. But only because you're pretty, shaman," he mumbled, winking at Seong Ah with mock innocence.
Seong Ah groaned, leaning against the desk. "I swear… this spirit is worse than a child."
Gyeonwoo, from deep inside, could only mutter faintly: I… I'm still in here… I promise…
The chaos had settled for now, but Seong Ah knew this was only the beginning. Keeping Bongsu under control during school hours was going to be a full-time job—and she had a feeling the rest of the students would be both terrified and entertained by the "Candy King" antics for weeks to come.
The house was quiet, shadows stretching long across the floorboards as Seong Ah stormed into the chamber. Her footsteps were sharp, echoing against the wooden walls, each one a warning. Bongsu—still wearing Gyeonwoo's face—sat lazily on the mat, swinging his legs as though the world was nothing but a game.
"You!" Seong Ah jabbed her finger at him, her voice rising like fire. "Do you even realize what you've done today? Running around in class like some kind of wild animal—making me look like a fool!"
Bongsu tilted his head, watching her every gesture with curious delight. Instead of remorse, a wide grin spread across his lips. "You know," he said smoothly, eyes glinting with mischief, "you look even prettier when you're angry."
Seong Ah froze, her cheeks burning with sudden heat. "Wh-what?!" she sputtered, teeth gritting as she spun back toward him.
Bongsu leaned forward, resting his chin in his hand as if admiring a painting. "Your eyes… they flash like little flames. And your lips…" He smirked, pausing for effect. "They tremble just a bit when you're about to yell. Quite… enchanting."
Her hands balled into fists. "Ench—what?! You—!" Seong Ah stomped closer, pointing at him so close their noses almost touched. "Stop spouting nonsense and start behaving like a proper spirit, or I swear I'll—"
"You'll what?" Bongsu cut in softly, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Exorcise me? Or keep me… right here, close to you?"
The words made her freeze again, heart skipping against her will. Her throat went dry, though she quickly shook her head, snapping herself back into reality. "Don't twist things around! This isn't some… some romance novel! You're just an annoying spirit causing me trouble."
But Bongsu only chuckled under his breath, leaning back with his arms behind his head. "Annoying or not, Shaman… you'll remember my words."
Seong Ah spun on her heel, muttering curses under her breath as she left the chamber, her ears burning red. Behind her, Bongsu's soft laughter lingered in the quiet, playful and taunting, like a shadow that refused to let go.
The next morning, when Seong Ah stirred from her sleep, she instinctively reached to the side where Bongsu usually lingered. The space was empty, cool. Her hand brushed against nothing but rumpled bedding. A faint frown curved her lips as she sat up, realizing he had already slipped away—off to the archery grounds, no doubt.
By midday, when she arrived at school, her eyes caught sight of a strange scene. There he was—Bongsu, inside Gyeonwoo's body—surrounded by chattering students. Girls leaned closer to him, laughing at his every word. Even the boys seemed to gravitate toward him, eager to join in his antics. His presence was magnetic, his energy contagious, and yet…
Her gaze drifted to the memory of Gyeonwoo—quiet, solitary, often standing in corners where no one cared to notice. Why… why do people flock to Bongsu while Gyeonwoo was left all alone every day? The thought pressed against her heart, heavy with guilt. She lowered her eyes, unwilling to watch any longer.
That night, Seong Ah sat alone in her chamber, her fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns into the mat. The lamp flickered softly, throwing long shadows that danced across the walls. Her heart, however, refused to still.
The sliding door creaked open, and Do Ryeong entered casually, his mischievous smile in place. "Hey, fairy. What are you staring holes into the floor for?"
Seong Ah glanced up at him, a small, weary smile curling her lips. "You know… everyone seems to enjoy being around Bongsu. He fills the air with noise, laughter. But me…" She exhaled, her voice trembling faintly. "I can only speak with Gyeonwoo. I… I want to meet him. What if… what if he disappears completely from this world?"
Do Ryeong's usual jest softened into something quieter. He crouched before her, studying her face. Then he gave a small nod. "You can meet him… in the Hour of the Ox."
Hope flickered in her chest like the trembling lamp flame. She looked at him with widened eyes. "Truly?"
He smirked, ruffling her hair lightly. "Truly."
And so, she waited.
When the time of the ox drew near, Seong Ah crept back into the chamber where Bongsu lay, asleep in Gyeonwoo's form. She sat beside him, her heart pounding so hard it felt as though the silence of the night might hear it. Her eyes lingered on his calm face, and her hands trembled as she reached forward.
Slowly, she touched his shoulder. "Gyeonwoo…" she whispered, shaking him gently.
At first there was no response, only the slow rhythm of his breathing. But then, his eyelids fluttered open. And in that instant—his gaze was different. Softer. Familiar.
"Seong Ah…" he murmured, her name falling from his lips like a long-kept secret.
Her throat tightened, tears pricking her eyes. Before she could stop herself, she leaned in and wrapped her arms around him. "I missed you," she whispered fiercely, clutching him as though the world might steal him away again.
For a moment, everything stilled—the curses, the chaos, the shadows of spirits. In that single embrace, it was only Seong Ah and Gyeonwoo, two hearts colliding in the silence of the Hour of the Ox.
Gyeonwoo's arms hesitated at first, then tightened around her as though he too feared she would vanish if he let go. His voice was low, hoarse, trembling with exhaustion.
"Seong Ah… all this time… while Bongsu walked in my body, I wasn't gone. I was trapped."
She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his face. "Trapped? Where?"
His gaze grew distant, unfocused, as though he were still half-there, half-here. "A forest. Endless, dark… yet strangely alive. The ground was damp, covered in roots that tried to pull me down. And I—" his breath hitched, "—I wasn't alone."
Her fingers tightened around his sleeve. "Who was there?"
"I saw… a little boy," Gyeonwoo whispered, his voice raw with something that sounded like pity. "He couldn't have been more than eight or nine. He wore a military uniform far too big for him. His hands clutched a gun so heavy it dragged along the dirt. He was tired… so tired. His knees kept buckling, but he never let go of that weapon. As though… it was the only thing keeping him alive."
Seong Ah's breath stilled in her chest.
Gyeonwoo's eyes lowered. "I wanted to help him… but before I could reach him, another figure appeared. A boy—no, older, a teenager, maybe fifteen or sixteen—dressed the same, the same uniform. He came up behind the child, knelt beside him, and…" His throat tightened, his words breaking into a whisper. "He consoled him. He touched the boy's shoulder and said something I couldn't hear. The child's crying stopped. His little body… relaxed. Almost as if he could finally rest."
Seong Ah's lips parted, her voice trembling. "And… who were they?"
Gyeonwoo looked back at her, his eyes shadowed. "They were spirits, Seong Ah. Newly dead… wandering in that place. That forest is where they wait. I don't know why I was sent there, but… I could feel it—the grief, the pain that tied them there. It seeps into your bones until you can barely breathe."
A chill rippled through her skin. She reached up, cupping his cheek, as if to anchor him in this world. "You don't belong there," she whispered fiercely. "You're alive. You're not meant to walk with them."
His eyes closed, leaning into her touch. "Then don't let me disappear, Seong Ah. When the forest calls again, I… I don't know if I'll return."
Her arms circled him once more, holding him as tightly as her trembling strength would allow. The Hour of the Ox felt thinner, the veil between worlds breathing down their necks, but in that embrace she silently vowed—she would never let him be swallowed by that place.
The candle burned low, its golden light trembling against the chamber walls.
Gyeonwoo's presence lingered only for a moment longer, his hand gently resting against Seong Ah's cheek. "I'll return," he whispered, his voice carrying both certainty and fragility. "No matter how far I am pulled… I'll find my way back to you."
Her throat tightened as she clung to him. "You'd better," she whispered back, tears pooling in her eyes. "Because I'll wait. Even if it hurts."
He smiled faintly, a fleeting curve of lips filled with both sorrow and hope. And then, like mist dissolving under the dawn, his form began to fade. The warmth of his touch slipped away from her grasp until she was hugging only the air, the silence of the room pressing heavily around her.
Seong Ah's arms fell to her lap, trembling. Her heart ached with the cruel reality—when the Hour of the Ox ended, so did her time with him.
She turned toward the mat where Gyeonwoo's body lay. His chest rose and fell in steady rhythm, but it wasn't him anymore. It was Bongsu, the wandering spirit, who had reclaimed the body with the ease of slipping back into borrowed clothes.
Seong Ah's lips parted, but no words came. The sight was too jarring—her Gyeonwoo disappearing into shadows while another soul lived on in his place.
Bongsu shifted in his sleep, mumbling something incoherent, his expression soft and strangely innocent. Seong Ah pressed her palm to her mouth, holding in the sob that threatened to break free.
Two souls. One body. One vanishing, one lingering.
How long could such a fragile balance last?
Meanwhile, That Night
Do Ryeong leaned lazily against the wooden pillar, his eyes half-closed but his voice sharp. "So… the fairy couldn't resist, huh? She actually met him during the Hour of the Ox."
Yeomhwa's gaze flickered, her lips curving in a knowing smirk. "So she summoned him. Tch. Seong Ah is bold… maybe too bold. Doesn't she realize the price that comes with breaking the balance between spirits and the living?"
Do Ryeong shrugged, almost amused. "Balance or not, she's already chosen which soul her heart leans toward."
A shadow passed over Yeomhwa's expression, her eyes glinting. "Then let's see how long that heart can survive divided between the dead and the living."
---
Next Day – At School
The morning buzz filled the classroom. Bongsu, brimming with energy, had decided that today, he would charm the entire room.
"Ladies, gentlemen, ghosts, and lost souls!" he declared, standing on a desk dramatically. "Your most handsome classmate has arrived!"
The students erupted into laughter, some groaning.
"Yah, get down before the teacher comes!" one boy scolded.
"Why is he acting like a clown again?" a girl whispered, stifling her giggle.
Bongsu only grinned wider, tossing his hair like a superstar. "A clown? No, no. I'm a gift sent from heaven. Who else could make this boring place shine as brightly as I do?"
He jumped down, patting the shoulder of a random boy. "Cheer up, my fellow mortal! Life is short, live with laughter!"
The boy rolled his eyes. "What are you even talking about, hyung?"
Seong Ah entered the classroom just then, catching sight of the spectacle. She froze, sighing deeply as she pinched the bridge of her nose. Why do I have to deal with this every day…
Bongsu immediately spotted her. His eyes lit up as though he'd just found his favorite toy.
"There you are, my sunshine!" he called out, dramatically spreading his arms. The students turned their heads, whispering excitedly at the sudden shift in his attention.
Seong Ah's cheeks heated under the curious stares. "Sit down, you idiot," she muttered under her breath as she tried to pass by him.
But Bongsu was relentless. He stepped in front of her, lowering his face to her level with exaggerated seriousness. "You know what would really make my day brighter? If you gave me…" he paused, dragging out the words, "your first kiss."
The class erupted.
"What?!"
"Did he just say that in front of everyone?!"
"No way, is this a drama scene?"
Seong Ah's eyes widened in horror. "YAH!" she hissed, shoving him back by the shoulder. "Are you crazy?! Shut your mouth!"
But Bongsu only laughed louder, throwing his hands in the air as if announcing to the entire school. "Yes! I want my gift, my kiss! Right here, right now—in front of everyone!"
The hallway outside began to crowd as other students peeked in, curious about the commotion.
Seong Ah's face turned crimson, a mix of fury and embarrassment. Without another thought, she slapped her hand over his mouth and yanked him down into his seat. "Shut. Up. Or I'll really kill you," she whispered through clenched teeth.
Bongsu's eyes twinkled mischievously even as she glared at him, his muffled laugh vibrating against her palm.
The students roared with laughter, some even chanting playfully, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"
Seong Ah buried her face in her hands. Why me… why always me…
After Classes – Archery Room
The arrows struck the target with sharp thuds, each one perfectly aligned. Jiho, sweat glistening at his temples, lowered his bow only to find Bongsu sprawled out on a bench, munching on snacks as if he were watching a variety show instead of practice.
"Yah, don't you get bored watching me?" Jiho snapped, annoyed by the boy's constant presence.
Bongsu kicked his legs lazily, chewing with his mouth open. "Bored? Nah. You're like one of those old-school action dramas. So serious. So focused. I could watch you all day!"
Jiho groaned, rolling his eyes. "Do you ever shut up?"
"Nope," Bongsu replied brightly, stuffing another piece of candy into his mouth. "Talking is my superpower."
Jiho turned away, gripping his bow tighter. This guy… he's too strange. Something about him doesn't fit.
---
As the moonlight stretched across the streets, Jiho noticed Bongsu slipping out of the dormitory. He didn't look like a student heading for late-night snacks; there was an intentness to his steps, almost too careful, too purposeful.
Where are you going at this hour? Jiho thought, narrowing his eyes.
Keeping his distance, Jiho followed. The trail led to a quiet hotel on the edge of town, its neon sign buzzing faintly. Jiho's stomach tightened. What business does a high schooler have here?
Through the glass doors, he caught sight of Bongsu walking confidently inside. And then—someone else appeared.
A woman in an elegant black dress, her long hair cascading down like shadows, was waiting at the lounge. She exuded an aura Jiho couldn't place—mysterious, commanding, dangerous.
Who… is she? Jiho thought, pressing himself closer to the wall, careful not to be seen.
---
Inside the Hotel – Bongsu & Yeomhwa
Bongsu plopped into the chair opposite Yeomhwa, his usual grin faltering into something more guarded.
"You called me here," he said, his voice lower than usual. "What do you want?"
Yeomhwa's lips curved into a sly smile as her eyes glinted like a predator's. "That silver ring," she said softly, her words sharp as glass. "Do you still have it?"
Bongsu stiffened, his fingers unconsciously brushing against his hand as if to confirm its presence. "…Why?"
Yeomhwa leaned forward, her gaze piercing. "Because that ring is not just an ornament. It's a key. And only someone tied to Gyeonwoo can carry it."
The mention of the name made Bongsu's chest tighten. His grin dropped completely now. "…You know about him."
Her smile widened. "Of course. The Hour of the Ox reveals much. Did you really think Seong Ah meeting Gyeonwoo would go unnoticed?"
Bongsu clenched his jaw, unease flickering in his eyes.
From outside the half-open door, Jiho's blood ran cold as he listened, the words echoing in his head.
Gyeonwoo? Hour of the Ox? What are they talking about…?
Yeomhwa's voice was velvet-soft, but it cut into Bongsu like a blade. She leaned closer, eyes shimmering with something between allure and danger.
"You don't belong here, do you?" she whispered, tilting her head. "Wandering in a body that isn't yours… hiding behind laughter so no one sees the cracks."
Bongsu's smirk wavered. His hands tightened around the armrest of the chair. "Tch. You talk too much, lady."
But Yeomhwa only smiled knowingly, her fingers brushing the rim of her glass. "What if I told you… you can become human again?"
The words struck him harder than he expected. His shoulders stiffened. For a moment, the playful sparkle in his eyes flickered into something raw—hope, fear, desperation.
"…Human?" he muttered, almost to himself.
"Yes," she breathed. "Not a shadow clinging to another's body. Not a half-presence cursed to vanish at dawn. A heartbeat of your own. Warm skin. A life. Isn't that what you crave, Bongsu?"
He bit his lip, averting his gaze. The thought alone made his chest ache. The endless loneliness of being unseen, unheard, untouchable—except through Gyeonwoo's vessel—had gnawed at him for so long.
"What's the price?" he asked at last, his tone sharp to mask the tremor in his voice.
Yeomhwa's smile deepened, her eyes glinting. "All power comes with a price. But for now… I only need you to remember my words."
Bongsu stood abruptly, chair legs scraping against the floor. "Tch. You're dangerous," he muttered, trying to cover the turmoil inside him with his usual swagger. "But I don't fall for tricks that easy."
Yeomhwa's laugh was soft and eerie, following him as he walked toward the door. "You will. When the longing becomes unbearable… you'll come to me."
The hotel lights seemed colder as Bongsu pushed through the doors and stepped into the night air. His hand unconsciously pressed against his chest—an empty place where a heartbeat should be.
---
As he walked down the quiet street, a figure stepped out of the shadows—Jiho.
Their eyes met, Jiho's sharp with suspicion, Bongsu's wide with surprise before he quickly masked it with a grin.
"Yah, stalker. You following me now?" Bongsu teased, trying to play it off, but Jiho didn't laugh. His gaze flicked back toward the hotel.
"Who was that woman?" Jiho asked, his voice firm.
Bongsu shoved his hands into his pockets. "A friend. Don't make that jealous face—you'll get wrinkles." He brushed past Jiho, but Jiho's unease only grew. Something about Bongsu's tone felt forced.
Just as Bongsu and Jiho turned the corner, a soft voice floated through the air.
"I'll be waiting, Bongsu."
Yeomhwa stood at the hotel entrance, her silhouette framed by the dim neon glow, her lips curved into a knowing smile.
Bongsu froze mid-step, though Jiho only frowned, confused by the sudden shift in his expression.
Waiting… for what? Jiho wondered, his chest tightening with questions he couldn't voice.
Bongsu forced himself to keep walking, his grin returning faintly. "Don't mind it," he said breezily. "Just the wind."
But deep inside, his heart—or the lack of it—trembled.
The chamber was quiet, the only sound the faint ticking of the old clock. Seong-ah sat cross-legged on the floor, staring at the candlelight flickering before her. Her fingers tightened around the silver ring as she whispered softly:
"Gyeonwoo…"
The air shifted. A faint breeze stirred though the windows were closed. Slowly, his figure appeared, pale but warm, his smile softening as he saw her.
"You called me again," Gyeonwoo said, his voice gentle, carrying a tiredness he could not hide.
Seong-ah's lips trembled, but she forced herself to smile back. "I couldn't help it. I needed to ask you something…"
She hesitated before speaking, eyes lowering to the floor.
"That night—you said you saw a little boy in the forest. A boy in a military dress holding a gun." She lifted her gaze to him, searching his eyes. "Who… who is he, Gyeonwoo? Why did you look so pained when you spoke about him?"
Gyeonwoo's smile faltered. For a moment, he was silent, as though the memory itself weighed him down. Finally, he exhaled slowly, his expression shadowed.
"That boy…" His voice lowered, fragile. "He was trembling. His hands too small to even hold the gun, but still, he gripped it like his life depended on it. His eyes were… lost. Afraid. Hungry."
Seong-ah's chest tightened. She whispered, "And the older boy?"
Gyeonwoo's gaze drifted, as if replaying the vision. "He appeared beside him… a teenager, also in uniform. His face was worn, yet his voice… kind. He told the child not to cry. He said he would protect him. That they had to keep moving, even if their bodies ached."
Her hands curled into fists. "So even in death, they're… still fighting." Her voice shook, the thought of young souls burdened with war breaking her heart.
Gyeonwoo's expression softened as he looked at her. "It's not just a vision, Seong-ah. Those boys… they're spirits. They're trapped in that place—the space where the newly dead linger. They don't know peace yet."
Seong-ah swallowed hard, eyes shimmering. "And you… you saw them because you're there too."
Gyeonwoo gave her a sad smile, one that said more than words ever could.
Without thinking, she reached forward, wrapping her arms around him tightly, as though her warmth could protect him from the cold of that other world.
"You don't have to carry it alone," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Gyeonwoo closed his eyes, hugging her back. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though the world had paused, leaving only the two of them—her heartbeat steady against his hollow chest.
When she finally pulled back, tears clung to her lashes. "Promise me… you won't disappear like them. Promise me you'll meet me again."
Gyeonwoo brushed her cheek with a ghostly hand, smiling faintly. "As long as you call me, Seong-ah… I'll come."
The sun had already dipped low, painting the sky in shades of tangerine and violet. The school grounds were empty except for the sound of cicadas crying in the trees. Bongsu dragged Seong-ah across the quiet field until they reached the forgotten corner where the large moss-covered stone stood.
Seong-ah looked at the stone with unease. The engraved letters—"Here rests Jang Yoon-bo"—were faded, but the weight of the name lingered like an unseen presence.
She crossed her arms. "You dragged me here just to look at this creepy stone? Honestly, Bongsu, you—"
Her words faltered when she noticed his face. The playful smirk she was used to was gone. Instead, his expression was strangely heavy, his eyes distant.
Without saying a word, Bongsu crouched low and pressed his hands against the soil at the base of the stone. His fingers clawed at the dirt, nails digging until mud streaked across his palms.
"Bongsu!" Seong-ah exclaimed. "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?"
"Quiet," he murmured, his voice unusually steady, almost foreign. "I need to find it."
The soil crumbled slowly under his persistent digging, and then—a faint metallic glint caught the last traces of light. Bongsu's breath hitched. With trembling fingers, he pulled out a small silver ring, tarnished by time yet eerily intact.
Seong-ah's eyes widened. "That… that's just an old ring, isn't it?"
But Bongsu held it as though it was sacred. His lips trembled, and for once, his usual boyish aura disappeared completely.
"No," he whispered, voice breaking. "This… is me."
Seong-ah blinked, confused. "What are you talking about?"
He turned to her slowly, eyes glistening with something she had never seen before—raw fear and grief.
"My soul," he said, clutching the ring tightly to his chest. "It's trapped in here. This ring is the proof that I'm not supposed to be alive. Or rather…" he gave a bitter laugh, "…that I never truly was."
Seong-ah's breath caught. "You mean… you're saying you…?"
Before she could finish, he added quietly, "I died. And this ring… it holds what's left of me."
A few meters away, Jiho stood half-hidden behind the trees. He had followed them silently, expecting to catch Bongsu teasing Seong-ah again. But now, his chest tightened as he overheard everything.
His soul? Dead?
Jiho's fists curled at his sides, his mind racing. The pieces didn't make sense, but instinct told him this was no joke.
His gaze dropped to the silver ring, glinting faintly in Bongsu's hand. Something about it made his skin prickle.
Seong-ah shook her head, stepping closer, her voice trembling. "Bongsu… do you expect me to believe you're just some—some wandering soul? That you're not really…"
Her words faltered as she looked into his eyes. For the first time since she met him, there was no mischief, no childish grin—only the quiet sorrow of someone carrying a truth too heavy to bear.
Bongsu closed his fist around the ring, his voice a whisper.
"This is why I don't belong here, Seong-ah. My body… my laughter… everything you see—it's borrowed. But my soul…" he glanced down at the ring, "…my soul is locked in this silver circle, bound to a death I never escaped."
Seong-ah felt her throat tighten, torn between disbelief and the sinking realization that some part of her already knew.
Bongsu's voice quivered as he stared at the silver ring in his palm.
"This…" he whispered, "was the ring my mother gave me. She told me… it would protect me. That no matter how lost I became, I could always return home."
His eyes clouded, his tone shifting lower. "But now I know… it was never protection. It was a prison. The proof that I only exist in the hour of ox."
Seong-ah gasped, her heart sinking. She tried to reach for the ring, but Bongsu suddenly clutched her hand tightly instead. His grip was desperate, almost painful.
"Come with me," he said firmly. "I'll take you home."
"Bongsu—stop!" she protested, trying to pull her hand back. "You're hurting me—"
But his grasp only tightened, his fingers digging into her skin as if letting go would mean losing everything. His eyes shimmered, torn between fear and determination.
"I'm hurting you?" he muttered, his voice trembling. "Do you think it's only you? I've been hurting like this every single day—every time I wake, every time I laugh, every time I remember I'm not truly alive!"
Before Seong-ah could respond, another hand suddenly yanked her free.
Jiho's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Enough, Bongsu. Can't you see? You're crushing her hand."
He pulled Seong-ah behind him protectively, his sharp eyes locked on Bongsu.
Bongsu staggered back a step, his fist still curled around the silver ring, his face shadowed. Then he laughed bitterly, though his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.
"You think I'm hurting her?" His voice cracked. "You don't understand. I am hurting. Every moment, Jiho. I hurt because I don't know what I am. Because I'm trapped between a world that doesn't want me… and a girl who'll never truly understand."
He looked at Seong-ah then, his eyes burning with a mix of longing and despair. "And yet—I can't stop holding on."