The "study group" had started off well. Books open, pens out, everyone pretending to read.
But then came Do Doyeon's cough.
Kim Jun-ung practically leapt over the table like a firefighter rushing into a burning building.
Kim Jun-ung: "WHAT WAS THAT?! Why are you coughing?! Don't die! Not here, not in front of me!"
Do Doyeon shook her head, embarrassed as the others looked up.
Do Doyeon: "Relax… it's nothing. I just… I can't take heavy breaths sometimes. And I really hate cigarette smell."
The world froze for Jun-ung. He slowly stood, eyes wide, then let out the most dramatic scream anyone had ever heard in that library.
Kim Jun-ung (shouting): "NOOO! YOU HATE CIGARETTES?! THIS IS THE END OF ME!"
The librarian poked her head in, already annoyed.
Librarian: "Quiet, or you're all out!"
Jun-ung ignored her. He spun around to the whole study group, pointing his finger like a general in battle.
Kim Jun-ung: "LISTEN UP, YOU HEATHENS! FROM THIS DAY ON, NOT A SINGLE STUDENT WILL EVER SMOKE AGAIN! IF I SMELL IT—EVEN ONE PUFF—YOU'RE ALL DEAD MEAT!"
The students stared in horror. One guy in the back who secretly smoked quickly shoved his lighter deep into his bag.
Mo Beom sighed, flipping a page.
Mo Beom (muttering): "Bro, you're the only one here who smokes…"
Jun-ung snapped his head towards him, gasping as though Mo Beom had exposed his darkest secret.
Kim Jun-ung: "Y-You…! Don't you dare say it aloud! My image—"
Then he turned back to Doyeon, clutching his chest like a tragic drama hero.
Kim Jun-ung (wailing): "Doyeon-ah! From today onward… I swear on my life… I will NEVER touch cigarettes again! Not for a second, not for a whiff, not even if someone offers me free ones!"
He sniffled, wiping his eyes, then suddenly froze. He sniffed his own coat, and his face twisted in disgust.
Kim Jun-ung: "SHIT! It's still there! The smell! It's haunting me like a ghost!"
He yanked off his coat and began shaking it violently, dust flying everywhere. Students ducked and coughed, books fell from tables, and Hyerii nearly lost her patience.
Hyerii: "Are you TRYING to kill us with dust instead of smoke?!"
Jun-ung ignored her, dramatically throwing his coat across the room like it was cursed. Then he ran back to Doyeon, kneeling by her chair.
Kim Jun-ung (serious): "Doyeon… I mean it. If my smell bothers you, I'll wash this coat a hundred times. I'll burn it if I have to. I… I can't stand the thought of making you cough."
Do Doyeon blinked, surprised at how his tone suddenly shifted from chaotic to genuine. A small, unintentional smile formed at the corner of her lips.
Do Doyeon (softly): "You're such a maniac…"
She looked down quickly, hiding the blush that threatened to appear.
Mo Beom shut his book loudly.
Mo Beom: "Yup. This is no longer a study group. This is a live soap opera."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
And yet, in the middle of all the chaos, Do Doyeon's chest felt strangely warm.
The study group had just calmed down from Jun-ung's dramatic scene when suddenly, Mo Beom's phone started buzzing like an angry mosquito.
Bzzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
He pressed it against the table, trying to muffle the noise. But the caller was relentless.
Student 1 (hissing): "Yah, Mo Beom, pick it up already!"
Student 2: "We're trying to study here! Who even calls this much?"
Hyerii (snapping): "If that thing rings one more time, I'm throwing it out the window."
Mo Beom winced. He tried to ignore it, but then—
BZZZT! BZZZT! BZZZT!
The whole group groaned in unison. Even the librarian from earlier poked her head back in.
Librarian: "Last warning. ONE MORE SOUND and you're all OUT."
Finally, with a dramatic sigh, Mo Beom answered.
Mo Beom (whispering): "Yah, who is this? You're ruining my reputation as a serious student."
On the other end, a familiar voice barked.
Cha Yahyun: "Beom! Where the hell are you? Come to the street right now!"
Mo Beom: "The street? Bro, I'm literally in the middle of a study group."
Cha Yahyun (urgent): "Forget your study group! This is IMPORTANT. If you don't come, you'll regret it."
Mo Beom blinked, his classmates all staring at him curiously.
Kim Jun-ung (leaning over, nosy): "Who is it? Your girlfriend?"
Mo Beom (deadpan): "No. Worse. My friend."
The students chuckled as Mo Beom grabbed his bag.
Mo Beom: "Excuse me. Duty calls."
Hyerii (rolling her eyes): "Duty? You mean ditching us to eat fried chicken with your buddy?"
Mo Beom (grinning): "Exactly."
And with that, he slipped out, leaving the others in chaos once again.
Mo Beom jogged down the street, still panting from leaving the study room. When he turned the corner, he spotted Cha Yahyun leaning casually against a lamppost—but beside him were two shady-looking strangers pretending to be "friendly."
Cha Yahyun (waving happily): "Oh! Beom! Come here, meet my new friends!"
Random Bully #1 (grinning with gold tooth): "Yeah, yeah. We're all good buddies here… just empty your wallets, and we'll be best friends forever."
Random Bully #2 (cracking his knuckles): "And maybe buy us dinner too."
Mo Beom froze.
Mo Beom: "…Bro. These don't look like friends. They look like loan sharks from a bad drama."
Cha Yahyun (whispering nervously): "Yeah… I might have miscalculated."
Just as the bullies reached for Yahyun's bag, a loud voice cut through the street.
Kim Jun-ung (yelling dramatically): "HANDS OFF!"
From the shadows (okay, it was just behind the convenience store), Jun-ung appeared with two of his buddies. Then—out of nowhere—Gyeonwoo also showed up, rolling up his sleeves.
Gyeonwoo: "Didn't expect to see me here, huh?"
Mo Beom (shocked): "Wait, why are you here?"
Gyeonwoo: "I followed you. You're too dumb to handle trouble alone."
Before Mo Beom could reply, fists started flying.
The bullies lunged first, but Jun-ung grabbed one and spun him around like a ragdoll. Gyeonwoo landed a clean punch that made the second one stumble back. Even Cha Yahyun, terrified at first, kicked one on the shin and shouted, "I'm useful too!"
Then—Jiho arrived, pedaling his bicycle at top speed.
Jiho: "YAAAHHH!!!"
He didn't even brake—he literally rammed into one of the bullies with his bike, sending the guy tumbling into a pile of cardboard boxes.
Finally, beaten and embarrassed, the bullies scrambled to their feet.
Random Bully #1: "Tch! This isn't over!"
Random Bully #2: "Yeah, we'll remember your faces!"
Mo Beom (mocking): "Good. Remember it well. My face is too handsome to forget."
The bullies sprinted away. Silence fell for a second before the group burst out laughing.
Still hyped from the fight, they wandered into a small corner store. Instead of beer or energy drinks, they all grabbed lollipops from the rack.
Standing outside, sweaty, bruised, but grinning, they clinked their lollipops together like cheers.
Jun-ung (dramatically biting his candy): "Victory tastes sweet."
Jiho (pouting with his lollipop in mouth): "You guys started without me… I wanted to punch too."
Seong-ah (rolling her eyes at the group): "Boys. Fighting one second, eating candy the next. What are you all, kindergarteners?"
The group laughed, the tension gone, and for that brief moment, everything felt perfect—like a messy little family.
The three of them plopped down in Gyeonwoo's room. Seong-ah and Gyeonwoo sat shoulder-to-shoulder on the floor, scribbling on notes, while Jiho sat across with a pouty face like a kicked puppy.
At first, they ignored him… until Jiho suddenly let out a loud sniffle.
Seong-ah (worried): "Yah, Jiho… what happened? Did someone scold you again?"
Gyeonwoo (frowning): "Why are you crying like a baby?"
Jiho hiccupped and pulled something out of his bag. It was a robot toy with its head dangling by a wire.
Jiho (dramatically): "LOOK! My favorite robot—my human amulet—is broken! Gyeonwoo! You stepped on it, didn't you?!"
Gyeonwoo (stammering, eyes wide): "W-What?! No, no, I didn't mean to—Jiho, I swear! I didn't see it there!"
Jiho (pointing a shaking finger): "How could you… It was more loyal to me than you are!"
Gyeonwoo panicked, bowing his head slightly.
Gyeonwoo: "I-I'm sorry, okay? I'll fix it! I'll buy you ten robots if I have to!"
Seong-ah, meanwhile, tried not to laugh at Jiho's overly dramatic crying.
Jiho (sniffling, turning to Seong-ah): "By the way… where's yours? Don't tell me you lost it too."
Seong-ah (perking up): "Oh, mine? Of course I have it."
She reached into her pocket and proudly held up… a lip care stick.
Both boys blinked.
Jiho (squinting, utterly confused): "Wait. That's your 'amulet'? Lip balm??"
Seong-ah (smiling innocently): "Yup. Always with me. Keeps my lips soft and saves my life."
Jiho (gasping, clutching his chest): "Unbelievable… My fate lies in a broken robot, but yours is… chapstick?!"
Gyeonwoo finally burst out laughing, leaning against the desk.
Gyeonwoo: "Honestly… only you, Seong-ah, would survive with lip balm as a weapon."
Seong-ah (mock serious): "Don't underestimate it. Dry lips can be dangerous."
Jiho groaned, burying his face in his hands.
Jiho: "I'm surrounded by lunatics…"
But despite his complaints, the atmosphere in the room grew warm, the three of them laughing together even as Jiho mourned his poor robot.
The carpet was thin, but somehow it felt softer when Seong-ah was curled up beside him. Gyeonwoo tried to sleep, but every time Seong-ah shifted, his heart thudded louder.
Half-asleep, she suddenly draped one arm over his chest and tangled one of her legs across his.
Gyeonwoo (internally, panicked): "Ahhh, Seong-ah… why do you always do this to me? I can't breathe properly—my heart might explode at this rate…"
Carefully, he slid her hand off, then wriggled out from under her leg like a thief escaping a trap. He rolled away—only to end up facing Bongsu, who was snoring softly on the other side.
Gyeonwoo (whispering, staring at Bongsu's face): "Tsk… Shaman, why do you sleep so peacefully? You really… look like a baby."
Bongsu's mouth twitched, almost like he heard it, then he snored louder. Gyeonwoo shook his head, but his gaze was drawn back to Seong-ah.
Even in the dim light, her features glowed softly—her hair falling loosely over her face, lips slightly parted, her brow relaxed in sleep. For a moment, his mind wandered back to the memory of her dancing with Yeomhwa at the abandoned house. That strange, haunting beauty… the way her movements had been elegant yet fierce, like someone from another world.
Gyeonwoo (smiling faintly to himself): "You're trouble, Seong-ah. Always making me forget everything else…"
He sighed and pulled the blanket a little higher over her shoulders before lying back down, pretending to be unaffected. But the warmth in his chest betrayed him.
Meanwhile, still asleep, Seong-ah unconsciously stretched out her arm again—this time landing directly on his face.
Gyeonwoo (muffled, flailing softly): "Mmfff—Seong-ah!! Not again!"
Bongsu rolled over, smirking even in his sleep as if the universe itself was laughing at Gyeonwoo's misery.
The moonlight spilled faintly across the yard as Bongsu rubbed his eyes, unable to sleep. He got up from the carpet quietly, stepping outside to stretch his legs. That's when he froze—
There, under the silver glow of the moon, Yeomhwa was pacing slowly, her eyes glowing faintly like embers. She didn't look like her usual self—more like a spirit caught between worlds.
Bongsu (whispering, uneasy): "...Yeomhwa? Why are you awake at this hour?"
She turned, her gaze calm but piercing.
Yeomhwa: "Because the night is when truth breathes. You, shaman… you're not just meant to wander behind Gyeonwoo and Seong-ah. You carry a path too."
Bongsu blinked, scratching his head.
Bongsu: "A path? Don't talk in riddles at midnight… I just came out to stretch, not sign up for destiny."
Yeomhwa stepped closer, her voice soft but commanding.
Yeomhwa: "Become my patron deity. Lend me your power… and I will lend you mine. With you standing beside me, the balance of gods and mortals could shift."
Bongsu's usual playful grin faltered. He could feel the weight in her tone—it wasn't a joke.
Bongsu (half serious, half trying to laugh it off): "Patron deity? Me? Yah, I'm barely keeping my shaman job without tripping over my own robes."
Unseen to them, not far away inside the house, Mother Goddess, Do Ryeong, and Grandma sat in silence. They had woken earlier to faint sounds and now overheard every word through the half-open window.
Mother Goddess's brows furrowed, eyes sharp with concern.
Mother Goddess (whispering): "So… Yeomhwa is already seeking allies. And not just any—she seeks him."
Do Ryeong pressed his lips tight.
Do Ryeong: "If Bongsu agrees… things may become dangerous. For all of us."
Grandma simply clutched her prayer beads, eyes flicking nervously between them.
Grandma (muttering): "The boy jokes too much, but his heart… might waver. We must watch carefully."
Back outside, Yeomhwa extended her hand, the night breeze swirling faintly around her.
Yeomhwa: "Think about it, Bongsu. Stay as a jester if you wish—but you and I both know you were born for more than that."
Bongsu looked at her hand, then at the sky, his usual joking mask slipping for a rare moment of hesitation.
Bongsu tilted his head, staring at Yeomhwa's outstretched hand. For once, he didn't make a joke immediately. Instead, he let out a long sigh and sat down on the cool stone step.
Bongsu: "You know, Yeomhwa… people usually ask me for snacks, not for… divine contracts."
He let out a dry laugh, scratching the back of his neck.
Bongsu: "A patron deity, huh? Sounds fancy. Does that come with free meals and dental insurance?"
Yeomhwa didn't flinch at his humor. Instead, she walked closer and crouched so that her face was level with his. Her eyes glimmered like a candle in the dark.
Yeomhwa (firmly): "Mock it if you want. But you're not ordinary. You feel it, don't you? That restless beat in your chest. That pull that keeps you awake when others sleep. You were born to guide, not just to follow."
For once, Bongsu's smile faltered. He looked away, staring at the moon as if searching for an answer written in its glow.
Bongsu (softly, almost to himself): "Guide, huh? No one's ever asked me to lead… not seriously, anyway. I'm just the clown who tags along. The fool who cracks jokes when things get heavy."
Inside, Mother Goddess's expression tightened.
Mother Goddess (whispering to Do Ryeong and Grandma): "He's wavering. She's striking his weakest point—his fear of being overlooked."
Do Ryeong folded his arms, frowning.
Do Ryeong: "If he accepts her offer, his power could shift… and not necessarily for good."
Meanwhile, Yeomhwa leaned in closer, her voice now almost tender.
Yeomhwa: "You wear that mask because you're afraid of being forgotten. But if you stand with me, no one will ever forget your name. You'll be remembered as more than a side character in someone else's fate."
Bongsu swallowed hard, caught between the comfort of her words and the danger they carried. His hand twitched slightly as though tempted to take hers—but at the last second, he pulled back and forced a lopsided grin.
Bongsu (half-joking, half-serious): "You really know how to sell a deal, Yeomhwa. But me? I'm scared I'll sign up and then regret it, like ordering the wrong menu item at a restaurant."
Yeomhwa tilted her head, studying him with sharp curiosity.
Yeomhwa: "Then don't answer tonight. Think. But know this—time isn't patient. When the choice comes again, hesitation might cost more than you imagine."
With that, she rose gracefully and walked back into the shadows, leaving Bongsu staring at his own trembling hands.
---
Inside, the eavesdroppers exchanged worried looks.
Grandma (low mutter): "That girl… she's planting seeds."
Mother Goddess: "Yes. And if they take root… it won't just be Bongsu who changes. Everything will."
Bongsu let out a shaky laugh into the night, whispering to himself:
Bongsu: "A clown turning into a deity, huh? What a ridiculous story that would be…"
But his heart pounded, betraying that a part of him wasn't laughing anymore.
Bongsu pushed the door quietly, the wooden floor creaking just enough to remind him to be careful. Inside, Seong Ah was still asleep on the carpet, her breath steady, her face soft and serene under the faint moonlight.
He tiptoed past her, muttering under his breath.
Bongsu (whispering): "Sleep well, Shaman… while I, your loyal sidekick, explore your super-secret wizard homework."
His eyes fell on the thick, slightly worn book lying open near her pillow — its pages filled with strange symbols, inked diagrams, and archaic script that twisted like dancing flames. He crouched down, lifting the book gingerly, squinting as though the letters might suddenly rearrange themselves into something readable.
He frowned.
Bongsu: "What the heck is this? It looks like someone sneezed while drawing worms… and she reads this like it's a comic book?"
He flipped a page, and for a split second, a faint pulse of warmth rippled beneath his fingertips. Startled, he quickly yanked his hand back.
Bongsu (muttering): "Okay… nope. Not normal. Definitely cursed, haunted, possessed… or all three. And this girl just… studies it before bed?"
Seong Ah stirred slightly in her sleep, shifting closer, her hand brushing the edge of the book. Bongsu froze, holding his breath. Then, realizing she hadn't woken, he let out a shaky laugh.
Bongsu (softly, almost to himself): "You really are something else, Seong Ah. Reading nightmares like bedtime stories… no wonder you walk into haunted houses like they're candy shops."
His gaze softened as he studied her peaceful face for a moment, contrasting the heavy weight of the book in his hands.
Then, curiosity tugged again. He leaned closer to the open page, tilting the book toward the moonlight. Strangely, the words shimmered faintly, almost as if alive, but the moment he tried to focus, they blurred into nonsense.
Bongsu (grumbling): "Great. Either I need glasses, or this book is racist against idiots."
But when he turned one more page, a faint illustration caught his eye — a figure that looked eerily like him, scribbled among the shamanic diagrams. His smile faltered, and for the first time that night, he didn't have a joke ready.
Yeomhwa paced the wooden corridor outside the chamber, her hands twisting the hem of her sleeve. Her lips moved silently, whispering to herself.
Yeomhwa (to herself): "Why him… why does the spirit cling to him? Is it fate… or punishment? If he falls deeper, he'll never return… and I—"
Her voice cracked, but before she could spiral further, the heavy door to the shaman chamber slid open. A strong wave of incense smoke rolled out, carrying with it the weight of something ancient.
The Great Mother stepped inside, her robes layered with shimmering silks that rustled like water, her staff thudding gently against the stone floor. Her presence was commanding, filling the chamber instantly.
Great Mother (sternly): "Enough wandering thoughts, Yeomhwa. The boy carries a ghost inside him—one that feeds on his weakness and your hesitation."
Yeomhwa's knees buckled slightly as she knelt in front of her, lowering her head.
Yeomhwa (trembling): "I… I felt it, Mother. Its grip is stronger than before. Every time he smiles, every time he touches her hand… the spirit digs deeper. If we don't—"
Great Mother (cutting her off): "If we don't, he will be consumed. That is why we must act now."
She lifted a brass bowl filled with sacred water, placing it before Yeomhwa.
Great Mother: "You will assist me in the ritual. This is no ordinary haunting. The ghost inside Gyeonwoo is restless, old… and dangerous. If left, it will devour not just his soul, but the bond he shares with Seong Ah."
Yeomhwa's breath hitched, her heart torn. The thought of separating them stabbed at her chest, yet the fear of losing him entirely burned hotter.
Yeomhwa (whispering): "If I save him… he may hate me for it."
The Great Mother fixed her with sharp, unwavering eyes.
Great Mother: "Better his hatred than his death."
Yeomhwa clenched her fists, nodding slowly. The candles flickered violently as though the spirits themselves were listening.
Seong Ah awoke slowly, her lashes fluttering as the pale morning light spilled into the room. Her gaze fell upon Gyeonwoo, still deep in sleep, his expression soft, almost boyish. She couldn't help but smile, brushing a stray lock of hair from his forehead.
From the corner, Bongsu's voice broke the quiet.
"You're really looking pretty, shaman."
Seong Ah startled, her cheeks warming as she rolled her eyes. "Stop talking nonsense."
But Bongsu wasn't teasing this time. His gaze had shifted to the heavy ritual book lying open on the table, the strange, curling scripts shimmering faintly in the morning light.
"How do you even read this?" he asked, flipping a page with care. "It looks like a jumble of lines… and yet—" He tapped a diagram, tracing the symbols with his fingertip. "Here, it tells how to protect the god. The words aren't written like normal language. They're meant to be breathed… like a chant. See?"
Seong Ah froze, her lips parting. He was reading it as though it were the simplest thing in the world, when she herself had never been able to make sense of it. A chill ran through her veins.
Without a word, she pulled him to his feet. "Come. There's someone who needs to hear this."
The shaman chamber was thick with incense, its air heavy and sacred. At the far end sat the Great Mother, eyes closed, her staff across her lap. Though blind, her presence filled the room like an unshaken mountain.
The moment Bongsu stepped across the threshold, she stiffened. Her head turned sharply in his direction, as if the very air carried his scent. Her hands clenched the staff, and with a sudden force she rose, her milky-white eyes snapping open.
"You…" Her voice was sharp as a blade. "You are the evil one!"
Her cry rattled through the chamber. She lurched forward, shoving at Bongsu's chest with surprising strength for her frail body.
Bongsu staggered back, shock flashing across his face before anger consumed him. His hand shot out, wrenching her staff from her grasp. In one furious motion, he raised it high above his head, ready to strike.
"STOP!"
Seong Ah's voice split the air. She rushed between them, her hands pressed firmly against Bongsu's chest, eyes wide with fear.
He froze, the staff trembling in his grip. His breath came fast and hard, his jaw clenched. "How can I let it go, shaman? She tried to kill me."
The Great Mother stood unmoving, her white eyes open and unseeing, yet fierce, as though she peered straight into his soul.
Seong Ah's voice dropped, softer but resolute. "If you hurt her, you'll never prove her wrong. Don't let anger decide for you."
For a long, suffocating moment, the chamber held its breath. Then, with a sharp exhale, Bongsu released the staff. It clattered to the ground, the sound echoing like a verdict.
His voice was low, almost broken. "Why… why does everyone keep calling me evil?"
The question hung in the incense-thick air, heavier than any curse.
Yeomhwa had risen from her seat, her dark hair flowing like a shadow, ready to trail behind Seong Ah and Bongsu into the chamber. But a firm hand stopped her.
"Not this time."
Do Ryeong's voice was calm, yet absolute. His grip was gentle, but his gaze held hers like iron.
"Why?" she whispered, her eyes narrowing.
"Because not every truth is meant for your eyes," he answered. "Sometimes, to know too much is to bind yourself to a fate you cannot escape."
Yeomhwa's lips parted as though to protest, but his expression silenced her. Reluctantly, she stepped back into the dimness, though her eyes never left the path Seong Ah had taken.
---
Inside, the air felt heavier than before. Seong Ah's hand tightened around Gyeonwoo's wrist, her brows furrowed with worry.
"Gyeonwoo… what's happening? Why are you acting like this?"
He turned to her, his expression tense yet strangely calm, as if he had decided something long ago. "Just believe me. One last time."
Her chest tightened at the weight of his words.
"Go out. Call my phone."
"What? Why?" she asked, confusion layering her tone.
"Because…" He hesitated, his eyes flickering toward Bongsu. "…he'll lose control otherwise. The sound—it triggers his memories. His fears. It's the only way."
Seong Ah's lips parted, but no words came. She only nodded, reluctantly, and slipped outside the chamber.
With trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone and dialed Gyeonwoo's number. The shrill tone filled the room, bouncing off the stone walls like an eerie chant.
And then—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound warped, stretching into the thunder of gunshots. The walls seemed to tremble with it.
Bongsu staggered back instantly, his hands flying to his ears. His eyes widened with terror as his knees buckled.
"No… no, stop it! Stop the sound—stop it!" His voice cracked into a desperate yell, raw with pain. Tears burned his eyes as he shook his head violently, trapped in the prison of his own mind.
But Seong Ah didn't move to silence it. Her heart ached, her fingers twitched, but she trusted Gyeonwoo's words. She had to.
The echoes raged on, until finally, Bongsu's sobs weakened. His breath came in sharp gasps, his body trembling—but slowly, painfully, the fire in his eyes dulled. His hands slipped from his ears.
The sound stopped.
Silence reclaimed the chamber.
Seong Ah stepped forward carefully, her gaze never leaving Bongsu. He sat hunched on the floor, his shadow quivering in the candlelight.
Her voice was low, steady, but filled with steel. "Never try to attack anyone again, Bongsu. Do you understand me?"
He lifted his head, his tear-streaked face reflecting in the tall bronze mirror behind her. And in that reflection—Bongsu's image wavered. For just a moment, it wasn't him she saw. It was something darker, hollow-eyed, a twisted echo of his pain.
Seong Ah's breath caught. She tightened her grip around Gyeonwoo's hand, grounding herself, forcing her heart not to falter.
The mirror shimmered again, returning to Bongsu's trembling figure.
Seong Ah didn't let go of Gyeonwoo. Not this time.