Min-jun and Seo-hyeon sat close, their knees almost touching, their hands still intertwined. The hum of the Echo from beyond the walls grew louder, as if the world around them could sense their connection.
"We need to go to the surface," Seo-hyeon said, trying to regain control. "I need to collect samples. And you… you're a scout. You can help."
Min-jun nodded, his hand remaining close to Seo-hyeon's. "I know how to survive. But this world… it's different."
Their gazes met again, and a silent understanding passed between them: trust isn't born from words, but from the feeling of another person's heart beating beside you.
At that moment, the door swung open—Yoon entered, her eyes cautious.
"The survivors are saying the stranger is dangerous, Seo-hyeon. He needs to prove he isn't a threat."
Seo-hyeon clenched the Stella, his voice firm and confident.
"He's not a threat. We need him."
Min-jun felt the warmth of Seo-hyeon's gaze, feeling for the first time in a long while—not a ghost, not a memory, but a real person beside him.
But then a crash sounded from behind the lab wall—something heavy had fallen in the corridor. Their eyes met, and the moment of trust was interrupted by a new threat. His heart seized, and tension hung in the air.