"First you need to understand who you are.
Remove fear from your mind.
If possible, trust nobody."
Those exact words from Raven—spoken weeks ago—kept echoing endlessly in my head as I slowly sat up on my bed.
The room was quiet, almost too quiet, yet my mind was louder than ever. My heart felt heavy, but something else stirred beneath that weight—something restless, something demanding movement. I knew I couldn't stay still anymore.
I slipped my feet into my sneakers, tied the laces tightly, and stood up. Without looking back, I stepped outside and locked the door behind me.
The early morning air was cold against my skin, sharp and awakening. The school compound was almost empty, the field stretching wide and silent before me. I took a deep breath—and started running.
At first, it was slow. Controlled. But soon, my pace increased.
One lap.
Two.
Five.
I didn't stop.
I ran around the field again and again, my breath growing heavier, my lungs burning, my thoughts refusing to slow down. Sweat soaked through my clothes, yet I didn't care. I wasn't running to exercise—I was running to escape the noise in my head,maybe stop been a weakling.
Ten rounds.
Fifteen.
Twenty.
Still, I didn't stop.
My legs began to shake violently, my muscles screaming for rest, but I forced myself forward. I refused to give up. I refused to be weak.
My feet trembled furiously beneath me, yet I kept running.
Suddenly, I sensed someone close—
Before I could react, a hand grabbed my arm firmly, pulling me to an abrupt stop. Startled, I tried to free myself, struggling against the grip, but the hold only tightened.
Then, unexpectedly, the person pulled me into a warm embrace.
I froze.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
It was Raven.
He was holding me tightly, his arms firm yet steady, as if anchoring me to reality. My heart was racing—not just from the run, but from his sudden presence. Exhausted, I found myself leaning against his chest, resting there for a brief moment as my breathing struggled to return to normal.
"What are you trying to do to yourself, Jina?" he asked quietly.
He guided me gently to the ground, helping me sit as my legs finally gave out beneath me. I collapsed onto the grass, completely drained.
Raven handed me a bottle of water.
I didn't hesitate. I took it and finished it at once, the cold liquid soothing my burning throat. I lay back slightly, my legs still jerking uncontrollably from exhaustion.
"Jina."
"Raven," I said weakly, trying to explain, "I just wanted to exercise and—"
"You think this is how you awaken yourself?" he interrupted, his voice calm but sharp.
I turned my face toward him, frustration filling my chest.
"Raven, I hate being a weakling because I am not," I said firmly. "I hate being fooled easily because I am not a dummy."
He stared at me for a moment before speaking again.
"You are the one who keeps allowing yourself to be fooled, Jina," he said. "Because you can't read the simple handwriting on the walls."
He looked away from me then, bending down slowly.
Before I could react, Raven lifted my legs gently onto his lap.
My breath caught.
I had never seen Raven like this—so calm, so careful.
Without a word, he began to massage my feet slowly, deliberately, easing the pain from my trembling muscles. At first, I was startled, unsure of how to react. My feet hurt badly, but the warmth of his hands sent an unfamiliar comfort through me.
I watched him silently.
He didn't notice my gaze. He focused only on what he was doing, massaging one foot carefully before moving to the other, his touch firm yet gentle.
"Jina," he said quietly after a moment, releasing my feet, "this weekend, I want to take you somewhere."
I looked at him, surprised.
"Where?" I asked.
He met my eyes briefly.
"Just get ready," he replied. "I'll tell you once we get there."
He stood up and brushed off his hands.
"Are you ready to go inside," he asked, "or do you want to continue running?"
"Yes… I'm ready," I said, trying to stand.
The moment I rose, my legs betrayed me. I stumbled backward—
And Raven caught me instantly.
Without hesitation, he lifted me effortlessly into his arms.
I froze again.
He didn't look at my face. His expression remained cold, unreadable, just as always.
As he carried me across the field, some students noticed us. They stopped to stare. Some whispered. Some pointed.
Raven ignored them all.
He carried me straight to my door and gently set me down on my feet.
"Thank you, Raven," I said softly.
He didn't respond.
He turned and walked away.
I stood there for a moment, watching him leave. Then I opened the door and went inside, closing it quietly behind me.
Almost immediately, I rushed to the window, my heart racing, hoping to see him climb his usual tree.
But he wasn't there.
Disappointed, I leaned against the window, lost in thought.
The weekend.
He wanted to take me somewhere.
Where could that be?
I whispered the question to myself as the silence of the room wrapped around me once again.