Eun-ji sits cross-legged on her bed at midnight, laptop glowing in the dark.
Her search history has officially become suspicious.
She squints at the screen.
"Okay… vampires."
The first article loads.
She reads quietly.
"Vampires are undead creatures that drink blood to survive."
She pauses.
"…Great."
Her fingers hover over the keyboard before typing again.
Can vampires go to college?
More results appear.
Another article says:
"Sunlight weakens vampires and can cause burning."
Her brain immediately flashes back to Ji-ho in the café weeks ago, squinting slightly in the sunlight.
She slowly sits up.
"Wait…"
Another result appears.
"Vampires possess enhanced strength, speed, and senses."
Her mind jumps to the fight outside campus.
The way Ji-ho moved.
The veins on his arm.
Her stomach twists.
"…Oh my god."
She scrolls again.
Another article appears.
"Vampires may struggle to control themselves around blood."
Her memory flashes to a classmate's nosebleed weeks ago.
Ji-ho going very quiet.
Too quiet.
Her laptop almost slips from her lap.
"Okay… that one was suspiciously accurate."
She keeps scrolling.
Another website says:
"Vampires cannot enter homes unless invited."
Eun-ji blinks.
"…Ji-ho literally walked into my house last week and stole my snacks."
She sighs.
"Fake."
Next result.
"Vampires turn into bats."
She stares blankly at the screen.
"…If Ji-ho turns into a bat I'm dropping out of university."
She flops back onto her pillow.
"This is useless."
Her phone buzzes.
A message from Seo-yeon.
Seo-yeon:
Why are you online at 2 AM?
Eun-ji hesitates.
Then types slowly.
Eun-ji:
Random question.
Seo-yeon:
That already sounds dangerous.
Eun-ji:
If someone hypothetically knew a vampire…
Three dots appear.
Disappear.
Then appear again.
Finally—
Seo-yeon:
Eun-ji what did you do.
Eun-ji groans and buries her face in her pillow.
"This is hopeless."
But her eyes drift back to the laptop again.
To the list of vampire traits.
Sunlight weakness.
Super strength.
Blood hunger.
Every point reminds her of Ji-ho.
Her chest tightens.
"Pumpkin…" she murmurs softly.
"…what are you?"
Across the city, Ji-ho stands on a rooftop under the night sky.
The wind brushes through his dark hair.
His phone lights up.
A message draft sits open.
Cherry, did I do something wrong?
He stares at it.
Then deletes the message.
His jaw tightens.
Because the truth is—
The distance between them is safer.
Even if it hurts.
Far below, someone cuts their hand while opening a box.
The faint scent of blood drifts through the night air.
Ji-ho's eyes darken instantly.
His fingers curl against the railing.
"…I need to stay away from her."
Meanwhile in her room, Eun-ji closes her laptop slowly.
Her mind spins.
Confusion.
Hurt.
Fear.
But one thought settles heavier than the rest.
Tomorrow…
She's going to watch Ji-ho very carefully.
Because if the internet is even half right…
Then the boy she's in love with might really be a vampire.