Yaar… what's the scariest moment in life in the morning?
The alarm ringing?
No.
Waking up… opening your eyes…
and seeing a girl sleeping right beside you…
on your single bed…
A girl you don't even know.
My eyes went wide.
---
8:03 AM | Hatsu Jin's 1BHK | Bengaluru
At first, I thought it was a dream.
Because in my life, girls exist in only two places—
my unfinished webnovels…
and Pistagram reels comments like, "bro when's the next part?"
But this wasn't a dream.
Because in dreams… your neck doesn't hurt like hell.
And mine was twisted at a 90-degree angle…
like someone used me as a pillow all night.
The girl was wrapped in my cheap old blanket.
Hair spread out. Breathing soft.
And her face…
For a second, I thought—
maybe I died…
and this is heaven.
Like… she was made just for me.
Then my brain screamed—
GET UP! POLICE CASE!
If something happens, your dad won't spare you—he'll finish you with a cannon, not slippers!
I slowly started sliding off the bed.
If I don't move… maybe—
One inch.
Two inch—
Nope. I'm dead.
She turned.
And said my name.
"...Hatsu… five more minutes."
My blood froze.
First—she's on my bed.
Second—she knows my name.
Third—she said it like this is normal.
Like this happens every day.
Problem?
I've never even talked to a girl in my life.
"Excuse me," I tried to speak.
It came out more like a terrified squeak.
"Who are you? And what are you doing in my house?"
She opened one eye.
Looked at me calmly.
Zero panic.
Like I just asked if there's food in the fridge.
"Harumi," she said softly. Morning voice.
"Are you still half asleep?"
My brain crashed.
"Harumi… right. And why is Harumi in my house?"
She sat up. Fixed her hair.
Looked around my room like she was searching for something.
"Did you make coffee?" she asked.
"Coffee?!" I almost yelled.
"There's a stranger in my house and your first question is COFFEE?!"
She laughed. Normally.
"I'm not a stranger, Hatsu Jin. And you always forget to add ginger."
Wait.
WAIT.
Ginger.
I do forget ginger.
But how does she know that?
My hands went cold.
A weird feeling hit me—
like this has happened before.
Same room. Same light. Same dialogue.
But when?
I don't remember anything like this.
"I'm calling the police," I grabbed my phone.
"Your password is 201#," she said without looking.
"The year of your first webnovel."
My phone almost slipped.
Because… it was correct.
"W-what is this?" I stuttered.
"Who are you? A stalker? YouTuber? Prank?"
Harumi stood up. Walked close to me.
And her eyes…
There was something familiar.
Like meeting someone you lost long ago…
but can't remember when.
"I'm Harumi," she repeated.
Then walked toward the kitchen.
"And if you shout, the neighbor aunty will complain again. Like last time."
Last time? WHAT LAST TIME?!
I ran after her.
"Stop! You can't go into my kitchen!"
Too late.
She had already turned on the gas.
Took out my chipped kettle.
Found the tea and coffee mix from the exact hidden spot.
"Two spoons sugar," she said.
"One for you. One for me. Not too sweet. You don't like it."
I froze.
This is too specific.
Even a stalker wouldn't know this much.
And her behavior?
No guilt. No fear.
Just… comfort.
Like she belongs here.
---
Ding-dong.
Not soft.
Knock… knock… knock.
Like whoever it is… doesn't wait.
---
I walked to the door.
Hand on the handle.
Heart racing.
---
From behind, Harumi's voice came.
Soft. Low.
"…he's here."
"Who?" I asked.
Silence.
"…Renshiro."
Just hearing that name…
A chill ran down my spine.
---
The bell rang again. Louder.
I slowly opened the door.
---
And the person standing there—
Was not normal.
Tall. Straight posture.
Eyes locked onto me… like scanning.
In his hand…
A long black case.
---
He looked at me for a second.
Then said—
"…you are Hatsu Jin."
Not a question.
A statement.
---
My throat went dry.
Behind me, Harumi said just one word—
"Bhai…"
---
And in that moment…
I understood—
My life is no longer going to be normal.
---
I had just sat down…
about to ask Renshiro—
"Who are you… and what is happening to me…?"
But before the words could leave my mouth—
Ting-tong!
The doorbell rang again.
This time… louder.
The air in the room felt heavy.
Me and Renshiro both went silent.
"Now who…?" I whispered.
No answer.
Then—
Ting-tong.
This time… not from the front.
From the back door.
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
"Seriously… now the back too?"
I slowly turned.
Every step felt strange.
Like I'm not in my house…
but inside some weird movie.
I reached the back door.
Hand on the handle.
Paused.
Then opened—
Creeeaaak…
"Bhai…?" I called.
Silence.
Then—
"Mehhh… meoow…"
I froze.
"…what was that?"
Again.
Clearer this time.
"Mehhh… meoow…"
I slowly looked down.
And my life officially ended.
A tiny elephant.
The size of a cat.
Staring at me.
"…bhai."
That's all I could say.
"I've officially gone insane."
---
To be continued…