In a small apartment, a boy was sleeping deeply on his bed. The room was a complete mess—things scattered everywhere. A cupboard stood half-open, and inside it, there was barely anything… just a single T-shirt.
The clock showed 9:00 AM.
The boy was still lost in deep sleep when suddenly the alarm rang. His eyes snapped open. He glanced at the time and immediately got up, leaving everything as it was, and rushed to take a bath. Within minutes, he was ready.
He stood at the door of his apartment.
His clothes looked slightly expensive, but overall, everything about him was average—just like his apartment. He took one last glance at the messy room behind him, his expression cold and indifferent, then walked away.
His dark, abyss-like eyes and black hair, combined with his emotionless face, gave him the aura of a celebrity—even though he wore simple clothes.
He checked his watch. 9:30.
He hurried forward. The elevator doors were just about to close, but he stopped them with his hand and stepped inside.
A girl was already there, holding a small puppy. She had been looking at the closing doors, but now her eyes shifted to him.
For a moment, the narrow gap between the doors framed him—cold eyes, calm presence, like someone distant from the world.
The girl quietly moved aside.
He entered without even glancing at her, lost in his own thoughts.
The puppy walked up to him and started licking his leg. He looked down briefly, his gaze cold… then ignored it completely.
The elevator reached the ground floor.
He stepped out quickly and rushed away.
Outside the apartment, he hurried toward the exit. At the gate, an old man was standing there, smoking.
Ji Hoon gave a faint smile.
"Good morning, Uncle Chen."
The old man chuckled. "Morning, kid."
But Ji Hoon was already gone.
A taxi was waiting outside. He got in and left.
Uncle Chen shook his head.
"This kid… always in a rush. Is he some kind of robot?"
Behind him stood the same girl from the elevator, watching Ji Hoon leave, her cheeks slightly flushed.
She whispered softly,
"Ji Hoon Lee… why are you so cold?"
"I've been riding the same elevator with you for six months… and not once have you looked at me."
"Do you… not feel anything at all?"
—
Inside the taxi, Ji Hoon glanced at the side mirror. For a brief second, he saw her reflection.
Then he looked away.
"Metro station," he said calmly.
—
A while later, he arrived at his workplace—a restaurant.
Checking his watch, he saw he had only ten minutes left. He quickly changed and entered the staff room.
A girl there laughed while putting on her waiter cap.
"Ji Hoon, seriously… how do you arrive at the exact same time every day? Are you a robot or something?"
Ji Hoon gave a small smile.
"Nothing like that. I just have a good routine."
Soon, the restaurant filled with customers. Time passed quickly as they worked non-stop.
Before they knew it, it was 9:30 PM.
Ji Hoon sat in the restaurant, eating dinner. Across from him sat his coworker and boss, both drinking alcohol while chatting.
His boss asked,
"Ji Hoon, do you still work night shifts?"
"Yes," he replied calmly.
His coworker frowned.
"You earn enough here. Why do you still do two jobs? Are you crazy?"
Ji Hoon continued eating.
"I have my own reasons."
His boss sighed.
"Fine, whatever your reasons are… at least take care of your health. Don't come to work hungry. Have breakfast."
Ji Hoon nodded slightly.
"I'll keep that in mind."
After finishing, he stood up and went to put away the dishes.
His coworkers watched him quietly, a hint of shyness in their eyes.
The boss glanced at them and said,
"Yuna… it's better if you don't get attached. He won't pay attention to you."
—
Later, Ji Hoon prepared to leave.
"I'm going home," he said.
"Hey! Don't just leave like that!" his boss shouted.
The next moment, Ji Hoon was helping both of them to the car.
—
After some time, he returned home.
At the entrance of his apartment, he noticed a gift box.
He picked it up, looked at it for a moment… then placed it aside without opening it and went inside.
From a distance, someone was watching him.
It was the same girl from the morning.
—
Inside, Ji Hoon looked around his messy room with empty eyes.
"How long… will this go on?"
He took a deep breath and began cleaning. He cleared the bed, gathered the scattered clothes, and threw trash into bags.
After a while, he stopped.
"That's enough… I'll do the rest tomorrow."
He checked the time again, put on his coat, and left.
—
Outside, a car was already waiting.
"Today it's early," he muttered before getting in.
Soon, he arrived at a club—his second job.
"Three hours… at least I'll earn something," he said quietly.
Time passed.
By 1 AM, he was done.
"I should just go home and sleep… I'm exhausted."
—
Back home, he lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The room was silent.
His phone lay beside him, untouched.
Through the window, the night sky stretched endlessly.
Then—
He saw a falling star.
At first, he didn't react.
But suddenly, his eyes widened slightly.
"Beautiful…" he whispered.
"So free… yet still burning."
"…I'm just like you."
Suddenly, the entire window lit up with a blinding golden-white light.
Ji Hoon's lips curved into a faint, almost devilish smile.
"Come."
"Embrace me."
There was no fear in his eyes.
Only something deeper—anger… and acceptance.
The meteor was no longer just a star.
It was falling straight toward the city.
Toward him.
The light swallowed everything.
And in the next second—
BOOM.
A massive explosion shook the entire city.