Chapter Text
Seungmin was dreaming, yet he could still feel fear.
He was in a deserted place. The ground was covered in red sand, so hot it burned the soles of his bare feet, turning his pale skin raw and flushed. A thick white fog swallowed everything ahead, erasing the horizon entirely. The air felt heavy, hard to breathe, like every inhale took real effort.
Not knowing where to go, he took a few steps and stopped in front of a black sea. The waves moved slowly, making no sound at all, as if they were swallowing the light itself. That wasn’t water—Seungmin was sure of it. It seemed alive. Breathing beneath the fog.
He frowned. No fucking way he was stepping in there. Then he felt it. A warm breath against the back of his neck. Too close.
His entire body broke out in goosebumps. His heart skipped before pounding wildly out of control. His stomach dropped, icy despite the suffocating heat around him. Whatever it was, it was right behind him.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to steady his ragged breathing. In situations like that, he didn’t face fear head-on—but he had nowhere to run. The breathing stayed hot against his neck until he felt a hand wrap around his waist.
And he woke up.
Seungmin shot upright in bed, his face drenched in sweat. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the dream, but he could’ve sworn he still felt the heat of the sand clinging to his skin. He grabbed his phone from the nightstand.
3:45 a.m.
He sighed, turned toward the wall, and tried to fall back asleep. That’s when he felt it. Breathing against his neck—real this time. Slow. Warm. He spun around, his whole body on high alert.
Nothing.
The room was silent, too dark, the air heavy like there wasn’t enough oxygen.
“Great… now I’m losing it,” he muttered, his voice cracking slightly.
He lay on his back, eyes wide open, staring at the invisible ceiling. He didn’t want to close them. He spent the rest of the night curled up, imagining invisible hands dragging his foot off the bed.
When his alarm went off, his entire body ached. He jumped up and rushed to turn on the light. Brightness flooded the room, and he let out a relieved smile, his chest finally loosening.
“God is light…” he murmured, more like a desperate reminder than a prayer.
He got ready slower than usual, still carrying the weight of the dream in his body, like he was still on that twisted beach. Lately, strange things had been happening to him.
The kind of stuff straight out of a horror movie—and he had no idea what he’d done differently. Dreams, smells, and the constant feeling of being watched had become part of his week.
He stuck to the same routine religiously. The only thing out of the ordinary had been saving a kitten from drowning and bringing it home without his parents knowing.
Maybe it was God telling him he was a sinner. Especially for lying to them.
He left the house—not before saying goodbye to his mom—and headed to work.
He probably shouldn’t dwell on it, but ignoring it would be like those horror movie characters who pretend everything’s fine. No. Demons didn’t enter believers’ homes. That thought comforted him, even though in the movies, that never actually stopped anything.
Work went by normally. It wasn’t the best job in the world, but it was good enough to keep him out of the house.
On his way home, he headed toward the park where he’d saved the kitten. He hoped the little thing was safe and happy; after all, kittens were easier to adopt than adult cats.
A late afternoon breeze brushed his face. He closed his eyes for a second, enjoying the cool air.
Then his nose started burning.
A horrible, sharp smell—like rotten eggs mixed with something metallic—flooded his nostrils. The air, once fresh, turned hot and thick.
Seungmin covered his nose, trying to block it out, and hurried away from the park. His eyes watered from the sting.
The worst part? He seemed to be the only one who noticed. People sat on benches chatting like nothing was wrong.
The smell followed him the entire way home—or maybe it had soaked into him. Tears slipped from the corners of his eyes without him realizing.
When he got home, the odor faded. The scent of lavender cleaner replaced it, like it had never been there.
“Maybe a gas leak…” he whispered to himself.
Even though he knew it was just one more strange thing happening to him.
He shook his head. No point thinking about it now. He went inside.
Since it was church night, Seungmin stopped by the kitchen to say hi to his mom before showering. He washed up quickly; he would’ve liked to take longer, but even though he paid the bill, his dad would yell if he stayed in more than five minutes.
Back in his room, he started getting ready for church. That way he’d save time and could scroll on his phone for at least thirty minutes.
Like always, he put on a suit. It felt awkward—the jacket hung too loose on his slim frame. He remembered school, the teasing for being tall and skinny. He shook his head, pushed the thoughts away, threw himself onto the bed, and grabbed his phone.
He mindlessly scrolled through his TikTok For You page without really watching anything until a title caught his eye:
“How do I know if I’m cursed?”
As the woman talked about strange dreams and constantly feeling watched, the air in his room grew warmer, making his body stiffen against the mattress.
“In cases like that, take spiritual baths.”
How the hell was he supposed to take a spiritual bath? If he brought anything into the house that wasn’t evangelical, his dad would probably deck him.
He shrugged. The room was so hot it felt suffocating. He turned off his phone and stepped out.
It’s just paranoia.
He repeated that in his head as he went to the kitchen for a glass of water. He’d go to church, pray harder, and be set free. Well… that’s what he was trying to believe.
“Are you okay?”
Seungmin jumped, almost dropping the glass. He turned and saw his mom behind him.
“Got something to hide, kid?” she asked, frowning.
“I was just distracted…” he said with a nervous smile.
If he told his parents, would everything fix itself? No. He’d probably get dragged into an exorcism or something.
“Is something bothering you at work?”
“No, everything’s fine,” he said, setting the glass in the sink.
“I was thinking… there’s a church get-together, and you could go.”
Of course she’d bring that up, after the pastor’s announcement last service.
“I don’t know…”
“Seungmin, people your age are already dating.” She sighed, running a hand through her straight black hair—just like his. “You can’t just end up alone. You’ve never even shown interest in any of the girls.”
He bit his lower lip. He didn’t want to snap at her; she was the only one who still showed him any real affection.
“Let’s trust that God will guide me to a good woman.”
He rested a hand on her shoulder before quickly walking away.
Back in his room, he grabbed his phone and waited in the living room for his parents to get ready. His dad came out soon after. Seungmin greeted him and watched him head toward the bedroom.
He leaned back against the couch, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.
For a moment, he let himself relax, trying to shove everything aside. The marriage thing had been bothering him since last year. To his dad, Seungmin was financially stable and had all the virtues of a real, God-fearing man.
But what even was a real man? And was he truly God-fearing?
He didn’t have answers. If anything, he had more questions bubbling inside him—and none of them would be welcomed by his father.
“You sleeping? Let’s go, boy!”
The voice came with a hard smack to his shoulder. Seungmin held back a grimace and stood up, ignoring the sting.
“I wasn’t sleeping, Dad.”
He climbed into the back seat of the car and rested his head against the window, watching houses blur past.
Life could be easier. He wanted to give his parents the pride they expected, but he didn’t feel any desire to be with a woman.
Truthfully, he couldn’t even say he was gay. Men didn’t spark anything in him either. At least if he were gay, he’d have an answer.
He let out a quiet huff. He needed to figure himself out and try getting close to someone before his parents’ pressure got worse. But then what? End up stuck in an unhappy marriage?
After marriage, they’d probably expect a child. And how was he supposed to do that if he felt no desire at all? Seungmin couldn’t even get an erection—not even reading BL.
His thoughts were cut off when they arrived at church. He stepped out of the car and gripped his Bible tightly. The moment he walked inside, a strange heat spread through his body.
He shivered. His legs weakened, nearly giving out before he reached a pew. He dropped into it heavily. He’d felt fine leaving the house—why did he feel so bad now?
“Are you okay, Seungmin?”
His mom touched his shoulder, and he flinched.
“Yeah… I think my blood pressure dropped,” he whispered. His mouth was painfully dry.
“I’ll get you some water.”
She hurried off.
He tried to straighten up, but his body felt heavy and hot. There weren’t many people there yet, and no one seemed to notice him.
His father appeared beside him, watching with a hard expression. Seungmin shrank further into the pew, feeling judged.
His mom returned with water. He drank it in one go, wishing the heat would disappear. Maybe it was a sign he shouldn’t even be there.
“Feel better?”
“Yeah, thanks,” he said, forcing a smile.
“If he’s that bad, let him stay in the back,” his father said with barely concealed disdain.
Seungmin swallowed his anger and clutched his Bible tighter. He hated sitting near his father, but he had no choice.
They knelt. His legs trembled so badly he nearly toppled over, gripping the pew to stay upright.
Please, God, if You’re still with me, make this stop.
He repeated it silently, but the discomfort didn’t fade.
“Amen!” the pastor said. “Let’s stand for another prayer.”
He forced himself up. The shaking and heat had eased, but the heaviness lingered.
He closed his eyes. If praying had been hard before, now it was worse. He simply asked forgiveness for his sins and that God’s will be done in his life. He’d always heard that meant surrendering everything. Even with shaky faith, he tried.
After the hymns and youth sermon, the hours dragged. Words felt like a foreign language.
When the service finally ended, relief washed over him. He stepped outside before his parents, needing fresh air.
The weight in his body eased.
He forced a polite smile for church members greeting him while watching his parents laugh and chat like everything was perfect.
How could his father seem to love strangers more than his own son?
The thought made his chest tighten. Back home, he went straight to his room to change.
Sitting on his bed, back against the wall near the closed window, hidden from his father’s eyes, he felt tears well up.
Too much was happening in his life. Even God seemed to be mocking him with all these strange events.
Ridiculous.
That was the only word looping in his mind as he dug his nails into his thighs. Ridiculous for crying like that.
He took a shaky breath and realized something strange—the air in his room felt heavier than usual. Stuffy. Too hot for a normal night.
He wiped his face when he heard a dry scratch behind him. From the window. His body reacted before his mind. He spun around, heart slamming painfully against his ribs.
“Oh my God—”
A small shadow stood outside, nearly dissolving into the dark. For a second, something about it felt wrong, like the air around it shimmered.
Then two large light-brown eyes reflected the room’s light. Innocent. Almost golden.
“…You.”
He exhaled sharply.
He opened the window with trembling hands and pulled the kitten inside. Its black fur felt too warm, almost hot, like it had been under blazing sun—which made no sense at that hour.
“You almost gave me a heart attack,” he muttered, scratching behind its ears. “I thought you were a demon or something.”
The word demon echoed strangely in the room. The silence afterward felt thick.
The cat settled on his thighs, purring softly. For a moment, Seungmin forgot even his sadness. The problem was the smell that came with it.
Not bad—sweet and metallic at the same time, like something burned mixed with old incense.
“You ran away from the shelter, didn’t you?” he said, trying to ignore the unease. “You can’t do that… no one will adopt you.”
The cat slowly lifted its head and stared at him. It didn’t blink. The look was too intense for a kitten.
A chill crawled up his spine.
“Okay… I’m losing it,” he muttered. “It’s just a cat.”
He set it on the pillow and went to the kitchen to get it some milk, hoping his parents weren’t there. The hallway felt colder than before—too cold—and for a second, longer than he remembered.
He came back quickly, poured the milk, and sat beside the cat while it drank eagerly.
“When you go back… if you go back… I’ll get you something better than this,” he murmured, lying down while it finished.
The cat jumped onto his chest afterward, settling there like it belonged. Its purr vibrated deep, almost low, and something tight inside him finally loosened.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep. When he woke up, it was morning. Remembering the kitten, he jumped up and searched the room. It was gone. The only proof it had been there was the bowl of milk. He let out a thin, shaky laugh. Just another crazy thing.
Maybe it had left—cats were independent, after all. He just hoped it was okay. As much as he wanted to look for it, he couldn’t. It was a workday.
The cat’s whereabouts still occupied his mind. Every time he thought about it, something strange seemed to tag along with the thought. Maybe it was the curse of black cats?
He scoffed under his breath as he headed toward the gate. He was so worried—and honestly, so freaked out—about the animal that the workday flew by faster than usual.
Just as he was about to leave, he felt a small, warm hand touch his shoulder. Seungmin jumped, immediately turning around to face whoever it was.
“Did I scare you? I’m sorry…” the girl said with a shy smile.
Oh. He recognized her. She was the same girl he’d helped when she got overwhelmed with production.
“It’s fine. I was just distracted.”
“So… I’m Park Yoona.” She introduced herself, eyes dropping to the floor.
“Sorry, I didn’t even tell you my name when I helped. I’m Kim Seungmin.”
There was something oddly noticeable about the way her cheeks turned red. He frowned slightly and looked away.
“I wanted to ask if I could buy you something… as a thank you for helping me.”
She spoke so softly that Seungmin leaned closer to hear her. The movement made her let out a tiny squeak and step back quickly. Weird.
He’d never been in a situation like this before. But here it was—the opportunity his parents had been praying for. Girls didn’t usually start conversations with him. He wasn’t about to waste the chance to do something “right.”
“Sure. Give me your number and we’ll set something up.”
He handed her his phone. While she typed, he studied her more closely. She had a delicate look—almost ethereal. Like a fairy.
Her pale skin made the blush on her cheeks even brighter. Other guys would probably be charmed. He felt nothing. Her hands trembled as she typed slowly. Was she really that nervous? He almost laughed. He wasn’t exactly heartthrob material.
He inhaled deeply and caught a sweet floral scent—too elegant for a workplace like this. Or maybe he was the inelegant one for not wearing cologne.
“I’ll text you tonight.”
He smiled as he took his phone back, said goodbye to Yoona, and headed home. If he was actually going to take her out, he’d need his father’s permission. And he’d have to find out if she went to church.
He let out a heavy sigh. Maybe he could convince his dad she could convert if she didn’t. Either way, he’d probably need to Google how to impress a woman.
When he got home, he stopped by the kitchen to greet his mom before showering.
He tried not to overthink things while washing up—otherwise he’d waste too much water. He left the bathroom rubbing his wet hair with a towel and went to his room. He texted Yoona before heading back out to find something to eat.
“I made orange cake. Want a slice?” his mom offered.
“Of course.”
He smiled, taking a piece and sitting at the table. He ate with genuine enjoyment; it was his favorite. He closed his eyes for a second, savoring the sweetness on his tongue, and for a moment he felt like he used to. Like the five-year-old boy clinging to his mom.
“When you get married, I’ll give the recipe to your wife!” she said, sitting beside him.
“I met a girl at work. I don’t know if she goes to church yet, but… she seems interesting.”
His mom’s eyes lit up, and Seungmin felt a stupid sense of pride at being the reason. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to live unhappily, as long as his parents were satisfied.
“What’s she like?” she asked eagerly, squeezing his shoulder.
“Pretty. And shy.”
He muttered it. He couldn’t think of a single specific trait that had truly caught his attention.
“Are you two going to do something together?”
“Not yet, Mom. But she mentioned going out. I’ll set it up.” He finished his cake and stood.
“I’m sure she must be sweet. You seem like you’d like sweet girls.”
Would he? Seungmin didn’t even know if he had a type. But if his mom thought so, maybe she was right. Back in his room, he lay down on the bed.
There was a chance Yoona didn’t want anything serious—which would disappoint his parents. Thinking about it, he picked up his phone and stared at his reflection on the screen. His hair had grown out, bangs messy over his forehead. Definitely a plain look. Not exactly eye-catching.
But if it worked… if he got married… maybe he could adopt a cat. And maybe the strange things would stop. Maybe God was testing his obedience. After all, one of the commandments was to honor your father and mother.
He opened Google and searched for ways to win a woman over. Most advice said to be a gentleman. Others said to be strong.
Seungmin wasn’t strong. So opening doors and bringing flowers seemed more realistic. He took a deep breath. And was immediately hit by the scent of warm vanilla.
His mouth watered at once, his body reacting before his mind could catch up. He opened his eyes, confused. He inhaled again—now it smelled like caramel. Too sweet. Too intense. Heat spread through his body, a strange, almost desperate longing pulsing in his chest.
He stood abruptly. It was completely different from any smell he’d ever experienced. His hands started trembling.
“No…”
He left his room and went to the kitchen. His dad wasn’t home yet.
“Mom… your perfume reached my room,” he said casually.
“What perfume?” she asked, confused. “I haven’t even showered yet.”
His stomach dropped.
“Oh… maybe it’s cleaning product.”
He said it quickly and returned to his room before she could ask more questions.
This time, he was sure. It wasn’t random. It was a pattern. And whatever it was—it was getting closer.
Maybe it’s just in your head, he thought, forcing an awkward smile. He stopped at his bedroom door, staring into the dark interior, unsure if he really wanted to go inside.
“It’s nothing… just your imagination,” he muttered, voice trembling, before closing the door behind him. From that day on, he would read the Bible every night before bed.
He spent dinner on edge, glancing at every corner. His parents assumed it was excitement over his almost-date. He breathed carefully, alert for any strange smell, any sign he wasn’t alone in his paranoia.
Lying in bed, he pressed his face into the sheets, trying to detect something—but there was nothing.
Should he sleep? Of course he should.
But… was it safe?
He rubbed his face hard. If something happened, his parents would notice, right? Their faith was stronger than his. They’d sense it. Wouldn’t they?
He stretched, letting out a soft groan, and relaxed into the mattress. His eyes slowly closed as he tried to shut off his thoughts. He prayed there wouldn’t be another nightmare. He was back on the red beach.
His body felt heavier, like the day at church. He trudged across the hot sand with difficulty.
With every step, his feet sank deeper. He cursed under his breath, forcing himself forward despite his burning thighs. He needed to get out of there. Then he heard loud sobbing.
Whoever was crying was gasping so hard it made his chest ache. Even with his trembling body, he tried to move toward the sound.
“Mommy doesn’t want us…”
The childlike voice was thick with tears. That made Seungmin hurry. The crying was close now.
“I want a family with Mommy…”
The voice came from behind a large rock. A chill ran through him. He wanted to look—and desperately wanted to run. But the sobs pulled him forward.
He stepped around the rock. Instead of a child, he found the black cat staring at him with a resentful gaze.
“Mommy!”
The scream echoed as the cat brushed against his legs.
He bolted upright in bed, his legs burning, almost throbbing. Even in the dark, he stared at them—the burning sensation still there.
“What the hell was that dream…?”
“Maybe I need to read more Bible verses…” he muttered, lying back down.
He had just closed his eyes when he felt the mattress dip near his feet. Something tickled his skin—like soft fur. He stopped breathing. Tears filled his eyes.
Please, God.
He begged silently. He was so terrified he couldn’t move. He bit his lower lip, opened his eyes slowly, and with effort managed to sit up.
He looked at the bed. It was too dark to see anything. Maybe he should turn on the light. Still shaking, he grabbed his phone and turned on the flashlight.
Nothing.
There was nothing at the foot of the bed—but the darkness made his skin crawl. He jumped up and switched on the light. Then he lay down on his side, curled into a fetal position, phone clutched tightly in his hands. He knew he wouldn’t sleep after that.
Since he was awake, he checked his messages.
Yoona: I thought you wouldn’t text me, but I’m glad you did. Maybe we could meet on Saturday at a café. What do you think?
He didn’t even know what to say. He just assured her he wouldn’t stand her up and that he’d love to go.
After that, he stared at the wall. He wanted to tell someone what was happening, but he knew he’d sound insane.
In the end, he stayed awake until dawn. When he finally got up, his whole body ached from sleeping curled up, and a dull headache throbbed behind his eyes.
Great way to start the day. He sighed and got ready for work.
The morning went by quickly—the production line was busier than usual. His shoulders hurt, but at least it was already lunchtime.
He leaned against the wall in the hallway, stretching his legs out, and opened his lunchbox. The nightmares were starting to wear him down, and what had happened during the night still left him unsettled.
“Oh! You’re here!”
He almost dropped his food at the loud voice. He turned and saw Yoona smiling at him. He tightened his grip on his fork and offered a small smile.
It must’ve been an unspoken invitation, because she sat beside him. Her shoulder brushed his arm, and he had to resist the urge to pull away.
“I was thinking maybe I could keep you company today,” she said, cheeks flushed again.
“Ah… sure.” He looked down at his food.
“You always eat here, right?” she opened her own lunchbox. “I’ve never seen you in the cafeteria.”
“I don’t think I’d feel comfortable around that many people.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know how to explain it,” he muttered. “I don’t really fit into any group. Not the older ones, not the younger ones.”
That earned a soft laugh from her.
“Sometimes it’s not that you don’t belong,” she said after a moment. “Maybe you just don’t open up. You make me curious… I’d like to know what goes on in your head.”
He frowned. That hit deeper than he expected. Was he isolating himself on purpose? Maybe his parents were right.
“Maybe you’re right…” He packed up his lunch. “But I don’t know how I make you curious. I’m pretty normal.”
“I don’t know either,” she laughed. “Oh, I forgot to say the time for Saturday. Three in the afternoon? If you’re free.”
There was the church gathering—but the café sounded far less suffocating.
“I’m free,” he said. “Do you want me to pick you up, or should we meet somewhere?”
“No need to pick me up. We can meet near the park.”
“Okay. You’ll have to guide me though. I don’t know where the café is.”
“It’s the only café in town!” she said, wide-eyed.
“I only go out for work… and wherever my parents go. Usually the grocery store and church.”
“Seungmin is such a hermit.”
He rolled his eyes.
“Don’t be embarrassed. It’s cute that I’ll be the first to take you to a café!” She gently squeezed his shoulder.
“That’s way too embarrassing…” he groaned.
The rest of lunch would’ve been peaceful, but her friends showed up, turning the quiet hallway into chaos. He was forced to listen to conversations about makeup and perfume—and even dragged into them.
By the time he left work, he felt drained. To delay going home, he decided to pass by the park again.
As always, he stopped near the lake. Even he didn’t understand why. He let out a small laugh. Maybe he was just losing it. It was ridiculous to think a cat could bring hauntings.
He closed his eyes as a soft breeze brushed past. He wished it would carry his problems away. Instead, when he inhaled deeply, something intense flooded his senses. His eyes snapped open.
No.
The smell was metallic. Thick. Suffocating. The air carried a coppery, slightly salty taste—like warm blood mixed with saliva. That was enough. He ran home.
This had to stop. Maybe a spiritual cleansing would help—without his parents knowing.
He arrived sweaty and breathless. He greeted his mom quickly and went straight to shower.
Even after, he could still taste and smell it on himself. It was the second or third time now.
“Are you okay?” his mom asked when he stepped out.
“I’m fine.”
“Then why do you look like you ran a marathon?”
“Saturday I’m going out with Yoona… I got excited and ran home.”
An ugly lie. God definitely wouldn’t approve.
“But that’s the day of the church gathering…” she hesitated. “Well. It’s for a good reason.”
Relief nearly stopped his heart.
Later in his room, he researched spiritual baths. Coarse salt seemed harmless enough. At dinner, the atmosphere was heavy. His father gripped his fork tightly.
“You can go out with the girl, but don’t skip church commitments. And don’t stray. And I hope that girl isn’t some prostitute.”
Seungmin nodded, swallowing hard.
Later, in his room, he lay in bed with the light on. He read some manhwa—Define the Relationship—rolling his eyes at the more explicit scenes. Why couldn’t he feel anything at all?
If omegaverse were real, his father would pressure him even more to be a good alpha. Assuming he’d be one. No—of course he would. Omega didn’t fit him. He checked the time. Late.
He set his phone by the pillow, closed his eyes, and prayed. Asked for forgiveness. Asked for freedom.
He fell asleep.
Thankfully, no nightmares this time. Blessed be prayer and the light left on.
He sat up, stretching with a small smile. The smile faded when he noticed scratches on his arm.
He touched them gently—they felt warmer than his skin. His breathing quickened. His heart pounded in his ears.
What was happening?
His legs went weak, tingling. He needed to get out. Needed to fix this. Needed something.
He rubbed the three thin red marks harder, wincing at the sting. He had to work. He couldn’t let this consume him.
Using his hands to steady himself, he forced his legs off the bed and stood, holding onto the frame. He trembled while putting on his uniform.
He’d heard in church about demons causing physical wounds.
Was he being possessed? No. If he were, he wouldn’t be able to pray or say God’s name.
He rubbed his eyes, holding back tears, left his room, greeted his mom, and went to work.
He barely remembered the walk there. He was so on autopilot that he missed something on the line and got scolded by the supervisor.
The scratches burned every time he moved his right arm—a constant reminder.
The day dragged. He couldn’t eat. He hid in the bathroom during lunch, afraid Yoona would show up.
When he got home, he felt more lost than ever. He tried desperately to ignore everything, clinging to the idea that maybe it would get better.
Deep down, he knew he was lying to himself.
He rubbed his face and stepped inside.
He greeted his mom briefly and went straight to the bathroom. He stared at the still-reddened scratches; his heart sped up every time he touched them.
“What else could possibly go wrong?” he muttered with a humorless laugh.
As he turned to toss his clothes into the hamper, something fell behind him.
He spun around.The shampoo bottle lay on the floor. He bit his lip, picked it up, and set it back. Maybe he shouldn’t shower. One sweaty day wouldn’t matter.
Still, he hated going to bed dirty.
With trembling hands, he turned on the shower and took the fastest bath of his life. He nearly ran back to his room.
He grabbed his phone.
He just wanted distraction—even if he suspected that might be part of the problem.
He shook his head. He’d watch an online sermon, then read the Bible. Everything would be fine.
Instead, he got stuck on TikTok and didn’t even notice dinner time—strange, since his mom usually called him.
He walked to the kitchen slowly. His parents were already eating.
“Decided to remember you’re human?” his father mocked.
“Sorry…”
That was all he said.
He ate in silence, then ended up washing all the dishes, which took forever. His mom had really outdone herself with the pots tonight.
Back in his room, he yawned, wanting nothing more than peaceful sleep. It had been so long since he’d had one. He threw himself onto the bed and closed his eyes.
Sleep wouldn’t come. And it wasn’t even anxiety about the date with Yoona. He turned onto his side, staring at the blank white wall.
He wished he could say he had meaningful thoughts. Some logical explanation. But his mind was completely empty.
When he realized it, the alarm clock went off. He had stayed up all night, yet he didn’t feel a trace of sleepiness. He sighed as he sat up in bed and ran his fingers over the scratches — he no longer felt the initial panic.
Even so, he feared what it might mean. He didn’t want to die, much less because of a spirit or something like that.
He shook his head. What was the point of thinking about it? He needed to find a solution. Until now, he had only been sweeping everything under the rug, believing it would end on its own.
He had breakfast just to avoid causing a fuss and spent the entire morning sitting in the living room, reading the Bible. He felt his mother’s watchful gaze every time she walked by.
Maybe she thinks I’ve finally become the believer she always wanted. His eyes moved over the verses in Proverbs, but his mind absorbed nothing.
If that was the path to rid himself of the curse, he would do whatever it took — even leave the evangelical church and become Catholic… or a priest.
He couldn’t tell how much time had passed while reading. When he noticed, it was already close to the time he was supposed to meet Yoona — and he hadn’t even had lunch.
He got up from the couch, stretched his body, and went to his room. To ease his conscience, he took another shower, trying his best to smell good, taking every precaution that screamed “serious and very manly man.”
He grabbed everything he needed and left the house after saying goodbye to his mother. He walked toward the park and stood waiting, watching the lake.
The exact spot where his life had turned into chaos.
He felt a hand grab his arm and jumped to the side. He sighed in relief when he saw it was just Yoona; she looked radiant in her yellow floral dress. But not enough to stir anything in his heart…
He forced a smile. Don’t ruin the chance to make your parents happy, he repeated mentally.
“I didn’t think I’d scare you. Am I that ugly?” She pouted, though her voice carried a teasing tone.
“No, quite the opposite…” Compliment her, say something relevant. “You look cute!”
What kind of compliment is that, Kim Seungmin? He wanted to smack his own forehead. Did women like being called cute? What the hell was he doing here? Just fooling himself — and her…
“Thank you…”
He snapped out of his thoughts and noticed how flushed her cheeks were. Would he ever blush for someone too? He almost laughed at the thought. It was so foolish to want more than what God was giving him, especially with everything that was happening.
“Well, shall we?” he broke the moment. “Show me this café I’ve never been to.”
“I still can’t believe you’ve never been!”
She started walking, and Seungmin followed, trying to focus on what she was saying. It was hard to keep his attention, especially when his mind insisted on drifting back to the hauntings.
“Do you want to keep working in production?”
The question almost made him stop walking. Could he even do anything else? No — his parents despised anything that didn’t build up the church.
“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll think about taking some technical course, just to earn a little more.” He shoved his hands into his hoodie pockets. “What about you?”
“I’d love to study psychology!” Yoona smiled so brightly that Seungmin wondered if it was even possible. “It would be nice to understand people better, to help them.”
“Really, I hope you get to do that.” He was sincere. He wished her the best, no matter what happened in the future.
“We’re here!”
Seungmin looked at the café. He had expected something more impressive; instead, it was just a pale green shop with a logo that resembled a bakery’s. He opened the door for Yoona and stepped in right behind her.
The smell of coffee invaded his senses so intensely it made his mouth water. How had he never come to a place like this?
Automatically, his problems faded into the background as he followed her to the counter.
When it was their turn, Kim held the menu, scanning the countless options. How the hell were there so many variations of coffee?
“So, what are you having?” Yoona nudged him before turning to the barista. “A frappuccino and a slice of chocolate cake, please.”
He glanced discreetly behind him and noticed more people in line. He chose the first option at the top of the menu.
“Um… a latte.” He handed the menu back. “And an almond croissant.”
“Sure. Would you like your latte with vanilla extract? Lactose-free milk? Vegan?”
“Regular milk and vanilla extract is fine.”
As soon as he saw Yoona open her purse, Seungmin moved faster and swiped his card.
“I could’ve paid!”
“You could have. But I wanted to.” He smiled, sitting across from her and looking around.
“But—”
“It’s fine. Think of it as a reward for showing me this place.”
“I hope we can come here more often!” Her cheeks turned red again.
“Of course. Whenever you want.”
Seungmin shifted in his chair, trying to find a comfortable position.
“Are you okay?” Yoona asked, placing her hand over his.
He looked at their hands together. It’s fine. Just follow what you read. She’s nice. She seems interested in you. Don’t ruin this.
“It’s just… it’s the first time I’ve gone out with someone like this.”
Great. Confessing your own failure. He could already imagine his mother’s disappointment if this didn’t work out.
“It’s okay!” Yoona gently caressed his hand. “I actually think it’s sweet. But I’m curious… why are you so closed off? Is it shyness?”
“I don’t know…” It wasn’t exactly nervousness. It was more a constant feeling of not belonging. “Maybe.”
“Then I’m glad you talk to me.”
Their conversation was interrupted when Seungmin’s name was called. He quickly got up to retrieve their order.
“Sorry for the delay, sir. We had an unexpected issue.”
“It’s fine, thank you.”
Back at the table, he placed the drink and cake in front of Yoona.
“You’re very kind. I noticed that from the day you helped me.”
Seungmin lifted the cup to his lips, observing the heart drawn in the foam. He froze mid-motion at her words. He’d been called “cute” before, but that compliment caught him off guard.
“You think so?” He set the cup down. “I think I just did what any polite person would.”
“Not everyone is like that, Seungmin. Most people live in their own world.” She took a sip of her drink. “Just look at where we work. Everyone seems to live for themselves.”
“Maybe…” he shrugged, drinking his latte. “Sometimes it’s not selfishness. Some people have suffered so much that all that’s left is a shell of indifference.”
As soon as he realized what he’d said, he bit the inside of his cheek and stared at the croissant. He might as well have stayed silent.
“That just proves what I said. You’re kind.”
“This is really good,” he changed the subject, pointing to his cup. “And it’s pretty too.”
“I had a feeling you’d like it.” She laughed, cutting a piece of cake.
Seungmin took another sip, feeling the comforting warmth of the drink.
“Now I understand why people like going to cafés.”
He earned a smile from her at that comment. Since Seungmin couldn’t easily start topics, he limited himself to answering Yoona, trying to engage as much as he could without getting too personal.
“I love opera. It’s so beautiful… One day I’d like to sing like that too!” Yoona finished her cake and rested her arms on the table, looking at him.
“I haven’t listened to much opera, but I find classical music relaxing.” He tried to divert his attention toward the window.
“Mommy, Daddy is better!”
A chill ran down Seungmin’s spine. He turned abruptly, trying to locate the source of the child’s voice. But there was no child there.
No, no, no… was he being haunted even in broad daylight?
“Did you hear that?” he looked at Yoona, searching for any sign that it was real.
“What?” She glanced around. “Do you mean the couple sitting two tables behind us? They really are loud.”
For a moment, he wanted to tell her everything. But saying it out loud would make him sound like an idiot.
“Mommy is going to be happy with Daddy. He’ll never cry again!”
He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a few seconds. Stay calm. Don’t freak out now. Don’t cry out of frustration.
“Are you okay, Seungmin?”
“Yes, yes… just a slight headache.” He gave a restrained smile as he opened his eyes. “I guess it’s the loud couple.”
In the end, he was so distracted that he barely paid attention to Yoona, and the two of them eventually left.
“Sorry if the date didn’t turn out how you wanted,” Seungmin said, shoulders slightly slumped. “I got distracted.”
“It’s okay! Actually, I loved our date. I hope we can go out more often!” She turned her blushing face toward the lake. “Maybe we can set a movie date now? And this time I’ll pay!”
A huge wave of relief washed over him. He hadn’t ruined everything. Maybe life could follow a less painful path. Maybe he could fall in love with Yoona like a normal, decent man.
“I’d love that. Just text me the day.”
Their goodbye was awkward. Seungmin didn’t know whether to hug her or attempt some physical gesture. In the end, there was nothing — he just watched as she walked away.
He stood there for a while, looking at the sky. He didn’t know the time, but it couldn’t have been past four in the afternoon. He sighed heavily and walked home.
As he walked, he remembered the voice he had heard. He was certain it was the same one from the dream. He rubbed the back of his neck harshly; the situation was becoming more and more confusing.
Would it be so hard for all of this to end? He just wanted peace again. He entered the house and saw his parents sitting on the couch, watching television.
“Oh, you’re back already?” His father didn’t even bother looking at him. “How was it with the girl?”
“It was fine, Dad.”
He didn’t seem interested. It didn’t take a scholar of human behavior to notice that.
“Is she from church?”
“We talked about other things… I didn’t get around to asking.”
“Seungmin, God is important! That should be the first question!” His father finally looked away from the TV. “I hope you ask her. Otherwise, I forbid you from seeing her.”
He bit his lower lip. There was nothing to say. Sometimes he wished he’d be thrown out of the house; he had enough money to stay at a guesthouse.
“Okay, Dad.”
He went straight to his room. He didn’t have the energy for another one of those conversations. They always ended with him sad and his mother trying to “comfort” him with some sweet — especially orange cake.
“I probably won’t have dinner. I’m full.” He lied before disappearing down the hallway.
He wasn’t full from eating too much. He was full of everything that had been happening. It felt like God was testing his faith — or something else entirely.
He changed his clothes and threw himself onto the bed. He covered himself completely and turned toward the wall. He would sleep, even if he woke up with scratches or nightmares. At least the day would be over.
“Tomorrow will be a little better.”
It was an empty certainty. Even so, a sliver of hope remained — especially because on Monday he’d have to figure out how to deal with spirits. He was being an idiot, pushing everything to Mondays.
He ended up sleeping until the next day. Seungmin woke up on Sunday feeling lighter. The first thing he did was sit up and examine his arms, searching for any strange marks. He sighed in relief when he saw only the old scratches and threw himself back onto the mattress.
The day was already starting well. No nightmares, no new injuries. He smiled, a bit more optimistic. He took a deep breath — and didn’t smell anything unusual. Yes, that was progress.
He got out of bed and went to have breakfast. Since he hadn’t had dinner, he was hungrier than usual. When he reached the kitchen, his parents were already seated at the table. He bit the inside of his cheek before sitting down silently.
Kim ignored most of the conversation; he focused only on eating. His father tried to bring up Yoona again, and he simply nodded along to avoid conflict.
As always, he washed what he had used before leaving the kitchen and going to his room. Maybe he could read something — the BL he had started, or a different book.
“No… better read the Bible.”
He grabbed it from his desk and began flipping through it, searching for specific verses. He read long enough to convince himself that God was still by his side.
Surprisingly, the afternoon was normal — like before everything had begun. Was he being redeemed?
He promised to give better thanks at the evening service.
And he did. He spent much of the time thanking God for the peaceful day and promising to be better if the Lord granted him more days like that.
The sermon, in fact, was interesting. Seungmin learned that, according to Christian tradition, demons are not ugly like the world portrays them. As fallen angels, they are beautiful — and precisely because of that, dangerous. Lucifer is cunning.
In a way, that made him feel better. It was as if he were receiving instructions on how to deal with the curse haunting him. Maybe all he needed was to be more devoted.
Now he was in his room, taking off his suit. He felt as if he could finally see a light at the end of the tunnel — as if his pleas had been answered.
“Nothing strange happened!”
He celebrated while putting his clothes away. He threw himself onto the bed, stretching his arms above his head. He grabbed his phone to read something light and ended up in a fanfic about characters he didn’t even know.
The story was engaging. The classic enemies-to-lovers trope. He was smiling to himself while reading, but then he stopped. That could harm his connection with God — after all, it was homoaffective.
He bit his lip. Deep down, he felt that this calm was just the prelude to a storm. He ignored the fanfic and started looking for evangelical book recommendations. He became so immersed in his search that he didn’t notice the time: 3:44 a.m.
His eyes widened. He needed to wake up around 6 a.m. for work. He dropped the phone onto the pillow and got up to turn off the light. He was facing away from the bed, near the door, when he heard a meow.
He turned quickly. The black cat was sitting on the floor. His heart began pounding so hard it echoed in his ears. He gave a shaky smile, glancing at the closed window.
“How did you get in here?” he whispered, breathless.
The animal stared at him as if ignoring the question. Maybe it was just feline behavior, but there was something in those brown eyes — something that conveyed emotions difficult to name. The purring grew loud and steady, almost hypnotic, to the point that Seungmin felt torn between picking it up or leaving the room and abandoning it there.
“You shouldn’t be here…”
He took a step forward. He had held it before. And when he looked into those dilated pupils, he felt a strange protective urge. Maybe it was just superstition about black cats…
When he lifted his foot, the light began to flicker. The purring stopped. Kim’s hands started trembling violently. He tried to speak, but only a low, pathetic sound came out.
It’s just a cat. It’s just a cat.
He repeated it mentally until loud cracking noises echoed through the room. The feline’s body began to shake. The sound of something breaking intensified. Its paws stretched — turning into hands and feet.
Seungmin nearly fell backward.
My God… my God…
The black fur turned into ashes that scattered across the floor and vanished. And then a child appeared.
Chubby cheeks, a wide smile, delicate and bright eyes. He looked curious, intelligent… and there was mischief there. He gave a little hop, strangely excited, dressed like a tiny prince of darkness. Seungmin’s legs weakened. He grabbed onto the wardrobe.
Was that it? A demon disguised as a cat?
“Mommy! I don’t like it when you make that worried face!”
The same voice. The café. The dreams. But now it sounded cheerful.
“W-what…?” he stammered.
“What is it, Mommy?” The child tilted his head.
Before he could react, Seungmin ran for the door. Or tried to. His steps were shaky and clumsy. The doorknob wouldn’t turn — absurd, since he never even locked his bedroom. The light went out. Seungmin began to hyperventilate, backing away without knowing what to do. The window! If he were quick, he could push the boy aside and escape. He felt the bed hit the back of his legs — and then a small hand on his thigh.
“Is Mommy scared?”
He spun around, arms raised defensively. He felt like laughing — how would he defend himself?
“Jeongin, what did I tell you about coming to the human world?”
A calm adult voice echoed behind him. The light came back on. The pastor had been right. Demons are beautiful.
The man had striking yet delicate features. Elegant, enigmatic. Terrifyingly ethereal, Seungmin felt his heart leap at the thought that he found a demon beautiful. His eyes were the same color as the child’s — but there was no innocence in them.
“I came for Mommy!”
The boy hugged his leg, and that was when his legs finally gave out. He fell to the floor, sitting in front of the adult demon with the child clinging to his right leg.
“No, he is not your mother!” the adult retorted sternly. “This is the most ridiculous thing that’s happened to me in centuries. Do you really think that is your mother?”
The adult’s eyes stopped on Seungmin, analyzing him from above as if he were inferior — or the cause of everything. And for some reason, that ignited a flame of anger in Kim. Just because he was a demon, he thought he could look at him like that? They were the ones turning his life into chaos, not the other way around!
“Yes, Daddy!”
Daddy?
The room grew hotter. Kim felt his body grow heavy. He tried to stand but collapsed back onto the floor like an idiot. Drawing both their attention, he felt tears begin to stream down his face.
“I cast you out in the name of God!” he whispered, voice trembling.
The adult let out a loud, manic laugh, studying him with almost sadistic amusement.
“Daddy is making Mommy cry!” Jeongin wiped Seungmin’s tears.
The touch was gentle. Yet it still belonged to a child who had been a cat.
“He’s even afraid of you, Jeongin. He’s trying to exorcise us, for Lucifer’s sake… pathetic.”
The man picked the boy up. The child struggled, crying, staring at Seungmin. Those once cheerful eyes now looked desperate, sad — and stirred something heavy in his heart. And then they disappeared. The fresh air returned to the room. The door opened.
Seungmin lay on the floor and cried even harder. His sobs were low and painful. He had almost died. And even so…
He felt sorry for the child and thought that demon was beautiful.