...
Today should have been just another ordinary day in the life of Chae Nayun.
A Tuesday, perhaps? Or was it Wednesday? The days at Cube tended to blend into a routine of training, classes, and the occasional existential crisis or dramatic confrontation.
Correcting the initial thought: it should have been another day without serious incidents.
Because "normal," well, normality had become a rather elastic concept since Theo Sagan entered, or rather, appeared, in her life.
After all, what kind of normal day began with your boyfriend's system nearly having a nervous breakdown upon catching you...
Helping your boyfriend with a rather specific morning problem under the covers? The image of Cappie's flushed face and wide eyes still brought an amused smile to Nayun's lips.
It might not have seemed like it, but she had noticed Cappie the moment she lifted the blanket to look.
It was almost cute, in an exasperating way. And, to be fair, the reverse situation, Cappie being caught in her own moment of morning self-exploration, wasn't exactly the epitome of everyday normality either.
This morning had been... interesting. A rollercoaster of embarrassment, teasing, and an unexpected intimacy that seemed to have solidified something among the three of them, even if in a somewhat bizarre way.
And as if the domestic peculiarity wasn't enough, there was Yoo Yeonha's call.
The revelation that some classified information about Theo's parents, his parents from this world, had been leaked to the press had added a layer of genuine concern to the morning.
Not for Theo; she knew he would handle it in his usual way. His emotional connection to the "Sagans" was nonexistent, a fact she understood deeply.
Her concern was for the external consequences, for the media vultures and potential enemies who might try to use it against him.
Aside from these two events, the embarrassing dynamic in the bedroom and the media bombshell, the rest of the morning should have followed the standard script.
Waking up, an exchange of teasing and affection with Theo, having breakfast, and heading to Cube.
A routine that, despite everything, had become surprisingly comfortable, a safe harbor in the midst of the chaos that was the life of an elite cadet.
But, as the universe seemed to make a point of constantly reminding her, things rarely went as expected.
After leaving Theo in the hallway to take the mysterious call, probably the American Association trying to talk to him, she imagined with a mental sigh, Nayun pushed open the door to the Veritas Class and entered.
Her eyes quickly scanned the room, looking for her usual seat, her mind already beginning to review the main points of the Advanced Combat Strategy class they would soon have.
She took a few steps inside, the sound of her shoes echoing lightly in the relative silence of the still half-empty room.
It was then that a figure blocked her path.
A figure she hadn't seen for a few days, ever since things between them, and between her and Theo, had become undeniably clear.
Her green eyes rose slowly, meeting the person standing there.
"You..."
The word escaped before she could contain it, the expression on her face freezing for a fraction of a second. It wasn't his presence that surprised her, it was inevitable that their paths would cross at Cube, but the state he was in.
Shin Jonghak.
The proud heir, the impeccable cadet, the boy she might have considered a close friend some weeks ago, or at least an important acquaintance in her social circle.
The same Jonghak who now looked like a pale shadow of himself.
The change was stark, almost shocking. His hair, once perfectly combed, every strand in place with almost obsessive precision, was now disheveled, falling carelessly over his forehead.
The deep dark circles under his eyes were almost purple, contrasting with the sickly pallor of his skin.
And his eyes, those eyes that once shone with self-confidence and a hint of arrogance, now seemed dull, empty, like those of a dead fish, devoid of any sparkle or vitality.
His face, usually marked by an expression of controlled superiority, was tense, his jaw clenched, the skin stretched over his cheekbones in a way that suggested sleepless nights and an internal anguish gnawing at him from within.
Even his clothes, the standard Cube uniform he always wore like a second, immaculate skin, seemed wrong. Wrinkled at the shoulders, the collar slightly askew.
Minimal details, perhaps, but on Shin Jonghak, the epitome of narcissism and self-obsession, the same guy who maintained a page on CubeNet dedicated exclusively to photos of himself and self-praise, these small imperfections screamed louder than any words.
It was hard to reconcile the image before her with the Jonghak she knew. It seemed as if he had aged years in a matter of days, consumed by something that had left him exhausted, physically and mentally.
A part of her, a remnant of their former camaraderie or perhaps just a reflex of basic empathy, felt a pang of pity?
No, pity wasn't the right word.
Perhaps an uncomfortable acknowledgment of the fragility behind the arrogant facade. But that feeling was ephemeral, quickly buried under a wave of doubt.
"What do you want, Jonghak?"
Her voice came out cold, but she didn't bother to soften it.
Yes, he looked terrible.
Yes, his deplorable state was probably indirectly connected to her, to her rejection, to the fact that she had chosen Theo.
But so what? She wasn't responsible for his reactions, for his inability to handle the situation.
He had made his choices, had shown his worst side, and she owed him nothing.
Not sympathy, not patience.
Did it seem insensitive? Maybe. But insensitivity was sometimes a necessary armor.
She had no reason to deal with any man other than Theo or her family.
Her priority was outside that door trying to solve his problems, which, ironically, she suspected were caused, directly or indirectly, by the man standing before her.
Jonghak didn't respond immediately. His dull eyes stared at her, and for a moment, she saw a flash of something in them, pain, anger, desperation? It was hard to tell.
His expression was an indecipherable mask of exhaustion and resentment.
He opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. Only an almost imperceptible tremor of his lips.
Nayun sighed internally, her patience rapidly draining. She didn't have time for this. Taking a step to the side, trying to get around him, Nayun prepared to walk away.
"If you have nothing to say, get out of my way."
It was at that moment that the atmosphere changed. The emptiness in his eyes was replaced by a feverish glint, a sudden intensity that made her stop.
He took a step forward, even closer, his body tense like a bowstring about to snap.
"Nayun..."
His voice came out hoarse, raspy.
"Why? Why him? You saw, didn't you? You saw who he is. He's the son of demons, Nayun. The same demons who killed your mother..."
His words were laden with an anguish that almost made her step back.
Almost.
But the mention of Theo and her mother, the tone of implied possessiveness, made her extremely irritated.
"That's none of your business, Jonghak."
She replied, her voice firm.
"Now, move."
She tried to pass him again, but he moved, his hand rising as if to grab her arm.
Instinctively, Nayun flinched back, her eyes narrowing.
"Don't touch me!"
Jonghak stared at her, his hand still frozen in the air.
"We don't have that kind of intimacy. I've told you before, but apparently you didn't understand. I love Theo, and no matter what you say, nothing will change..."
Deciding not to prolong her words any further, Nayun turned her back on him, determined to go to her seat and let him drown in the misery he had brought upon himself.
That's when she felt it.
A subtle shift in the air pressure behind her, accompanied by a hostile intent that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
"YOU... YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND... YOU MUST BE MINE... ONLY MINE..."
Nayun's mind froze along with her steps as soon as she heard Jonghak scream those nonsensical things.
With an indecipherable anger on her face, she turned, ready to ask what the hell he was saying.
But what she saw filled her eyes with fear.
"EVEN IF I HAVE TO FORCE YOU... YES... EVERYONE WILL UNDERSTAND... AHAHA! I SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS SOONER."
A few steps from her, Jonghak, his hand clenched into a fist, prepared to strike Nayun in the face.
"...THAT WAY YOU CAN GO BACK TO NORMAL, AND UNDERSTAND THAT I AM SO MUCH BETTER THAN HIM..."
The words, loaded with madness, made those watching their interaction realize that something serious was about to happen.
'Shit! This is going to hurt.'
Nayun cursed to herself, already expecting the pain, unable to do anything.
Because she wasn't expecting an attack from Jonghak, she couldn't dodge or even fight back; the only thing she could do was close her eyes and wait for the pain.
That's how it should have been, if Theo hadn't appeared to protect her.
With her back to Theo, Nayun only began to comprehend what was happening a few seconds after seeing Jonghak spit blood after being thrown away.
...
The echo of Jonghak's wet cough and Theo's cold accusation hung in the dense air of the classroom.
Nayun, still pressed against Theo's chest, felt her heart hammering against her ribs, a mixture of relief at the intervention and shock at the sudden violence of the scene.
The warmth of his body was a stark contrast to the cold that emanated from his eyes, which were fixed on Jonghak.
Jonghak, leaning against the wall, wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his trembling hand. His eyes, once dull and then feverish, now burned with a toxic mixture of pain, fury, and above all, deep humiliation.
To be defeated, to be treated with such disdain in front of other cadets, and in front of Nayun, was a deeper blow than any physical impact.
He tried to speak, perhaps to retaliate, perhaps to justify himself, but the words died in his throat, turning into another fit of painful coughing.
"Cof! Cof!... Cough!"
The cadets in the room remained petrified. The fear was palpable.
They had witnessed not just an assault, but a display of power and speed that bordered on the supernatural, followed by a veiled threat that left little room for doubt.
No one dared to move, not even to help Jonghak.
Theo's gaze was warning enough.
Theo didn't look away from Jonghak for a long moment, letting the weight of his presence and his words settle on the fallen cadet.
"Y-you!"
Jonghak, realizing that Theo was looking at him like an insignificant being, felt rage, a rage so great that even with his body aching from the blow against the wall, he forced himself to get up.
And as soon as he stood up, his body began to radiate a red energy, showing that he had activated his physical ability, 'Intermittent Explosive Disorder,' a physique that increased all his physical stats by up to 130 percent.
Theo, who was still staring at him without moving, smiled.
The smile was quick and brief, to the point that no one noticed.
The reason for his smile? There was only one.
'...The first time was to defend Nayun; this time it's self-defense... So, there's no problem giving you a few free massages, right?'
Even if he hadn't planned on letting Shin Jonghak leave here today without facing the consequences, still, being handed a reason on a silver platter was much better...
...
Note: "I planned to post two chapters today... To finish this initial arc... But, without meaning to, I ended up losing the entire second chapter. I forgot to click save and closed the tab on my phone, along with the app that doesn't have auto-save.🤣🤣🥲🥲"