Chapter Text
— Is that Edward Cullen?
Sunoo barely acknowledged Jake’s comment, too focused on the new kid — Sunghoon, as he’d heard — making his entrance into the cafeteria in all his pale, sharp featured and lean muscled glory. Next to him, the student council president, Jungwon, chatted away as they headed to sit together for lunch, oblivious to the way Sunghoon’s presence seemed to bend the air around him.
His head followed their movement, practically doing a full 360 as he drank in the sight. People around school had been talking about him all day, and it was to be expected, since having someone new in such a small town was exciting enough; however, things took a turn when on top of being the new toy, Sunghoon turned out to be a shiny one.
He watched as Sunghoon fiddled with his food, without really eating it, nodding to Jungwon who hadn’t shut up since they had sat down together.
— Looks like it. — Sunoo said, rather aloof, still eyeing the boy. — How the hell is he so pale?
— I know, right? He’s whiter than my neighbours back in Australia.
Sunoo let out a laugh, but didn’t tear his gaze away. Not even when he realized he’d been staring longer than socially acceptable. Not even when Sunghoon stared back.
The heat creeping up his neck and spreading through his face grounded him to earth, but his mind was elsewhere: someplace only him and Sunghoon knew about. Even from thirty feet away, he looked impressive: his skin glassy like marble, stone cold eyes, thick brows that framed his stare like a weapon. Sunoo could list a hundred reasons for why he was so fixated on him, capturing his details and locking them up in a safe in his mind like a treasured item he wouldn’t dare to give away.
What he couldn't understand was why Sunghoon was also looking at him like that?
— Careful, Bella Swan — Jake said, voice suddenly grating. — What if he actually bites?
Sunoo finally looked away, a smirk on his lips.
— I think I’d be into that.
🦇🦇🦇
Sunoo saw Sunghoon again three days later, in English Literature class.
By that point, he’d gathered a decent amount of intel on the new guy —half from Jungwon, half from Sunoo’s finely tuned observation skills — acquired through years of strategic people-watching and the occasional deep-dive stalking session on Instagram (which, tragically, Sunghoon did not have).
First one: Sunghoon had the energy of a Victorian ghost. He was always alone, walking silently through the hallways like he was haunting them, shutting down every attempt at flirting—boys or girls, and food definitely wasn’t his thing since his tray always came back untouched (which Sunoo found personally offensive because who doesn’t like eating? )
“He's definitely a weirdo” Jungwon had told him later that day after their intense eye contact session at the cafeteria hadn't gone unnoticed.
Second one: Nobody knew anything about him.
Name: Park Sunghoon.
Origin: Unknown.
Backstory: Classified.
According to Jungwon’s limited report, Sunghoon had spent the last five years in Russia. “Which could explain the... vibe,” Jungwon had said. Sunoo had only nodded solemnly. He knew nothing about Russia, but he respected the mystery. All he knew was Sunghoon was a big, gorgeous, unnerving question mark.
But there was his opportunity: the boy in question arrived at class and sat right beside him. Sure, it was the only empty seat in the room. But Sunoo chose to ignore that technicality.
His brain immediately began spiraling:
Play it cool. You are mysterious. You are magnetic. You are not sweating.
He turned slightly, just enough to sneak a look. But whatever charm he was about to unleash evaporated instantly.
Sunghoon was clearly… uncomfortable. Ok, uncomfortable was an understatement. Sunghoon looked like he was about to pass out. Or throw up. Or both. He was all tense and twitchy, hands clamped over his face, eyes squeezed shut. Immediately, Sunoo knew what was up. It happened to him all the time.
He reached his bag for his emergency kit full of different types of medicine.
— Here, take this — Sunoo handed him his Imodium box, his fingers brushing against Sunghoon’s on purpose, because why not? — Wow, you're so cold.
Sunghoon looked puzzled as he contemplated the pills for a minute, but then, something flickered. A tiny hint of amusement, maybe the first signal of emotion Sunoo had seen since his arrival. Without a word, Sunghoon took the box and bolted out of the room.
Jungwon, sitting diagonally behind him, kicked his chair lightly.
— What happened? — he whispered.
Sunoo didn’t look back. Just crossed his arms and stared at the front of the classroom.
— Nothing, — he said, — except fate handed me a golden opportunity and then immediately took a bathroom break.
Jungwon’s eyes widened and he laughed. — Now we know he's at least a tiny bit human.
That sentence sparked something in Sunoo. What if it showed the complete opposite? That Sunghoon is not human at all? The way Sunghoon was never amused by anything, didn't eat, looked like he’d stepped out of a painting in some forgotten European castle. Cold hands. And now he’d dashed out of the room like he was fighting some inner demon. He's watched Twilight before, that couldn't be a coincidence. Was he really having a bathroom emergency or was he… tempted by Sunoo?
Suddenly, Sunoo was on a mission.
After class, he’d go straight home, binge-watch every Twilight movie, and compile a scientific research material: “Is He a Vampire?” — The Ultimate Checklist.
But for now, he could only sigh and rest his chin on his hand, eyes drifting to the now-empty seat beside him. Sure, he was disappointed he hadn’t learned more face-to-face.
“Well, there would be other opportunities,” he thought to himself.
🦇🦇🦇
Apparently, Sunoo had been wrong, because Sunghoon didn’t show up the next day. Nor the day after that. And just like that, a whole week had gone by.
He wasn’t entirely mad, though: It only fueled his theory. Sunghoon disappearing right after being tempted in class? Please. Could he be more obvious? Classic vampire behavior.
During that week, Sunoo took his research very seriously.
He watched all twilight movies – he also watched as their quality downgraded after each movie, guessing their quality was directly proportional to its blue hue. That should be used as a new measurement when it comes to cinematography: in a scale of blue to orange, how good is it, really?.
By the end of his deep dive, he had created something very important. Possibly revolutionary. “Is He a Vampire? — The Ultimate Checklist”
Is he super pale? ✔️
Do his eyes change color?
Does he never eat? ✔️
Does he ever sleep?
Is his skin cold? ✔️
Does he speak like he comes from a different time?
Does he have superhuman strength?
Does he have superhuman speed?
Was he a victim of the plague?
Does he have a hot dad?
Ok, technically that last part was not necessary, but that idea was too exciting not to check. For… science. So far, Sunghoon was hitting suspiciously close to vampire territory. Unfortunately, most of the boxes couldn’t be checked without actually seeing or talking to him again. But if vampire lore had taught Sunoo anything, it was that the mysterious stranger always came back.
A few days earlier, he’d shared his theory with Jake and Jungwon. The reactions were… expected.
“I don’t think all vampires were victims to the plague” Jungwon half said, half groaned while they stretched for P.E class. The boy was everything but flexible.
“I don’t think that’s the point here” Jake stated as if obvious “The point is: vampires are not real”.
Naturally, that launched an in-depth philosophical debate about why they couldn’t be real.
Jake tried: “There’s no scientific proof. No evidence. Everything we know about them is from overly dramatized books.” To which Sunoo casually replied, “Just like God.”
Jake looked personally offended. Jungwon nearly fell over mid-lunge.
Even so, Sunoo was confident he’d see Sunghoon again that day during English Lit class. That’s why he was calmly eating a Japanese strawberry sandwich outside the schoolyard, — the rule of not eating outside the cafeteria was stupid, really — like he wasn’t low-key on vampire watch. It was early morning, so he had planty of time. First period wouldn’t start for a while. Mentally, he ran through his Ultimate Checklist again, despite the annoying noise of nearby construction distracting him from time to time.
Should he look deeply into his eyes first, looking for any signal of color changing properties? Or maybe go straight for a conversation — something casual, like: “Don’t you hate when you’re having memories of the plague and you can’t even sleep to bury them out cause you’re physically incapable of doing so?”.
Yeah, that was smooth enough. Maybe he should run it by Jake and Jungwon first —
A shriek cut through his thoughts. A sound like groaning metal.
Away from his maladaptive daydreaming, he turned just in time to see the scaffolding buckle. A long steel beam, knocked loose from above, was plummeting toward the walkway. Toward him.
Time slowed. He couldn't move. Couldn’t scream. The air caught in his throat.
But something — someone — slammed into him from the side, arms wrapping around his waist like a passionate hug. His feet left the ground. The world turned sideways. He hit the pavement hard, cushioned by something solid beneath Him. The sound of the beam crashing to the ground rang out behind them like thunder.
Sunghoon was beneath him. His arms still wrapped protectively around Sunoo, his chest rising and falling steadily—no, wait. Was he even breathing?
Sunghoon looked just as astonished as Sunoo himself, eyes wide in shock and fear. Sunoo grounded himself in his hard, unmoving chest, as people were gathering around, asking questions, voices buzzing in the background like static. Sunoo didn’t care. He couldn't hear any of it — not when Sunghoon was this close, holding him this tightly, looking at him that intensely. That was the perfect time to study him, to inspect him closer.
Sunoo should say something! The checklist! The checklist! The checklist!
Sunoo opened his mouth.
— So… is your dad hot?
Sunoo had never been to the infirmary before — He’d never had an emergency outside the digestive realm and Imodium had always been his ride-or-die — so the whole thing was a little spooky, to say the least. But after a quick checkup, the nurse declared him completely fine. No broken bones, no concussion. Just a dramatic brush with death thanks to Sunghoon.
Sunghoon.
He’d saved him. Like, actually saved him. Tackled him out of the way of a falling steel beam and everything. And now that the adrenaline was wearing off, Sunoo could finally process what had just happened. And also what he had just said.
“Is your dad hot?”
Fuck. He needed to apologise immediately.
The circumstances were all too crazy, too… Twilighty? But that didn’t excuse him blurting out something so dumb right to Sunghoon’s face, even if that wasn’t his intention. So when he was finally released, he stormed off the infirmary alongside Jake and Jungwon who had been waiting for him, ready to track Sunghoon down and do some damage control. But to his surprise, he didn’t have to look far.
Sunghoon was standing in the hallway outside. Waiting.
— I wanted to know your state. — Sunghoon’s voice sounded serious.
— He’s originally from Gyeonggi-do. — Jake said, far from eloquently. Sunoo face-palmed while Sunghoon looked confused.
— Jake, Jungwon, just go to class.
Jungwon grabbed Jake’s arm and pulled him away through the hallway as Jake squirmed in his hold. “What? What did I do?” “Shut up, Jake!” “Why? Was he not supposed to know Sunoo is from Gyeonggido?”
Their voices faded as they rounded the corner, leaving Sunoo alone with the vampire— boy. The boy.
— I’m sorry I asked if your dad was hot. I don’t know what has got into me.
There. He said it.
Sunghoon’s lips twitched, the faintest trace of amusement breaking through his usually impassive face.
— Ah and thank you — Sunoo added, softer now — for, you know, saving my life.
He reached for the front pocket of his backpack, taking an extra japanese strawberry sandwich he was saving for later and handing it to Sunghoon as a thank you gift. Why did he do that? Sunghoon had never shown interest in food — especially not cutesy convenience store sandwiches. Still, it felt like the polite thing to do.
Sunghoon took it with both hands and bowed like a prince. — It was nothing.
— Actually, that was impressive. You were nowhere near me and yet, you reached me so fast.
To his surprise, Sunghoon didn’t flinch. No awkward denial. No panic. No vampire guilt. Just a quiet, — Yeah, I guess. — Like he hadn’t just launched himself across a courtyard at the speed of light.
Suspicious. Very suspicious.
Sunoo narrowed his eyes. Maybe he had also watched Twilight.
Surprising him even further, Sunghoon, still holding the sandwich delicately in those long, pale fingers, actually unwrapped it. He took a bite. A real one. Chewed and everything. Sunoo couldn’t believe his eyes. He actually ate the thing. Was he wrong the entire time? Had he crafted an entire supernatural conspiracy theory over a guy who just happened to be stunning and weird?
Suddenly aware of how stupid he must’ve looked being so impressed by something so mundane, he quickly put on a neutral expression, pretending this wasn’t a world-altering moment.
Sunghoon’s lips curled just a little more at the edges.
— Let’s be friends — Sunoo changed his strategy. — You’re always alone, you know. You could use a friend.
— I like being alone.
— Bet you’ll like being alone with me even better.
What? That sounded dirtier than he intended it. He cursed himself internally.
But Sunghoon just leaned in slightly, eyes scanning Sunoo’s face with such intensity that it short-circuited his brain. Were his eyes always that light? He couldn’t remember. He was turning out to be a terrible vampire detective. Blame it on the proximity. And the face. And the chest he’d been laying on, like, twenty minutes ago.
— You won’t wanna be friends. Trust me.
And just like that, he turned and walked away, leaving Sunoo standing there.
Baffled.
Intrigued.
And, unfortunately, kind of horny.
— Hey, we still have English Literature together! — Sunoo yelled, trying to catch up with his pace, sprinting across the hallway.
He fell into step beside Sunghoon, or at least tried to. This time, he allowed the maybe-vampire-boy a break by staying silent while also struggling to walk by his side as his legs took steps that were way shorter. Sunghoon didn’t dare to look at him, but he was finishing the sandwich without a care in the world, like it wasn’t the most flirtatious thing Sunoo had ever witnessed.
Sunoo glanced down at the now empty package in Sunghoon’s hands and sighed internally again.
His confusion was out the roof. Pale? Check. Doesn’t eat? Well… un-check, apparently. Ice cold? Check. But then he remembered that moment just minutes ago — the beam, the scream, the arms wrapped tightly around him, the way his heart hadn’t slowed down since.
He saved Sunoo. And not in a normal way. Not in a “call for help” way. It was fast. Superhuman fast. Movie-stunt-fast. So even if he was not a vampire, he was definitely not boring.
By the time they got to class, Sunoo had been trailing him so closely he barely noticed they’d arrived.
It didn’t matter if he wasn't a vampire. Maybe it was enough that he was strange and quiet and ate his sandwich even when he didn’t show much appetite.
Sunoo stood a little straighter.
Friendship was a safe offer. Normal. Human. A good start. And if he turns out to be immortal and brooding with a tragic past… well, he’d deal with that later. He just needed to convince Sunghoon opening up to him was worth it.
He slid into his seat beside him just as Miss Yoon started writing GOTHIC THEMES IN MODERN FICTION across the board in her loopy, elaborate cursive.
— I’m glad you are ok, Sunoo-ssi — she said, sounding actually genuine. Sunoo only smiled back.
Miss Yoon clapped once. — Today, we’re discussing the gothic themes in modern fiction. Think about the trope of the mysterious stranger, for example. Shadows, secrets, and supernatural undertones. Who can give me an example?
Sunoo didn’t raise his hand, but Miss Yoon looked right at him anyway.
— Kim Sunoo. You’re always full of ideas. Share one.
He blinked. Brain empty. Entirely wiped clean by the smell of strawberry and the feeling of Sunghoon’s presence beside him.
— Uh… Twilight? — he offered weakly.
Snickers echoed across the room.
Miss Yoon gave him a look that was half amused, half disappointed. — Not exactly what I had in mind, but sure. Twilight has… gothic adjacent elements. Anyone else?
While the conversation moved on, Sunoo turned slightly toward Sunghoon, whispering, — See? Perfect timing. You show up today when we’re talking about mysterious strangers. That’s kind of your whole brand.
Sunghoon didn’t laugh, but he did glance at him sideways.
That glance did things to Sunoo’s spine he was not ready to unpack in class.
— You should stop watching vampire movies, — Sunghoon muttered, eyes still on the board.
— I’m just saying, — Sunoo whispered back, — if the cloak fits.
There it was again. The faintest curve of Sunghoon’s mouth.
God, I’m so good at this , Sunoo thought smugly, before immediately spiraling again. Wait — does he know I think he’s a vampire? Did he mindread my checklist? Is he just humoring me before he rips out my throat behind the vending machines?
As the class went on, Sunoo side-eyed Sunghoon whenever the teacher would mention the words “monster” or “vampire”. His expression was as dull as ever.
Miss Yoon tapped her marker against the whiteboard, a fresh quote from Frankenstein underlined in red: “I ought to be thy Adam, but I am rather the fallen angel.”
She turned back to the class. — We’ve been talking a lot about monster stories. What makes them work so well. But here’s a better question — why are we so drawn to them?
She let the silence hang a little too long. Then her eyes landed on the corner of the classroom.
— Sunghoon? — she said.
Sunghoon didn’t look startled. He simply tilted his head like he’d been waiting to be asked.
Miss Yoon smiled. — Why do you think monsters are so fascinating in Gothic literature?
He was quiet for a beat, fingers tapping on his notebook. When he answered, his voice was soft but certain.
— The stories are never really about the monsters, — he said.
Miss Choi’s eyebrows lifted — No?
— No, — he went on, his tone calm but steady. — They're about the people watching them. The people writing about them. Chasing them. Loving them. Hating them.
He looked up, and for a second, his eyes caught the gray light from the window, eerily clear.
— We project our fears and desires onto them, — he said. — We’re not fascinated by the creature, we’re fascinated by an unrepressed version of ourselves. That’s the real obsession.
Miss Yoon was quiet for a moment, processing that. — So… we use the monster to explore something more human?
Sunghoon nodded once. — Exactly. But in the end, no one really wants a monster. Not in real life. That’s why we humanize them. If it ever got too close… too real. We’d run.
The class went on as Miss Yoon explored how the fear of the unknown, mortality, the battle between good and evil, and the duality of science and nature, often common in gothic literature, were themes that were timeless and could be adapted for every generation.
When the bell rang, she announced the class would have to write a gothic short story based on one of those themes, relating it to some topic that was currently relevant. In groups of four.
— Group 1! Kim Sunoo, Shin Jaeyun, Yang Jungwon and Park Sunghoon! — Sunoo declared proudly.
Miss Yoon raised an eyebrow but just nodded and wrote it down.
He turned to Sunghoon with a smirk on his face.
— You said I wouldn’t want to be friends with you?
Sunghoon looked at him for a long time. Long enough that Sunoo almost regretted saying anything.
— I think you would. And that’s what scares me.
🦇🦇🦇
It was a hot Saturday night when Sunoo and Jungwon tagged along with Jake to the city center. The latter's birthday was approaching, and that meant they had to throw a party for the books.
Calling Jake “popular” was putting it lightly. He was good-looking, easygoing, and had somehow spent his childhood wrangling giant snakes and muscly kangaroos in the wilds of Australia—at least, according to Sunoo’s mental image. A little ditsy, sure, but deadly serious when it came to numbers. Even if he weren’t living in a small town where most people were boring by default, Jake would stand out like a sore thumb anyway.
So they were out and about searching for decoration that fit his theme of choice: the zoo .
Obviously, Sunoo and Jungwon called Jake a freak for choosing such a theme for his 18th birthday party. Should anyone even have themes for their parties when they were past the age of 10? But Jake was their friend — and a good one, too — so it was their moral obligation to go along with any weird ideas he came up with. He was helping Sunoo with his whole vampire hunt, after all.
Ever since Sunghoon had saved his life and the whole interaction that unrevealed, Jake was also keeping a closer look to Sunoo’s Is He a Vampire? checklist.
Is he pale? ✔️
Do his eyes change color?
Does he never eat? ✔️
Does he ever sleep?
Is his skin cold? ✔️
Does he speak like he comes from a different time? ✔️
Does he have superhuman strength?
Does he have superhuman speed? ✔️
Was he a victim of the plague?
Does he have a hot dad?
When Sunoo questioned why hadn't Jake crossed out the “does he never eat?” from the list, Jake argued that Edward took a bite of an apple in the first movie, so it actually didn't mean anything when he ate Sunoo's sandwich.
“It just means he's unconditionally and irrevocably in love with you” he had teased.
Sunoo had let out a dolphin scream in response.
Jungwon was also confused about the “speaks like he's from a different time” bit, to which Jake only mimicked “I wanted to know your state”.
“Who talks like that? No wonder I replied so stupidly!”
“Hyung, I think you're just stupid like that”, Jungwon had shot back.
But Sunoo thought Jake had a point. The bow, the formal sandwich acceptance, the whole Literature class speech — Sunghoon was too eloquent for a regular 17-year-old. Too composed. Too something .
So yes, Jake had earned Sunoo’s full attention tonight, even when he was dramatically whining about how all the animal-themed decorations were too childish.
— Damn, I wonder why. — Jungwon's tone was ironic, as expected.
— Maybe we should make everything from scratch — Sunoo suggested, picking up a variety of materials in shades of green and brown.
The store was a cluttered party supplies, with shelves overflowing with glittery signs, balloons, foam characters, and crepe paper in every color imaginable.
Jake had the biggest pout known to mankind In the middle of the store. — I suck at manual work!
— Talk to your arts and crafts club friends. Promise them a kiss or something — Sunoo said with a smirk.
Jake seemed to entertain the idea.
Sunoo grabbed some jungle-print fabric, a few rolls of artificial vines and a bag of googly eyes. He was already plotting DIY party hats shaped like animal ears, and maybe even a vine-covered backdrop for photos. Jake picked balloons and a disposable camera.
When they finally picked and paid for everything, it was close to 9 p.m.
— It's getting late — Jungwon said, checking his phone — we should head back. Soon there won't be any buses
— You guys can go — Sunoo said — I have something I wanna check.
— What could you possibly wanna check around here? — Jake questioned, his forehead wrinkled.
You see, Sunoo couldn’t just tell them that, last Friday, he’d taken a secret photo of Sunghoon, uploaded it to a face-scanning website, and discovered a series of ancient headlines featuring a boy from the early 1900s—who looked exactly like Sunghoon—being rescued from an orphanage where unethical experiments had been performed on children. And that this orphanage was now an abandoned building a mile away.
He just couldn’t.
So he blurted the first thing that came to mind.
— I'll visit my grandma.
Jake and Jungwon exchanged a knowing look.
Jungwon raised an eyebrow — Wasn't she dead?
Sunoo opened his mouth then closed it again. Shit.
— We literally went to her funeral — Jake added.
— I'm visiting… her… grave?
Why did that sound like a question?
— We're coming with you then — Jungwon said. That was it, end of discussion. No wonder he was the president of the student council.
Sunoo’s embarrassment only deepened as they approached the decaying remains of the building. The orphanage loomed ahead, its structure leaning slightly to one side like it was tired of existing. Cracked windows gaped like hollow eyes. Weeds clawed through the fence.
— They buried her here? — Jake asked, genuinely baffled.
Jungwon only looked at him like he was stupid. — Of course they didn't, Jake.
— Yeah, of course they didn't — Sunoo sounded defensive — That's where they spread her ashes.
— In the old orphanage? — Jungwon’s eyebrow arched so high it nearly disappeared into his hairline.
— Oh my God, can't I just mourn my dead grandmother in peace? — Sunoo snapped and started marching towards the gate, pushing it open. It groaned like it hadn’t moved in decades. — Stay here. — He warned before entering the property.
Inside, the air was stale, thick with dust and mold. Long corridors stretched out in front of him, darkness engulfing every detail ahead. Sunoo swept his phone flashlight across peeling wallpaper, shattered windows, and charred furniture that looked fossilized by time.
His breath caught when he saw it — a faded sign above a scorched doorway: INFIRMARY.
Inside, old iron beds stood, orange and maroon due to the rust. Inside a drawer, he found the remnants of a child's drawing, the edges crinkled. A boy crying. A second figure, taller, shaded in completely black. Someone had written beneath it in childish scrawl: "He says I’ll be better after this. He says I’m special."
Sunoo’s fingers trembled.
Further down the hall, past a collapsed staircase and a stained wall covered in tally marks, he found a door that had been padlocked once. The rusted chain had long given up. He pushed it open and stepped into what looked like an old office. Files were scattered across the floor like leaves. Some had names, others just numbers. He crouched and picked one after another, reading each and every one of them. Dozens of different numbers and names. Mentions of venoms, pills, blood transfusions; and varying outcomes: Sensitivity to sunlight, hemorrhage, cannibalistic tendencies, headaches, vegetative state, death.
Sunoo spent the next ten minutes reading through all of them. Then, suddenly:
Subject 43. Oh Gyeongmo. Male. Venom Phase II.
Outcome: Inconclusive. Preserved. Relocated.
Sunoo’s eyes darted to a photograph clipped inside the folder. It looked like him — Sunghoon — only this time, he was strapped to a chair, wires trailing out of his arms. His expression was blank. Or maybe resigned.
He stumbled back. His phone buzzed with a low battery warning, and the shadows seemed to pulse.
Sunoo left the building half running, lungs ablaze.
Jungwon and Jake were standing at the entrance, puzzled faces as they saw Sunoo's disheveled state.
— I think his grandmother was actually in there — Jake said in a joking way, but his face looked worried nonetheless.
— What the hell happened? — Jungwon questioned, taking Sunoo in his arms to check on him.
Sunoo breathed in shakily.
Was he a victim of the plague?
Worse.
🦇🦇🦇
Sunoo regretted everything. Regretted ever telling Jake and Jungwon anything.
— Could you please stop looking at him like that? — he hissed at his friends as they openly stared at Sunghoon, who seemed to be studying peacefully across the library.
They looked confused.
— Like what?
— Like Sunghoon's a freak. Like you're shitting your pants at the mere sight of him.
— But he might actually be a freak. — Jungwon said matter-of-factly.
— And I am shitting my pants — Jake added — Metaphorically, of course.
Sunoo suddenly remembered Sunghoon's words: “ no one really wants a monster. Not in real life. If it ever got too close… too real. We’d run .”.
Something caved in his chest.
— Sunghoon's not a monster. He's never done anything to you guys, so why are you suddenly so scared? Whatever happened to him doesn't change who he is.
Guilt had been gnawing at him ever since he shared what he’d found. The very thing that could explain why Sunghoon was always alone. Always guarded. It was personal—private—and Sunoo had chased it down, dug it up, and handed it over. Even if it was just to Jake and Jungwon, who wouldn’t tell a soul (because who would believe them anyway?), it still felt wrong.
Maybe he’d gone too far. Maybe he couldn’t take it back.
Which meant he had only one option left: commit. Find the truth. If he was right, Sunghoon could count on him—maybe even have a friend. Or three, if he managed to talk Jake and Jungwon out of being judgmental scaredy-cats. If he was wrong…
Well. That would be very embarrassing.
So far, his updated list was looking like this:
Is he pale? ✔️
Do his eyes change color?
Does he never eat? ✔️
Does he ever sleep?
Is his skin cold? ✔️
Does he speak like he comes from a different time? ✔️
Does he have superhuman strength?
Does he have superhuman speed? ✔️
Was he a victim of the plague? Kinda ✔️
Does he have a hot dad?
— It might not change who he is at school — Jungwon reasoned, — but it definitely could change who he is outside. We don’t know what he’s been up to.
Sunoo rolled his eyes. — No one’s died yet, right?
— Shhh! — the library inspector snapped, pressing a finger dramatically to her lips.
— Not in this city — Jake muttered under his breath.
— We still have four more items to check, and, coincidentally, we’ve got a group project together. So here’s the plan: — Sunoo leaned in like he was revealing state secrets — We suggest doing the project at his house. That way we can see if there’s a bed in his room and if his dad’s hot. You know—for science.
Jungwon scoffed — You're aware Carlisle wasn't actually his dad, right? More like an adoptive dad. And him being hot is just Hollywood being Hollywood.
— Shhhhhhh!
They didn’t even glance over. The library inspector was fuming.
— And while we’re there — Sunoo continued, ignoring her — we’ll keep an eye on his eyes. If they change color, boom, another box checked.
— What about superhuman strength? — Jake asked.
Sunoo paused. His expression shifted into something that could only be described as unhinged glee.
— Don’t worry about that. I’ve got a plan.
The library inspector stormed over, her heels clacking like gunshots. — That’s it! Out, the three of you. Now!
The trio scrambled to gather their belongings.
— Sunghoon! — Sunoo yelled across the room as they were being dragged out — Meet us in the parking lot at 3 p.m.!
Sunghoon blinked at them, slightly amused. Sunoo was getting used to that.
— It’s for the group project! — He shouted again, one hand holdind onto the library door — Three p.m.! Parking lot! Don’t be late!
The school parking lot was quiet except for the faint buzz of cicadas and Jake’s nervous pacing.
— Are you sure this won’t get us arrested? — Jake asked, adjusting his sunglasses like a spy undercover.
— Jake — Sunoo said, crouching dramatically behind Miss Yoon’s car, — This is for science.
Jake sighed. — You better not die. I don’t want to explain to your mom why you got crushed under a random teacher's Kia.
— We didn't even start the car — Jungwon rolled his eyes, watching out for any sign of Miss Yoon spoting them e asking what the hell they were doing to her car.
Sunoo took a deep breath, laying flat behind the rear bumper — Hand me the blood.
Jake looked disturbed. — Please never say that again — he muttered as he pulled out a ketchup packet from his pocket before tossing it over.
Sunoo tore the packet open and smeared ketchup down one pant leg. — Perfect. Tragic.
Just then, Sunghoon walked into the lot, looking from side to side for any sign of the boys. Sunoo gave Jake a thumbs up behind his back. Jake nodded and yelled:
— OH MY GOD — SUNOO’S STUCK UNDER THAT CAR.
Sunghoon didn't look moved in the slightest. — What?
— HE’S PINNED! I DON’T KNOW HOW! HE WAS JUST… THERE!
Sunghoon sprinted over, crouched beside the car, and saw Sunoo dramatically clutching his leg.
— It’s… it’s bad, — Sunoo groaned, adding a little tremble to his voice. — I think I heard a crunch. I can’t feel my toes. They’re gone.
Sunghoon studied him. His eyes travelled from his face down to his ketchup stained pants.
Sunoo started getting nervous. Can he smell it? If he's a vampire, he probably can differentiate the smell of blood from ketchup.
Jungwon, who had only been watching so far, started fidgeting in place. The student council president couldn't be caught in the middle of whatever that was.
Before Sunoo could just stand up and pretend it was all a little silly joke, Sunghoon grabbed the bumper with both hands, adjusted his stance, and with one smooth motion, lifted the front of the car off the ground.
The tires left the pavement. The car creaked. Sunoo screamed internally. Jake screamed externally . A bird flew away in terror.
— Uh... I’m free now. I guess. Wow. — Sunoo gaped, momentarily forgetting to act.
Sunghoon gently let the car back down and looked at him suspiciously. — Your leg doesn’t look that bad.
— Adrenaline, — Sunoo said too quickly. — It’s a miracle. Thank you.
Jake whispered, — Dude. That car weighs, like, a thousand kilos.
Sunghoon dismissed him. — What were you doing under there anyway?
Sunoo paused.
— Taxes?
Sunghoon stared at him.
Sunoo broke into a sweat. Jake shifted his weight nervously. The ketchup started to dry out.
— Jake wanted to invite you to his birthday party! — Jungwon blurted out.
Sunghoon was still staring at Sunoo when he asked — Did he?
Sunoo nodded frantically.
— Ok.
— Ok? — The three of them practically yelled.
— I'll go to your birthday party.
The three of them exchanged looks. Maybe Sunghoon was in a good mood.
— And we'll meet up at your place to work on the project. — Sunoo stated, like it wasn't open for debate.
Sunghoon tilted his head, eyeing Sunoo up and down. Oh God — Sunoo thought — don't do this to me.
— Ok.
That was too easy. Sunoo narrowed his eyes on him, feeling like he was being challenged. Like Sunghoon decided not to put walls up, but to see if Sunoo was brave enough to find out the truth by himself.
Like the gothic tale he'd read once, The Carnival of the Dazzling Night, Sunghoon was the mysterious voice making the invitation.
Here, come inside the castle. Take everything.