Chapter 3: Yoon Sera

I slipped back home quietly, careful not to make a sound. The house was still. Silent. My dad was fast asleep, breathing peacefully as if nothing in the world was wrong. It struck me—he wouldn't care if I had died that day. The weight of that thought settled heavy in my chest.

My life had been hanging by a thread just hours ago, on that bridge. The guy—the stranger—had saved me with just a few simple words. "Don't disappear like that." His voice had pierced through the darkness inside me, bringing me back to the edge of life when I was ready to let it all go.

Now, here I was, standing in the same house as the person who had pushed me to that bridge in the first place—my father. The reason behind all the pain I was trying to escape. And yet, he slept, oblivious, unaware of the battle I had just fought with myself. My heart twisted. I had to leave. This place wasn't home anymore.

Something clicked inside me, and I remembered what my name meant—Sera, a new beginning. I deserved that much, didn't I? A chance to start over. To save myself.

I packed what I could—clothes, shoes, anything that seemed useful—but as I stuffed the bag, a question gnawed at me. Where will I go? My hands trembled as I shoved my belongings into the bag, knowing that, come morning, I would have nowhere to turn. No home, no family, and no plan. But I couldn't stay. Not here. Not anymore.

At 3 AM, I slipped out the door, not daring to make a sound. The world outside was asleep, peaceful in a way my life had never been. I walked through the empty streets, my mind racing. I had an orientation day at university tomorrow—my first day—but instead of preparing, I was running. Running from the very life I had spent years trying to survive.

The hours dragged on, each step taking me further into the unknown. I felt lost, hopeless. My eyes scanned the streets, searching for somewhere—anywhere—to rest. Then, through the dim light of early morning, I saw a three-storey house. The gate was unlocked, slightly ajar, as if it was inviting me in.

I didn't think. I just went in, heading straight for the rooftop. Maybe there I could be invisible. Maybe there I could breathe again. As I climbed the stairs, I found a tiny apartment perched on the rooftop. My suitcase rattled against the ground, and I winced. I didn't mean to make noise. I just wanted to disappear, to melt into the shadows.

But before I could settle in, I heard the sound of a door unlocking behind me. My heart dropped. No, no, no… please don't be angry. Please don't call the cops.

I turned slowly, my body shaking with fear. A tall figure emerged from the apartment, his silhouette sharp in the pale light. He looked at me—really looked at me—as if he recognized me. His gaze pierced through the darkness, and I stood there trembling, unsure of what to do.

My throat was dry, my lips trembling as I tried to explain. "I... I'm Yoon Sera," I stammered, bowing deeply. "I swear I don't have any bad intentions. I just... I just... flew from my home, and I—"

Before I could finish, he cut me off. His voice was cold, but somehow soft, like he wasn't here to hurt me. "You can come to my apartment," he said. "You can go tomorrow... wherever you want."

His words were simple, but the kindness in them made my heart ache. I wasn't sure why he was helping me, why he didn't question me more. His lips were red, his face expressionless, but there was something in his eyes—understanding? Sadness, maybe.

He turned away before I could even respond, leaving me standing there, speechless. After a moment, I gathered myself and followed him. As I entered his apartment, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions—fear, relief, and something else I couldn't quite name.

His apartment was small—one room, a tiny kitchen, and surprisingly, a small balcony. I didn't expect a balcony on a rooftop apartment. It was one of those rare things, something you wouldn't expect in a place like this. I stood there awkwardly, clutching my bag, unsure of what to do next. He was leaning against the kitchen wall, arms crossed, staring at me with unreadable eyes.

I swallowed my nerves and bowed slightly, breaking the tense silence.

"Thank you... really. It means a lot. I'll leave in the morning. I don't have a place to stay, but I'll figure it out... Could you... would it be okay to keep my luggage here for a while? If it doesn't bother you."

"Don't worry about it," he replied simply, his voice neutral.

I nodded, a little unsure of what to say next. "Thanks. You can go ahead and sleep. I'll wait until the sun rises."

His gaze didn't waver as he asked, "Are you hungry?"

I was about to deny it when my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I squeezed my eyes shut, wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

"It'll take a few minutes," he said calmly, ignoring my flustered state. "You can rest for a while."

Without waiting for my response, he turned and headed into the kitchen, leaving me standing there, speechless. His movements were smooth, effortless. For a guy who didn't say much, he sure knew how to make an impression. Moments later, he came back with a bowl of steaming ramen and a cup of hot coffee. He placed them gently on the small table in front of me, but before I could thank him, he disappeared into his room.

I was about to take a sip of the coffee when he returned, this time carrying a small first-aid kit. His expression remained cold, distant.

"Can you roll up your sleeve?" he asked without looking at me.

I blinked in surprise. "It's really not necessary... I'm fine."

He met my eyes with a sharp, no-nonsense look. I knew better than to argue. Reluctantly, I rolled up my sleeve, revealing the cuts and bruises from earlier. Without a word, he gently wiped the dried blood, his touch surprisingly tender. I winced as the antiseptic stung, but he worked in silence, focused on the task.

"Thank you," I murmured when he was done.

He nodded, not meeting my gaze. The silence between us felt thick with unspoken words, but I didn't push it. Instead, I asked, my voice hesitant, "Would it be awkward if I asked your name?"

For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer. But then he said, "Ryu Taesan."

I nodded, the name feeling oddly familiar, like I'd heard it before but couldn't place it. After the treatment, he quietly went back to his room, disappearing again without a word. I was left alone in the apartment for hours, the sound of the wind outside my only companion. I tried to stay awake, but exhaustion got the best of me, and I eventually curled up on his sofa, falling into a restless sleep.

When I woke up, it was 7 AM, and he was standing in front of me, watching me with those same unreadable eyes. I jumped up, startled.

"Good morning!" I blurted out, still half asleep.

"Morning," he replied curtly.

I rubbed my eyes, gathering my things. "I'll... I'll go now."

But before I could leave, he called my name for the first time, "Sera."

I froze, turning to face him. His voice was softer now, almost hesitant. "You don't have to go looking for a new place."

"Why not?" I asked, confused.

"I talked to someone. My friend lives nearby. I can show you," he said, his tone flat, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

I followed him out to the balcony. He pointed to a three-story building across from his. "You can stay there. From my balcony, you can see your window. It's affordable, and you could manage with some part-time work. It belongs to my friend."

The gesture was overwhelming. I wasn't used to people going out of their way to help me, least of all someone I barely knew. "Thank you... so much," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "Can I ask one more thing?"

He nodded, his gaze curious.

"How old are you?"

"Twenty."

I let out a small laugh. "We're the same age then... That's... surprising."

He didn't say anything, just gave a slight nod. As he effortlessly lifted my luggage, I couldn't help but admire how easily he carried it, like it weighed nothing. He was tall—much taller than me—and there was something about him, the sharpness of his features, the way his red lips contrasted with his pale skin, that made it hard to look away.

We reached the house, and he called someone. Soon, a guy with a big smile came out to greet us.

"She's your renter," Taesan said, his tone still cold but respectful.

The man smiled warmly and bowed. "I'm Yeo Dohyun. You can call me Taesan's best friend. It's a pleasure to meet you."

I bowed in return, feeling a little more at ease. "Thank you, Dohyun-ssi. Everything happened so fast, and I didn't know where to go. You're a lifesaver."

He laughed. "No problem! It's our first time renting out, but we're happy to have you. And, lucky us, we're the same age!"

I smiled. "Really? That's good to know."

Taesan, who had been silent the whole time, stood to the side, holding my luggage. Dohyun leaned in and whispered, "He's a tough guy, huh?"

I smiled softly, glancing at Taesan. There was something mysterious about him, something that made it impossible for me to figure him out. But one thing was clear—he had saved me, not just once, but twice now.

Dohyun's voice broke through my thoughts. "By the way, Sera, what university are you attending?"

"Oh... SNU, it's my first day today," I replied. "I'm in the Business Administration department."

Dohyun's eyes widened in surprise. "No way! Taesan and I are in the same department! What a small world."

My eyes flicked to Taesan, who still hadn't said a word. "Really?"

Dohyun nodded enthusiastically. "We should head there together! I mean, it's the first day, and the orientation is in the morning."

One thing I thought at that moment was that I was the girl who wanted to end her life a few hours ago. And then there she was who just started everything with a new beginning.