Chapter 5: Yoon Sera

I had only met Taesan a few hours ago, but he felt like a mysterious figure from a fantasy—almost like a goblin, someone who quietly provided everything I needed without me even asking. All I had asked him for was a place to stay for a few hours, yet he offered me more, his kindness unexpected. I was just a stranger to him, someone who had left her home behind with nowhere to go. And yet, here he was, guiding me through the crowded university like it was his responsibility to look out for me.

As we walked, Taesan called Dohyun to find out where he was. Dohyun mentioned he was at the auditorium, and Taesan led me through the sea of students, gently maneuvering us through the bustling crowd. I could see the way some of the girls whispered about him, their gazes lingering on his face, admiring his handsome features. It was almost amusing to see how flustered he was, even though he tried hard to ignore them. His face gave him away—he was clearly embarrassed by the attention.

When we finally spotted Dohyun, he was standing with Jiwon and Yujin. Yujin's eyes lit up the moment he saw us, as if we were already close friends. His gaze flickered over me, taking in my new appearance.

"Sera, you changed your dress? You look beautiful," he said with a bright smile.

I returned a soft smile, unsure of how to respond. Jiwon, with her bubbly energy, immediately hooked her arm around mine as though we had known each other for years. Her warmth was infectious, and before I could even process it, she was smiling up at me with excitement.

"We can be friends, right?" she asked, her voice full of hope.

I smiled again, feeling a sense of comfort for the first time in a long while. Jiwon seemed so sweet, and her presence put me at ease in a way I hadn't expected. We found seats in the middle row of the auditorium. I sat at the edge, with Jiwon beside me. Dohyun had already started chatting with Jiwon and Yujin, who seemed like the mood maker of the group, always cracking jokes and keeping the energy light.

Their conversation faded into the background as I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I glanced down at the screen, and the moment I saw the caller ID, my heart dropped. It was my dad. My hands started to tremble, and I felt a wave of dread wash over me. He knew it was my first day at SNU, and if I didn't answer, I feared he would show up here, making a scene like he had so many times before. The thought of that happening made my blood run cold.

And then there was Taesan. He sat quietly, his eyes fixed on the speaker up front, not blinking or paying attention to anything happening around him. He had a way of tuning out the world that made him seem so distant, as if he existed in a separate realm of his own thoughts. An hour passed, and Taesan suddenly stood up. His movement was abrupt, catching Dohyun's attention.

"Are you going somewhere?" Dohyun asked.

Taesan simply nodded. "Yes."

"Okay. I'll come to your place tonight," Dohyun replied casually.

Taesan gave a slight nod and he looked at me before walked away without another word. My eyes followed him instinctively, watching as he disappeared into the crowd. I didn't understand why, but there was something about him that drew me in, something I couldn't quite place.

Jiwon, noticing my distraction, leaned over and asked Dohyun, "Is he always this silent?"

Dohyun chuckled lightly. "Yeah, pretty much. He's always like this."

"You, Taesan, and Sera—are you all friends from before?" Jiwon asked curiously.

Dohyun shook his head. "No, we just met Sera a few hours ago. She lives in the neighborhood now."

"Wow, that's nice," Jiwon replied, smiling warmly.

I was in my terrifying world. I couldn't just sit there and ignore his call. I had to leave, to get somewhere private where he couldn't reach me. Without thinking, I jumped up from my seat, my sudden movement catching Dohyun's attention. His eyes searched mine, full of concern, but I couldn't meet his gaze. I didn't want to explain, didn't want him to ask any questions.

Before anyone could stop me, I hurried out of the auditorium, my steps quick and desperate. But I wasn't fast enough—Dohyun caught up with me, grabbing my arm gently. He looked at me, his expression serious.

"What happened? Who's calling you?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.

I swallowed, my throat dry. "It's my dad," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. "My dad."

The weight of those two words hung in the air between us, and I could see the concern deepen in Dohyun's eyes. He didn't ask more, but he didn't let go of my arm either. In that moment, I realized how fragile everything felt—how close I was to falling apart, and how desperately I wanted to hold it together. But with my dad's call looming over me, I wasn't sure how long I could keep pretending I was okay.

Dohyun took a deep breath, his face clouded with concern, and asked softly, "So, you ran away from home because of your dad?"

I bit my lip and nodded, trying to keep my composure. The weight of my decision to leave home still felt heavy in my chest. Dohyun ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that seemed to carry both frustration and worry. After a moment, he spoke, his tone gentle but firm.

"Alright. Don't answer his calls for now. Just turn off your phone. We'll figure this out later, okay?"

I nodded again, my mind still spinning with a mix of relief and anxiety.

As the evening approached, the atmosphere around the university buzzed with excitement. It was the night of the freshman welcome program. I stayed close to Dohyun, grateful for his company, but my thoughts kept drifting back to my dad's calls. Just before the program began, Taesan returned, his face as unreadable as ever. Dohyun immediately questioned him, curiosity lining his voice.

"Where have you been for so long?"

Taesan's expression remained stoic. "I had something to handle."

"Was it serious?" Dohyun pressed, his concern obvious.

"Kind of," Taesan replied cryptically. But even as he spoke, his gaze lingered on me, like he was searching for something in my expression, as if he could see the turmoil just beneath the surface. I lowered my head, avoiding his intense stare.

Sensing the tension, Dohyun took it upon himself to explain. "Her father was calling her. I told her to avoid it. Maybe he's the reason she ran away from home."

I glanced up, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, guys. I didn't tell you sooner."

Dohyun's expression softened, a reassuring smile on his lips. "It's okay, Sera. We've only known each other for a few hours, but I want to understand. What did your father do to make you run away? Let's talk about it when the program ends."

Taesan remained silent, but I could feel his eyes on me, as if he could read the hidden pain on my face. There was something unspoken in his gaze, a quiet understanding that he kept to himself.

After the program concluded, we stepped outside into the cool night air. The campus was quiet now, a stark contrast to the earlier excitement. We made our way up to Taesan's rooftop, a place that felt secluded and safe. Dohyun had brought some drinks, while Taesan busied himself with grilling beef on a small portable grill. The scent of the sizzling meat filled the air, but I could barely focus on it. I was too preoccupied with the strange knot in my stomach.

When I turned my phone back on, I noticed something that sent a shiver down my spine. There were no missed calls, no messages from my dad. It was eerily quiet. This was unlike him—he was always stubborn, relentless. He never gave up easily, especially when he was angry. I had been so sure that he would bombard me with calls, demanding to know where I was. But there was nothing.

Dohyun sat down beside me, concern etched in his features, while Taesan took a seat across from us, his expression as impassive as ever. Dohyun glanced at me, then hesitated before asking, "Can I ask... what exactly did your father do?"

I drew in a shaky breath, forcing myself to confront the memories I'd tried so hard to bury. "He used to be a good man. He was the best father in the world. But after my mom passed away, everything changed. He started to become... violent with me. He blames me for my mom's death. He thinks it's my fault she's gone."

Dohyun's brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would he think that?"

I swallowed hard, my voice trembling. "I can't swim. Once, we were at the beach, and I went too far into the water. My mom saved me, but... she didn't make it. She drowned." I paused, my voice cracking. "After that, he changed. He couldn't forgive me for surviving when she didn't. And.."

Dohyun's face softened with understanding, but there was a hint of anger in his eyes—anger at the man who had hurt me so deeply. "And...?"

I hesitated, wanting to tell him about my older brother but stopping myself just in time. Bringing up my brother would open up wounds that I wasn't ready to face again. I wasn't sure I could handle the chaos that would follow.

Instead, I whispered, "Last night, I thought about ending it all. I went to the bridge, ready to jump. But... someone stopped me. He pulled me back, and because of him, I decided to run away instead of giving up. That's how I ended up here, with you guys. But... there's something strange. Since I turned off my phone, my dad hasn't tried to contact me at all. Not even once."

Dohyun's eyes widened. "Really? That doesn't sound like him at all."

I nodded, my hands twisting together anxiously. "He's not the type to just give up like this."

Dohyun's expression turned serious. "We should inform the police. What if something happened?"

Before I could respond, Taesan's voice cut through the tension, low and calm. "There's no need for that."

Dohyun turned to him, frustration in his voice. "What do you mean, there's no need? She might be in danger!"

Taesan's gaze was unwavering, his tone steady. "She's not in danger anymore."

Dohyun looked at him incredulously, his voice rising. "How can you say that after everything she just told us?"

Taesan's eyes met mine, and for a moment, it felt like he was speaking directly to me. "Because she's with me."

There was a depth to his words that I couldn't quite understand, a hidden meaning that left me speechless. But somehow, his confidence, his certainty, made my racing heart slow just a little. It was as if he was promising me safety, without saying the words aloud. And even though I didn't fully know why, I felt a strange sense of relief settle over me.