That night, Yun dreamed of rain again.
Not the soft kind that tapped gently against windows—but heavy rain, soaking through fabric, clinging coldly to skin. He was kneeling on hard stone, palms pressed to the ground as water pooled around him.
His chest hurt.
Not physically.
Emotionally—like something was breaking open from the inside.
"Please…" Yun whispered in the dream, his voice shaking. "I can't— I can't do this anymore."
Someone stood before him.
Yun couldn't see the man's face, only the hem of dark robes soaked by rain. A hand reached out, hovering just above Yun's head, trembling as if unsure whether to touch him.
"If you leave," the man said quietly, "you won't come back."
Yun lifted his head, tears mixing with rain. "Then let me go."
The hand froze.
The silence that followed was unbearable.
Yun woke with a sharp gasp.
His chest rose and fell rapidly as he stared at the ceiling, heart racing. The early morning light filtered faintly into his room, far too gentle for the heaviness pressing against him.
His cheeks were wet.
"…Why am I crying?" he whispered.
He sat up slowly, fingers curling into the bedsheet. The emotions from the dream lingered—fear, guilt, and an aching sadness that felt far too real to be imagined.
It wasn't the first time.
Lately, the dreams had been coming more often. And they always left Yun with the same strange feeling—like he had hurt someone deeply, without knowing how or why.
He rubbed his eyes and let out a shaky breath. "Get it together."
By the time Yun stepped outside, the city was already awake.
On his way to work, he stopped by the convenience store near his apartment. As he reached for a bottle of water, a familiar presence brushed against his senses.
Warm.
Steady.
Yun's hand paused.
"You didn't sleep well."
The voice came from beside him.
Yun turned—and there he was again.
The man from the subway stood close, holding a basket with nothing but a single bottle of water inside. In the bright store lights, his features were even clearer—sharp yet calm, eyes dark but gentle.
Yun swallowed. "We… met yesterday."
"Yes," the man said softly.
"You followed me?"
The man didn't deny it.
"I wanted to see if you were alright."
That should have sounded strange. Invasive.
Instead, Yun felt an unexpected warmth spread through his chest.
"I'm fine," Yun said, a little too quickly. "Just tired."
"I know."
Those two words made Yun look up sharply. "You keep saying things like that."
The man studied him for a moment, then spoke carefully, as if choosing each word with intention. "You cry in your sleep."
Yun's breath caught.
"…What?"
The man's expression tightened—just slightly. "You used to."
Used to.
Yun laughed softly, nerves creeping in. "You really have the wrong person."
"Maybe," the man agreed easily.
That answer unsettled Yun more than denial would have.
Before Yun could say anything else, the cashier called out. The moment broke.
When Yun glanced back, the man was already stepping away.
As he passed Yun, he spoke quietly—meant only for him.
"Sweet dreams, Yun."
The door chimed as he left.
Yun stood frozen, his heart pounding in his ears.
He didn't know the man's name.
He didn't know his face from anywhere he could remember.
But deep down—
Yun knew one thing with unsettling certainty.
That man had been watching over him long before yesterday.
To be continued.....