"Where in the world am I now?"
The first thing that crept its way into my psyche was the realization that happened the moment I opened my eyes to an absolute darkness around me.
And, suddenly, a cold and unsettling chill shiver ran down my spine. at that moment, I felt my soul was alive, but my body was dead.
I was in a place I did not recognize, but at the same time, it was not unfamiliar either.
I slowly stood up from the bed and started searching for the light switch all around as I couldn't see anything in the room, as it was pitch dark.
When I reached for the light switch.
Click. No way. Click-click. Not a
"What the hell, why isn't it working?? Of course. A power outage. Because things aren't weird enough already. great"
what too do now?? were can i get light
an then suddely my braun twied
falshght .. my phine were is my phone
i seached for my phone i pockedt and I took out my mobile and turned on the faslight. As soon as the screen was illuminated, my battery level was at 21%.
Nice. That was definitely going to last through a supernatural crisis for at least a month.
then with the helo of the falight lifht i suddelt srated moving out of the room.
I entered a living room, and then I noticed that the air seemed more heavier and thicker here.
And then I saw it.
A figure. On the balcony.
Just. standing. They weren't facing me. Just. staring into the night sky.
"…What the hell? Who the fuck is that?"
"Hey!" I called out loud. "Who the hell are you?"
No response.
"Excuse me! Are you… lost? Or from the neighbour's party?"
"Still nothing."
The minute I asked them to turn around because I couldn't see them well, they didn't even bat an eye and remained like a mannequin.
My legs had preceded my brain in the action. Every step was like a horror movie scene to me; I stepped further. Shakiest flashlight ever.
"Hello?? are you deaf?? cant hear me??
I stopped in the middle, my legs shaking and my heart pounding. But still, this dumb curiosity.
I wanted to know who this person… or ghost… was.
Uhh, Jiwoo, what hell are you thinking? Please do not be a ghost.
"Okay… deep breath," I muttered. "Just ask the dumb question and get it over with."
"… Are you a ghost? Please don't say yes"
Then, the figure changed its movement all of a sudden. Gradually, the figure turned towards me.
I held up my phone, and my phone was shaking heavily in my hand, along with its flashlight, which was flickering between two directions.
"And then, finally, the beam came crashing down on his face," he
"Min
What the f***. No. Not again.
I shouted, like a mad dog in anger. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why weren't you answering me?"
He appeared. empty. His eyes cecome red, his skin tune little pale. and those dark circls As if he hadn't slept in months. His hand was shaking and body trmbeking. suddnly he sratd shaking his lios like h wantd toi tell something, but I didn't hear him. i could see heis lipsycing
"Minjae!" I shouted. "If this is some twisted prank, I swear you are—"
He didn't react. Just kept staring.
I tried again. "Minjae, seriously, man. Are you possessed? Speak something you idiot
He suddenly broke down.
Tears streamed down on his face as he cried like a helpless puppy.
And then, in a broken whisper, he softly said it.
Jiwoo…
My heart stopped.
WHAT THE FUCK.
My name..
"What. how does he know my name?"
"Nope. Nope. Nope." I stepped back, and I started screaming. "This isn't funny anymore."
"Please… Just stop this bullshit for now, God Please…"
"He moved towards the balcony railing."
"This is
"What in the world is this lunatic doing. uh, WAIT a minute… does he…?"
"No—No", stop. "Don't even think about doing that, you idiot."
I rushed towards him. "Minjae, wait! STOP!"
But it was too late.
He jumped.
"MINJAE! YOU
I screamed my laughs out and ran to the balcony.
And then suddenly, a sharp, loud sound pierced the my ear.
BEEP! BEEP!
My eyes opened.
I mean, what the hell was that dream about?
I was in bed. My bed. The same old ceiling. The same old fan.
Alarm clock was beeping at exact 8:30 AM
I stood up, my shirt drenched in sweat, heart racing as I'd just finished a horror speedrun show.
"But one thing wouldn't leave my head."
How did Minjae know my name?
"You're probably wondering, who even am I?"
What's with these dreams, anyway? And that guy, Min-jae, yeah?
"Well, let's begin with me first."
Hi, guys. I am Han Jiwoo. I, am an assistant designer at the most prestigious fashion brand located in Seoul, "ModeAmour". i come in those nerdy, shy, workaholic type catrgies who tends to be the person that everyone forgets or chooses to ignore. I have been hiding a secret that threatens the whole industry.
Well, actually, I could say, all of Seoul.
I'm CloudMouth," the anonymous and very famous artist of "The Man From Nowhere," a very dark and sensual webtoon that's having the entire nation lose its mind right now.
You know how fans of idols wait outside their favourite artist's building? That's the fame I have. well, sort of. I'm famous, but it's all a secret. And the truth is, I'm as surprised as you are.
"Fame found me whether I wanted it or not."
In the darkness, I shine like a star.
Daylight? I disappear. Invisible. Anonymous.
You are now probably wondering, how did this all start? The comic, and of course, Minjae and this double life.
Honestly, I've been asking myself the same question for years but still have not got answer to none.
"The first dream occurred after my mother died. I was 5 years kid who lost thier mom at a very young at age. in the pain and griverin i was siting out side cruing and then suddely a was boy, about 5 years elder come towad me, his knees bruised, sadness and raw pain on his face. He didn't speak. just kept starting at me and he handed me something and said soemthing an left.
after that day I kept dreaming, about him. Every night, I saw him grow up. I saw him cry. I saw him struggle to survive against a world that wanted to consume him whole. it felt like we bith grew up togter but yet so far from eac other.
Years later, when I entered my first competition for artwork, I had not a clue about the story or the character I wanted to portray. I was stuck!
And then I thought of him.
Minjae
I knew his story. I'd been dreaming it for nearly two decades. But I also knew the kind of story it is. The kind of person it is. I wrote it. About him, of course. His pain. His lonely life. His struggle. I shared the world his tragedy. Pity. It's pathetic. but it's also beautiful.
Thus, I channeled him into a character. Filled him to the brim with sadness, with wounds, with repressed anger. Others adored this. They cried. They wrote fan fiction. They lurched. They thirsted.
They even wrote hate mail to me because i made Minjae "too sad."
but i received a lot of fame with the story and I thought Wow, Jiwoo, you genius
"But then… things started to feel weird."
Like maybe he wasn't just a dream. Maybe he knows I turned his pain into premium content. Maybe he's out there, sharpening a knife in a dark alley to kill me.
has the dream becom emore constent like this and felt to real for a dream and now he knows my name
"Ugh, Jiwoo, you idiot," I complained. "Why'd you choose him as your main character? Is he haunting me right now? Did I somehow turn a ghost into an influencer?"
I was so lost in the thought's angst that I failed to check the clock.
HOLY CRAP, IT'S 9 AM
Mr. Kang is going to kill me today. Mine.
I jumped out of bed like a kid in junior high school, remembering that if he didn't catch the bus, he will be out doing a march pass till luch time.
"I simply put on my favorite hoodie, donned my glasses, and stood in front of the mirror as if I was preparing to go to war."
Umm, Well… a war with Mr. Kim.
I stole another look at the Minjae poster stuck next to my mirror. One of many I sketched immediately after this dream. "You'll never let me sleep, huh? You're a dumbass.
I grabbed my bag, closed the door, and entered a world where I was just "Han Jiwoo" who was ready to face all the crises for being late to work today.
And I don't know why, but i suddenly had a feeling that this was just the beginning of my disaster.
– To be continued.