0001 – The First Countdown
The first time Han Ara saw the numbers, she thought she was going crazy.
It happened on an ordinary spring afternoon after last period. The classroom smelled like dust and marker ink. Desks scraped, chairs clattered, and laughter bounced off the windows as everyone rushed to leave.
Jaemin stood by the door with his backpack slung over one shoulder, grinning at her like he always did—like the world was simple and everything would somehow work out.
"Ara, hurry up," he called. "You're always the last one."
"I'm checking my notes," she muttered, stuffing her books into her bag with more care than she needed.
He walked back to her desk, leaning down so his face suddenly filled her view. Too close. Too bright. Her heart did that annoying skip again.
"Don't pretend to be a model student now," he teased. "You slept through half of math."
"I did not," she said, offended.
"You drooled."
"I did not!"
He laughed, the sound easy and familiar. It had been like this since middle school: him joking too much, her pretending to be annoyed. He was the only one she didn't mind sitting with at lunch, the only one who waited for her when she stayed late, the only one who made her feel like she wasn't just… existing.
Maybe that was why, that morning, she had finally admitted it to herself.
I like him.
Not just as a friend. Not just as a habit.
I really like him.
"Ara?"
Jaemin waved a hand in front of her face. "You're spacing out again."
"I'm coming," she said quickly, slinging her bag over her shoulder.
He straightened, turning toward the door.
And then she saw it.
Floating above his head.
00:07:23
Ara froze.
The numbers hung in the air, pale and digital, counting down.
00:07:22
Her breath caught. She blinked hard. Once, twice.
The numbers remained.
"Jaemin…" Her voice sounded wrong in her own ears. "Do you… see that?"
He glanced back. "See what?"
"Above you." She stared at the space over his head, where the numbers dropped steadily. 00:07:15. "The… numbers."
He followed her gaze. There was nothing there. Only the dusty bulletin board and the classroom door.
"You sure you didn't drool in math?" he joked. "Did you hit your head?"
"I'm serious," she whispered.
He took a step closer, worry flickering across his eyes. "Are you okay?"
The concern in his voice made something inside her squeeze.
00:06:59
Her stomach turned.
Seven minutes. Seven minutes until what? The bus? The bell?
Or something worse.
"I'm fine," she blurted out, forcing her gaze down. Maybe if she didn't look, it would go away. "Let's just go."
On their way down the hallway, she risked a glance at him again. The numbers had dropped. 00:05:32.
No one else had anything above their heads. Not the students in the corridor, not the teacher who passed by. Just Jaemin.
Just him.
Was it because she liked him?
That was ridiculous. Feelings couldn't create glowing timers in the air.
"Ara?"
She realized she had slowed to a stop. He turned back, eyebrows raised.
"Seriously, what's up with you today?"
"Nothing," she lied. "I'm just… thinking."
"Don't think too hard," he said lightly. "You'll get wrinkles."
Outside, it had started to rain, thin droplets tapping against the windows. Jaemin popped open his umbrella. When he noticed she didn't have one, he sighed and moved closer.
"Come here." He held the umbrella over both their heads, tilting it more toward her than himself.
Water clung to his hair. His shoulder brushed hers.
Her heart thudded.
00:03:01
The numbers dropped faster now, every second a drumbeat in her skull.
Her fingers trembled around the strap of her bag. "Jaemin…"
"Mm?"
"If you… if something happened in seven minutes…"
"That's specific." His eyes sparkled with amusement. "Are you predicting my future now?"
"I'm serious," she insisted, voice cracking. "What would you do?"
He thought about it, lips pursing. "Seven minutes?"
She nodded.
He smiled, softer this time. "I'd walk you to the bus stop so you don't get soaked."
00:02:17
The bus stop was at the edge of the main road in front of the school. Raindrops bounced off the asphalt, cars rushing past in noisy waves.
They reached the curb. The light was red. Students clustered under umbrellas, waiting.
00:01:03
Ara's head swam.
"Jaemin," she whispered. "Please… stay here."
He glanced at the crosswalk. "The bus is coming."
"We can take the next one." Her hand shot out, grabbing his sleeve. "Let's just stay here. Please."
Her eyes were too wide. Her grip was too tight.
He studied her face, the joke dying on his lips. For a moment, he looked like he might agree.
Then someone called his name from across the street.
"Jaemin!"
He turned. One of their classmates was waving, already halfway to the other side. The walking signal blinked green.
"I'll be right back," he said, smiling at her, as if nothing in the world could go wrong in seven minutes. "Don't move."
He slipped out of her grasp.
"Ara, stay there, okay?"
00:00:12
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"Jaemin!" she shouted. "Wait!"
He took a step off the curb.
Headlights cut through the rain.
Horns blared.
Someone screamed.
00:00:03
Ara's body moved before she thought. She lunged forward, reaching out for him, fingers outstretched.
"Jaemin!"
He turned toward her, eyes widening.
For a second, all she saw was his face. The familiar smile starting to form, confusion in his gaze.
00:00:01
The world shattered.
The sound of metal against flesh, a sickening thud. His body thrashed, then flew, then hit the wet road with a crack she felt in her bones.
The numbers above his head blazed.
00:00:00
Then vanished.
Ara fell to her knees beside him, rain soaking through her uniform, fingers slipping on his blood.
"Jaemin," she choked out. "Jaemin, wake up. Please. Please."
His eyes, which had always been so bright, stared past her. His lips didn't move.
He never opened his eyes again.
Later, people would call it an accident. Bad timing. A careless driver. A tragedy.
Only Ara knew the truth she couldn't say out loud.
The moment she loved him, his time started running out.