" THE RELUCTANT HUNTER "
BAEKHYUN'S P.O.V.
Annyeonghaseyo, je ileum-eun Baekhyun-ibnida. Back in Korea, I am a K-pop idol—my life is measured in stage lights and fan chants. But everything turned upside down the moment my Harabeoji and Halmeoni summoned me back to the Philippines for "family business."
"Harabeoji!" I stared at him, my jaw dropping as he finished his explanation. "Are you serious? You want me to find a mythical creature? We live in the computer age, not a dark fantasy novel."
Before he could answer, my sister Jin-Ae stepped forward, her expression chillingly calm. "It's real, brother. I've encountered one myself. Harabeoji believes this vigilante the media calls 'The Shadow' is actually a Sigbin—or at least, someone who carries the DNA of that creature."
"I want you to find it, no matter the cost," Grandpa added, his voice like cold iron. "It is the only way to save our business from falling."
I rolled my eyes, the weight of their obsession feeling like a burden I didn't ask for. "You two are crazy," I muttered, turning to walk away.
"You were destined to capture that creature, Baekhyun!" Jin-Ae called out after me. I didn't look back. I just needed to clear my head, so I pulled out my phone to contact some old friends. I needed a drink and a night that didn't involve legends and monsters.
ETHAN'S P.O.V.
"You need to be more careful, Ethan," Akihiko warned, his voice tight with anxiety as he watched me pace the room. "Just because you have the abilities of the Sigbin doesn't mean you're invincible. You're still a target."
"Don't worry about me, Aki," I said, dismissively. My mind was already elsewhere.
I checked my phone. A text from Jan lit up the screen, reminding me about his bachelor party at the most expensive club in the city. After the chaos of the kidnapping, a part of me just wanted to be a normal guy for one night—even if it meant dodging Kirby.
"I have to go," I told Aki. "Jan's party starts soon."
"Wait, be careful!" Akihiko called out, but I was already focusing on the shift in my blood.
In a heartbeat, the air around me shimmered. I felt my body fade into the transparency of the room, becoming a ghost in the light. I slipped out the door, leaving Aki's warnings behind in the silence.
The Party
The club was a pulse of neon lights and heavy bass. When I walked in, Jan's face lit up. He pushed through the crowd and greeted me with our usual fist bump. The others followed suit, their energy high and welcoming.
Then, there was Kirby. He sat in the corner of the leather booth, swirling his drink and staring at the wall as if I didn't exist. The coldness hit me harder than the music. I looked away, feeling the familiar sting of embarrassment prickling at my skin, but I tried to force a smile for Jan's sake.
A few tables away, Baekhyun and his crew were making their entrance. "This is the best spot in town, bro," one of his friends shouted over the music. "I told you I'd show you a good time." Baekhyun scanned the room, his eyes sharp even in the dim light. "I agree," he murmured, impressed by the atmosphere. "It's exactly what I needed."
The Mansion: A Mother's Fear
The air in the study was thick with the scent of old paper and tension. "You need to talk to your son, Angeline," my grandfather commanded, his back turned to my mother.
"I will, Appa," she began, her voice trembling. "But please... hold on. What if we stop this quest? I'm not trying to break tradition, but remember Minjun. He's still missing because of this obsession. I can't lose my son too."
My grandfather turned, his brow furrowed in a dark scowl. "You are interfering, Angeline. Do you think it was easy for me to lose my own son? We have no choice. Baekhyun must fulfill his destiny." Without another word, he swept out of the room.
The Library: The Hunter's Research
While her mother mourned, Jin-Ae was fueled by a different fire. She sat in the university library, her eyes glued to her screen. "The Sigbin," she whispered, her fingers flying over her notebook. "A shadow-eater. A companion to the Kikik."
"What are you doing?" her friend Alice asked, leaning over her shoulder. "Just research, Alice," Jin-Ae replied, her voice distracted. She scribbled down the weaknesses—the Antidotes:
The burning smell of buffalo horn.
The 'fishy' scent of Brass; it repels them.
Salt, vinegar, and garlic—the ancient cleaners.
"Jin-Ae, come on! I'm starving," Alice groaned. "One second!" Jin-Ae snapped, closing her notebook with a sharp thud. "I'm done. Let's go."
The Club: The Performance
Back at the bar, the alcohol was starting to blur the edges of reality. Baekhyun felt the buzz in his veins—a mix of freedom and defiance against his grandfather's wishes.
Across the room, Ethan was trying to drown out the sight of Kirby by taking a long sip of his drink. He didn't notice the famous K-pop idol standing up.
Baekhyun stumbled slightly, a playful grin on his face as he bypassed his friends and headed for the small stage. He grabbed the microphone, the feedback whining for a second before he silenced the room with his presence.
"I think," Baekhyun announced, his voice smooth despite the intoxication, "it's time for a song."
This is a classic romantic trope—the "duet under the spotlight." It's the perfect way to build a connection between them. Since you want the reader to "see" it in their minds, we should focus on the lighting, the feeling of the stage, and the electric tension between Ethan and Baekhyun.
"I'm going to sing!" I shouted into the mic, my vision slightly blurred by the alcohol but my confidence surging. "I am Baekhyun, of Star Ignition!"
The room exploded. The name echoed off the walls as phone screens lit up like a thousand tiny stars.
"Baekhyun! Baekhyun! Baekhyun !"
"Bro, Aunt Angeline is going to kill us for this!" Eun hissed from the side of the stage, his face pale with worry. But I didn't care. I leaned over to the DJ, whispering the track title. As the first few notes of 'Perhaps Love' filled the air, I dropped into my signature pose. The crowd's roar was deafening.
I began the first stanza, my voice smooth and rhythmic: "Eonjeyeotdeongeonji gieongnaji ana... Jakku nae meoriga neoro eojireopdeon sijak..."
As the music swelled, I looked out at the sea of faces. "Who knows this song?" I challenged, a playful grin on my lips. "Who wants to sing with me?"
The Choice
A forest of hands went up, but my eyes were drawn to a rowdy group in the corner. They were all laughing and pointing at one guy who looked like he wanted the floor to swallow him whole.
"My friend Ethan knows it!" Jan yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth. "He's right here! Pick him, Baekhyun !"
"Jan, no! Stop it!" Ethan hissed, his face turning a deep shade of crimson.
I hopped off the small stage and wove through the crowd, the sea of people parting for me. I stopped right in front of them. "What's his name?" I asked, looking at Jan.
"Ethan! His name is Ethan!" Jan shouted, looking immensely proud of himself.
"Wow, super supportive," Ethan muttered under his breath, though a small, shy smile was fighting its way onto his face.
"Go on, Ethan," I said, my voice softening as I held out my hand. "The crowd is waiting."
The chant shifted. Now, they were calling for him. "Ethan! Ethan! Ethan!"
The Stage
With a resigned sigh, Ethan took my hand. His skin was warm, and for a split second, I felt a strange spark—a jolt of energy that made the hair on my arms stand up. I pulled him up onto the platform and handed him the spare microphone.
"Mannaseo bangawoyo, Ethan. Baekhyun -ieyo," I whispered close to his ear. (Nice to meet you, Ethan. I'm Baekhyun.)
The music looped back. I nodded at him, encouraging him to take the lead. Ethan took a shaky breath, gripped the mic, and began to sing.
The moment his voice hit the air, the room went silent. It wasn't just good; it was soulful. As he sang the first stanza, I watched him. There was something about the way he moved, a grace that felt almost... otherworldly.
When it was my turn for the second stanza, our voices began to weave together. For that moment, there was no family business, no secret identities, and no "Shadow." There was just the music and the strange, magnetic pull between us.
The music swelled, and Ethan began. His voice was steady, carrying a hidden warmth that seemed to vibrate through the stage.
Ethan: "Eonjeyeotdeongeonji gieongnaji ana... Jakku nae meoriga neoro eojireopdeon sijak..."
I watched him as he sang. The shy guy from the table had vanished, replaced by someone who held the room captive. When it was my turn, I stepped closer, my voice dropping into a deeper, richer tone.
Baek-Hyun: "Byeoriri anil su itdago... Sasohan maeumirago... Naega naege jakku mareul haneunge eosaekangeol..."
Then, the chorus hit. We turned toward each other, our voices locking in perfect harmony. The noise of the club faded into the background, leaving only the lyrics and the heat between us.
Duet: "Sarangingayo... Geudae nawa gatdamyeon sijagingayo... Mami jakku geudael saranghandaeyo... On sesangi deutdorok sorichineyo..."
As we reached the final notes—"Ijeya sarang chajatdago"—the room stayed silent for a heartbeat before erupting into cheers. The connection was electric, almost physical.
The music faded, and the reality of our friends and the flashing cameras rushed back in. Ethan started to step away, back toward the safety of the shadows, but I reached out and caught his arm. My heart was still racing from the song—or maybe from the look in his eyes.
"Thank you," I whispered, leaning in so only he could hear me over the roar of the crowd. "Can you wait for me outside? Or let me wait for you? I... I really want to know you."
Ethan looked at me, his gaze lingering on mine. The shyness was back, but there was a new spark of curiosity there, too. He gave me a slow, genuine smile that reached his eyes.
"Sure," he said softly.
With that one word, he turned and disappeared back into the crowd toward Jan, leaving me standing on the stage with a strange feeling that my life in the Philippines was about to become much more complicated than a simple quest.
TO BE CONTINUED...