Kim Jongin had been through so many places he eventually lost count, or rather, he gave up trying.

School after school, city after city, and psychiatrist after psychiatrist.

but none could find what was wrong with him.

a lost cause, they called him.

a freak of nature, others mumbled underneath their fake smiles.

a murderer, some dared to whisper.

no one knew why a young boy of only five would suddenly black out after meeting eyes with a stranger,

nor could anyone know why the same boy, now reaching adolescence, would begin shaking and see the flicker of a random face, a place, or even an object, all within the constraints of his mind.

no one could obtain the right explanation for why his pupils would dilate once more as he regained consciousness, a look of horror and pain reflected in his eyes.

but even more so, no psychiatrist, professor, specialist, or even the bible could explain why Kim Jongin could see the final seconds of a person's life flash right before his very eyes, just by simply meeting the gaze of another.

this wasn't something anyone could explain,

no, not even the young man himself could explain what exactly happened every time he opened his eyes as he regained consciousness,

because, put simply,

he didn't know why either.