Chapter 1: Do you believe in angels?

Glossary

Hollows: Demonic abominations that are once humans, they carry the vengeance of their past lives into the afterlife- except they do not descend to the afterlife just yet. Typically known as demons with a human face and an animal body, they mindlessly roam the mortal realm with only one morbid purpose: to devour anything that carries a beating heart. They especially crave for human blood mainly to satiate their unquenchable thirst. When slained, their shells crumble into golden dusts, which ironically is the colour of angels’ blood.

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Angels, beautiful divine beings. Angels.

Do you believe in them?

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Impulsiveness is the peak understatement.

Yeji's gaze slides to him, to a boy who still wears a clueless expression (she should feel sorry for him for choosing her out of all the girls that he could win over easily, but goodness, she feels sorrier for herself for agreeing in the first place). It has only been two weeks, she self-assures, and it is impossible for one to fall for the other so quickly, so impulsively.

Oh, why did she even accept his confession at the beginning? It has only been two weeks- but it seems that her feelings for the latter have not changed one bit.

Sure, she is attracted to him in a somewhat way one finds the other physically attractive. Lee Jeno, besides being good-looking, plays basketball exceptionally well yet maintains excellent grades. Among students, he is hailed as the most famous sophomore in their school; among teachers, he is deemed as the star pupil that could lead his peers. Like the Northern Star that guides lost sailors at sea, he could qualify as a true blessing. With a flick of a finger, he points and shows the way. With his words-

Oh, she does not realize that Jeno is speaking to her.

“I was asking if you believe that angels exist. Yeji, were you not paying attention the entire time? I’m hurt.”

Jeno pouts in disappointment and Yeji could see that he means it. Even if she does not harbour a solid romantic interest towards him, she is grateful that the boy does not try hard to act shamelessly cringy and provide huge romantic gestures that leaves her thoroughly embarrassed.

Although she does not see him in a lover’s gaze, she still sees him as someone whom she can consider a true friend. Growing up, she admittedly does not have many ‘friends’- yes, she has met countless people throughout seventeen years but they are mostly only anonymous faces that passes by her along the corridors. Ten years ago, a tragedy that has a scarring effect leaves her raw and vulnerable in its wake that she maintains a social distance with the people around her so she will not get hurt. Besides, maintaining human relationships is tedious work and she has seen the aftermath of crumbling friendships often enough to understand its complexity, clear enough to know that it’s not worth sacrificing her time for.

That is also why she wants to keep Lee Jeno around longer instead of breaking his heart right away. Humans are fragile, and the both of them are no exception.

Truthfully, she has thrown herself into contemplation, has mulled over his intention, before finally accepting his confession. It takes her days to make up her mind if Lee Jeno is actually interested in her in a romantic way. The sharp intake of breath when she accidentally brushed against his shoulder when she walked through a sea of people was her first clue. Although she had not paid much attention to that detail, he was already fully aware of her existence. That makes him much more easily noticeable in school, and the days tha