's breath hitched.
Her whole body locked up, like her mind had suddenly stopped working.
Jin had seen fear.
a sh skjsklks akslld slslls akalls sls la,ska
Had seen people fall apart.
But this—
This was different.
This wasn't fear.
It was something deeper.
Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.
Jin saw her throat move, like she was trying to swallow something heavy.
Her fingers twitched at her sides, nails digging into her palms.
She took a step forward—hesitant, shaky.
Her knees almost buckled.
"…Chul?"
Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
It carried no certainty.
Only doubt.
Like she didn't fully believe what she was seeing.
Like the moment she blinked, he would disappear.
The boy—curled up against the far wall, hoodie drawn low—didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Didn't even flinch.
Seul-ki took another step.
Then another.
Each one quieter.
Like if she moved too fast, the illusion would shatter.
Echo shifted slightly, rubbing the back of his neck.
