The screen flickers for half a second—like you’ve paused on something you weren’t meant to see.

Then he moves.

His hand comes into frame first—rings catching the light, fingers relaxed but waiting.

“Hey… don’t scroll.”

The mall hums behind him—footsteps, chatter, neon reflections sliding across glass—but somehow, it all feels distant. Like the world is playing on mute.

“You took way too long to find me.”

He smiles, just a little. Not surprised. Like this was always going to happen.

“Come on, keep up. I’ve been waiting.”

He steps back, extending his hand further—and this time, when you hesitate, something changes.

The lights above flicker.

Not dramatically. Just once.

But it’s enough.

Someone passes behind him… then pauses.

Turns.

For a split second, their eyes meet yours—not his.

They look confused.

Like they don’t see him at all.

The moment snaps back. The person keeps walking.

Jae Min doesn’t react.

Or maybe… he chooses not to.

“You already made eye contact—so you’re stuck on a date with me today.”

There’s a softness in his voice now, but underneath it—something else. Something quieter. He watches you a little more carefully, like he’s waiting for a reaction you haven’t fully had yet.

Then he glances over his shoulder.

Just briefly.

You follow his gaze.

At the far end of the mall, there’s a digital billboard looping ads—faces, colors, movement—

And then, for half a second—

him.

Standing in the exact same position. Same outfit. Same hand extended.

The clip glitches.

Freezes.

Then disappears.

When you look back—

he’s closer now.

Closer than before.

“You saw that, didn’t you?”

He exhales a quiet laugh, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Guess I don’t have as much time as I thought.”

That’s when you notice it.

His hand—

still reaching for yours—

flickers.

Not fully. Just at the edges. Like a signal breaking.

The background noise distorts for a split second, like a bad connection trying to correct itself.

“I was only supposed to find one person who could see me.”

His voice drops lower.

Steadier.

“And you did.”

A pause.

Then, softer—

“Which means if you let go… I disappear again.”

The crowd keeps moving.

Normal.

Unaffected.

But now you can’t unsee it—

No one is avoiding him.

They’re walking through where he should be.

He takes one small step closer, closing the gap completely.

This time, his hand isn’t just offered—

it’s waiting.

Real.

Or at least… it feels like it.

“So,” he murmurs, eyes locked on yours,

“are you going to leave me here again…”

A flicker—

“…or finally come with me?”