Chapter 1

I said I wouldn't date early, and Julian Hayes waited for me until graduation.

I said I didn't like physics, and he gave up a brilliant academic future.

Later, on a stormy night, Julian chased my car like a madman.

"Chloe, my brother is getting engaged to you?"

I lowered my head, forcing myself not to look at him.

"...Yes, after all these years, I can finally be openly with him. Thank you."

Julian Hayes has Dissociative Identity Disorder – he doesn't actually have a brother.

I was probably the first to know about it. In my senior year of high school, I transferred to Maywood High. He was the class president and disciplinary committee member, tall and pale-skinned, standing in the classroom like a young, growing sapling.

Every day, he'd be picked up and dropped off by luxury cars, surrounded by friends decked out in designer brands, and cheesy love letters slipped through the back door.

At the time, I thought, *So what if he's damn handsome? No substance, just a flashy rich kid.*

A while later, during the summer sports festival, he wore long sleeves and pants, completely covered up, his zipper pulled all the way to the top, not even showing his neck.

I complained to my new best friend, Hailey, "Rich kids are something else. They don't even sweat. Does he think he's some kind of fairy?"

Hailey didn't laugh. She leaned in and whispered, "His parents did that to him."

My eyes widened. "Why?"

"I guess there's something seriously wrong with his family."

Hailey made a zipping-her-mouth gesture at me. "Everyone keeps quiet about it. Don't go around talking."

I nodded.

Then, I inwardly marveled. Julian looked so unbothered day after day, despite everything. And he got first place on every test. He was truly something else.

On the last day of the sports festival, it was my turn for after-class clean-up.

After evening study hall, I finished wiping the blackboard and the podium. It was already pitch black outside.

The motion-sensor lights in the stairwell weren't working, no matter how much noise I made.

I fumbled my way down the stairs, trembling and gripping the wall. Around the corner, I saw a silhouette and a flickering light.

"Class President?"

Julian exhaled a thick puff of smoke, staring at me without speaking.

I inexplicably felt an ominous aura from him; he was like a completely different person from his usual self.

"Julian, don't you usually go home before evening study hall?"

He let out a cold laugh, then suddenly grabbed my arm, pinning me against the wall.

"I'm Jax, not that damn loser brother."

"Watch this."

He put the cigarette butt down and brutally ground it into the back of his hand.

The moment the fire disappeared, we were completely swallowed by darkness.

Julian's voice was low. "He wouldn't dare. He's afraid of pain."

"...You're bleeding."

I swallowed hard, scared, and fumbled through my bag, finally finding a band-aid.

"Here."

Julian stared at the band-aid for a moment, then his hand suddenly trembled, and half the cigarette fell to the ground.

He blankly took the band-aid but didn't move.

I tentatively called out, "Julian?"

"...I'm sorry."

He abruptly stepped back, completely having forgotten what had just happened.

I waved my hand. "It's fine. I'm going home now."

Julian suddenly stopped me. "Chloe."

I turned, looking up at him. "What is it?"

"I... have night blindness," Julian whispered, leaning on the wall. "Can you lead me down?"