Later, after class dismissal, we found ourselves seated at a small café, each of us occupying a chair around a circular table. Kim Suho had carefully ensured there was equal space between me and Chae Nayun, probably in an attempt to avoid a bloodbath. I appreciated the thought, but I wasn’t sure how long the peace would last.
The café was quiet, with soft music playing in the background, but the tension at our table was anything but. I sipped my coffee, watching Nayun out of the corner of my eye, half-expecting her to lunge at me at any moment. Suho, clearly exasperated, looked between the two of us as if he were babysitting unruly children.
“We’re classmates,” Suho said, his voice tinged with frustration. “We should be friendly to each other…”
Before he could even finish, Nayun and I had already started squabbling like two middle schoolers.
“He’s an evil bastard that must be exterminated!” Nayun declared, her eyes blazing with righteous fury. She turned to Suho, her voice taking on an eager edge. “Come on, Suho, let’s kill him! We’ll be doing the world a favor.”
I nearly choked on my coffee. “She tried to hit me first! It’s assault! I should be going to the police right now!” I shot back, glaring at her. The nerve of this girl. She was the one throwing punches, and somehow I was the villain?
Suho groaned, massaging his forehead as if we were giving him a migraine. “What is happening with you two?” he asked, sounding utterly defeated. “This… this is ridiculous.”
I could see the exhaustion in his eyes, and part of me felt a little guilty. But then again, this wasn’t my fault. Nayun was the one accusing me of being a Djinn, and all I did was dodge her punches. If anything, I was the victim here.
“She’s just crazy, Suho,” I said, leaning back in my chair. “She’s been on some kind of weird crusade against me since this morning.”
“I knew it the moment I saw you,” Nayun snapped. “There’s something off about you. You’re hiding something, and I’m going to figure out what it is.”
“For the last time, I’m not hiding anything!” I threw my hands up in exasperation. “I’m just trying to survive here without getting pummeled by you every five minutes!”
Suho sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked like he was seriously regretting inviting both of us here. “Listen,” he said, his tone softer now. “We need to get along. This… whatever this is, it’s not helping anyone. Hyon, Nayun, I know you two don’t see eye to eye, but you’re both part of this team. We are a class. If we’re going to survive in this academy, we need to work together, not tear each other apart.”
Nayun crossed her arms, still fuming but silent for once. I could tell she wasn’t convinced, but Suho’s words seemed to have at least taken some of the edge off her anger. I, on the other hand, wasn’t about to let my guard down.
“Fine,” I muttered, taking another sip of coffee. “But she’s gotta stop trying to murder me.”
Nayun rolled her eyes but didn’t say anything, which was probably the closest thing to an agreement I’d get from her.
Suho nodded, visibly relieved that we weren’t about to start throwing punches again. “Good. Now, can we please try to have a civil conversation?”
I leaned back in my chair, glancing at Nayun. Civil? With her? Suho was asking for a miracle.
“So, Chae Nayun, can you take back what you said? I am not a Djinn…”
I grinned to myself, savoring the tension that lingered between us. The unspoken agreement between Chae Nayun and me hung in the air like a delicate thread. Neither of us had said anything, but it was clear—we weren’t going to mention anything about Devils to Suho. Not yet, at least.
For Chae Nayun, this was about keeping her own secrets hidden from Suho. She probably assumed that I had no choice but to go along with it, considering that revealing anything about Devils or Djinns would get me into hot water. And for the most part, she was right—playing along would’ve been the safe move.
But who said I played safe?
Instead of complying with her unspoken demand, I decided to gamble. A risky move, one that could either backfire spectacularly or bring me closer to Kim Suho while shaking off Nayun’s obsessive suspicion. My mind raced with the possible outcomes, and with a sly grin, I leaned forward slightly, looking Suho straight in the eye.
“What even is a Devil?” I asked casually, as if I had no idea what kind of bomb I was about to drop. “I’ve been hearing things, you know? Are they like Djinns or something?”
For a split second, the world seemed to freeze. Suho’s brows furrowed, his eyes narrowing as my words sank in. His usually calm demeanor tensed up, a rare moment of vulnerability showing in the way his shoulders stiffened. He wasn’t the only one reacting—Nayun’s eyes went wide, and I could practically hear her breath hitch as she shot me a glare sharp enough to cut steel.
Suho blinked, clearly rattled, his gaze shifting between me and Nayun. “What? Devils? Where did you hear that?” His voice wavered, not something I was used to hearing from him. The confidence that usually exuded from him was momentarily replaced by something… uncertain.
I shrugged nonchalantly, playing up my ignorance. “You know how it is around here—rumors fly all over the place. People say all sorts of things about the academy and the stuff that goes on behind the scenes.” I tilted my head slightly, feigning curiosity. “I just thought maybe you’d know more about it.”
Nayun looked like she wanted to throttle me. Her face had gone pale, and I could see the gears in her head turning, desperately trying to figure out how to salvage this situation without spilling her own secrets. She opened her mouth as if to say something, then closed it again, clearly grappling with the dilemma.
“Devils…” Suho muttered under his breath, more to himself than to either of us. His eyes flicked toward Nayun for a brief second before returning to me, suspicion clouding his gaze. “Why are you asking about that? It’s not something most people know about.”
I pretended to be taken aback, raising my hands defensively. “Whoa, hold on. I wasn’t trying to pry or anything. I’m just curious, man. People keep talking about Djinns and Devils, and honestly, it’s kind of freaky. I thought maybe you’d know something that could help clear things up.”
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Suho’s suspicion didn’t wane, but I could see the gears turning in his head now too. He was always the type to think things through, to try and make sense of the world even when it didn’t make sense. This wasn’t the first time I’d seen that expression—the one where he was weighing his options, trying to figure out who he could trust.
Nayun, on the other hand, was starting to panic. I could see it in the way her fists clenched tightly in her lap, her lips pressed into a thin line. She knew I’d thrown a wrench into her plans, and now she was scrambling for control.
“Hyon’s just… confused,” Nayun finally spoke up, her voice strained but still trying to sound casual. “He’s heard some things, but it’s nothing serious. Right?” She turned to me, eyes pleading and threatening all at once.
I gave her a slow, deliberate smile. “Yeah, sure. Nothing serious.” My gaze flicked back to Suho. “But if you know anything, it might help to clear things up. You know, for everyone’s peace of mind.”
Suho remained silent for a moment, his eyes studying me closely. I could tell he was debating whether to open up or brush it off. But that was the beauty of this gambit—I had stirred the pot just enough to make him want answers himself.
Finally, Suho let out a long breath and leaned back in his chair. “Devils… Djinns… there’s a lot that most people don’t know about them. And that’s probably for the best.”
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. Nayun, meanwhile, looked like she was ready to explode, her gaze flickering between me and Suho as she tried to figure out how to stop this conversation from spiraling out of control.
“Whatever you’ve heard,” Suho continued, his voice low and serious, “don’t dig too deep. There are things going on that… could get people hurt if they aren’t careful.”
I grinned inwardly, satisfied with the chaos I had sown. This was just the beginning.
“…”
The silence that followed was just as I expected, stretching on like a taut wire ready to snap. Suho stared at me with those calm, piercing eyes, and Chae Nayun kept glancing between the two of us like a cornered animal, unsure of which way to run. This tension was building fast, and if I didn’t steer it in the right direction, things could go south quickly.
I leaned forward, keeping my tone serious as I broke the silence. “How do you know what a Devil is, Suho?”
My words hung in the air like a hammer waiting to drop. Suho didn’t answer immediately, only meeting my gaze with that steady, contemplative look of his. Nayun, on the other hand, seemed even more on edge, her eyes darting nervously between us. She looked ready to bolt—or worse, lash out—if things got any worse.
This situation was teetering on the edge of chaos, and I had to do something to keep it under control. I wasn’t just trying to survive this conversation; I had my own reasons for pushing things in this direction. But there was no room for error. If I slipped up now, it could backfire.
So, I leaned back slightly and began to weave my lie, drawing them both further into my web.
“This is serious,” I said, my voice low but urgent. “Two individuals already know about the existence of Devils. That’s not something that should happen so easily. Has there already been a Devil appearance in this world?”
I cast a glance at Nayun, baiting her to respond. She was the key to this whole game, and I needed her to react in just the right way.
“No,” she muttered, shaking her head. Her voice was quiet, almost hesitant, but her words were firm. “Just… just know that I know.”
Her flimsy answer made me grit my teeth in frustration. It wasn’t good enough. If I wanted this conversation to keep moving, I had to press her harder.
“Such a flimsy excuse,” I shot back, my voice rising as I played the role of the indignant victim. “I could say the same thing! And I still don’t forgive you for accusing me of being a Devil. Is that even possible? What if it’s you? Maybe you’re the Devil. I almost died because of you!”
I let the last words hang in the air, my anger palpable. It wasn’t hard to fake—it was only natural that someone falsely accused of something so dangerous would be furious, especially if their life was at stake. I was playing my part perfectly.
Nayun recoiled slightly, her expression twisting in a mix of guilt and frustration. She was caught, and she knew it. The more she tried to control the situation, the more it slipped through her fingers.
“I’m not—” she started to say, her voice shaky, but I cut her off.
“Then what?” I demanded. “What are you? Why accuse me like that? Just because I dodged your punches doesn’t make me a monster!” I gestured at Suho. “Ask him—he knows how strong you are! No one’s going to stand there and take a hit from you if they can avoid it!”
Suho’s eyes flicked to Nayun, and for a moment, I could see doubt flicker across his face. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he was weighing my words, considering the possibility that maybe Nayun had gone too far with her accusations.
Nayun, on the other hand, was visibly unraveling. She opened and closed her mouth several times, clearly struggling to find the right words to defend herself. But nothing she said would make sense without revealing more than she wanted to, and that hesitation was all I needed.
I pressed on, keeping the pressure high. “Look, I’m just trying to survive here,” I said, softening my tone slightly but still maintaining the edge of anger. “I’m not a Djinn, I’m not a Devil, and I’m definitely not here to cause trouble. But you? You come after me like I’m the enemy when I haven’t done anything. How am I supposed to take that?”
Nayun flinched, her eyes darting to Suho as if hoping for backup. But he remained silent, his gaze now focused entirely on her, waiting for her response. She was on her own, and she knew it.
“I…” she stammered, her confidence cracking under the weight of my accusation. “I just—”
“You just what?” I pressed. “You’re the one with all these secrets, not me. Maybe Suho should be asking you some questions.”
That hit home. Nayun’s face flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment, and she clenched her fists so tightly I thought she might break something. But she didn’t lash out, didn’t explode like I half-expected her to. Instead, she fell silent, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
I’d won this round.
Suho looked between the two of us, his expression unreadable, but I could tell he was piecing things together. I wasn’t sure what conclusions he was coming to, but it didn’t matter—not yet, anyway. The important thing was that I had successfully thrown Nayun off balance and shifted the narrative in my favor.
Now, all I had to do was wait for Suho to make his next move.
Devils. They were dangerous beings—liars, killers, destroyers. They existed solely to fulfill their twisted desires, invading worlds and reducing them to ash. They had no concept of morality or goodness. Every one of us knew what a Devil was and what they could do. At Cube, including Hajin, four of us were aware of their existence.
Kim Suho, always the rational one, raised his hand to cut through the tension. “Calm down. We need to discuss this somewhere else. This is too delicate for a café.”
He stood up, his eyes dull but determined, as if he carried the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. “We’ll meet tomorrow. On the rooftop, in the afternoon. Bring your weapons. Tell your closest friend where you're going... as a failsafe. If one of us turns out to be a Devil and the others die, at least someone will know.”
His words hung in the air, heavy with implications. Devils could disguise themselves as humans, infiltrating their hosts like parasites. Slowly, they consumed the person from the inside out, leaving behind only a hollow shell.
And just like that, Suho left, offering a curt goodbye before walking out of the café. His steps were slow, deliberate, as if each one was carefully measured under the weight of what we had just discussed.
That left me and Chae Nayun alone. She didn’t say a word, didn’t even look at me. She stood up, her expression unreadable, and without a second glance, she walked away, leaving me at the table.
I sighed. This gambit was risky, but I hoped it would work in my favor. I had stirred enough doubt, enough questions, and now I just had to wait for things to unfold. But one thought lingered in my mind: I really needed a weapon.
I looked down at my empty hands, wishing for something, anything that could protect me when things inevitably went south. But no matter how hard I tried to imagine it, no weapon appeared. I had nothing.
Then it hit me—no one had paid for the coffee.
“Oh, fuck…”
I cursed under my breath, quickly scanning the café. Suho and Nayun had both left. I was on my own. Frantically, I fumbled for my wallet, digging through my pockets while muttering under my breath.
“Why do I always end up paying?”