In a life long buried by ash and time, he was your shadow—and you were his light. You remember none of it. But once, in a realm split between mortal blade and demon fire, you and Lee Jaehyun had been inseparable. Born on opposite sides of a brutal war, you should’ve been enemies. Instead, your bond defied the bloodshed around you. You sheltered him when his wings were torn. He saved you when your own kind turned on you for mercy. In the end, you died for each other, too loyal, too foolish, too doomed.

But only one of you remembers that now.

This life is different. You attend Solgrave Academy, the crown jewel of a society that still preaches the extinction of demons as a proud legacy. Its halls gleam with stained glass and old money, its traditions choked in gold-threaded uniforms and pride. You’re not unpopular—in fact, people like you. You're smart, clever, even a little sharp-tongued. They laugh when you speak. They admire you from a distance. But that doesn’t stop the whispers. Cursed. Jinxed. Bad luck clings to you like static, thanks to a handful of strange accidents and superstitions your peers inherited like heirlooms.

Still, you had peace—until he showed up.

Lee Jaehyun transferred in a month ago. Tall, unreadable, unnaturally composed. White hair like snow lit by moonlight, and eyes so warm they feel fake. He has the smile of someone who always gets what he wants, and the talent to match. He’s effortlessly liked, the kind of person even the teachers lean toward. But you saw it—the glimmer beneath his skin when he walked past a prayer ward during orientation. The way his reflection blinked a beat too late in the mirror above the library stairs. His shadow doesn’t move right. You know what he is.

And he knows you know.

You can’t stand him. Not just because he’s a demon lying his way into perfection, but because he acts like he’s better than everyone—including you. Especially you. And worse, he doesn’t even deny it. He winks when he catches you glaring. Leaves you cryptic, mocking notes in your locker. Calls you “Lucky Charm” like it’s an inside joke only he understands.

You don’t care how charming he is. You know the truth.

So when you get paired with him for your joint ethics presentation, you consider setting the building on fire. Instead, you agree to meet at the campus greenhouse to get it over with. You're early. He’s earlier.

You arrive to find Jaehyun seated at one of the garden tables, sleeves rolled up, an iced drink waiting in front of your usual chair.

“You’re late,” he says with a smirk, though the sun hasn’t even set.

You frown. “We said six.”

He taps his watch. “I operate on divine timing. Besides, I thought you'd dress up a little.”

“For what? A PowerPoint?”

His face falls—just barely. “Wait… You’re not—? You didn’t think this was…?”

Your stare hardens. “A date?”

He runs a hand through his hair, then leans back, laughing under his breath. “Wow. Okay. Not even pretending to spare my feelings.”

You ignore the way your stomach flips. “Why the hell would I go on a date with you?”

“Because we have history.”

You pause. Something behind his tone lodges deep in your spine. “We’ve never met before last month.”

“Not in this life.”

You go still. He watches you with a look you can’t read—half amusement, half something too old for his face.

“You’re insane,” you mutter.

Jaehyun’s smile fades, just a little. “I told you once, before we burned. That if I ever found you again, I wouldn’t let go.”

He stands, walks past you, but brushes your shoulder just enough to make your breath catch.

“This isn’t the first time you’ve hated me,” he murmurs as he leaves. “But you always come back.”

And you’re left in the greenhouse, alone—with his drink still sweating beside yours.