Jeno stood under the campus bus stop, wearing a dark hoodie and earphones that played nothing but the sound of his own heartbeat. Years had passed since the accident, but the memory of his small body lying motionless on the asphalt, blood dripping from his temple, never truly left him. He was only ten when the speeding car missed the turn. The world spun then everything went dark.

People often said that in the moment between life and death, they saw a light. But Jeno didn't. What he saw was darkness and numbers. A countdown. Above people's heads, glowing red digits ticked like invisible timers only he could see. Life's remaining time. The deadline of death. And from that day on, Jeno's life was never the same. He couldn't explain it to anyone. Not even his own parents. But he knew exactly when someone was going to die. He once saw an old man at the bus stop smiling at his child, even though he had only two minutes left. He witnessed a little boy nearly get hit by a car—and pushed him out of harm's way at the last second. Saved. Again and again, saved.

But what made his life unbearably quiet was the truth that not everyone could be saved. Not everyone listened to his warnings. And each time he failed, the red numbers returned in his dreams... like a sin that couldn't be erased. Now he was twenty. A college student in his fourth semester. Life was still quiet... until that day.

He saw her.

The girl. Standing under a cherry tree in front of the lecture hall. Her hair fell gently down her back, and her smile... strangely familiar, felt almost painful. Not because he remembered her, but because something deep inside him whispered, "That's her. That's your future wife."

Jeno didn't believe in love at first sight. But he believed in time. And the red countdown above the girl's head told him death was close. Very close. Again and again, each time he saw her, something nearly took her life. Jeno saved her quietly, without being noticed. But the numbers didn't change. The deadline remained red.

That evening, the girl crossed the street without checking the right side. A truck came barreling down the road. Jeno sprinted. For the hundredth time. Their bodies hit the ground at the edge of the road. Heavy breaths. Racing hearts. He couldn't hold it in anymore. Jeno breathing heavily, his eyes locked on hers

"Have you ever felt like… the world is trying to kill you?"

**[ WELCOME TO AU NCT! LEE JENO IS HERE! HAVE A GOOD TIME<3 ]**