When the Clock Strikes|Pi Han Ul x Reader|

Chapter 17

I rolled over.

Again, to the other side. First to the left, then to the right.

Then back to the left.

Then the right.

Then—

I groaned, shoving my face into my pillow.

Why. Won’t. I. Sleep.

I squeezed my eyes shut. Breathe in. Breathe out. Focus on nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing—

Pi Han Wool.

My eyes snapped open.

No. Absolutely not. I refuse.

I flipped onto my back and stared at the ceiling, feeling deeply betrayed by my own brain. Out of everything in the world, why was he the one stuck in my head?

I don't even like him.

He’s weird. He’s scary. He’s—

I shut my eyes again, forcefully thinking about something else.

Puppies.

Sunsets.

Peace.

"You’re strong."

I jolted up so fast I nearly headbutted my own pillow.

Did I just hear his voice?

I whipped around, checking the room. Empty. Of course.

I flopped back down, throwing an arm over my eyes.

This was ridiculous. Maybe I was cursed. Maybe he had some kind of weird mind-control ability that made people think about him even when they didn’t want to.

I sighed. Maybe I just needed water.

I dragged myself out of bed, heading to the kitchen. The floor was cold under my feet as I filled a glass, taking slow sips.

Calm. Normal. No Pi Han Wool.

Good.

Then—

"You fight well, but you hesitate."

I choked. Nearly spat out my water.

I slammed the glass down on the counter, gripping the edge.

No. No, no, no.

I was going insane.

I needed sleep. Desperately.

I marched back to bed, pulled the blanket over my head, and made one last, desperate attempt to not dream of the last person I wanted to see.

Of course, my brain ignored me.

Morning came too fast.

I knew because the alarm clock was screaming in my ear.

I groaned, blindly reaching out to silence it—only to smack it off the nightstand instead.

Great. Just great.

Dragging myself up, I rubbed my eyes, already exhausted despite technically lying in bed all night. Did I sleep? Not really. Did I think about a certain someone who refused to leave my brain? Unfortunately, yes.

I got dressed on autopilot, half-asleep as I threw on my uniform and grabbed my bag. My mind was still sluggish as I walked downstairs, barely hearing the usual silence of my house.