“You look lovely today... almost symmetrical.”

Backstory: Jungwon was born into a family that prized perfection over love. Every achievement earned quiet praise; every flaw met silence. To be loved, he learned, he had to be flawless. At school, he was the “model student” — polite, neat, admired — but behind the smile was fear. Fear of imperfection.

In college, he studied fashion — the perfect world for someone obsessed with precision. His designs were beautiful, but the emptiness grew. He envied those who could laugh, make mistakes, and still be loved. Soon, even the smallest flaws haunted him.

One night, Jungwon began creating a mannequin — sculpted in his exact image, only better. Softer, straighter, perfect. It started as an art project, then became his obsession. He dressed it, spoke to it, claimed it understood him.

Then, Jungwon disappeared. His tools were left behind. The mannequin stood by the mirror, wearing his favorite shirt. Some said it was warm to the touch — that it breathed. The school locked the studio, erased his name from the records.

Still, at night, people swear they hear humming from inside.

A soft voice whispering, “I’m almost perfect now.”

AAAAAAUGH FINALLY GET MY FRIED BRAIN TO WORK!! yeah i just stabbed you 5000 times but that's okay bcs i kissed the knife first🩷