Throughout the night, heavy snowfall had blanketed the city with a thick layer of white. The cold was so intense that it had frozen the streams and lakes in the surrounding region.

As the sun rose, its light filtered through his room's curtains, and Yoojin woke abruptly. His heart raced, and he gasped for breath, as if he had been running. His pyjamas clung to his back, drenched in sweat. As he tried to calm down and remember his nightmare, he felt like something hindered his memory.

Realizing it was futile, he put on his glasses and checked his phone, seeing it was already past 8 in the morning. Scrolling through notifications, he saw a message from his grandmother.

A smile spread across his face. She was his only family, but frequently away on business trips, leaving him to live alone.

He typed out a quick response, however, before sending the message, he realized how much he missed his grandma's voice. Still spooked by his nightmare, he decided to give her a call, hoping she would answer.

To his delight, his grandma picked up on the first ring. "Yoojin, honey, it's so good to hear from you!" she exclaimed, her voice warm and comforting.

As Yoojin heard his grandma's voice, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. "Hi, grandma. I miss you so much." he said, his voice cracking slightly with emotion.

"I miss you too, my dear. How have you been? Did you have your breakfast?" his grandma asked, her voice full of concern.

"I'm doing okay. I just woke up, so I haven't eaten yet." he chuckled. It was always comforting to hear her voice, especially after a nightmare.

They chatted about their week and what they had been up to. His grandma told him about her latest job as an interpreter, and her voice was filled with happiness.

As they talked, Yoojin felt a sense of calm wash over him, and he realized how much he needed this conversation.

Before he knew it, it was time for his grandma to go to work. They said their goodbyes and promised to talk again soon, leaving Yoojin feeling better after the conversation.

After hanging up, Yoojin felt a chill from his cooling sweat, so he headed to the attached bathroom. He removed his clothes and stepped into the shower, switching on the faucet. As the water warmed, it cascaded over him, calming him down. He grabbed his lavender-scented body wash, a gift from his grandma from one of her business trips. Despite it being more suitable for girls, he adored the fragrance.

After showering, he put on his most comfortable clothes - a pair of sweatpants, a hoodie over a turtleneck, and thermal socks - and headed to the kitchen to have breakfast.

Yoojin's silver and white tabby cat, Blue, with bright golden eyes, awaited him in the sitting room. Affectionate and dog-like, Blue slept with Yoojin every night, waking up before him to play or explore. Then, he settled on his favorite armchair, waiting for Yoojin to join him.

As Yoojin arrived, Blue stretched out and rubbed against his legs and nuzzled his face when he sat down at the kitchen table. After a few moments of affection, Blue grew bored and trotted off to eat. Yoojin prepared his breakfast, enjoying the peaceful company of his furry friend.

He sat down, switched on the TV, and munched on chocolate-flavored cereal. Scanning through channels, nothing caught his attention, so he decided to watch a video on his computer. Lost in thought, his phone rang, causing him to jump. Quickly picking up the phone, he checked who was calling.

He saw that it was his best friend Calisto and as he answered he sensed concern in his friend's voice, as if he already knew he needed him. "Hey, Yoojin. It's Calisto. How are you?"

Yoojin took a deep breath before answering, trying to calm his voice. "Uh, I'm okay... I guess. How do you always know when I need to talk?" he asked.

He sensed his friend's hesitation before hearing a deep sigh. "It's my sixth sense. Anyway, you sound off. Is everything alright?"

"I had a horrible nightmare last night, but I can't remember anything. All I recall are intense emotions." he explained, relieved to confide in someone.

Calisto listened intently, his analytical mind already deciphering the meaning behind the dream. "That's terrible. Want to meet up and talk about it?"

Yoojin hesitated before agreeing. "Yeah, I do. I don't want to be alone." he admitted, feeling vulnerable. He was grateful to have a friend like Calisto.

"I'm here for you, Yoojin. Let's meet up today and discuss it in person. I have to head back to my boarding school later today, so I'll be at your house once I'm ready." Calisto reassured him.

Yoojin was amazed by how his friend possessed both logical and analytical skills, as well as empathy and kindness. "Thank you, Calisto. I'm grateful for your support and understanding." he expressed, feeling comforted.

"Of course, Yoojin. That's what friends are for." Calisto replied. After ending the call, Yoojin's face lit up with excitement. He didn't have many close friends, only acquaintances, so he was thrilled to meet his best friend one last time before Calisto had to go back to his boarding school.

After finishing breakfast, he tidied up, changed Blue's water and food, and sat on the sofa to wait for his friend. He stared out the window at the softly falling snow, which covered footprints and the roads that had been shovelled.

A few minutes later, there was a soft knock at the door. Yoojin opened it to find his friend bundled up in a thick coat, a scarf wrapping half of his face, and a hat covering his dark blonde ash hair. He almost looked ridiculous, but in the end, everyone looked like this during winter.

"Hi, Yoojin." he said, lowering his scarf, his breath forming a fog in the cold air. "Are you ready to go?"

Yoojin nodded before inviting Calisto inside. Prior to entering, Calisto shook the snow off his clothes. They went to Yoojin's room, where he grabbed his backpack and stuffed his phone and tablet inside. Calisto raised an eyebrow. "You're not bringing your laptop?"

He hesitated, as he didn't want to carry his laptop around, fearing someone might steal it during a moment of inattention. However, he knew Calisto probably had a reason for suggesting it. "Okay." he said, adding his laptop and charger to his backpack.

Calisto reminded him. "Don't forget your phone and tablet chargers and a power bank." Yoojin also grabbed his teddy bear, feeling comforted by its presence.

He didn't know why, but for as long as he could remember, he couldn't go anywhere without it, causing him to be made fun of all his life.

He wore a black coat, a scarf that covered part of his face, and a hat covered his golden, unruly hair. They looked ridiculous together, with their petite builds making them nearly identical.

Stepping out into the crisp winter air, they shivered as the snow crunched under their boots. Calisto led the way, stopping at the bus stop after a few minutes of walking. They had no set plan for the day, but Calisto seemed to know where he was going. Yoojin still questioned him about their destination.

"It's something that will help you forget your nightmare." Calisto said mysteriously. Sometimes, he enjoyed being cryptic, which made Yoojin either sigh in exasperation or chuckle. 

After waiting for a long time, they heard chains clattering before the bus arrived slowly. Finally, they could warm up while watching the scenery pass by.

Arriving at the city center, they switched buses and arrived at the ice skating rink. Yoojin fidgeted, biting his lightly cracked lips, uncertain of what to do. However, he trusted Calisto and attempted to relax, believing that everything would be okay.

After wearing their skates and entering the rink, Yoojin clung to the wall, wobbling. "If I fall, you'll have to carry me to the hospital on your back. Just what I need to forget my nightmare." he sarcastically quipped. Calisto chuckled but remained patient, guiding Yoojin and teaching him some basic moves. Soon, Yoojin was gliding across the ice, hand in hand with his friend, enjoying himself for the first time in a while.

After a few hours of skating, they headed to a nearby Japanese restaurant for lunch, where they warmed up with some ramen. "I had so much fun at the ice skating rink." was the reluctant admission from Yoojin.

"See, you were whining so much, but in the end, you had a really good time." was the gently teased answer from Calisto.

Next, they went to a park where a few people were having a snowball fight in a tree-covered corner. They went to an area where the snow was still untouched to build a snowman and to make snow angels.

After having fun, they warmed up at a cafe with hot chocolate and pastries. However, Yoojin started feeling a sense of dread. He was worried because he couldn't remember anything from the nightmare except for the feeling it had left him with.

Calisto noticed that Yoojin's right leg began to shake quickly while clutching his cup. "Is everything okay?" he asked with concern.

Yoojin hesitated, but he also knew that Calisto was a good listener. "I was thinking about my nightmare from last night." he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Calisto nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, giving Yoojin a reassuring smile.

Yoojin shrugged, not wanting to burden Calisto. "It's nothing." he said, trying to dismiss his worries. Calisto raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?" he asked.

Yoojin hesitated, but he knew he shouldn't keep everything bottled up. "I was thinking about my nightmare." he mumbled. "I can't shake this feeling that I should remember, but thinking about it too deeply gives me a headache." he explained, looking down at his cup.

Calisto nodded, his expression unreadable, but Yoojin noticed him stiffen slightly. "Have you tried writing down your feelings when you wake up? It might help you remember more later." he suggested.

Yoojin looked up, surprised. "No, I haven't thought of that. I'll try it." he said, grateful for his friend's suggestion.

Maybe writing down his feelings would help Yoojin recall his nightmares. "Thanks for listening, Calisto. I know I can be a bit of a downer sometimes." he said, feeling better.

Calisto shook his head. "Don't worry. Besides, I'm here to help you through the tough times." he said, giving Yoojin a warm smile.

He smiled at Calisto. "Thanks for being here." he said, feeling a bit emotional.

Calisto smiled back, his eyes shining with understanding. "Anytime. You know I'm always here for you." he said, patting Yoojin's shoulder.

Eventualy, Calisto had to head back to his house to prepare to go back to his boarding school. As Yoojin walked him to the bus station, his friend turned to him. "You know, I'm really glad we got to spend the day together. It's been a while since we've had a chance to just hang out and have fun, especially since I'm away most of the year. So it's rare for us to spend time like this." he said, looking at Yoojin with a smile.

Yoojin nodded, feeling a sense of warmth towards his friend. "Yeah, me too. It was really nice to forget about everything for a little while and just enjoy the day." he said, feeling grateful for Calisto's company.

Calisto smiled. "That's what friends are for, right? To help each other forget about the bad stuff and focus on the good." he said, giving Yoojin a pat on the back.

Yoojin felt a lump form in his throat. He had been struggling with this nightmare, and Calisto's words touched him deeply. "Thanks, Calisto. You're a good friend." he said, feeling a sense of gratitude towards his friend.

Calisto shrugged. "Hey, I had a great time, too. We should do this again when I come back for the summer break." he said, giving Yoojin a smile.

Yoojin smiled, feeling a sense of hope and happiness. Maybe things weren't so bad after all. As they reached the bus stop, Calisto seemed to remember something. "Say, is your grandmother not at home? I didn't see her." he asked, looking at Yoojin curiously.

Yoojin's smile faded a bit as he thought about his grandmother.

"No, she went on a business trip abroad. I will probably see her during the summer, but who knows, maybe she will have to go on another business trip." Yoojin said, unconsciously crossing his arms and pouting.

Calisto noticed Yoojin's expression and hugged him tightly. "Hey, don't worry. I'm sure your grandmother will be back soon. You can always call or message her." he said, giving Yoojin a reassuring smile.

Yoojin nodded. "Yeah, you're right." he said, feeling grateful for Calisto's words.

Calisto pulled away from the hug and looked at Yoojin. "And if you ever need someone to talk to, you know I'm always here for you, right?"

Yoojin smiled back, feeling a sense of comfort in Calisto's words. "Yeah, I know. Thanks." he said.

The two friends hugged each other again, and as they saw the bus arriving, they said their goodbyes.

Yoojin decided to head towards the bookstore, determined to find a book about dreams. Perhaps he could figure out why he had forgotten his nightmare and find a way to remember it. He finally found a book that looked promising and titled "The Interpretation of Dreams" by Sigmund Freud.

He paid for the book at the checkout counter and decided to dine at a nearby restaurant that caught his attention with its delicious aroma. After eating a pizza, Yoojin checked his phone and realized he was running late. He hastened his pace to catch the train and head home.

As he walked towards the train station, a light fog appeared. However, the closer he got, the thicker it became, making him uneasy. It was strange because fog only appeared in the early morning during spring and autumn in this region. Despite this, he knew the way to the station well enough to navigate through the fog.

The fog made everything look eerie, heightening Yoojin's unease, and he quickened his pace to reach the station. Suddenly, he heard strange footsteps approaching. Fear crept up on him, and his heart raced.

He tried to calm down, thinking it was probably just his imagination playing tricks on him. However, the noise persisted, and it sounded like it was getting closer.

Fortunately, as he reached the station, the noise stopped, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Despite the thick fog, he felt safer being in a familiar setting.

He made his way to the platform where his train was due to arrive. The dense fog made it hard to see anything around him. As he arrived at the platform, he saw the train already there.

Approaching the train, he noticed it was an older model with an unfamiliar design. It wasn't unusual to see an older model in use when a new one was out of order. The train's floor was much higher than the platform, and he had to climb three steps to board. He took a deep breath and began climbing.