THE MIDNIGHT PLATFORM - JEON JUNGKOOK FF

Chapter 1 : THE QUEST FOR THE MIDNIGHT

The blaring alarm clock was Ayla's sworn enemy. Its incessant beeping shattered the serene silence of her dorm room, rousing her from a dream where she was basking in moonlight rather than facing the stark reality of morning. With a groan, she reached out and smacked the snooze button, only to bury her face deeper into her pillow.

"If I ever become rich, remind me to invest in a bed that keeps me unconscious until noon," she muttered, her voice muffled by the pillows. "What's the point of wealth if it means waking up with the sun?"

Her room was a cozy mess of travel posters, books, and the faint glow of a desk lamp illuminating her half-read novels. Ayla finally dragged herself out of bed, her disheveled black hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders. She shuffled to the mirror, squinting at her reflection: a tangled mess of sleep and resignation framed by a sleep-wrinkled face. She pulled on a white hoodie over her oversized T-shirt and slipped into well-worn jeans, her shoes barely visible beneath the hems of her pants.

Her roommate, Iris, had long since perfected the art of waking up early and embracing the morning with cheery enthusiasm, a stark contrast to Ayla's groggy disdain. Iris' cheerful humming drifted through the room, a reminder of just how out of sync their mornings were.

"Iris," Ayla called, her voice tinged with sarcasm as she finally pushed herself upright, "if you're planning on making breakfast, I suggest you keep it quiet. Some of us are still in mourning for our lost hours of sleep."

Iris peeked through the doorway, her smile unwavering. "Good morning, Ayla. If you spent less time in bed and more time being productive, you'd appreciate mornings a bit more."

Ayla rolled her eyes and fumbled for her slippers. "I don't see the appeal. Mornings should be optional."

As she trudged to the kitchen, the aroma of Iris' breakfast did little to improve her mood. The smell of coffee and freshly made pancakes mingled with the reality of another mundane day. Ayla poured herself a cup of coffee, hoping it would grant her the illusion of alertness. With her book bag slung over her shoulder, she prepared for another day of classes-classes that often left her daydreaming about something far more exciting than her literature assignments.

Her thoughts wandered to the myth of the Midnight Platform, a story she had been fascinated by since she first heard it. Most dismissed it as folklore, but Ayla couldn't shake the belief that there was more to the tale than mere superstition.

"Another day of the same old, same old," she said to herself, but with a glimmer of determination in her eyes. "Or maybe, just maybe, today is the day something extraordinary happens."

A FEW DAYS EARLIER...

At lunch in the university cafeteria, Ayla was idly picking at her food when a conversation at the neighboring table caught her attention. A group of students were animatedly discussing an old and enigmatic myth about the Midnight Platform. Their conversation was filled with intriguing details: a hidden staircase that appeared at midnight, leading to a mysterious third level of the Grand Railway Station-a level that supposedly didn't exist in the real world. According to the myth, those who found the staircase could purchase a ticket to their deepest dreams, but there were strict rules:

Board the train at exactly 3 a.m.,

Speak to no one,

Avoid making eye contact.

If you failed to follow these rules then you'll be trapped forever in the shadows of the station, waiting for a train that would never come.

Ayla, her curiosity piqued, couldn't help but lean in. "This sounds fascinating," she said, interrupting their conversation. "Could you tell me the whole story? I've never heard about this before."

The students, momentarily surprised but pleased to share, detailed the myth with enthusiasm. As Ayla listened, she felt a rush of excitement. The notion of a hidden world and a mystical journey captivated her, sparking a deep-seated longing for adventure that she hadn't fully acknowledged before.