Somi looks around the room she's in with fear in her eyes. It looks dark, the walls are black, and the accessories are gray and red.
Breathing heavily, she sits tied up in a chair, not understanding what is happening. She only remembers that in the morning she was in a taxi with Jake and Yuna, she doesn't know what happened next, why she was in a place she doesn't know.
Her eyes open wide as a young man enters the room, incredibly handsome, even beautiful. He smiles broadly when he sees her. He crosses his arms over his chest and, with feigned concern, smacks himself under his nose.
" Somi, oh, Somi, " he says her name, stepping closer. He crouches down in front of her, and the terrified blonde girl stares at him, wondering who he is and what he wants from her. "You know... alcohol isn't a good idea for entertainment. I thought you gave it up after the incident three years ago. Wasn't that when you killed that innocent boy?"
Somi's breathing quickens. Nerves make her sick. Shocking memories come back, and her body trembles.
- How do you know about this? Who are you?
"It doesn't matter who I am, it doesn't matter how I know about it, the most important people to me are the people who were there when it happened," he replies, running his fingers through her hair. "I don't care about the kid who died there."
- So who? Wonyoung? - she asks in a trembling voice.
- Wonyoung ... ah, Wonyoung, I have a special connection with her. I'll never get tired of her.
"So who else do you have in mind?" She doesn't even blink when she looks at him.
- What are you afraid of, Somi? After all, your father is a prosecutor and he covered up your prank. Prank? Is that what I can call it, that you killed the boy and let yourself live as if nothing had happened? - The young man smiles mischievously. - I like it. You're perfect to start working with me.
- What cooperation? - Somi asks in a whisper. - Who are you?
The man glances at her. He turns his back on her and walks toward the kitchenette. He opens the fridge and pulls out a bottle of red juice.
- You know, Somi ... sometimes there are people you hate so much that you won't let them go for hundreds of years. You want them to suffer, even if it's just another reincarnation. You hate them so much that toying with them, watching them suffer, gives you insane joy.
- What did Wonyoung do to you that you want to hurt her so much?
"She fell in love with my enemy," he replies, taking a large sip of the red liquid and crushing the plastic bottle at the end. "Tell me honestly... do you like Sunghoon? I noticed you've already become friends with him..."
- By enemy... you mean Sunghoon? - A strange lump forms in her throat.
- If I had a heart, I would say that I hate him with all my heart! - He suddenly raises his voice, looking like a madman. Somi watches him with frightened eyes.
- Wait... Wonyoung loves Sunghoon? - The girl looks lost in all this information, but maybe it's because she's scared as hell?
- Haven't you noticed? What are you... Somi ... it's their destiny. They're reborn to be together. They're both crazy about each other.
- Why didn't I notice that?
- Because you started to be interested in that damn Jake! - he replies with anger in his voice. - And if you still want to live, you have to stop being interested in him, why? Because you have to make Sunghoon fall in love with you, you have to change this damn fate!
Shivers run through the blonde's girl body as he steps closer to her again. Placing his hands on the arms of the chair, he leans over her face, and she thinks he's smelling her neck.
- Why do you hate them so much? - the girl asks with a shaking voice.
- Don't ask too much if you want to live. Obey me, because in this situation your daddy will definitely not help you, I will eat you before you can call him for help...
***
On a Monday morning, Sunghoon sits on a bench in front of the university, staring blankly at his phone. He doesn't pay attention to the TikToks he's scrolling through because his mind is wandering with thoughts about the photo he saw at Niki's house.
How is it possible that he saw himself there when he never had anything to do with that family? Is this a hallucination?
- Hello, did you get to you? Are you feeling better? - Wonyoung's voice snaps him out of his frenzy. Princess Inhon sits down next to him, smiling serenely at him. - I was worried when you ran out of the house so suddenly, looking so bad...
- Everything's fine, I feel good, but this night convinced me that alcohol is not for me - he replies to her.
The girl stares ahead, biting her lip, and then Sunghoon looks at her with more interest. He can't explain this feeling, but on the one hand he hates her, and on the other he feels excitement and a strange joy that fills his heart every time he sees her.
Wonyoung feels him watching her. She catches him red-handed, and he looks away confused, clearing his throat.
- I apologize again for Niki's behavior - the nineteen-year-old girl continues the conversation.
- I've noticed what he's like. He didn't like me the first time we met - the boy replies, looking at his shoes. - And since we're talking about him... I saw his family photo in the hallway.
- I noticed you were looking at them.
- Who was the other boy sitting next to Niki? Does he have a brother?
Wonyoung swallows hard, then looks Sunghoon in the eyes.
- I shouldn't tell you this, only his friends know about the tragedy that happened thirteen years ago.
- If you can't, that's fine. I understand that. Friends' secrets need to be protected.
The nineteen-year-old girl thinks for a long moment about whether she can tell him the secret of Niki's family. But if it's a chance for Sunghoon to get closer to her and the rest of her friends, she wants to do it.
- Let's keep it between us, I'll just tell you that Niki's younger brother died in a tragic way. My friend has a childhood trauma because he was with him in the same place, he saw his younger brother die. He died in front of him... - Wonyoung says it with pain in her voice, recalling the tragic past from her experience. - So many years have passed, and he still can't accept that he couldn't do anything, that he couldn't help him, protect him...
- It's terrible... I can't imagine what pain it must have been for him.
- That's true. Niki is an excellent guy, but he reacts in a bad way. You can't blame him for that.
Sunghoon nods.
- Thank you for taking care of me yesterday. - The eighteen-year-old boy unexpectedly changes the subject, bravely looking her in the eye. - And I'm sorry I just left yesterday. I behaved badly.
- It wasn't you, but Niki who misbehaved - the girl claims, sending him a smile. - Where do you start classes?
They both get up from their bench and head to the entrance of the building, talking about the professor Sunghoon is starting class with.
***
It's 1 p.m. Sullyoon is sitting on a bench in front of the building, with an empty window. She looks around for her oldest sister, who texted her that she's finished her classes and will join her shortly.
However, the first person who is willing to keep her company is Sunghoon, who appears out of nowhere and sits next to her.
- Why are you here alone? Don't you have anything to do with yourself? - he asks, sipping strawberry milk through a straw. He looks at her with curiosity in his eyes. - I don't like free windows between classes, I'd rather go home earlier.
Sullyoon smiles at these words.
- Unfortunately, there's no way to get around this - she replies. - You asked why I'm sitting here alone? Yuna was supposed to accompany me, since she finished her classes, but I don't see her anywhere.
Sunghoon looks around the area, nodding.
- We haven't had a chance to talk about how crazy Saturday night was yet. I heard you got pretty drunk too.
- But no one can beat you - the eighteen-year-old girl replies in an amused voice. - I would never have guessed that you had never consumed alcohol before.
- Honestly? That was the first and last time. Never again. I've learned my lesson - he says, grimacing at the memory of the agony he experienced yesterday.
- When you were already drunk... at the club, I saw the man you defended me from that day in the bathroom. He was watching us.
The boy looks worried.
- The man is clearly sick. You should report him. You're in danger.
- I don't understand what he wants from me... he came out of nowhere and picked on me. Is he after my family's money? Why me? Am I the easiest target?
- I can't answer that question, I don't know what's on his mind.
Yuna approaches with her friends. All three of them are in the same year, so they are free today.
Niki doesn't look happy to see Sunghoon.
- Maybe we should go get something to eat? - Yuna asks, including in these plans the boy they had last Saturday's party with. - I think you still look moody and haven't recovered, poor thing - she addresses him directly.
- Exactly... have you had any contact with Somi? You've been the closest to her lately... - Jake says, looking at him with a curious look.
- With Somi? No, she didn't talk to me at all. Was she absent from today's class?
- Did you even take her home? Are you sure nothing happened to her? - asks Niki, looking into the distance and scratching his head.
Yuna and Jake look at each other at the same time, but there is an awkwardness between them as they remember yesterday morning.
- I can't remember for the life of me what happened to her. But I'm sure she got in the taxi with us.
- I agree. I feel like some of my memories have been erased with an eraser - adds Jake.
Sunghoon stares at Niki intently for a long moment, thinking. But he quickly looks away when he's caught by him.
The twenty-year-old boy raises an eyebrow.
- Why are you watching me? Are you expecting an apology? - he asks with a sneer in his voice. - In your dreams, moron.
Jake's eyes widen in shock as he spots Somi heading their way. The girl smiles brightly at the sight of them and even nods hello.
- What are you doing here, now that classes are over? - Yuna asks, watching her carefully. - And why haven't you given any signs of life? Jake was worried about you.
The boy looks at his friend with indignation in his eyes.
- You sound like you're not worried. We all were worried - he defends himself.
The blonde girl smiles at the sight of him, especially when she sees the cute awkwardness on his face, but quickly realizes that she can no longer be interested in him. Although it will hurt her, because after a few years her feelings for him have been rekindled, she has to pretend to be interested in Sunghoon, whom she treats only as a buddy.
She has to do this to survive because she has fallen into the trap of a monster.