Jake replaces Wonyoung as the driver for the rest of the trip. Since she felt sick, she wasn't able to get behind the wheel.
It's before 4 p.m. when they arrive at their designated spot. They still have some time before sunset, so they can spend time outdoors, enjoying the view of the lake and the smell of barbecue that is served there. The place is located in the forest, the October air is still warm, so people take advantage of the nice weather.
Sunghoon looks around, knowing full well where he is. This was the place where he went to a party with a friend from a nearby village. He was fifteen years old then, and he lied to his grandmother that they would study together.
It was the only time he didn't tell her the truth, persuaded to do so by a friend. This outing ultimately led to tragedy, and the culprit faced no consequences for killing a man.
The eighteen-year-old boy wants to know the truth at all costs, which is why he managed to get into Inhon through his efforts and hard studies. From the beginning, he wanted to get closer to Wonyoung and find out what really happened that day.
The worst thing is that since he met her, he can't hate her for what she did. It's strange, but every time he feels this incomprehensible feeling, excitement, and also adoration, when he looks at her.
She's as beautiful as an angel, but how can he be charmed by the girl who killed his friend and almost took his life as well?
At this point, he cannot understand himself.
- Why are you so thoughtful? - Wonyoung asks, sitting down next to him on a tree trunk by the jetty. - I'm sorry if I scared you while driving. I suddenly felt sick...
- Okay, I understand that - he interrupts her, moving his gaze to her face. She watches him with those beautiful eyes that seem worried. - It's just that when I was young I often came here because my grandmother lives in a nearby village, she raised me. Even though it wasn't long since I moved into the dormitory, I missed her. I love her very much, she's everything to me.
Wonyoung is shocked to hear these words. He is not ashamed to say that he misses the grandmother who raised him. Currently, young people cannot show love to their family members, let alone say it out loud.
This man is special... and so lovely. The woman who wins his heart will be very lucky.
- You must be really close to your grandma. I can't say that I love my parents, do you know why? - Sunghoon seems interested in her life. - My sisters and me, since we were kids, have been practically raised by strangers. Our parents think that the only thing that makes us happy is unlimited cards. We never eat together, we rarely talk to each other, they are practically away from home. It's sorrowful, because if I didn't have my sisters, and what's worse, close contact with them, I would be practically alone, without a family.
- That's too bad. - Sunghoon looks at her with sympathy.
- You can't have everything, right? When you're rich, all you have is money, but you're not truly loved.
- And when you are poor, you are loved, but you have no money - says the boy.
"There's something to it," Wonyoung whispers, still looking sad.
***
Sitting under a tree, Sullyoon silently watches her sisters and friends. She watches Niki the longest, looking at something on his phone and not paying attention to others. He doesn't even care that Wonyoung is sitting with Sunghoon.
Maybe he's just pretending he's not interested in the two of them? After their conversation in the car, it's clear he's trying to get rid of his romantic feelings for her sister, knowing she'll never reciprocate them.
On the one hand, Sullyoon is happy that Niki knows that he has no chance, but on the other hand, her heart breaks when she looks at the boy's sad face. She wants to go up to him and hug him, assuring him that he will fall in love again and in the future he will definitely be happy.
She doesn't even think that it could be her.
Furthermore, she looks over to Yuna and Jake. They seemed to be uncomfortable around each other for a while now. It's strange because they've always teased and teased each other and come up with crazy ideas together, but now there's a giant gulf between them.
Is it possible that Somi was the one who caused this friendship to fall apart overnight?
Sullyoon looks around and wonders where she's gone. Had she gone for a walk alone?
She takes one last look at the others and, taking advantage of the fact that it is still light, decides to walk along the path herself to look around the place.
She passes people, and at some point she feels sad when they are mostly couples who can't take their eyes off each other. Furthermore, she also wants someone to finally love her. She wants to experience her first love, to feel what it's like to be embraced by her beloved and wake up happily in his arms every day.
Niki's face in these dreams, although she realizes that, just like him, she will have to come to terms with her one-sided feelings. She will have to give other men a chance so as not to be lonely all her life because of him.
Being somewhere halfway there, the girl stops at the shore of the lake, crosses her arms over her chest and looks dreamily at the water.
Now she thinks that she would really like to be in a happy relationship.
Her eyes widen in terror as she feels cold fingers on her neck. Someone is touching her skin, and the first person she thinks of is the stalker who attacked her in Inhon. His hands were just as cold...
"Sweet little Sullyoon," he whispers. Her heart races with fear, her breathing uneven. "Didn't your older sisters tell you it was dangerous to walk alone in a strange place?"
What is he doing here? Why is he in the same place as them again?! How is that possible?
- What do you want from me? Why are you persecuting me? - the girl asks with a trembling voice, afraid to turn to face him.
- Do you know why? Because in your previous life you were mine, I saved you when you were alone and defenseless. You served me until your death...
- What are you talking about?
He grabs her by the shoulders and forcibly turns her to face him.
"I protected you, and in return, you were my slave, Sull. In this life too, you will belong to me, and you will do everything I ask of you," he says, stroking her face with a cold hand. "You were the only one who obeyed me until the very end, so I assure you that you are in no danger from me."
- Why are you talking about a past life? - The frightened girl looks into those beautiful but terrifying eyes.
- You don't have to be afraid of me, Sullyoon, at first, I tried to get close to you too brutally. Did I scare you badly? - he asks in an amused voice. - Don't worry. I only get rid of the disobedient ones, you're not in danger - he adds, smiling at the corner of his mouth. - And there is one who has just been given one last chance by me.
- What are you talking about?
- Nothing, I'm just glad you became friends with Sunghoon. I was really proud when he stood up for you.
- I really don't understand anything and I still don't know what you want from me and my friends. - Sullyoon is like a scared kitten who is afraid to do anything for fear of being hurt by someone stronger than himself.
- You'll find out soon... And if you obey me, I'll help you fall in love with the man you want, who's walking here right now - he says, turning her to the right. When the girl looks over her shoulder, there's no sign of the strange guy.
She falls to the grass, placing her hand over her left breast. She's scared as hell.
Furthermore, she doesn't understand at all what's going on. Who is he, or maybe she should think about what this strange guy is, and what does he want from all of them?
- Sullyoon! - She lifts her face and looks at Niki with bewildered eyes as he crouches down next to her and places his hands on her shoulders. - What happened to you? Are you okay?
" He's here," she whispers, watching his expression change in the blink of an eye. "That weird guy was just here, telling me weird things."
His gaze becomes concerned as he looks at the girl's frightened face.
- Your persecutor?
The eighteen-year-old girl nods in response.
"He's really weird. He said I was his in my past life and that I'll be his this time too. I'm scared. I'm terrified. What's he doing here? Why does he appear in places we go?"
Niki can't control it when he unexpectedly embraces her. The girl is shocked and doesn't know what more. Is it because she's being hugged by the boy she secretly loves, or because of that strange guy?
- You'll be fine, I promise, Sullyoon. We'll catch that bastard and teach him a lesson.
She would rather not say it out loud, but they are the ones in danger and should stay away from him.
The twenty-year-old boy helps her to her feet. Holding her hand, he leads her back to a safe haven.
It's a strange feeling when her hand is held by his. Sullyoon doesn't get her hopes up, because he still treats her like a child, Wonyoung's younger sister, who he has to take care of.
"He kept referring to his previous life, calling Sunghoon the enemy," the girl says, and at one point Niki purses his lips in anger.
- If that weirdo came with Sunghoon to get revenge on him, he'll kill him. It'll be his fault that all this is reflected on us.
- It's not his fault, he's in danger too. We should protect him.
- Protect?! - Niki suddenly shouts, stopping in her tracks. - He appeared out of nowhere, approached us, and most of all Wonyoung, and because of him, some strange guy is hanging around us, and you want to protect him? Think about yourself, Sullyoon, because it's harassing you!
It's weird, but she feels good when he just yells at her. Does that mean he really cares about her, that he's worried about her?
- I understand that you're distrustful, but try to get closer to Sunghoon. When you were drunk, it was supposedly you who took care of him all the time. That's what I heard from Wonyoung. But something draws you to him.
- Over my dead body - he replies sulkily. - I won't talk to him. If you like, befriend him, but I certainly won't get close to him.
When they return to the others, Sullyoon notices that Wonyoung is still talking to Sunghoon. With Yuna and Jake sits Somi, who hasn't been there for a while. She moves her leg nervously, biting her finger. She stares intensely at her older sister and the boy with her.
Furthermore, she's behaving very strangely.
- What's wrong with Somi? - Sullyoon asks.
- I have no idea, when I noticed you were gone, she came back from somewhere and looked upset.
The blonde girl suddenly stands up from her seat and quickly walks over to Wonyoung and Sunghoon, who are sitting on a tree trunk by the pier. They both look surprised when the girl stops in front of them, looking at the younger boy with intensity in her eyes.
- What's wrong with you? - the brunette girl asks, frowning.
- He's mine, I was the one who spoke to him first! - the blonde girl yells, looking like a lunatic at this point.
- Are you crazy? What are you talking about?
Sunghoon looks confused as he looks at Somi's angry face.
- Are you trying to seduce him? You won't win against me anyway.
- A few hours ago you told me you weren't interested in him. - Wonyoung doesn't understand what's happening to her. - Why are you attacking me now? We're just talking.
- I knew you'd set a trap for him when I told you I wasn't interested, but you know... I like a fight. We've always liked the same guys.
Sunghoon shifts his gaze to Wonyoung. The brunette girl feels her cheeks burn with embarrassment.
Why did she say that at this moment?
- Have you lost your mind? You warned me a few hours ago- - She suddenly stops, a light bulb going off in her head as she realizes what could be causing Somi's strange behavior.
In the distance, she sees a man standing, looking in their direction with hatred in his eyes. A wicked smile appears on his lips.
- Somi, why are you acting so strange? - Sunghoon feels awkward because of her.
- It's not her. It's something that controls her... - Wonyoung whispers.