Year 1939
It's been a few months since Inha settled in with her vampire brothers. At first, it was hard for her to stand Wonsung's hostile behavior, and then there was Tan, who didn't like her. The younger brothers thought she was a parasite who could harm them.
If Inha didn't know they were vampires, she would have wondered what they meant. In this case, she understood. They didn't trust her, she was a threat to them because she pretended not to know who they really were.
Everything changed when one day she unceremoniously announced that she had known their secret for a long time:
- I know you're not human, I know you're vampires.
Wonsung baring his fangs at her didn't scare her in any way. She had Minki by her side, who had protected her since day one and with whom she felt safe.
- How did you find out? - As she looked into the eyes of the man she secretly had a crush on, it was difficult to lie, but she had to, so as not to betray Jay. After all, he was her precious friend.
- Because a few years ago I met a vampire. He helped me when I was attacked by Japanese who wanted to rape me. I was a child then...
It's a story that even Jay doesn't know about. He wasn't the first vampire to help her, there was someone else before him, someone she valued more than him.
That's why she wasn't afraid of vampires from then on.
- It was you, Wonsung. I've known it since I first saw you. I haven't forgotten your face. That's why I trusted you so much.
The middle brother looked at her with confusion, as if he couldn't believe what she said.
That moment changed his attitude towards the girl.
And even though Jay was her friend and she got closer to them on his orders, she felt deep in her heart that she would protect them until the very end because they were like family to her.
Now, after living together for a few months, she feels comfortable around them. And she is happy that Wonsung adores her, because before he wanted to eat her at every opportunity.
Even though she knew these were just empty threats.
Still, it's nice when no one is giving her dirty looks. The only problem is Tan, who's still not happy with her presence. He just tries to ignore her, with no intention of deepening their relationship.
Maybe let it stay that way? You shouldn't try to force anything... If someone doesn't want to, then don't.
And perhaps that's not the only issue, because ever since she's been on good terms with Wonsung, she feels like he and Minki are competing. They don't have the bond they had when she first came to this house.
Is it because of her?
- What are you thinking about, little victim?
Next to Inha, Wonsung sits on the couch, nonchalantly throwing his arm over the back. He doesn't hide the fact that he's persistently flirting with her, although she tries to reject his advances in a friendly way.
- I wonder what's going on with my father... Is there a chance he's still alive?
The vampire rolls his eyes but tries to sound nice and uplift her, even though he would love to tell her the truth about what the chances of survival are in these times when you are enemies of the Japanese.
- You have to be optimistic. I won't assure you that he's definitely alive, because I'm not a romantic hero of an opera attempting to comfort an unhappy woman... - At this point he stops, seeing her wrinkled nose. - What? Don't I sound realistic?
- You should go outside more, because you still sound like you're from the twenties. If you weren't a vampire, I'd think you were a vampire.
Wonsung moves closer to her, looking at her with intense eyes.
- It doesn't make sense, little victim.
Minki feels a pang of jealousy as she appears behind them, seeing their closeness.
- Inha, I found out where your father is. He is safe. He returned to his family home.
The girl looks over her shoulder and watches the oldest brother's face with joyful eyes. She puts her hands to her mouth, shedding tears of joy.
- Really? Is he okay? Is he safe?
"Yeah, apart from being a little hurt, he's fine. I'll take you home, I know you've been waiting for this." His voice grows sad as he realizes that Inha will leave them and there's no telling if they'll ever meet again.
The teenager girl shifts her gaze to Wonsung, who doesn't look too pleased either, but forces a smile, pretending to be happy about this information.
- That's because you were optimistic - he comments. - See, I told you it would help.
The girl gets up from the couch and, without controlling what she is doing, happily hugs Minki, grateful for his help.
This wasn't part of the plan. Jay didn't agree to her leaving their home, but she believes it won't affect their relationship. She won't distance herself from them just because her father is found and safe and sound.
She wants to see him so much because she misses him so much... Furthermore, she hasn't seen him for many years.
"Thank you for what you've done for me," she states as she pulls away from him and lifts her face to look into his eyes. "Really, I'll be grateful to you for the rest of my life. And to you, Wonsung ..." she adds as she shifts her gaze to her sad brother. "You'll always be my hero. If not in this life, I'll pay you back in the next, I promise." Looking at him with tears in her eyes, she smiles slightly.
"I'll wait for you in the car," Minki says as she walks past the girl and heads for the exit.
Wonsung gets up from the couch and walks over to her, placing his hands caringly on her shoulders.
"Little victim, remember that you can always count on my help. You won't know when, but I'll be watching you from the shadows." He tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear, never taking his eyes off her face. "I'm happy that you found me first, there wasn't a day when I didn't worry about you. I wondered how you were doing, if you had grown up, if you were still alive..."
This is the first time the middle brother has opened up to her so much.
- Wonsung, I... - She is unable to finish because he places a cold finger on her lips.
- Be happy, but away from us. Never appear before us again, Inha.
- Why?
Her heart beats anxiously as he looks into her eyes, a gaze so deep she can't look away.
- Because a vampire can't love a human. Two vampires, even less so. If you come back here, I won't be nice to you anymore, why? Because I know you'd choose my brother anyway. You just proved that.
He gives her one last look, then motions for her to leave. Devastated, the girl steps back, still looking at him.
She knew he liked her, although she never thought he would say it out loud, especially when she was leaving their home.
So what now? Jay won't just let her ruin the plan.
***
Her heart beats anxiously as she sits in Minki's Mercedes, nervously glancing at the family home where her father is.
In these times, only the rich can afford such luxury as a car. Looking at a crumbling house that looks like a ruin, you can see the chasm that divides them.
And not only that, because she is human and he is a vampire. Still, her heart has long since been beating faster in his presence. His handsome face and charisma make it hard for her to get out of the car, even though she misses her father so much and wants to see him already.
- Thank you again for everything. Just like with Wonsung, if not in this life, I will repay you for everything in the next. I believe that this is not the end of our relationship.
Her eyes widen as Minki unexpectedly grabs her hand, sending shivers through her body.
- Inha, you are the most precious gift I have ever met in this life. You made me feel happy even though I am not human. I thought that nothing could make me happy after I died. After all, I am just a soul in a dead body. - Saying this, she can see the pain in his eyes. - That is why I believe that this is not the end of our relationship. I will not let you go, no matter what.
It's like a magical moment in a fantasy movie when he pulls her close and places his hand in her hair, pressing his lips to hers.
The cold she feels is worse than the biting, icy wind, yet strangely pleasant. Even though her lips are numb from the kiss, she would rather not break it.
She had waited too long for this. She had held these feelings inside for too long.
As she opens her eyes and looks dreamily at his face, he strokes her cheek, looking sad.
- I know, Inha, that you got closer to us on Jay's orders, but I feel that you are a good person. - That one sentence makes all the butterflies fly away, and her face goes numb. She looks at him with her mouth parted, believing that she misheard. - I've known that from the beginning. And it's just our secret.
- How... how did you find out about it? - she asks in a whisper.
- It may sound unreal, but I have some kind of connection with Jay. He probably doesn't know it, that's why I believe we'll meet again, Inha. He won't let you give up on his plan. Enjoy the time spent with your father.
The girl is confused as she gets out of the car. She watches nervously as the vehicle disappears around the bend, wondering why Minki did all this for her when he knew she was sent by Jay?
Tears well up in her eyes as she crosses the threshold of the house, and she doesn't know if they are tears of joy or sadness. She falls into her father's arms, feeling his strong embrace.
- Inha, my daughter, I'm so glad you're okay. I worried about you every day.
- Dad, where have you been? I thought you would never come back to me...
- I'm sorry, my daughter. I'm so sorry that you had to cope on your own for so many years.
***
Inha can't believe it's true as she sits at the same table with her father, eating a meal with him. She can't control her tears, even though she's happy because he's safe and sound.
- Inha, is something wrong? Why are you still crying?
- I'm just happy you're alive, Dad. I thought I'd never see you again.
The man grabs her hand and smiles at her reassuringly.
- Every day was a fight for me to see you again. I wasn't going to give up. I wanted to see you, even if it was for the last time.
The girl frowns, not understanding what her father means.
- For the last time? - she repeats.
Her father squeezes her hand even tighter, tears forming in his eyes.
- The Japanese will find me soon anyway. I am not safe anywhere. After this meal, you must leave, Inha.
- Dad, no! I won't leave you alone! I've been looking for you for so many years, worried about you every day, and you tell me to go away and leave you to die!? - The girl rips her hand out of his grip and throws the cutlery on the table, looking at him pretentiously. - How can you do this to me?
- You're young, you have your whole life ahead of you. Don't risk it for me, my daughter.
The front door is thrown open with force, and the terrified Inha turns over her shoulder, guessing that they are Japanese officers. How surprised she is when she sees that it is a vampire.
- Jay - she whispers.
"That wasn't our plan, was it? Why do you do things your way, Inha ?" he asks, giving her an exasperated look. "Did I save your life just so you could waste it now, saving your already half-dead daddy?"
- What do you mean?
- The Japanese are coming here now, so think of it as doing this for you and your father, so that he doesn't die in agony, tortured by Japanese officers. - This is literally the moment when he appears next to the man and, before her eyes, snaps his neck. - I'm so fucking angry at you, Inha. Fucking angry - he emphasizes, approaching her. She's shaking, sitting in one place and looking at her father's dead body. She's in such a frenzy that she lets herself be thrown around like a puppet.
Jay picks her up and pins her against the wall, his hand around her neck. He glares at her while her gaze is blank.
"You killed my father, and I thought you were my friend," she whispers.
- A friend? - Jay repeats. - I told you I don't have any friends since I was betrayed. You're just my grateful puppet that I'll kill if you screw up again.
She looks at his face with pain in her eyes, still unable to believe that he killed her father.
In this bitterness, she wants to shout to his face that Minki knows about his plan, but she purses her lips, thinking that she doesn't want to lose another person she cares about.
"You're a real monster, Jay," she says, shedding a solitary tear.
He smiles cynically, increasing the pressure on her neck.
- Therefore, you will complete your task to the end, or you will end up even worse than your father, do you understand?