This weekend is freezing. You can feel the November air, especially when there is no sun and it is completely cloudy. Winter is coming with big steps, and yesterday's first snow clearly announced it.
It's almost 2pm when Sunghoon spots Wonyoung's pink car from a distance. He smiles at her friendly, as she gets in and fastens her seatbelt.
"So you're sure that gold dust could be in that place?" the girl asks, pulling out of the parking lot. "Right now, I wish for nothing more than for Jay to finally leave us alone. I hate him for showing us each past life. Sullyoon is mentally weak, and she's taking it terribly. She's locked in her room and won't talk to anyone, saying she needs to be alone. I'm worried about her."
Sunghoon looks at the road ahead, nodding.
- I noticed it yesterday. It's hard for her to be around Niki since he was the one who brutally killed her. I'm not surprised it was such a traumatic experience for her.
Wonyoung sighs loudly before glancing at the boy next to her, feeling like she can tell him anything, and he'll keep it a secret.
- It's incredibly hard for her, because she's had a crush on Niki for a long time. I noticed it when she was drunk at a party - she reveals. Sunghoon looks at her in surprise. - I know, it's incomprehensible to me too, because they're as different as fire and water. Maybe she fell in love with him because for many years he was the one who cared about her the most. He's protected her since the beginning of their acquaintance. She hides these feelings from everyone and suffers because of it, and now this vision from her past life has also come.
- Despite everything, I don't think they'd be a bad couple. As you said, Niki has always protected her, which means he cares about her.
- He's my friend and I should understand that, but I believe he's just acting like an older brother to her, that these aren't romantic feelings, and I don't want Sullyoon to suffer even more. It turns out that he's her first love, a hidden love. - Saying this, at some point she clears her throat, glancing at Sunghoon and feeling her cheeks flush.
- I haven't gotten to know Niki very well, and the fact that we're brothers is really wonderful. Do you think it's true that Jay isn't making fun of us?
While driving, Wonyoung thinks hard for a moment and then replies:
- In some ways, you are similar to each other.
- Do you think so?
- Yes - she replies, smiling slightly. - Besides, I would be pleased if it turned out to be true one hundred percent. All these years, Niki was sorrowful and unhappy about that accident. He couldn't come to terms with the fact that he didn't protect his younger brother, that he lost him forever. He's a really nice guy, but he took all his anger and frustration out on people, which is why he's considered a bad guy in Inhon. In the past, he and Yuna could be really cruel to the scholarship students, and I never liked that. It's a shame that I ignored it earlier and couldn't tell them what I thought about it. Luckily, they've matured somewhat and changed their attitudes. After all, we're all the same people, regardless of material goods.
- It's true. We are all the same people, regardless of what family we come from. Even if it turns out to be true that I belong to Niki's family ... the grandmother who raised me will always be my grandmother. I owe her with all my heart that she raised me to be a good guy, even though we never had a lot of money.
Wonyoung is happy to hear these words. This man is a true angel. It's difficult to find such an ideal these days: handsome, and also kind and devoted.
- Can you meet your biological parents? Are you ready for this?
Sunghoon swallows nervously before replying:
- It's going to be a tough meeting, especially since I don't remember them at all, but yes, I'm ready - he replies. - Do you remember the day after the party, when we woke up at Niki's house? - Wonyoung nods. - Back then, you wondered why I was so shocked when I looked at Niki's family photo. I saw a little me there. For a long time, I thought it was an illusion caused by a heavy hangover. But it was actually me...
- You scared me pretty good back then. I didn't know what was going on with you, especially when you ran away from home. I wanted to beat Niki to a pulp then, because he treated you so badly. Finally, it turned out that you were related. Interesting turn of events.
The two of them burst into laughter as they pull up in the parking lot in front of the palace. Wonyoung looks at the building with a twinkle in her eye while Sunghoon thinks back to his past life, remembering that he was the eldest son of the emperor, who was killed by him after going mad. He and his brothers were then turned into vampires by Jay, who acted as their guardian and friend.
"So you're saying the gold dust is hidden in the palace? This place is now a historical monument and everything is under strict protection, how do you plan to get it, Sunghoon?" Wonyoung asks him, shifting her gaze to him.
- The building, yes, but the square behind it, not so much. I remember there was a small pond there.
- So you hid it outside the building?
- Yes.
- What was this gold dust used for? Why did the emperor have it? - Wonyoung is curious about the story behind it.
- The emperor was showered with gold dust at every party. The light made him look like the most precious and important person among the people - Sunghoon replies to her. - Minki always wondered why Jay didn't attend these parties, and he simply couldn't have contact with the gold dust.
- So this dust is made of real gold?
- Yes. I would make a lot of money on it, especially since it is kept in a wooden box that is worth millions more. Despite everything, I am not greedy for money, and protecting people and myself is more significant to me. I want to live a peaceful life, free from a vampire thirsting for revenge.
Wonyoung thinks once again that this man is worth more than gold. She is madly in love with him, and every day spent with him only confirms it.
- So let's go.
They leave the car and, bypassing the palace, head through the meadow towards a small pond surrounded by trees.
- Do you remember the exact location?
Sunghoon looks around carefully and his attention is caught by one of the trees that has a hole in it.
"Don't tell me you put it in..." Wonyoung looks horrified." Think about how many bugs and spiders there are, and you have to stick your hand in..."
The boy looks at her with amused eyes.
"That's another time you sound adorable," she states boldly, her cheeks flushing again. "I'm sure I buried that under a tree."
He pulls work gloves out of his pocket, and the nineteen-year-old girl looks at him with appreciation in her eyes. The important thing is that he was prepared for this.
The girl crouches beside him as he digs his hands into the ground like a mole. She looks around her, afraid that no one will draw their attention to what they are doing.
It's 3 p.m., at this time of year, especially on a cloudy day, it's slowly starting to get dark.
Wonyoung cups her hands to her mouth, clearly mesmerized by the beauty, as Sunghoon pulls a wooden box from the ground, carved with the imperial initials.
- I don't believe it... - she whispers.
The eighteen-year-old boy opens it, showing her the gold dust inside that sparkles like a million dollars.
- This is real, Won. The whole past life Jay showed us is real. It actually happened.
***
Sunghoon pets the brown box in his hands as they get into the car and drive onto the forest road where his grandmother's house is. He temporarily puts it in the glove compartment so he can retrieve the golden sword from his room.
The woman, happy to see them, does not intend to let them go until they eat with her. The young ones accompany her to dinner, thanking her for the food. The old woman looks at them with tears in her eyes, at one point starting to cry.
- Grandma, what's wrong? - Sunghoon looks at her with concern in his eyes, not understanding her strange behavior. - Why are you sad?
- I'm not sad, I'm happy. I'm crying with joy because you have someone so wonderful by your side, who will take care of you when I'm gone. That makes me calm, Sunghoon.
- Grandma, why do you say that? It's disturbing. You're still in the prime of life.
The old woman laughs through her tears, as she looks at them both.
- I'm glad you found each other.
The young people do not understand her words, and what she intends to tell them.
- What do you mean, Grandma? - They know that they are connected by fate, but why does Grandma also refer to it?
- You have a chance to be happy. Don't ruin it, kids. Always be together, support each other.
"Grandma, you're acting really weird today. Are you sure everything's okay?" Sunghoon still looks worried. He looks at her, and it seems to him that she's gotten haggard lately. "Should I stay with you for a while?"
- Are you crazy? You have a degree, it's your future. Are you going to stay here and take care of an old hag? I don't even want to hear it!
Wonyoung also looks worried as she looks at the woman. She thinks she is hiding something from her grandson.
- You're more important to me than my studies. Missing a few days won't make me fail. I'm just worried about you.
- That's all I needed for you to worry about me, kid. Now that you've had your fill, get going, or I'll kick your ass if you sit here and whine any longer.
"So let me at least give you a big hug. I miss you so much every day." The woman smiles as the teen takes her in his arms and hugs her tightly.
- Aren't you overreacting, kid? Are you trying to strangle me?
- I love you, Grandma. No matter the day or the situation, I will always love you the same.
- Don't be so fawning. You're already cute enough. Let me hug Wonyoung too, she's so pretty I can't stop looking at her.
The girl hugs her as Sunghoon leaves.
- Thank you for the delicious meal. Every time you can feel the love with which it is prepared - says the nineteen-year-old girl. - I have never experienced this at home.
- And I thank you for appearing in my grandson's life - the woman says in a whisper, stroking her hair. - I feel really calm, knowing that he has someone who truly loves him and cares for him.
Sunghoon holds his sword in his hand as they leave his grandmother's house. Wonyoung waves goodbye before getting behind the wheel. The boy looks back at the woman and stares at her for a long moment, still feeling a strange sense of unease.
"See you later, Grandma!" he shouts, waving goodbye. The woman returns the gesture, still not taking her eyes off them.
It's almost 6 p.m. It's already getting dark outside. They're both lost in their thoughts as they drive out of the forest road.
The main road is located between the forests, where people sometimes pass by. Both Sunghoon and Wonyoung have bad memories related to this street. The girl grips the steering wheel tightly, feeling her heart jump into her throat. Driving in the dark, being in this place, is very traumatic for her.
Panic overwhelms her body as something jumps in front of the car, and she screeches to a halt. Sunghoon stares at her with concern, while she stares ahead with wide eyes.
- What was that? - he asks in a whisper.
They both have the impression that something is circling the car. It is agile, terrifying... exactly like... an animal or a vampire.
This is literally the moment when the door on Sunghoon's side is thrown open, and he's pulled out of his seat, practically ripped out of it along with his seatbelt.
Wonyoung lets out a shrill scream. Shaking like jelly, she unbuckles her seatbelt and steps out of the car, looking around anxiously.
- Sunghoon? - she asks in a weak voice.
She sees nothing, hears nothing until something nimbly appears and stands next to her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
- You did an impressive job, I'm proud of you.
Jay. That's his voice.
- Why are you doing this to us when we reached an agreement? Where is Sunghoon? - she asks with a trembling voice.
"As a thank you, I've prepared a reward for him," he tells her, walking past and looking into the car. A smile spreads across his face as he sees the sword and gold dust there. "Take good care of it until we meet again," he says, then shifts his gaze to a frightened Wonyoung. "Go straight ahead into the forest, and you'll meet your beloved, who is currently regaining the precious memories I took from him."
Trying to calm down and normalize her breathing, the girl locks the car and, as Jay said, heads in that direction. In her shaking hand, she holds her phone with the flashlight on, feeling how hard her heart is beating.
- Sunghoon?
She hears someone crying. The light falls on the boy's silhouette, huddled under a tree, shaking with fear. The girl runs to him and crouches down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
- Sunghoon? Look at me, please.
The eighteen-year-old boy doesn't react. He doesn't even lift his face, so she does it on her own, forcing him to look her in the eye. The phone lying on the ground next to them illuminates their faces as they look at each other. His eyes are sad, terrified, and full of tears.
It's cold, but they're not shivering because of the low temperature, but because they're both scared.
- I remember everything... I remember the day of the terrible accident when I was kidnapped by Jay. I remember my older brother crying, Niki crying ... - he whispers.
Wonyoung hugs him tightly, feeling his pain. He hugs back, allowing her to cry with him.
- It's okay, Sunghoon. We're out of danger now - she whispers, stroking his hair. - It's just bad memories you've regained...