In a quiet and narrow room, Lina abruptly opens her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. Her head was pounding so much as if it is being hammered continuously. She couldn't help but touch her throbbing head then pause.
Lina noticed her hand that was about to reach her face.
Her hands looked more realistic than ever. Pale skin delicately stretched over firm muscles and bones, revealing every fine realistic detail. They seemed real. She noticed the beads of sweat forming on her skin, a clear sign that what she was seeing was not part of her imagination.
Still confused by what was happening, Lina patted her body and confirmed her suspicion. She was real. She was alive, breathing, and fully present in a physical body.
Ecstatic about what was happening, her heart beat faster than ever. She could almost hear it pounding in her chest. For some reason, she had been given another chance to live her life. It was a life she once regretted, but now desperately wanted to relive and change.
Looking around her surroundings, this used to be the nurse's office of her old high school. She used to frequent this place during her final years. In her fourth year of high school, driven by jealousy, she often caused trouble for Park Bora but always ended up humiliating and hurting herself instead. It was as if the girl had a halo over her head, protecting her from disasters and the malicious intent of others. This used to frustrate her to the point of losing her mind.
Thinking about it now, she felt embarrassed. She had been young and desperate for her parents' love. She was scared of being alone and abandoned, and because of that fear, she made terrible decisions. The consequences of those choices caused her so much pain.
This time, she promised herself she would change everything. She needed to make sure she would not have the same ending as before. She had died at the hands of Park Bora and his former fiancée, while her poor child bled out from her body.
In this life, she would chase her dreams with everything she had. She no longer needed the shallow affection of a family that never truly cared. This time, she would focus on herself, build her own path, earn her own money, and finally live the peaceful life she had always longed for.
Not wanting to waste any time figuring out her current timeline, she grabbed the backpack that had been carelessly placed beside the bed. It looked as if someone had tossed it there without a second thought. Inside the bag, she found a mirror and her old phone. One look at her reflection told her everything she needed to know. She had returned to the time just before her eighteenth birthday. The date on her phone confirmed it. If her memory was right, she was supposed to have an exam today. But during that exam, she had felt sick and passed out.
Back then, it was Hanbin, her fiancé, who carried her to the nurse's office to rest. At the time, she had thought it was an act of love and concern. But now, remembering how her bag had been tossed aside so carelessly, a wave of unease began to creep in.
Lina's heart tightened as a sudden suspicion took root. When did Hanbin start developing feelings for Bora? When had it all begun?
Lina sat in silence, letting the painful memories claw their way back. One by one, they surfaced like a movie. Every moment, every word, every glance that once seemed harmless now felt like warnings she had failed to notice. Before her birthday, the signs were there. She just did not want to see them.
The truth struck her like a wave. She had been deceived and played by the very people she had trusted with her heart. They smiled in front of her, all while hiding knives behind their backs ready to stab her at any given moment. She had been too naïve. Holding the bag tightly, a hollow ache settled in her chest. How could she have been so blind?
After a moment of deep contemplation, Lina returned the items to her bag, then rose from the bed with renewed strength and a burning determination to change her fate. The heaviness in her chest had finally lifted. In its place is a a newly ignited fire and a growing desire for revenge. With a clear plan in mind, she walked out of the room calmly. She walked back to her class with steady steps, ready to take the first move in rewriting her story.
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Inside the classroom, the other students were busy preparing for their next exam and were fully focused. When Lina opened the door, some of her classmates looked up, while a few came over to ask how she was doing. Her classmates had actually been close to her. Back in high school, she remembered having a wide social circle and often hanging out with them after school hours.
They used to visit the shops and market outside the school, laughing as they picked out cute little items together. Sometimes, they would sit by the oval, watching other students run and play football under the sun. But her favorite moments were always at the karaoke, singing their hearts out while sharing a plate of warm, spicy tteokbokki.
Seeing the concerned faces of her friends, Lina felt a wave of nostalgia and quiet happiness. In that moment, she believed their worry for her was genuine. Their youthful and innocent eyes showed a deep, unfiltered care that warmed her heart. She couldn't help but gently place a hand on one of their shoulders and offer a reassuring smile.
"I'm fine, really. It's just my monthly cycle, that's all," she said softly.
Fortunately, her friends believed her and didn't ask any more questions about her health. They walked together until she reached her assigned desk and took her seat.
"I didn't know if you were coming back, so I wrote down some instructions from our teacher today," one of her friends said, handing her a thick notebook.
Lina opened it and gently flipped through the pages, scanning the notes inside. She looked up with a soft smile and thanked her sincerely.
They chatted for a few more minutes but quickly stopped when their teacher arrived with another set of questionnaires to answer. Lina focused on the test, finished it quickly, and handed in her paper. Not wanting to leave the classroom just yet, she decided to stay and wait for the others to finish.
Turning her gaze toward the window, she let herself enjoy the peaceful view. Birds perched on the branches of a tree outside the classroom were singing, their cheerful sounds filling the quiet room. The gentle rustling of leaves and the fluttering wings offered a simple kind of entertainment, and for a moment, Lina felt at ease.
After her classes, Lina went straight home since she didn't have any extracurricular activities. Her parents had asked her many times if there was anything she wanted to study outside of school, but she always refused. She felt there was no need to focus on anything extra. At the moment, she was a top student and had never lost her spot to anyone else.
She didn't mean to boast, but she was fortunate to be naturally smart and often praised for her talent in math, science, and other subjects. Growing up, she never struggled to learn new things. In fact, she loved learning and constantly challenged herself to do better.
If there was something she truly loved, it was reading and playing Go. She often visited a Go center near their house. Most of the players there were older adults, but occasionally, younger ones would join and play with her. She loved the excitement of building strategies, planning her moves, and claiming territory piece by piece.
Go was more than just a game to her. It reflected how she saw the world. Everything seemed calm on the surface, but underneath, there were quiet battles being fought. Every move required thought, patience, and precision, qualities that had always been a part of her. Some players had encouraged her to join a professional Go club to sharpen her skills, but that had never been her goal. For Lina, Go was a quiet escape, a space where she could think clearly and feel in control.
She did not want to turn it into a job. She wanted to keep it as something pure, something that belonged only to her. In a life where she often felt powerless, Go reminded her that with the right plan, even the smallest piece could shift the entire board.
Thinking about her old behavior after Bora was recognized by the Choi family, Lina felt a sting of regret. Her personality had changed drastically. The quiet, calm, and confident girl she once was had vanished. In her place emerged someone erratic, nervous, and often caught in petty scandals. She had acted like a child who did not want her favorite toy taken away.
Lina slowly shook her head in disappointment. She had been foolish. The realization weighed heavily on her chest. Actually, had no one else to blame but herself.
Lina randomly picked up a business magazine that had fallen on the floor. On the cover, a man wearing an expensive suit and a luxury watch sat confidently, as if he owned the world. He stared directly at the camera with piercing eyes that demanded attention and drew people in.
Lina read the title on the cover, "The World of the Rich." She didn't remember how the magazine ended up in her room. Maybe it belonged to her father. But as her eyes lingered on the man's face, a distant memory stirred within her soul.
She stared at the image, almost hypnotized, her gaze softening with a mix of sadness and longing. There was something unspoken in the way she looked at him, something buried deep in her heart. She knew who he was. She had always known.
But for now, that truth was hers alone to carry.
A knock on the door pulled Lina out of her thoughts. Moments later, a small head appeared through the doorway. The woman standing there was Lina's adopted mother, Mrs. Choi. She wore a neutral-colored top paired with a dark skirt. Even at home, she looked elegant and refined. Her clothing was always neat and simple, a clean style that gave her a calm and composed appearance.
Lina quietly observed her mother as she stepped into the room without a word.
"Your dad and I have a function to attend tonight, so we won't be eating at home with you," she said gently.
Lina watched her mother, who avoided her gaze and kept her eyes fixed on the floor. It was a clear sign of guilt. Lina couldn't help but wonder if her mother was lying or hiding something. If there was nothing to conceal, then why act this way?
She gave a small nod to end the conversation, but in her mind, a decision was already made. She would follow her parents tonight and find out what was really going on. Maybe she would discover something useful, something that could help her in the future.