(The theme of this story is dark)
The room was silent, wrapped in the scent of old paper and dust.
A calendar hung on the wall—
May, 2004.
Bookshelves lined every corner, filled to the brim, as though the room itself was built from stories.
In the middle of it stood a young boy, his small hands moving carefully across the spines of books.
He was searching for something.
Or perhaps… someone hidden within those pages.
Finally, his fingers stopped.
He pulled out a book.
"The Blue Sea — by Hanshen."
His eyes lingered on the title, almost reverent.
A knock broke the silence.
"Young master Ryu, are you there?" a woman's voice called from outside.
Ryu didn't respond immediately. His gaze was still fixed on the book, as though the world beyond it didn't exist.
"Yeah… I'm here," he finally replied, his voice gentle.
"Your father asked you to come to the living room."
"Oh… okay."
Still holding the book, Ryu left the room.
The living room felt warmer, more alive.
A man sat on the sofa, flipping through files with a serious expression.
Beside him, a woman sipped tea calmly. A young boy sat in front of the television.
"Thian, change the channel to the news," the man said.
"Oh, okay, father."
The screen flickered.
HNN News Channel.
A female anchor appeared, her expression unusually grave.
"Today, we have a breaking news… and it is shocking."
The room fell silent.
"The famous novelist, Hanshen, has been found dead in his house."
"What?!" Thian's father exclaimed, startled.
But before anyone could react further—
"Thudd..."
They turned.
Ryu stood frozen, the book slipping from his hands onto the floor.
His lips parted slightly.
"What…?"
A knock echoed again.
Ryu opened his eyes.
The past dissolved.
He was no longer a child.
He sat on the ground of the same room—but many things had changed. Paintings that covered the walls, the floor… even the empty spaces in between.
And...
Ryu was leaning against a bookshelf.
He was between the Art and the stories.
"The door's open, brother Thian," Ryu said calmly.
Thian stepped inside, looking around.
"I thought you were sleeping," he said.
Ryu smiled faintly.
"No… I was just remembering something."
"What?"
Ryu's gaze drifted, distant.
"My past self."
Elsewhere—
A man stepped forward, his presence quiet yet striking.
A black hat shadowed his eyes. A black coat rested perfectly over his shoulders. His hair was styled neatly, and his sharp gaze moved through the crowd as though searching for someone he could not find.
He entered a bustling production house.
Lights. Cameras. People moving everywhere.
"Cut!" a voice rang out.
At the center stood a woman.
She wore a sleeveless white dress, her long hair falling elegantly down her back. Her beauty was undeniable—but her eyes…
Empty.
As though something vital had been taken from her long ago.
A man approached her, placing a coat over her shoulders.
"You did great, Nayun."
She smiled.
A perfect, practiced smile.
Then she walked away.
Outside, chaos awaited.
Fans crowded the entrance. Cameras flashed endlessly.
"Nayun! Over here!"
"Just one photo!"
Her bodyguards held them back as she moved forward
Until suddenly
A woman rushed through and wrapped her arms around Nayun.
"Nayun!!!"
Everyone froze.
Bodyguards moved to pull her away, but Nayun raised her hand.
"Wait. Let her speak."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Who is she?"
"How can she call her like that?"
The woman's eyes were filled with tears.
"Nayun! It's me—Youshell! We were best friends for eighteen years! I know it's been seven years, but… it's me!"
Shock rippled through the crowd.
"Best friend?"
"Now she shows up?"
Youshell's voice trembled.
"You left to chase your dreams… and never contacted me again. I tried to find you—I couldn't. And when you became famous… your guards never let me near you…"
Tears streamed down her face.
"How could you do that to me, Nayun?!"
Silence.
Nayun looked at her.
Confused.
Blank.
"Who… Youshell?" she said slowly. "I don't remember anyone by that name."
The words hit harder than anything else.
"What?!"
The crowd erupted again.
"So she forgot her?"
"Or is she pretending?"
Youshell's world shattered.
But before anything could escalate—
A man pushed through the crowd.
He grabbed Nayun's hand firmly and pulled her away.
A black suit. Sharp eyes. Controlled urgency.
"Hey, it's Jain!"
"Her manager!"
"Handle the crowd," Jain ordered the guards. "Clear a path."
They obeyed instantly.
"Jain!" Youshell shouted desperately. "What happened to her?!"
But he didn't respond.
The car door shut.
And they were gone.
Youshell collapsed into tears.
"Why…? You were my only friend…"
Miles away, the scene played live on a television screen.
Hayuel leaned back, watching with a smirk.
"What a scene…"
Behind him, Roselia stood quietly.
"Dinner is ready," she said softly.
"Yeah."
As if nothing mattered.
In a quiet room, Nayun sat across from Jain.
"You know," he said slowly, "everything that woman said… was true."
Nayun frowned. "What do you mean? I've never met her."
Jain's eyes softened—pained.
"You've lost your memories, Nayun. And you're still losing them."
She froze.
"You've even forgotten your own family."
Her breathing grew uneven.
"Do you even know who I am?"
She hesitated.
"Aren't you… my manager?"
Something broke in his eyes.
"I'm not your manager," he said quietly. "I'm your brother."
Silence.
"I'm your brother, Nayun. Please… try to remember us."
Confusion, fear, and denial clashed within her.
"I… don't understand… what are you saying?" she whispered.
"The doctor said it's not an illness," Jain continued.
"You're choosing to forget. You're forcing yourself to forget your own life."
Her head shook slightly.
"No… no… I don't have a family…"
Her voice trembled, panic rising.
"The only family I have is… him. Him."
Tears streamed down her face.
"If you're my family… then why can't I remember you?" she cried.
"Why did my only family leave me?!"
Jain clenched his fists.
"You'll forget this conversation too," he said bitterly.
"Just like everything else."
"What…?"
He took a deep breath, his voice turning cold.
"Why is it… that out of everything… you only remember him?"
His eyes darkened.
"The one who ruined your life…"
A pause.
"What was his name again?"
He looked straight at her.
"Ziyan… right?"
To be continued…