"The Bracelet's secret"

The dim light flickered, casting long, eerie shadows on the cold, metallic walls. The stench of chemicals and rust filled the air, choking the breath of the two children trapped inside.

[ jONGSUK PAST]

Six-year-old Jongsuk's small wrists ached, the rough ropes biting into his skin as he struggled against them. Beside him, another boy sat just as helpless—his wide, fearful eyes reflecting the sterile white glow of the lab.

"Where… are we?" Jongsuk's voice was barely a whisper, trembling with fear.

The other boy didn't answer. He just stared at the steel door, his body unnaturally still. But his fingers, curled into tight fists, were shaking.

Then—a sound.

The sharp clang of footsteps echoed outside. Jongsuk stiffened, his breath catching in his throat.

The boy beside him suddenly turned, his lips parting as if he was about to say something—but then stopped.

Jongsuk caught the flicker in his eyes. A look that wasn't just fear… but recognition.

Someone was coming.

And somehow, this boy already knew who it was.

The boy took a shaky breath, his lips trembling as he finally found the courage to speak.

But before a single word could leave his mouth, the heavy door creaked open. A tall woman stepped inside, her expression unreadable, her presence suffocating.

Jongsuk's eyes widened as his gaze dropped to her wrist. That bracelet. The same one. The same chain that gleamed under the dim, flickering light.

His stomach twisted. Something about this woman felt wrong.

Without hesitation, she reached for the other boy—Jansh. Her fingers curled around his arm, firm, possessive.

Jongsuk's instincts screamed at him. Before he could think, his hand shot out, grabbing onto her wrist.

"Let him go!" he shouted, his grip tightening.

The woman barely flinched. She only tilted her head, her lips curling into a cold, almost knowing smile.

Jongsuk felt something icy crawl up his spine. But he couldn't hesitate now.

With all his strength, he yanked her arm away and turned to "Run!"

For a moment, the boy hesitated, his wide eyes flickering between Jongsuk and the woman.

"Now!" Jongsuk barked, pushing him toward the door.

The little boy stumbled before breaking into a sprint, his small figure disappearing into the darkness beyond.

And then—the grip on Jongsuk's wrist tightened.

The woman's fingers dug into his skin, pulling him back with terrifying ease.

Jongsuk turned, his breath hitching as he met her gaze.

Cold. Calculated.

And worse than that—amused.

What happened to Jongsuk after that boy ran away remained a mystery—a secret buried in the shadows of that cold, suffocating lab.

No one knew if he escaped. No one knew if he screamed. No one knew if he ever saw the light of day again.

But one thing was certain.

The past never lets go.

[ prasent]

Do Hwan jolted awake, his breath ragged, fingers clenched tightly around the sheets. His body trembled as fragments of the dream clung to his mind like a lingering shadow.

A dimly lit room. A boy, bound and helpless. Another child, standing beside him, his frightened eyes darting toward the door. A woman stepping in, the silver bracelet on her wrist glinting under the faint light.

His heart pounded. Why did it feel so real?

He ran a shaky hand through his hair, trying to shake off the unease, but the feeling wouldn't leave him.

Who was that boy?

The scene felt foreign, yet terrifyingly familiar. As if… as if it had happened to him.

Somewhere, in another part of the city, Jongsuk sat alone, staring at his own reflection. His fingers absentmindedly brushed against his wrist—the place where a bracelet had once been.

Unbeknownst to both of them, the past they had long forgotten was the same. A past that had bound them together long before they had ever met.

On the other hand, Jongsuk sat across from Jae Ahn, his brows furrowed in deep thought. The air between them was heavy with unspoken tension.

Jae Ahn exhaled, tapping his fingers against the table. "Before we jump to conclusions, we need to analyze this video properly. We have to be sure whether it's real or fake."

Jongsuk looked up, his grip tightening around his phone. "And what if it's real?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but the weight in his words was undeniable.

Jae Ahn's expression darkened for a brief moment before he forced a calm look. "Then we find out who sent it… and why now, after all these years."

A silence stretched between them. Jongsuk couldn't shake the feeling that this video was just the beginning. Something about it felt too deliberate—as if someone wanted them to see it.

After analyzing the video, the forensic expert looked up, his expression stiff with disbelief.

"This… this video is completely authentic." His voice held a mix of shock and unease.

Jae Ahn and Jongsuk exchanged glances. Jongsuk's fingers clenched into a fist. "You're sure? No edits, no manipulations?"

The expert nodded. "Not a single trace of tampering. Everything in this video is real."

A cold chill ran down Jae Ahn's spine. If this video was real, then… someone had been waiting for the right moment to reveal it. But why now? And who had sent it?

Jae Ahn looked at Jongsuk and said, "First, we need to confirm if the who was really belonged to the bracelet ..to And for that… we need someone's help.

Jae Ahn picked up his phone and called Do Hwan. "I have an urgent matter to discuss. Meet me right away," he said, his tone serious and unwavering.

Jae Ahn's voice was firm, leaving no room for hesitation. "Don't ask too many questions. It's urgent. Meet me right away. I knew everything from the beginning."

Do Hwan froze, his grip tightening on the phone. His mind raced. "What does he mean by that?" A strange chill ran down his spine as suspicion crept in. Still, he answered, albeit cautiously, "Yes."