Chapter 8: Ryu Taesan

Dohyun's voice cut through the silence, his tone filled with concern as he leaned against the doorframe, his expression a mixture of frustration and worry. "Taesan, let me be straightforward. I've been thinking about this for the last 24 hours—you're acting strange. What's going on?"

I kept my gaze fixed on the floor, trying to maintain a calm facade. "I'm just helping someone. That's it."

Dohyun's brows furrowed, and he sighed deeply. "I know, but I'm sorry, Taesan. You know me, right? I might pretend that everything's fine, but I have a hard time trusting people. Especially someone like Sera, who suddenly appeared in your life, and now you're going out of your way to help her. What if she's a stalker?"

I met his eyes, determined. "She's not a stalker, Dohyun."

He stepped closer, his voice rising with urgency. "How can you be so sure? You're rich, man! Anyone could target you."

"I get that you're just looking out for me, but trust me on this. Sera is not a threat."

Dohyun's expression softened, but the doubt lingered in his eyes. "She doesn't seem like a stalker, I know... But still, I can't bring myself to trust someone I just met a few hours ago. And there's another thing that's been bothering me."

I could feel the tension in the room as I turned to face him. "What is it?"

Dohyun hesitated, then asked, "Do you know Yujin's brother?"

I stiffened slightly, trying to keep my composure. "I've never met him in person, but I know of him. He was close with Noona."

Dohyun's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

"Yes."

Dohyun's gaze grew more intense, as if he was trying to read my thoughts. "Are you hiding something from me?"

I took a deep breath, my mind swirling with the weight of my own thoughts. "Dohyun, I'm planning to look into my dad and sister's deaths. That's all I want right now."

Dohyun's expression shifted, a mix of relief and concern flashing across his face. "That's what I've always wanted too. But you've never shown any interest in pursuing it before. Why now? Is it because... your mom left you?"

I felt a knot tighten in my chest at the mention of my mother. "You could say that."

Dohyun's voice softened, tinged with an old bitterness. "I'm sorry, but I've always been suspicious of your mom, even when we were kids."

I looked at him, surprised. "Any particular reason?"

"It's hard to explain... but it always felt like she was putting on an act around you, Noona, and your dad. Like she was hiding something. I'm sorry if that hurts."

I managed a small, sad smile. "It's okay, Dohyun."

He reached out, gripping my shoulder firmly, his voice filled with determination. "But Taesan, promise me this—whatever you decide to do, tell me first, alright? I want to be there for you. I want to help you."

I nodded slowly, appreciating his loyalty. "I will. But first, I have to find my uncle."

Dohyun's confusion was evident. "Your uncle? Why?"

I clenched my fists, feeling the weight of my decision settle heavily in my chest. "I need to find him, Dohyun. He can be the key to all of this. I meant he can know something that I don't know."

I stumbled back into my house, the clock flashing 2 AM in the dim light. The bitter taste of soju lingered on my tongue—I'd downed several bottles at Dohyun's place. My body was heavy, and I could barely keep my eyes open. I fell into bed, surrendering to the alcohol's pull and slipping into a deep sleep.

When I woke up, sunlight streamed through unfamiliar curtains, and I found myself lying on a bed that wasn't mine. Panic surged through me as I scanned the room, trying to piece together where I was. The room had a comforting warmth, but nothing felt familiar. I sat up, clutching my head, fighting against the fog of last night's drinking.

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a young man—maybe a few years older than me—entered, carrying a tray with breakfast and coffee. His face was one I recognized, though I couldn't place it immediately. My eyes drifted to the coffee mug he placed beside the bed; it had a delicate design of a small blue bird. My breath hitched. I had seen that drawing before—yesterday, when a little girl in the park had dropped a paper with that same design on the bench.

Memories snapped into place. The realization hit me like a wave. I knew this man. I reached for my phone, my hands trembling as I glanced at the date: May 28, 2022. What?! My mind spun in disbelief. I was seeing the future again. And the man standing before me, the one I thought had vanished from my life—he was Yoon Soobin. He hadn't died; he was alive, hiding somewhere.

I opened my mouth to speak, to ask him where we were, to get answers, but my vision blurred, and a dizziness overwhelmed me. I felt myself slipping away, as if the dreamlike world around me was collapsing. The next thing I knew, I was back in my apartment, my head pounding as reality crashed back into me.

"Shit, shit, shit!" I cursed, gripping the edge of my bed. The vision had ended too soon, leaving me with more questions than answers. But at least now, one thing was clear: Soobin was alive.

My head throbbed painfully, a hangover dragging me down. I checked the time and realized I was running late. I quickly texted Dohyun, telling him not to wait for me, and hurriedly got ready. He'd already left for university with Sera.

As I rushed down the corridor, I froze in my tracks. A figure I never thought I'd see again walked toward me, her presence hitting me like a cold wind. My heart raced, and I tried to convince myself that I was hallucinating, that maybe I was still half-drunk and dreaming. But she was real, and each step she took brought her closer.

"Hi, Taesan. It's been a while," she said, her voice tinged with a familiarity that I wished I could forget.

Before I could gather myself to respond, Dohyun appeared around the corner with Sera and Zixuan in tow. He noticed the tension immediately, his expression shifting as he tried to ease the awkwardness.

"Jeon Eunyeong! You're here?" Dohyun said with forced cheerfulness, glancing between me and her.

"Yes. I'm in Anthropology. It's so good to see you again, guys. But Taesan still hasn't greeted me," Eunyeong replied, her smile faltering as she looked at me expectantly.

But I couldn't bring myself to speak. My mind buzzed with old memories and the pain that her presence rekindled. The only way I knew how to protect myself was to shut her out completely. So, without a word, I turned on my heel and walked toward the classrooms, ignoring the ache in my chest.

As I walked away, I overheard Dohyun say to her, his voice barely masking his discomfort, "Sorry. Our class is about to start."

Then, Zixuan leaned closer to Sera, whispering, "Was she his ex?"

Yes, she was. And now, with her reappearance, my past had come crashing into my present, threatening to upend everything I had tried to leave behind.