Professor Kianna Lee, adorned in her signature glasses, stood before the eager class, her voice resonating with authority. Her assignment was clear - each student had to observe and analyze the defense mechanisms of someone they found intriguing.
Kianna sat in the faculty room, her mind still reeling from the encounter with Yoora and the unexpected visit from Wo Jin. The room was quiet, the only sound being the soft hum of the air conditioner. The sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow on the wooden furniture and the books neatly arranged on the shelves.
As Kianna processed the whirlwind of emotions inside her, she couldn't help but be captivated by Yoora's cryptic comment about Choi Min. She had always admired his youthful appearance, but it had never struck her as peculiar until now. His smooth complexion, vibrant eyes, and energetic presence seemed to defy the passing of time. There was an air of mystery surrounding him, and Kianna couldn't help but wonder what secrets he held beneath his youthful façade.
Lost in her thoughts, Kianna didn't notice Yoora's approach until she felt a gentle tap on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to see Yoora standing beside her, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"I'll talk to you later, Yoora," Kianna said, trying to hide her inner turmoil. "I have some things to sort out."
Yoora nodded understandingly and gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Take your time, Kianna. Just tell me when you're ready to talk to me."
With that, Yoora left the faculty room, leaving Kianna deep in thought. Kianna knew she couldn't avoid facing Wo Jin forever. Despite the hurt and anger she felt, a part of her still longed for answers from him. She realized that she needed closure in order to move forward and find her true identity.
Taking a deep breath, Kianna made up her mind. She decided to confront Wo Jin and have a heartfelt conversation with him. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was determined to seek the truth and find resolution.
Kianna found herself alone in her office, engrossed in grading papers. Unbeknownst to her, Choi Min lingered in the hallway, contemplating the perfect moment to reveal his secret observations. With every passing day, Choi Min grew more enthralled by Kianna's enigma. Her infectious laughter and charismatic presence belied a guarded nature that intrigued him. He marveled at her ability to maintain a jovial facade while harboring unresolved emotions.
The door creaked open, breaking the silence, as Choi Min entered with an air of nonchalance. Kianna looked up, surprised by his presence, yet somehow captivated by his mysterious allure.
"Choi Min," she greeted him, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "What brings you here?"
He offered a disarming smile, his eyes betraying a depth she had never seen before. "I couldn't resist the temptation to engage in a conversation with the brilliant mind behind the assignment," he replied, his words dripping with intrigue.
Kianna's heart skipped a beat, sensing there was more to his presence than mere curiosity. She couldn't help but be drawn into the dance of their unspoken connection.
Leaning against the desk, Choi Min began to weave his words carefully, like an artist painting strokes of mystery. "Professor Lee, your assignment on defense mechanisms has piqued my interest. I've been observing someone closely, someone who fascinates me in ways I can't fully comprehend."
Kianna's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and uncertainty coursing through her veins. She wondered who Choi Min could be referring to, unaware that she was the subject of his clandestine observations.
"Is that so?" she inquired, her voice laced with curiosity yet tinged with a hint of caution. "And who might this person be?"
Kianna wondered if Choi Min had any connection to her past, but she couldn't find any logical reason for such a connection. Regardless, she felt a strange pull towards him and couldn't deny the curiosity that burned within her.
Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, her phone rang, startling her. It was a call from an unknown number. Kianna hesitated for a moment but decided to answer. It was her mom.
"Excuse me, I have something urgent to talk to, would it be okay if I could answer your question later?" Choi Min nodded.
"Nah' that's fine Professor Lee, anyways, I'll gotta to go. Thanks for answering my question anyways," He grinned and walked out of the room. Time seemed to stand still as Kianna processed his words. Her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding with a blend of trepidation and intrigue. The room, once familiar, now seemed cloaked in an ethereal aura of secrecy. Kianna felt a mix of emotions. Part of her wanted to express her curiosity about him and he acts right now it's a little bit out of tone. He seemed to be cold toward her but right she wasn't sure whether that was Choi Min who looks bloody cold toward her.
"Mom" she greeted her mom.
"Are you free on the weekend, please do come your brother will be here sooner or later. It would be great if you could come."
The invitation to visit Jeju Island on the upcoming weekend tugged at her heartstrings, but her busy schedule threatened to snatch away the opportunity for a much-needed break.
"Mom, I wish I could come," Kianna sighed, her voice tinged with regret. "But there's so much to do, and I'm afraid I won't be able to make it."
Her mother's voice carried a hint of disappointment, but she understood the demands of her daughter's career. "I understand, Kianna dear. Just remember to take care of yourself amidst all the busyness. Jeju will always be here waiting for you."
With a heavy heart, Kianna bid her mother farewell with exhaustion weighing down her eyelids. She wanted to sleep. Sleep enveloped her.
Exhausted from the emotional turmoil of the day, Kianna returned home, seeking solace in the familiar confines of her bedroom. Despite the weariness that weighed upon her, sleep proved to be an elusive companion. As she lay beneath the covers, her mind wrestled with a myriad of thoughts, each one vying for her attention.
Finally succumbing to fatigue, Kianna drifted into a restless slumber. In the depths of her subconscious, a strange dream unfolded, transporting her to a realm where reality and fantasy intertwined.
In the dream, Kianna found herself in an ethereal landscape, bathed in the glow of a silver moon. The air crackled with otherworldly energy, and a sense of anticipation filled her every pore. As she wandered through this mystical realm, wisps of memories whispered to her, teasing her senses with fragments of forgotten tales.
A haunting melody wafted through the air, its melancholic notes echoing in her ears. Kianna followed the sound, drawn to its enchanting allure. As she approached, the source of the melody revealed itself—a young boy, his delicate features etched with a lifetime of pain. Bruises and scars adorned his body, remnants of battles fought in the shadows.
The boy's tear-streaked face bore a haunting familiarity, tugging at Kianna's heartstrings. She reached out to him, a compassionate instinct guiding her actions. But as their hands touched, an unsettling transformation occurred. The boy's tears ceased, replaced by a look of agony, and Kianna's own expression twisted into a devilish grin—a grotesque reflection of her own inner demons.
Startled, Kianna jolted awake, her body drenched in a cold sweat. Her heart raced, its rhythm matching the frantic pace of her breaths. The remnants of the dream clung to her, casting a shadow of unease over her waking consciousness.
Confusion and unease gnawed at her, intertwining with the lingering questions from the mysterious phone call. Was the dream a mere figment of her imagination, or did it hold a deeper significance? And who was the boy in her dreams, bearing the weight of unspoken pain? These questions had been lingering in her since the day she went home. All of those dreams were so vivid revealing the same boy. She was at ease and thought that these could be missing the piece of her childhood memories.
Seeking solace, Kianna rose from her bed, the tendrils of sleep still clinging to her senses. She made her way to the kitchen, her steps hesitant yet resolute. The dim light cast a soft glow over the room, casting elongated shadows that danced along the walls.
As she reached for a bottle of water from the refrigerator, her hands trembled, the residual fear of the dream lingering within her. Just as she grasped the cool surface of the bottle, the ringing of her phone shattered the silence, reverberating through the kitchen like an ominous omen.
With a mix of trepidation and curiosity, Kianna approached the phone. Its screen illuminated, revealing an unfamiliar number. Hesitant, yet compelled by a need for answers, she answered the call, the husky voice from before resurfacing once more.
"Hello, who's this?" she asked a deep long silence sounded over the next line. Two minutes later she was about to end the call when an unfamiliar voice started to echo.
"Professor Kianna Lee, your past holds more secrets than you realize. Do you still remember me?"
Kianna's breath hitched, her pulse quickening with a potent mixture of intrigue and apprehension. The questions that had plagued her mind since the dream now demanded answers. Who was this mysterious caller? And how did they hold the key to her past? His voice sounds familiar which she surely heard before but couldn't figure out.
Her voice was laced with anticipation. "Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?" She answered, her hands we're trembling. She doesn't know how to react. Everything is very unfamiliar to her except for that dream that has been preoccupying her mind since then.
The caller chuckled resonating through the line."Oh, Professor Lee, I am but a harbinger of truth. What I want is for you to delve into the depths of your own mystery, to embrace the secrets that lie dormant within. Together, we shall uncover the truths that have long been concealed."
Kianna's heart raced, her mind swirling with a cocktail of fear and curiosity. With every word spoken, the mysterious caller seemed to pull her deeper into a world of intrigue and uncertainty. And though caution whispered in her ear, the allure of the unknown beckoned her forward, propelling her towards a path she could no longer resist.
Kianna's voice filled with determination " If you have information about my past, show me the way. But I won't be fooled by your tricks. I'm determined to uncover the truth and confront it directly."
The caller gave a hint of amusement in their voice "Professor Lee, I admire your strong determination. Get ready, because the path ahead will challenge you. The hidden parts of your past will come to light, and the mysteries within you will be uncovered."
"Who are you? Why are you doing this? What do you want from me?" But the call ended. A shiver ran down Kianna's spine as the caller's words hung in the air, dripping with ominous intent. Kianna stood in the kitchen, her mind a whirlwind of anticipation and apprehension. The stage was set, and the enigmatic caller had emerged as the puppet master of her fate. With every passing moment, the mysteries surrounding her past grew deeper, and Kianna's resolve to uncover the truth burned brighter than ever before.