[L]ee Ju-hee's eyes snapped open, her breath escaping in ragged gasps. Her heart pounded in her chest, and a sheen of sweat covered her body, causing her hair to stick to her forehead.
Last night's events had awakened a long-buried memory, a painful chapter she had fought hard to erase. But now, it'd resurfaced, clawing at her consciousness.
As she lay there, trying to regain her composure, a soft sensation brushed against her cheek, her senses alarmed as she became aware of a presence in the room. And then, she saw it – a hand, indistinct, hovering inches above her face.
Reacting instinctively, she seized the intruder's wrist, feeling the warmth beneath her fingertips.
Swiftly, she flipped the person onto the bed, a knife pressed against their neck—the very knife she had kept beneath her pillow for protection.
"Ju-hee noona?" The familiar voice of Park Min-ho, her cousin, reverberated through the dimly lit room, bringing her back to reality. "Are you okay? You seem a bit... agitated."
Confirming that it was Min-ho, she released her grip and lowered the knife. "What's with you sneaking up on me like that?"
Setting the knife on the bedside table, she got out of bed, Min-ho following suit.
"I heard you talking and struggling in your sleep. I got worried and came to check on you," he explained.
"I see," she replied, her voice still tinged with the remnants of distress.
A brief pause hung in the air before Min-ho spoke again. "Did you have a nightmare?"
"Hmm," she murmured absentmindedly, walking towards her closet. Retrieving a clean towel, she used it to wipe the perspiration from her forehead.
"It was about that time... the memories came flooding back after my encounter with Vortex."
"Ah! That asshole! Can't believe he had that kind of power up his sleeve!" Min-ho exclaimed, his frustration evident.
Vortex had been a tough opponent and he'd given them a hard time. But it was his noona that had had it harder.
"He won't be a problem anymore. I took care of everything!" Min-ho tried to reassure.
The event of the previous night played vividly in Min-ho's mind. He'd hurried to meet Lee Ju-hee at their designated rendezvous point, only to be met with a shocking scene – an alleyway filled with lifeless bodies, and Lee Ju-hee locked in a fierce battle against a powerful opponent.
The sight of her consumed by a mix of madness and anger, was something he had never witnessed before. She wasn't one to get so worked up over nothing.
As Min-ho recalled the encounter, he realized that Vortex's ability to induce drowsiness and hallucinations had awakened a deeply buried memories.
"Besides," taking a deep breath, Min-ho continued. "I made sure to send a fitting message with his body! I bet Han Si-hyun will be more than 'pleased'!"
"Right!" Lee Ju-hee agreed absentmindedly, as she clenched the towel tightly in her grasp, her knuckles turning white.
Seeing her this distracted, Min-ho approached her, hoping to divert her mind away from memories of the past. However, his attention was soon drawn to something else.
"Hey, you know what's strange?" he remarked, frowning. "Your wounds have completely healed!"
At his words, Lee Ju-hee's focus shifted to the mirror on her vanity table. She studied her reflection intently, her eyes narrowing with austerity.
It was true, the cut she had received was gone, and her skin looked even smoother than before.
"What the hell?" she muttered to herself, contemplating the mysterious occurrence.
"Maybe it has something to do with Vortex's blood?" Min-ho suggested, speculating on the possible cause.
Ju-hee casted a pensive gaze his way, before shaking her head in disapproval, dismissing the idea. "I don't think so," she replied, her tone filled with skepticism.
"Why not?"
"Vortex mentioned something about… about me evolving," Lee Ju-hee began, her voice tinged with uncertainty. She paused slightly, collecting her thoughts. "And evolving fast."
A scowl carved Min-ho's brows as he asked, "What does that even mean?"
"I don't know," she admitted truthfully. "The only person who might've answers to all this is…"
"Reaper," Min-ho interjected, completing her sentence. Lee Ju-hee nodded in agreement.
"I've dealt with every single lackey from that incident. There's no one else left except for him. He's the key to the information we need." Her eyes narrowed with a mixture of resolve and unease. "And deep down, I can't shake the feeling that it all traces back to the drug they injected into me."
Min-ho's eyes widened, realization dawning on him. "Wait, are you saying they used you as some kind of test subject?"
"It's a possibility," she replied, her tone tinged with uncertainty. "I believe the council Ri Chul-moo mentioned and the elders Vortex spoke of might be part of a secret organization. They could be overseeing or monitoring individuals with the 'Side-effects'. But I can't be certain."
Min-ho nodded thoughtfully. "That actually makes a lot of sense!"
As Lee Ju-hee caught a glimpse of her reflection, she sighed, her voice trembling slightly. "Do you think... do you think they turned me into some kind of monster?"
"Seriously?" Min-ho's incredulous tone echoed through the room as he refocused his attention on her. "You're telling me you have superpowers, and you think that makes you a monster? Personally, I think it's pretty damn cool!"
Lee Ju-hee's lips curled into a smirk. "Well, that's one way to look at it. But anyway, any information on Jin-ho Yoo, codename Reaper?"
Min-ho sighed in frustration. "Not yet. That bastard seems to be completely untraceable!"
It was the first time she had seen Min-ho struggle to gather intel on someone.
As Lee Ju-hee walked towards the bedroom door lost in her thoughts, Min-ho followed closely behind, entering the open living room and kitchen.
Lee Ju-hee made her way to the sink, pouring herself a glass of water to quench her thirst.
Taking a seat on one of the stools at the kitchen counter, Min-ho observed her as she gulped down the water.
Then in an attempt to break the silence, he asked, "Didn't you mention you were hiring trainee baristas for your cafeteria?"
Lee Ju-hee paused, turning her gaze towards him, and nodded in affirmation, acknowledging his question.
Min-ho let out a sigh, then confessed sheepishly, "Okay, before you start lecturing me, I want you to know that I was genuinely worried about you, so I..."
"You conducted a background check on them!" Lee Ju-hee supplied, cutting to the chase as she noticed his hesitation.
"Yeah," Min-ho confirmed.
"And?"
"What do you mean 'and'?"
"I'm asking if you found anything suspicious about any of them?!"
"They're both freshmen in university. The girl is studying fashion, and the guy is majoring in architecture," Min-ho stated matter-of-factly.
Lee Ju-hee sensed there was more to it. Min-ho's casual talk was unusual, indicating that he had a specific reason for bringing up the topic.
"And?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued.
"If I remember correctly, you mentioned you were considering hiring only one of them. Why the change of heart?"
Lee Ju-hee pondered for a moment, her expression thoughtful. "You know, that guy," she began, her voice laced with a hint of concern, "he seemed like he's going through a tough time, dealing with some heavy burdens."
Min-ho's brows furrowed as he responded with a cautious tone, "Just be careful, Ju-hee noona. I've got a bad feeling about him."
"You always have a bad feeling about any guy who shows the slightest interest in me, Min-ho!" Lee Ju-hee retorted, rolling her eyes. Placing the empty glass in the sink, she added, "what's gotten you so worked up this time, huh?"
"That guy is in deep trouble with loan sharks! Make sure you don't get entangled in his mess!"
"Loan sharks? Did he do anything shady?"
Min-ho sighed, his expression heavy. "No, it's not like that. He got involved with loan sharks because he was desperately trying to pay for his mother's medical fees." He paused slightly before adding, "She passed away a few weeks before we returned to Seoul."
Lee Ju-hee nodded pensively, absorbing Min-ho's words. "I understand. But that's precisely why it'll help to give him the job, don't you think?"
Min-ho let out a sigh of exasperation. "You're too kind-hearted, especially considering your plans for revenge."
"What are you trying to imply?" Lee Ju-hee's voice carried a hint of defiance.
"I knew you would get involved the moment you heard his story."
Lee Ju-hee promptly corrected him, "I'm not getting involved in anything. I'm simply hiring him to provide an opportunity for him to earn some money. Nothing more, nothing less!"
Min-ho's expression remained skeptical. "We'll see if you can stick to your words when the time comes."
With a shrug, Lee Ju-hee brushed off his comment. "Sure, mom," she retorted indifferently. "By the way, I have to meet with them at 9:30 a.m. Can you handle breakfast while I take a shower?"
Min-ho was momentarily dumbfounded. "W-what?"
In reality, when they had moved back to Seoul, she had requested to have her own apartment. However, after last night's incident, Min-ho had insisted to stay the night.
He was the only person she allowed into her private sanctuary, her haven of peace.
Since he enjoyed this privilege, she thought it was only fair for him to be useful.
"Hah? Can't believe you're dumping cooking duty on me!" Min-ho protested, but Lee Ju-hee was already heading back towards her bedroom. She heard his complaints trailing behind her, "Ju-hee noona, come on! That's not fair!"
A smirk played at the corner of her lips as she closed the door behind her, continuing with her early morning routine.