Na-ri began to slowly open her eyes to the sound of the alarm on her phone. She felt a wave of tiredness surge through her body as she tried to adjust her position. Something felt off, but it took a moment for her to realize what it was. The ceiling above her had a bulb—a modern electric bulb. There was an AC unit mounted in the top right corner, a wardrobe against the wall, a study table, and her bed. She blinked at the sight of her phone, an object she hadn't seen in almost six months.
"This is familiar," she murmured to herself, feeling a growing sense of disbelief. She rose from the bed and placed her feet on the ground. The sensation of the floor beneath her feet was unmistakably real. She spotted her flip-flops on the floor and slid her feet into them. Everything looked too real to be a dream.
"Can it be? Can it possibly be?" Na-ri said, her voice trembling with hope as she hurriedly made her way to the bathroom. She looked into the mirror and saw her own reflection staring back at her.
"I'm back," she screamed happily, jumping around her room in sheer delight. "I'm Na-ri again. I'm back in my own body. I'm really okay now. Maybe that was just a long dream," she rejoiced.
But her happiness was short-lived. As she calmed down, the memories of what Jihoon had done while inhabiting her body flooded back. She sat down on the toilet seat to organize her thoughts. The bathroom was a mess—clothes were strewn about, the sink was cluttered with unwashed items, her toothbrush was in the toilet bin, and the toothpaste tube was torn in half. Jihoon had clearly struggled to adapt to modern life, relying only on Na-ri's memories to get by.
"So it wasn't a dream," Na-ri realized, a mix of disappointment and relief washing over her. She was happy to be back in her own body, but she couldn't help but feel frustrated by the chaos Jihoon had left behind.
"Ahh why?" she screamed, scratching her head in exasperation. "She left my room disoriented just to return to a clean room. Oh, she should pray I don't return to her body or else she would see the world's messiest room she would ever set her eyes on," she yelled, yanking at her hair in frustration.
Her screams caught the attention of the maids, who rushed into the room. "My Lady, what is wrong today?" one of the maids asked, concern etched on her face.
"Everything," Na-ri yelled. "I'm just realizing how messy my room is. Get me all the cleaning agents and equipment in the house. I need to get this place sparkling," she ordered, her voice firm and determined.
All the maids chorused, "Yes, Ma'am," and quickly left to gather the supplies.
As Na-ri waited for their return, she began to think again. "They have never addressed me as Ma'am or Lady before. What did Jihoon do? I can hardly remember. Too many memories are getting mixed up," she lamented, rubbing her temples as she pondered.
******
Jihoon stood watching the soldiers pack up the tents and clear the campsite, preparing for their journey. She was escorted by Sarah, a trusted member of her Guild, who was keenly observing her. Jihoon's eyes were distant, her mind lost in a haze of thoughts, and all of a sudden, she felt a wave of dizziness.
Sarah quickly noticed and rushed to support her. "Your Highness, are you alright?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
Jihoon nodded, steadying herself. "I'm fine," she said, standing straight and attempting to brush off the incident. She continued to stare blankly at her surroundings, the familiar yet strange landscape around her.
"It's different," she murmured, almost to herself.
"What is different, Your Highness?" Sarah inquired again.
"Don't mind me. I'm just in deep thought," Jihoon replied, trying to deflect the question. She needed to ensure she wasn't lost, mentally or physically. She glanced down at her attire, then back at the knights busily preparing for the journey. Everything seemed both familiar and foreign, a disorienting blend of past and present.
"Sarah, I'll be in the carriage. Once you're done, get moving," she instructed, striding purposefully towards the carriage.
"Your Highness, are you sure you're alright?" Sarah called after her, but Jihoon had already reached the carriage. As soon as she closed the door behind her, her head began to pound painfully.
"It was no joke then. I really returned," she commented aloud, rubbing her temples. The realization that she and Na-ri had switched back to their normal bodies hit her with full force.
"What could have caused this? My memories are too jam-packed," she pondered, feeling the weight of the overwhelming experiences and thoughts from both lives. She slammed her head into her palms, muttering to herself.
"White lily illness? Why would Na-ri ask for information on that? Tina had already told her such an illness couldn't resurface," she continued, trying to make sense of the fragmented memories.
"Why would she think of such an illness in the first place? What was the trigger for her to assume such an illness?" she muttered, attempting to piece together the puzzle.
She took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh, trying to calm her racing thoughts. A knock on the carriage door interrupted her.
"Your Highness, we are about to leave," a knight informed her from outside.
"Okay," Jihoon replied, trying to compose herself. "Also, tell Sarah to help me with a cup of water," she added, feeling a sharp headache coming on.
Moments later, Sarah appeared with a cup of water, her face lined with concern. "Your Highness, it's obvious you're bothered by something. What is the problem?" she asked, handing Jihoon the water.
"Nothing," Jihoon replied blankly, taking a sip. She wished she could lay down her worries, but the weight of everything was too much. 'I'm not even happy to have returned to my life. Ahhh!' she thought to herself, frustration bubbling up inside her.
She looked out the window of the carriage, watching the soldiers as they finished their preparations. The world outside seemed too normal compared to the turmoil inside her mind. She leaned back in her seat, trying to find some comfort in the rhythmic motion of the carriage as it started to move.