It seemed to Chanmi that the recent time she had lived through was just a nightmare from which she could finally wake up. It all still frightened her to the point where she couldn't believe that for twenty years she had been the main source of energy for the real daughter of the Kim family. She was stuck with the devil's contract as the main prize and by breaking it, her best friend took the punishment for her.
She still couldn't believe that she had witnessed the sight of a "dead" girl who, like Snow White, slept in a glass coffin, beautifully maturing like a flower.
It was all so fairy-tale, and at the same time nightmarish, giving the person chills.
It's a period she will never erase from her memory.
She opened the car window, and the night wind blew her hair away. Jungkook, who was driving, glanced at her surreptitiously, smiling at the corner of his mouth.
- I promise to take care of her, Chansung - he whispered, clasping his hands tighter on the steering wheel. - I won't let your sacrifice be in vain. She will always be safe now.
The redhead looked at him with puzzled eyes.
- What are you muttering under your breath? Did you say something to me? - She asked.
- I just took an oath to my brother - he replied, making her face even sadder. - And I can't break it.
Chanmi closed the window and looked ahead.
- What do you think? What atrocities will befall Kim's family? I am panic-stricken about Jin. I want to protect him twenty-four hours a day now.
- You will have to, to repay what he did for you. After all, he acted like a real brother to you all the time.
The girl smiled slightly.
- It's terrible what I'm going to say, but I don't regret Jieun and the people who raised me at all. They made me hate them to the point that I won't even come to their funeral.
- I like it when you are so merciless.
The redhead slapped him on the shoulder.
- This is not the right time for your jokes.
- Miss, it's dangerous to beat up a driver. I may inadvertently cause an accident.
She ignored him and looked sideways at the window. She opened the glass and leaned her head out, gloating at the night air.
Thanks to her friend, she could go on with her life and enjoy each day that followed. She will be grateful to him for this for the rest of her life. He was the most wonderful man, her hero, and will always remain in her heart.
A lone tear ran down her cheek, and then she closed her eyelids. She wanted to remember him in silence and thank him for everything he did for her, especially the fact that he sacrificed himself for her.
- Thank you, Chansung - she whispered.
*
A month later.
Seokjin stood on the side of the road, holding a bouquet of roses in his hand for his beloved. The evening air was cool, but he would rather not wait in the car.
A smile appeared on his face, even though he was nervous. He didn't know how Jisoo would react to his proposal, but he officially wanted to start a life together with her. Ever since he separated from his family and moved in with her in his apartment, he had thought of nothing but making the woman he loved his for life. He desired her to become his wife.
He wasn't concerned about his family's opinion. Besides. Ever since Chanmi broke her contract with the devil, they had all gone crazy. It seemed to Jin that his entire family had lost their sanity. They didn't even give a damn about the fact that he broke off his engagement to Yeeun. Of course, it wasn't without drama when the crazy girl threatened to kill himself if he didn't marry her. Seokjin, however, was merciless towards her, straightforwardly and unscrupulously ending a relationship with her that should never have started.
He guessed that his family had fallen because of the broken contract with the devil, but why didn't the same thing affect him? Was it because he didn't participate in it?
His father had problems in the company. The prosecutor's office started snooping because someone reported him, mentioning alleged scams. The mother went completely crazy, claiming that every day she saw the devil lashing out at her for a damaged contract, and Jieun sat locked in her room, afraid to look in the mirror. Her face was covered with hideous pimples, making her as ugly as a witch.
The broken contact had taken away what they loved most: her father's company, her mother's power, and Jieun's beauty.
The young man smiled broadly as he looked at the phone display and noticed that Jisoo was calling him.
- Excuse me, dear reader. Chanmi didn't want to let me out of the house until she said I looked like a goddess. She started to exaggerate a bit, but I'll be there in a minute. I'm already in a cab.
- I can even wait for you all night. Jisoo calmly said.
He hid the phone in his pants pocket and looked around. The neighborhood was unusually quiet. Occasionally, a car drove by, only dogs could be heard barking from the gated estate.
His attention was drawn to a car that stood not far from him, lined up on the side of the road. It seemed to him that someone was sitting inside, but he figured that they were simply waiting, as he was, for the person with whom he had an appointment.
He looked at the bouquet of red roses he held in his hand and smiled broadly. He couldn't wait to see Jisoo's reaction.
A cab stood on the opposite side of the road. His face became even happier when he spotted his beloved getting out of it.
She looked beautiful.
He watched her with happy eyes, not noticing that lights flashed in the car, which until now had been standing off to the side. His gaze was fully focused on the beautiful-looking Jisoo, who looked around sideways to cross to the other side.
Then came the moment when it seemed to Jin that time slowed down and everything began to play out in slow motion. His beloved was walking towards him, and a car drove dangerously fast past him, heading straight for her.
He only managed to shout her name, and then there was a shrill bang.
Like paralyzed, he stood in one place, unable to make any movement. He was in a strange amok, a shock that grew stronger with each passing moment. A bouquet of roses falls out of his hand, and the person who hit his loved one got out of the car.
Jin saw everything through a fog, still unable to move. Fear overpowered him to the point that he was paralyzed.
- If she's the one you wanted to marry, you'll only do it in hell when you meet again - the person in front of him announced. Jin looked at the petite figure of the blonde with short hair, who at that moment looked like the devil.
- Jisoo... - he whispered only, looking at the motionless body lying in the middle of the street. With a trembling hand, he pulled his phone from his pocket, but Yeeun immediately took the device from him.
- Don't even think about saving her. Not after what you did to me - she announced, and someone from behind stuck a needle into his neck, injecting an unidentified fluid into his body. - But I will forgive you so you can be mine again - she added, stroking his cheek.
*
In the evenings, Chanmi loved to watch TV in the living room. Since she became Jungkook's roommate, this became her routine. He was the one who got her addicted to a fantasy series where zombies played the main role.
Despite the interesting plot, her thoughts were around her brother and Jisoo. She wondered how their dinner at the restaurant went. She couldn't wait for the news when she heard that her friend had said yes.
- Are you watching without me again? Why didn't you call me out when I fell asleep? - Jungkook jumped over the couch and situated himself next to her. - You're mean, missy.
- Not as much as you are.
These words made a wide smile appear on his face.
- And doesn't my character make me even more attractive because of it? - He asked, again trying to flirt with her.
This was the case every day.
- I remind you that your character made me hate you at first.
- It's just that your heart was deceiving you.
She turned to face him and looked into his eyes.
- How many stupid things can you say in a minute?
- Miss Chanmi, you captivated me one day when I saw you in a photo. I thought then that you must be mine, even if I force you to be mine. My heart beat wildly every time I thought of your beautiful smile.... - He was unable to finish because the redhead put a finger to his lips.
- Okay, now I believe you, you can say a mega amount of stupid things in one minute.
Jungkook bit her finger, and she shrieked.
- It's not stupidity, it's the truth that comes straight from my heart.
The girl looked at him from under the bull's-eye.
- When are you going to grow up? That hurt.
- I will grow up the moment you let me be your boyfriend and protect you full steam twenty-four hours a day.
She would rather not show it from herself, but he made her smile slightly.
- Being your girlfriend is a little scary. I don't know what you would be capable of.
- I would definitely be very possessive towards you. It takes me too long to win your heart.
Chanmi has managed to get used to his strange nature.
- You behave like this toward me all the time.
- So that means you are already my girlfriend - he declared exultantly, waving his arms like a child.
- Wrap up - she pointed out to him, trying to calm him down.
- Don't change the subject...
- I'm not changing the subject at all.
- So you are my girlfriend? I'm your boyfriend? That's right, isn't it?
- Are we in kindergarten? - She asked in an amused voice, looking at him like a freak.
- Well answer... is that the case or not? - She took the phone in her hand as the bell sounded. She was surprised to see that it was a call from Roowon. - If you answer from him, I'll kiss you to death.
Chanmi started laughing as he put her phone down on the table and kissed her cheek hastily.
- Are you crazy? Maybe it's something important. Calm down, or I won't answer your question.
His eyes lit up, and she took advantage of this and answered the call from Roowon, who was hitting on her.
- What is it, my friend? - She asked, and her face changed dramatically when the boy spoke up.
- Chanmi, something terrible has happened.... It's about your brother and Jisoo.
Her face went pale. Jungkook immediately noticed that something was wrong. He stopped his foolishness and looked at her with caring eyes.
- What's going on? - He asked in a whisper.
- Jin is missing, and Jisoo.... she... - she whispered with difficulty, tilting the phone away from her ear and turning to Jungkook. - Oh god...