"That's what you've come to get, isn't it?" Ji-yeon asks softly, extending the coat toward Kangha.
Kangha hesitates, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment as he accepts the coat. His mind races, filled with self-reproach. Why did I act like that? I could've just asked her for the coat directly. What must she think of me now?
"You didn't treat me badly," Ji-yeon continues, her voice calm and reassuring. "I just didn't mention it earlier. But next time, if something like this happens, just talk to me straight."
Kangha glances at her, his fingers gripping the coat tightly. "Listen, don't think badly of me," he begins, his voice faltering slightly. "I just… didn't know how to ask you for the coat. That's all."
Ji-yeon lets out a soft laugh, her lips curling into a faint smile. "When you first saw me, I was unconscious and completely out of it from drinking. Did you think anything bad about me then?" she asks, tilting her head slightly, her gaze gentle.
"No!" Kangha says quickly, his expression shifting into something more serious. He pauses, his thoughts trailing off for a moment before he continues. "No, I didn't think anything like that about you."
Ji-yeon nods, her voice steady but kind. "Well, I didn't think anything bad about you either." She places the coat in his hands and sits back on the bed, her calm demeanor putting him at ease.
Kangha remains silent for a moment, holding the coat as if it carries more weight than it should. A small sense of relief washes over him, though he can't quite shake the awkwardness of the situation.
"Okay, then I'm going," Kangha says, turning toward the door.
As he moves to leave, Ji-yeon's calm voice calls after him. "Kangha."
He stops in his tracks and turns back, looking at her. "Yes?"
"Why do you read books about dreams and black magic?" she asks, her tone relaxed but deliberate, as if testing his reaction.
Kangha's eyes widen in surprise, caught off guard by the unexpected question. Why is she asking this? he wonders. Forcing a casual tone, he replies, "Just for a hobby."
Ji-yeon raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "No one reads books about black magic just for a hobby," she says, her words deliberate.
Kangha stiffens, his back to her as his hand reaches for the door lock.
She continues, her voice calm but firm. "The book in your coat—it isn't an ordinary one. It's a guide to overcoming evil powers and magic. Books like that aren't something you find in a library or a regular bookstore. They're rare. Such a book would either belong to a magician or someone deeply researching this field." Her gaze sharpens. "And you're neither of those, are you?"
Kangha's hand freezes on the door lock. His heart pounds as her words sink in. Slowly, he turns his head slightly, his voice low but steady. "How do you know about this book?"
Ji-yeon doesn't flinch. Her calm expression hides something beneath—a knowledge or truth she hasn't yet revealed. "That's for me to answer when you're ready to explain yourself," she says softly, her words hanging in the air like a challenge.
Ji Yeon stiffens, her heart pounding as he turns to face her, his sharp gaze fixed on her. "Do you know black magic?" he asks, his voice low but insistent.
Her breath catches. The question sends her mind spinning, and for a moment, her face drains of color. She avoids his piercing eyes, staring down at her hands. How can I tell him? she wonders. How can I admit how much his mother taught me—about black magic, forbidden rituals, and every book she placed in my hands?
He steps closer, the air around them growing heavy. His presence feels suffocating, yet she cannot move away.
"Do you know about the interpretation of dreams?" he asks again, his voice softer now, though his eyes remain locked on hers. They gleam with curiosity, not suspicion, as if he only seeks information. Still, Ji Yeon senses the weight of the moment.
Her lips tremble, and her hands clench into fists at her sides. Finally, she looks up, meeting his gaze with her own deep brown eyes. Her voice shakes as she replies, "I... I know about black magic. And... and about black powers."
A shadow flickers across his face, but he doesn't pull away. Instead, he leans in slightly, his expression unreadable. "Tell me everything you know," he murmurs, his tone both demanding and oddly gentle.
Ji Yeon hesitates, fear clawing at her throat. What will happen if she reveals the truth?
Kangha stands upright now, gripping the coat in his hand tightly. His eyes lower to the fabric as though lost in thought. It's clear he is debating something, perhaps preparing to ask another question.
Ji-yeon, sensing the weight in the silence, takes a deep breath. Before answering, she hesitates, her mind racing. Finally, she speaks, her voice calm but laced with curiosity. "But why do you want to know about black power?"
Kangha's gaze sharpens, but his tone softens when he replies, "I have to fight a war with a magician." He pauses, his jaw tightening before continuing. "But I don't want you involved in this matter. No one who steps into this survives. So even if you know anything about black magic, keep it to yourself. Don't tell anyone here—or you'll end up in trouble."
His words hang in the air, heavy with warning. Kangha studies Ji-yeon's face, searching for a reaction. From her expression, he concludes that she likely knows nothing about interpreting dreams and is merely asking questions out of curiosity. Speaking to someone who knows nothing can be dangerous, he realizes. For both of us.
He exhales and turns away, ready to leave her behind.
But Ji-yeon's next words stop him cold. "Is your fight with Felix?"
Kangha freezes. The shock is evident in his eyes as he whirls around to face her. How does she know that name? he wonders. His breath quickens, and his thoughts spiral. This girl... she's faster and sharper than he had anticipated.
His impression of Ji-yeon begins to shift, growing more complicated with every passing moment. She's not as innocent as she appears, he thinks, watching her carefully. Her delicate features mask something deeper—something he can't yet decipher.
"Who is this girl? Kangha wonders, his mind tangled in questions. What does she know, and how much has she been hiding behind those unassuming eyes?"
Kangha turns to leave, his thoughts still clouded with uncertainty. But before he can take another step, Ji-yeon's voice stops him.
"Do you know where your grandfather is? And... where Felix is?" she asks, her tone steady but probing.
Kangha halts mid-step and slowly turns back to her. His eyes lock onto her, studying her closely. The glasses perched on her face, her delicate features—everything about her appears innocent. But her words? They cut deep.
"How do you know all this?" he asks, his voice low, almost cautious.
"My mother told me," she replies, her expression unwavering.
Kangha's mind races. That could be true, he thinks. Miss Choi always seemed to know everything. He takes a moment to collect his thoughts before speaking again.
"Yes," he admits finally, his voice firm. "Our war is with Felix. But, girl, you need to stay far away from this matter. If you don't, you'll meet a death worse than death itself."
Ji-yeon's face hardens at his words. She doesn't like the tone he's using or the fact that he seems to think he's the only one capable here.
"And do you know where your grandfather is?" she presses, undeterred.
Kangha's eyes narrow. He gestures sharply with his finger, his voice laced with authority. "I know exactly where he is. And I know how to protect him. I don't need anyone to tell me what to do."
Ji-yeon feels a flash of anger rise within her. His arrogance grates on her nerves. She narrows her eyes and retorts, "Do you really think you can fight this war alone?"
The question catches Kangha off guard. For a brief moment, he wonders why she said that. Was she questioning his strength? Did she think he was weak? Or was it something else entirely?
Ji-yeon herself doesn't fully understand why she said it. Perhaps she's convinced that Kangha isn't ready to face Felix, that his strength alone won't be enough. Or maybe, she thinks, I'm the one underestimating him. But am I?
"I don't want to fight him," Kangha replies firmly, his tone sharp with resolve. "I just want to rescue my grandfather from his captivity." He gestures with his finger again, emphasizing his point.
Ji-yeon's expression softens slightly, but she doesn't back down. "You can't do that without understanding his power," she states, her voice steady.
Her words linger in the air. They are wise words, and Kangha knows it. A war is never won without first understanding the strength of the enemy.
For a moment, Kangha watches her closely. The confidence in her voice, the fire in her eyes—it catches him off guard. She's not just talking; she believes in what she's saying.
Who is this girl? Kangha wonders again, this time with a deeper curiosity. And why does she seem so certain of what she's saying?
Ji-yeon watches Kangha closely, her thoughts churning. He underestimates me, she thinks, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. He sees me as an ordinary girl, but he doesn't realize how much I know about him—perhaps even more than he knows about himself.
Her gaze intensifies as she reflects on everything her mother and Kangha's mother taught her. My upbringing was shaped by two remarkable women. They prepared me for this moment, sharing secrets and knowledge that Kangha himself might be oblivious to.
Ji-yeon's mind drifts to her mother's words. She was right. This boy truly knows nothing—not about his mother, not about the past of his school, and certainly not about Felix. He only knows what everyone else knows. And that's not enough.
Her eyes narrow slightly as another thought creeps in. He probably doesn't even know about the book his father wrote about Felix.
"But as Ji-yeon silently critiques Kangha, she fails to see the full picture. She underestimates him again. What she doesn't realize is that Kangha knows far more than he lets on".
Kangha, standing before her, hides his thoughts well. His expression remains unreadable, but his mind is sharp and alert. She thinks I'm clueless, he muses. But I've chosen not to reveal what I know. I don't wear my knowledge like a badge. And I certainly don't share my troubles with others.
He glances at Ji-yeon, his jaw tightening slightly. This isn't about pride; it's about survival. I understand the cost of involving others in this fight. Those who step into this war rarely make it out alive.
"His silence and calm demeanor aren't signs of ignorance. They're shields, carefully constructed to protect not just himself, but also those who might foolishly try to stand by his side."