Solbin has already lost patience. She should be the one deciding her life, not some crazy witch who was having fun while writing a novel. This was too much. She couldn't erase from her memory the moment when Jungkook kissed her passionately in the rain, claiming his true feelings.
Well, yes, because who would normally believe that their lives were written with a pen across the pages? It sounds absurd, and no one in their right mind would find it logical. Jungkook simply concluded that she was trying to reject him in this way, which is why he acted all the time as if he had lost his mind. She didn't react when he grabbed her hands or looked into her eyes with loving eyes on the way back.
She knew that these were not his feelings, but a witch's fantasy, and she had to put an end to it as soon as possible. Although she had no idea how to do it to restore her former life.
That night, she was unable to sleep because her head was cluttered with thoughts about the situation she was in. It was because of her that her friend Jungkook and Seokjin were stuck in the novel of a witch who was playing with their lives. As a child, she inadvertently freed her from the tree and now has her thanks.
And what if their lives had worked out perfectly, as in the book? If she had let it, she would have believed that a faster beating heart in Jungkook's company was a sign that she was in love with him. She could be stuck in a fairy tale as a secretary and future wife of the company president. If she knew that this was her life and not the content of a novel, then she would be happy, but not in a situation where someone was directing her.
She had to stop it at all costs.
- You can't appreciate what I do for you, Solbin. I want to provide you with a perfect life as a thank you for freeing me, but you think this is something bad. I am sorry," he said.
Lying down on the bed, she raised herself up on her elbows and fixed her eyes on the ugly woman who had emerged from the corner of the room.
- Creating a novel, playing with us, is not the right way to say thank you. Give us back our normal lives.
- Do you realize what you are saying, Solbin? - Her voice sounded too sharp.
- Yes, I am the one who wants to run my life. I no longer want to be your puppet.
The light in Solbin's room came on. The witch stood in front of the girl's bed, watching her with narrowed eyes.
- You are hurting me. You should be grateful to me for the life I have arranged for you. Thanks to me, you will marry a handsome, rich man. You will be stuck in a fairy tale without any worries.
- But I would rather not be stuck in a fairy tale! I want my old life back! I'd rather it is horrible and full of pain, but mine, than beautiful and forced, created by a crazy witch! - She burst out before biting her tongue.
She was breathing heavily, watching the woman with horror in her eyes. She saw the expression on her face change dramatically.
- Do you realize what you wish for? You will lose everything. By erasing the novel, I will take you back to the time of the trip to Thailand. Your life may look entirely different, unhappily. Someone among you may even die. At this point, I protect you," she said.
Her heart was beating like crazy. She was frightened.
- But this will be our life, and if it is so written in the stars, even tomorrow I may die.
- You offended me, Solbin," the witch announced, lifting the notebook up. - And do you know why five hundred years ago my soul was trapped in that tree? Because that's where I lost my life for killing a man who made me uncomfortable.
Goosebumps appeared on the girl's body. She had a bad feeling that she had only made their situation worse.
- What do you mean? - She asked in a whisper.
- I'm not going to burn this notebook because I know that's what you would want. I don't forgive so easily.
- After all, I didn't offend you in any way. I just want my old life back," the girl defended herself, but the witch pierced her with furious eyes.
- No, you're an ingrate who can't appreciate how kind I wanted to be to the four of you.
- But... - Solbin didn't manage to finish her sentence because the witch disappeared before her eyes. - I just want to control my life.
Tears streamed into her eyes as she realized that now she could have brought a much worse danger upon herself and the others.
Was this crazy witch going to take revenge for this? It wasn't supposed to be like this...
*
It had been a long time since Ara had felt as depressed as she had that morning. With wide-open eyes, she looked at the divorce documents that lay on the table. Seokjin, who was sitting at them, stared out the window with his arms crossed over his chest.
- Why so suddenly? - She asked in a low voice, feeling a strange pain in her heart. Yesterday there was a rapprochement between them. They acted as if they had both been thirsty for each other for a long time. She was even able to fail and admit that she lost the bet because her heart was beating like crazy at that moment. She realized that she had been suppressing hidden feelings towards him that she didn't want to admit before.
- Because I lost," he declared, shifting his gaze to her. - After what happened between us yesterday, I realized that I am happy. It is hard for me to comprehend because until now, I have treated all women like toys. They happened to be more wonderful than you, so why is it you? I can't digest this because I would rather not be in a relationship. I have to end it before it even starts.
The redhead furrowed her brow.
- So because of your mother, you're never going to be happy?
Seokjin swallowed his saliva harder.
- Just sign the documents. It's already been a month, so let's end this circus and split up. Let everyone go their own way.
Ara pressed her lips together as she felt tears coming to her eyes. She would rather not show him her weakness, so she stifled it inside. Deep in her heart, however, she felt how much it hurt her. Before, she wanted to joke about it, laughing to herself when Seokjin loses first, yet that was not the case. She suffered because she lost to him at the same time.
Without a word, she leaned over the table, grabbed a pen in her hand and signed the documents. She hid them in a large brown envelope, which she threw at Seokjin.
- Today I will move out so that you don't have to look at me any longer," she declared, then turned her back on him and disappeared behind the door of her room. Only there did she burst out crying. She hid her face in her hands, feeling completely nailed down.
- Ara our lives actually being directed by the witch that Solbin mentioned? Why is everything going on in such an absurd way?
*
That morning, Solbin felt that something bad was going to happen. Since she had angered the witch, she had no doubt that she would change the course of events. She was alert all the way to work, as if she feared she would lose her life before she reached the company. Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened, and she breathed a sigh of relief when she finally sat down at her desk.
Perhaps she had been over-sensitized by the whole situation.
She grabbed her phone and read a message from her best friend, who shared the news with her regarding the next stage in her life.
"I thought there would be something to it, but a while ago I signed the divorce papers. It's strange, Solbin. You're right. There is something wrong with our lives. I feel like I'm the heroine of a novel."
The gray-haired woman combed her hair, understanding that the witch had already changed the course of events. The rapprochement that Ara had written to her about last night had led to their divorce, and was probably meant to be the beginning of their fantasy love.
- I'm sorry," she whispered into the phone, feeling guilty about her friend's distress.
She put the phone down and rose from her seat as Jungkook appeared. The look he threw her was a sign that he was not in the mood, and she would probably get something for it.
- That crazy woman has prepared a surprise for me, too," she muttered under her breath as she followed him into his office.
As she closed the door, Jungkook turned to face her. He did not hide his anger. Had he gotten up with his left foot?
- Did you sit up all night working on the message you sent me, or did writing it come to you with unimaginable ease? - He asked by way of introduction, but she looked at him with dull eyes because she didn't understand any of it. - Was it fun to make fun of me all this time?
- What message are you talking about? What message?
Jungkook pierced her with his gaze and pressed the phone into her hand with an open text message she had seemingly sent him at three in the morning.
"After you kissed me, I realized that I finally achieved success. I had won. I wrapped you around my little finger. What a fantastic feeling that an ordinary secretary managed to woo the company president. There's only one way for guys: just seduce them during one night, so they can't forget about the woman for years to come."
- Do you really believe that I wrote this? - she asked in a trembling voice, raising her eyes to him.
- And who, Dwarf? It's a message sent from your phone number, Solbin. Do you have a split ego! - He raised his voice at her, and goosebumps appeared on her body.
- I didn't.
He snatched the phone from her hand and looked closely into her eyes. The intensity between them made her heart beat harder. He was too close, and she still hadn't forgotten that kiss in the rain.
She was stuck in the novel of the witch who had control over her life.
- Turns out you've been lying to me all along. Maybe you knew who I was, that's why you approached me? - He did not take his eyes off her. She swallowed her saliva harder, thinking about how to get out of this situation.
- You know very well that after that night I never wanted to meet you again.
- Or was it just a ploy on your part? You pretended to be innocent because this is a proven way of crooks," he attacked her.
At this point, Solbin felt offended, but she knew that these were not his words, since he too was a puppet of this crazy woman.
- Think what you want. I don't feel guilty because I know what the truth is," she declared, still looking into his eyes. - Am I to understand that I am fired? - She asked, and when she didn't get an answer, she turned her back to him intending to walk away, but he grabbed her hand and kept her with him.
- There is no way I can terminate your employment. You will be by my side at all times.
Shocked, she turned to face him.
- After all, you hate me. You think I'm a bad woman. How can you still want to work with me?
- Despite everything, I won't let you leave. Isn't that what you want? After all, you have achieved success. You have wrapped me around your little finger.
- These were never my real intentions. I just wanted to have a stable job. Relationships may not exist for me. I don't need that," she said.
She was surprised when he unexpectedly took her face in his hands and kissed her greedily. Her heart was beating like crazy, and yet she tried to pull away from him.
- I may be angry with you for the way you think of me, but that won't change my feelings for you. I want you to be there for me, regardless of what happens between us.
What was this witch up to? Solbin was sure she would be fired after this action, and yet that was not the point. Jungkook wasn't going to let her go, so.... was she planning to put her to death?
She had to find a way to end this. She had to regain control of her life. This couldn't go on any longer... They were all in danger.