••11 years ago••
The icy waters quickly enveloped me, chilling me to my core. As I struggled and fought against the current, my head hit a large rock, causing me to lose consciousness amid the chaotic flow of the current.
I slowly opened my eyes, my vision blurry at first. I found myself lying on something soft and unfamiliar, my head bandaged.
I lifted a hand to touch the bandage, wincing instinctively at the tender spot on my head. A dull throb coursed through my skull, serving as a reminder of the recent accident.
With a groan, I raised myself into a sitting position, my eyes adjusting to the dimly lit surroundings.
A young boy, named Chul-ki, approached me with a cheerful smile when he saw that I was finally awake. The boy's voice was filled with warmth as he asked, "Hello! I'm Chul-ki. What's your name?"
however, struggled to recall my own identity. The blow to my head during the accident had left my memory severely impaired.
With a mixture of confusion and a hint of frustration, I looked up at Chul-ki and replied, "I... I don't remember who I am."
Chul-ki, amused by the situation, chimed in with a smile. "Well, since you can't remember your name, I'll just call you Seong!" he exclaimed. "That's my cat's name, actually."
We both shared a hearty laugh, the innocence of our youth shining through in our lighthearted moment.
Chul-ki, feeling a bit shy but curious, asked with sincerity, "Seong-seong, you really are pretty, you know that?" His chubby cheeks blushed a little in response to my smile.
I touched by the compliment, replied gently, "Thank you, Chul-ki." I then pinched Chul-ki's chubby cheeks playfully, eliciting a giggle from the young boy.
Chul-ki's mother entered the room, carrying a tray of food in her hands. Upon seeing the scene, she gently addressed her son, saying, "Chul-Ki, you need to let him rest for now."
Chul-Ki, still eager to spend time with me, pouted slightly but obeyed his mother's words. He gave me a small wave before letting his mother usher him out of the room.
Chul-ki's mother set the tray of food down and approached me with a warm smile. She extended a hand in greeting and said, "Hi there. I'm Chul-Ki's mother. You can just call me Mrs. Choe if you'd like."
She took a seat next to me bedside, her voice filled with a motherly warmth. "How are you feeling, dear?"
Touched by Mrs. Choe's concerned demeanor, replied with a soft smile, "I'm fine, thank you."
My voice carried a hint of weariness, as the effects of the accident still lingered. I shifted slightly on the bed, adjusting my position to sit up a bit straighter.
Mrs. Choe, concern etched on her face, nodded and shared some unsettling news.
"Lately, there have been reports of strange creatures roaming nearby. We call them 'namju'."
My ears perked up slightly at the mention of the mysterious beings. I leaned in, seeking more information. "Namju?" I repeated, the unfamiliar word rolling off my tongue. "What are they, exactly?"
Mrs. Choe, noticing my interest, continued, "No one really knows what they are exactly. Some say they're spirits, others claim they're mythical beasts that have come to life. All I know for sure is that they're dangerous, and we must be careful."
She paused for a moment, concern evident in her eyes. "But you shouldn't worry too much, dear," she added soothingly, "We've set up barriers and guards to keep the namju at bay. You are safe here."
Mrs. Choe, clearly still troubled by the presence of the namju, spoke with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I firmly believe that one day, someone will come along and save us from these creatures," she said.
She paused for a moment, her expression turning somber. "We don't know exactly how many namju are wandering around, but their numbers keep growing. It's a troubling reality we have to face everyday," she shared.
I was intrigued by the mysterious namju, continued my line of questioning. "Which monsters do namju come from?," I inquired.
Mrs. Choe sighed and continued, the weight of the situation evident in her voice.
"Namju originate from a distant land called Glacia, located far away," she explained. "This particular village where we reside, Hwan-Myu, is their most recent target."
After his conversation with Mrs. Choe, I grew restless and decided to venture outside. i wanted to explore my surroundings and get some fresh air.
As I stepped out, I caught sight of Chul-Ki playing with a group of other children. Their cheerful laughter and spirited play filled the air, and I couldn't help but be drawn to their joyful scene.
As me and Chul-Ki grew together, our bond grew stronger with each passing day. We were closer than ever, practically inseparable since childhood.
However, our world got shattered when Namju attacked Hwan-Myu village. Mrs. Choe was killed in the attack, leaving Chul-Ki filled with rage and grief. I fought alongside Chul-Ki in that fateful day.
After that tragic incident, Chul-Ki rose to become a hero, but he changed. He wasn't the same Chul-Ki that I knew anymore.
The fame and glory that Chul-Ki had acquired had transformed him. He had become addicted to the adoration and attention that came with being a hero.
Unfortunately, this newfound ego and sense of entitlement led him to treat those around him, particularly me, with harshness and disregard. He started taking advantage of my unwavering loyalty and began to emotionally and mentally abuse me.
"You're not Chul-ki anymore..."
My his voice filled with pain and disappointment, looked at Chul-Ki and said, "You're not the Chul-Ki I knew anymore. The person you've become... it's not the same boy I once called my friend."
Chul-Ki, fueled by his own insecurities and anger, retorted without remorse. "That's right," he sneered, "I'm not that weak, helpless child anymore. And you? You were never my buddy, never my friend. You were just... my mother's favorite toy."
Chul-Ki's voice grew more heated as he unleashed his pent-up anger.
"If it wasn't for you, I could've saved my mother!" he shouted at me. "It's all your fault! If you hadn't held me back, I could have protected her, and she'd still be here today!"
Chul-Ki's words cut deep, filled with bitterness and resentment.
"I wish I never met you," he hissed, his voice seething with anger. "I wish I had never spotted you near the river that day. If I could go back in time and change things, I'd do it in a heartbeat. I'd make it so I'd never brought you home."
A wave of hurt washed over me as Chul-Ki's cruel words cut into me like a blade. Tears welled up in my eyes, unable to hold back the pain and sadness that Chul-Ki's harsh words inflicted upon me.
I had always seen Chul-Ki as a close friend and trusted companion, and to hear such hurtful words coming from him felt like a punch to the gut.
Despite the pain and sorrow caused by Chul-Ki's words, I couldn't bring myself to place the blame solely on Chul-Ki.
My heart weighed heavy with empathy, realizing that underneath Chul-Ki's harsh demeanor, there was a deeply wounded soul. I understood that trauma and loss could change a person, and Chul-Ki had endured his fair share of both.