The night was unusually quiet as Seol made her way home through the alley. The traffic had been terrible, forcing her to take the shortcut she rarely used. As she stepped into the narrow passage, she immediately sensed something was wrong. Figures began to materialize out of the shadows, surrounding her.
Seol's pulse quickened. She had no intention of fighting, but she had no choice when the men began to close in. She tried to steady her breathing, preparing herself for what was to come. But just as the first man lunged at her, a figure emerged from the darkness, moving with fluid precision.
"So Myung."
The young man dispatched the attackers with ease, his movements swift and calculated. Seol stood frozen, watching as he disarmed the men, taking them down one by one without breaking a sweat. His style was unconventional, almost playful, but his skill was undeniable.
As the last man crumpled to the ground, So Myung turned to Seol, his expression a mix of amusement and slight exasperation. "Next time, try not to get into trouble," he teased, his voice light and mocking.
Seol couldn't help but feel a wave of relief mixed with annoyance. "Who are you?" she asked, still trying to comprehend what had just happened.
So Myung flashed a cheeky grin, tapping his finger to his lips. "A friend," he said, before turning toward his car. "Though, I doubt you'd call me that after I'm done with you."
"Wait!" Seol called after him, her words cut short as he simply waved and continued walking. He reached the car with a nonchalant swagger, and before he climbed into the driver's seat, he looked over his shoulder at Seol.
"Be careful, alright?" he called, his voice unexpectedly warm.
Seol stood still for a moment, unsure of what had just transpired, but before she could gather her thoughts, So Myung was already inside the car, and the engine revved as he sped off into the night.
Confused but grateful, Seol began to head in the opposite direction, but her thoughts remained on the mysterious man who had just saved her.
Meanwhile, in the dimly lit interior of the car, So Myung sat beside none other than Haesung. He turned to face him, his voice laced with a mischievous tone. "She'll dig deeper, Haesung. That's what she does. You can't stop her curiosity."
Haesung remained silent for a moment, his eyes focused on the road ahead. "I know," he finally said, his voice colder now. "But I can control how much she finds out. And when. This isn't just about her anymore. It's about something far bigger, something that's been buried for years."
So Myung smirked, clearly amused by Haesung's serious demeanor. "You really think you can keep it all from her? The truth will catch up eventually."
Haesung's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles white. "I won't let that happen. Not if I can help it."
The car sped through the quiet streets, the city lights casting fleeting shadows over their faces. So Myung leaned back and watched the night pass by, his eyes never fully leaving Haesung. "You really care about her, don't you? I can see it. You've got more to lose than you're willing to admit."
Haesung glanced at him briefly, his expression unreadable. "This isn't about me," he said firmly. "It's about protecting what's left. And making sure the past stays where it belongs."
As they neared a secluded area on the outskirts of the city, So Myung finally sat up straighter, his teasing demeanor fading. "You know I can't stay out of this forever. Seol's going to come looking for answers, and when she does, I'll be there. But I won't make it easy for her."
Haesung's gaze hardened, his voice taking on an edge. "Just stay out of her way, So Myung. She has enough to deal with without you complicating things."
So Myung chuckled, but there was a hint of seriousness in his tone now. "No promises, Haesung. I don't exactly play by the rules."
The car slowed as they pulled into an underground parking garage, the harsh lights flickering above them. Haesung killed the engine and turned to So Myung, his expression intense.
"Tomorrow," Haesung said, "everything changes. Get ready."
So Myung gave a lazy salute before opening the car door. "Don't worry, boss. I'm always ready." He flashed Haesung a grin before walking away into the shadows.
Inside the car, Haesung exhaled sharply, his mind racing. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fit together, but he knew the hardest part was still ahead. Protecting Seol, keeping her in the dark, and dealing with the ghosts of the past—he couldn't do it alone.
He had to act fast, or everything would unravel.
The next day, Seol spent her morning trying to piece together the photo she had found and the cryptic words Haesung had said to her. She couldn't stop thinking about what had happened the previous night—about how So Myung had appeared out of nowhere to help her, and how Haesung had been so adamant about keeping her away from the truth.
She was determined to find out what it all meant, but she knew she had to tread carefully. The danger was real, and it was closing in on her faster than she could have imagined.
As the day went on, Seol's instincts told her she wasn't safe, that the people from her grandfather's past were still out there, waiting to strike. But what she didn't realize was that the danger wasn't just coming from the past—it was already here.
Meanwhile, Haesung was in motion, gathering his resources, preparing for the inevitable confrontation. He knew the stakes were higher than ever, and the clock was ticking.
By the time Seol returned home that evening, she found a note waiting for her. It was simple and direct: Meet me at the old pier at midnight. Don't bring anyone with you.
The handwriting was familiar, but the message was clear. Seol's heart pounded in her chest. This was it—the moment she'd been waiting for.
But as she looked out the window, she realized the world around her had shifted. It wasn't just her grandfather's past she had to worry about anymore. It was everything. And the answers she was seeking were tangled up in a web of lies, betrayal, and dark secrets that stretched far beyond her understanding.
Determined to uncover the truth, Seol grabbed her jacket and set out into the night. But what awaited her at the pier would change everything—and the final twist would reveal a shocking connection between her and Haesung that neither of them could have anticipated.
The next night, Seol arrived at the old pier, the air thick with tension. She had been here many times before, but tonight felt different—heavier. As she walked toward the worn wooden dock, the waves gently lapping at the shore, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Every step echoed in the silence, but there was no sign of anyone.
She stood at the edge, her heart racing as she glanced around, hoping for some kind of clue. The note had been clear—"Don't bring anyone with you." But who had written it? And why did it feel like this was the beginning of something much bigger than she had ever imagined?
Just as Seol was about to turn back, a figure stepped from the shadows, his presence unmistakable.
Haesung.
His face was a mask of calm, but there was an undeniable intensity in his eyes. Seol felt her pulse quicken at the sight of him, but she pushed down the rising panic. She had come here to find answers, and she wasn't about to back down now.
"Haesung," she said, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "What is this about? What do you know?"
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a step closer, his gaze never leaving hers. The distance between them seemed to shrink with each passing moment, the air growing thicker with every word left unsaid.
Seol took a deep breath, refusing to be intimidated. "You knew something. About my grandfather. About me. I need to know everything, Haesung. I need the truth."
Haesung's jaw tightened, but his expression remained unreadable. For a long moment, he said nothing. Seol felt the weight of his silence, but she refused to back down. She had to know.
Finally, Haesung spoke, his voice low, almost a whisper. "You have no idea what you're asking for, Seol. The truth you're looking for is dangerous. It's not just about your grandfather. It's about something much bigger—something that could destroy everything."
Seol's mind raced. "What do you mean? What are you trying to protect me from?"
He hesitated, clearly torn. "There are people who would go to any lengths to keep the past buried. People who would stop at nothing to ensure that the truth stays hidden. And you're too close to it now, Seol. You're too close to everything."
A chill ran down Seol's spine. The urgency in his voice was palpable, but it only fueled her determination. "I don't care how dangerous it is. I need to know what happened. I need to know what my grandfather was involved in."
Haesung looked away, his expression darkening. "You don't understand. Once you know the truth, there's no going back. You're not just uncovering a family secret, Seol. You're uncovering a war—a war that has been raging for years, and one that could destroy everything you hold dear."
Seol felt her breath catch in her throat. "A war? What do you mean?"
Haesung finally met her gaze, his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn't quite read. "A war between two sides—one that has been hiding in the shadows, manipulating everything for their own gain. And your grandfather was caught in the middle of it all."
Seol's mind reeled. "So, he knew?"
"Yes," Haesung said softly. "He knew. And he made choices—choices that affected all of us. But there are things you're not ready to understand, Seol. Things that could destroy everything you think you know about your family. About me."
Seol stepped back, feeling the weight of his words crash down on her. She had always believed her family was ordinary, that her grandfather had lived a simple life. But now, it seemed as though everything she knew had been a lie.
Haesung watched her closely, his eyes softening for a moment before hardening once more. "You need to be careful, Seol. The truth isn't something you can just uncover and walk away from. It's dangerous. And the more you dig, the more you'll put yourself—and the people you care about—at risk."
Seol's heart pounded in her chest, but she shook her head. "I don't care. I can't just walk away from this. I need to know who my grandfather really was."
Haesung sighed, his gaze lingering on her for a long moment. "I can't stop you," he said finally. "But I can warn you. And I will. Just... be careful. Don't let the truth consume you."
With that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows, leaving Seol standing alone at the pier, her mind spinning with the new revelations. The weight of the secrets she had uncovered began to settle over her, and for the first time, she realized just how deep the rabbit hole went.
As Seol turned to leave, her phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out to find a message from an unknown number:
"You don't know what you're getting into. Stay away from Haesung. This is bigger than you think."
Seol's eyes narrowed. It was a warning, but from who? And why did it feel like the walls were closing in on her from all sides?
The pieces were slowly falling into place, but the truth was more elusive than ever. And as she walked away from the pier, she knew that her search for answers had only just begun.
What she didn't realize, however, was that the next move would be made by someone far more dangerous than she could ever imagine.