---
I entered my room quietly.
I closed the door behind me and leaned my back against it. I raised my hands to look at them... two small hands, soft, that had never known the violence of the streets or the roughness of weapons.
I sighed deeply.
Well... I feel tired.
I looked at the ceiling and smiled sarcastically:
— I wished I were in a stronger body... haha. Maybe things would have gone better than they are now.
I bit my lip.
How selfish of me.
I was just a tool, sold to a gang. I didn't ask to live in the first place. And now I'm here... in the body of a girl living among people, drinking clean water, going to school, able to make friends.
— I should be grateful.
Silence.
But something is heavy in my chest.
No... it's not my sadness. It's Yuna's feeling. The remnants of her stuck in this body.
I looked around. The room is small, simple, cramped. No pictures on the walls. No decorations. Just a bed, a small desk, and a closet.
Yuna's eyes were getting heavy. Sleep was overcoming me.
I headed toward the bed and collapsed onto it without feeling it.
A light knock on the door.
I raised my head tiredly. How much time had passed? I don't know.
— Who?
No answer.
I got up slowly and opened the door. No one was there.
I looked right and left. The hallway was empty.
Then I involuntarily turned toward the small desk in the corner of the room.
Yuna's diary.
Right. I haven't opened Yuna's diary since I woke up in this body. Maybe I'll learn about Yuna's relationships that weren't mentioned in the novel. Maybe I'll understand more about who this girl was before I came here.
I got up from the bed and headed toward the desk. I sat on the cold wooden chair and opened the diary.
The paper was slightly yellow, and the handwriting was childish, trembling.
The first page:
"Why did I have to live like this? I want to die. I'm really scared. I can't.."
I paused for a moment.
What is this? Did Yuna really write this?
I continued reading.
"I want Father to hug me like he does with my siblings. I regret that I caused my mother's death. If only I hadn't been born... Father wouldn't hate me, at least..."
Something pressed on my chest.
May 17th:
"It was Aren's birthday. Aren accused me of stealing her bag. Father slapped me. I cried a lot. Why? Why don't you acknowledge me? What did I do?"
I gripped the diary tightly.
October 22nd:
"Eric poured milk on my head. I tried to defend myself, but there was no one. I'm alone. Do I deserve to live?"
October 23rd:
"Grandfather from my mother's side came. Aren wore a beautiful dress. I wanted to ask for one like it... but I can't. Because I'm the cause of his only daughter's death. That's what they say. I didn't do anything... but I'm the reason. That doesn't seem logical at all."
Tears began to gather in my eyes. Yuna's tears? Or my tears? I don't know.
"Why is everyone against me? Every time I try to befriend someone, they hate me. What did I do to you?"
I suddenly closed the diary.
I put my hand over my mouth, as if I were about to vomit.
What is this!
I can't continue reading.
Do these people consider themselves a family, these monsters?!
She's a child. Just a child.
I put my hand on my head. I felt pity... not as a stranger, but as if I felt her pain in my body.
And our childhood... was similar in some way.
---
I suddenly stood up. I need air.
I opened the window and went out to the small balcony. I looked outside.
The night was quiet... empty. A sky with no stars.
But suddenly!
A black car from a distance. Heading toward the house slowly.
It stopped at the main gate.
A tall figure got out... an elegant suit, black hair, cold features.
Damian.
He suddenly looked upward. Toward my window. Toward me.
I froze.
Did he see me?
For a moment, I felt our eyes collide. A sharp, piercing gaze.
I stepped back.
— Okay... it must be just my imagination.
I quickly closed the window and returned to my bed.
---
Knock knock knock.
A knock on the door.
I looked at the clock. Who at this hour? Is it Aren again?
I looked at the door in surprise.
— Da... Damian?
— Uh... okay. What do you want?
— Open up. I have something I want to discuss.
I hesitated for a moment, then opened the door wide.
— Okay. Come in.
Damian entered the room, his face cold as usual, still in his work suit, maybe he had just returned from a late meeting.
He quickly glanced around, then sat on my bed!
I raised an eyebrow:
— What are you doing? This is my bed!
But he didn't answer. He suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm. Firmly. He examined it carefully, looking at my wrist, then at my entire arm.
I felt a shiver run through my body.
Then he looked at my neck, with intense scrutiny.
Here my anger exploded.
I pulled my arm and snatched it forcefully from his hand.
— Leave me alone! What exactly do you want from me?!
He looked at me. He was silent for seconds. Then he suddenly stood up.
— Nothing. I was just checking something.
And he quietly left the room.
What?!
I stood there stunned.
What just happened?! This jerk!
He closed the door.
---
Outside the room
Damian stood in the hallway, thinking about something.
Suddenly Aren appeared from behind him, along with Theo.
— Brother! Did you say you would punish her?
Damian looked at Aren coolly.
— Shouldn't we check the security cameras first?
Aren's face paled for a moment. She stammered:
— What?! I... I just...
Theo intervened sarcastically:
— Yes, yes. We all know Aren is always right.
Aren looked at them with fear, then said quickly:
— No... no need for cameras. I don't want to embarrass my sister. I understand her situation.
Then she quickly walked away.
Damian looked at Theo. They exchanged a glance.
Then each of them returned to their room.
---
The next morning
"Yoonji Choi... you are mine. I'll always be with you... even in your death."
What?!
I suddenly opened my eyes. My face was pale, my hand on my chest which was beating violently.
This dream... what is this nightmare?!
Why does it still haunt me?
I looked around. Morning light was seeping through the window.
— Has... has morning come?
A light knock on the door.
— Miss? Breakfast is ready.
The maid's voice.
I got up tiredly and opened the door.
— I'm not hungry.
The maid looked at me with a strange smirk:
— But... Mr. Damian insisted on you attending breakfast.
I raised an eyebrow.
Damian?
— Okay. I'll come down.
---
I descended the stairs slowly. The smell of food filled the place.
I entered the dining hall.
The arrangement as usual: Theo, Aren, and Damian on one side, and me on the other side...
Alone.
I sat down.
I looked at the plate in front of me. Eggs, bread, some vegetables.
I took a bite.
Salty! Very salty!
I almost vomited. I quickly put my hand over my mouth.
Quietly, I grabbed the glass of water and drank it quickly.
Father looked at me in surprise. Everyone looked at me:
Everyone except...
The maid standing in the corner. She was smiling.
A faint smile, but it was enough.
I know who did this.
I raised my head. If I spoke, no one would believe me.
I looked around. Who could help me?
My eyes stopped on Damian.
Damian... the only brother whose relationship with Yuna was somewhat decent.
I gathered my courage.
— Damian...
He looked at me:
— Do you want... to exchange plates?
He looked at me in surprise. For a moment, he seemed confused.
Then he said quietly:
— Okay.
He reached out to take my plate.
But the maid intervened with a panicked voice:
— Mr. Damian! You don't like this type of food! It's...
Damian looked at her. Just one look.
A cold, deadly look. It made the maid step back.
Then he took a bite from my plate.
Silence.
He chewed.
To be continued...
---