Jeju Island – 1:00 a.m.
Han Yuri was still fast asleep on the couch, wrapped in the blanket Lee Tae Joon had laid over her.
But her face was tense. Restless.
And in her dreams… the accident came back.
It all started again.
A flash.
The impact.
A woman's body slamming against the windshield before collapsing to the ground.
A younger Yuri, panicked and shaking, stumbled out of the car.
Her heels clicked against the asphalt as she approached the body, frozen in place.
There was… so much blood.
Her heart pounded violently in her chest. She wanted to scream, to call for help, to do something—
But no sound came out.
Her phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
She turned her head, dazed… and that's when the woman moved.
In a sudden, horrifying jolt, she grabbed Yuri's hand.
Yuri flinched back, eyes wide in shock.
The woman was whispering… her voice barely audible.
The woman
— Help me… please…
Over and over, the same desperate plea.
Yuri wanted to scream, to cry, to move—anything.
But she was frozen.
Her phone rang again.
Her gaze drifted slightly to the side—
And then she saw it.
A figure.
Standing a short distance away. Blurry. Still.
Someone… watching them.
She couldn't make out the face, but the presence alone sent chills down her spine.
She turned back to the woman on the ground—
But now, her own hands were soaked in blood.
Too much blood.
The phone was still ringing.
The woman was still whispering.
And the figure hadn't moved.
Han Yuri jolted awake.
She was gasping, her chest heaving, forehead drenched in sweat.
Her hands were trembling. Her heart, racing.
She tried to calm down, to breathe… but it felt like she was suffocating.
Like there wasn't enough air in the room.
She leapt to her feet and rushed to the glass door, throwing it open.
The cold night air rushed in, filling the room.
She clung to the railing, forcing herself to breathe.
One breath.
Two.
Three.
Gradually, her breathing slowed.
But her eyes… were still staring into nothingness.
Her heartbeat hadn't settled.
Her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
And then, barely above a whisper, she said:
Han Yuri (whispering)
— …Someone else was there that night.
The Next Morning – 7:00 a.m.
Lee Tae Joon stepped out of the bedroom, still half-asleep.
He stopped short when he saw Han Yuri already dressed and sitting calmly on the couch, a cup of coffee in her hand.
Her outfit was elegant, her makeup light, as if she hadn't slept at all.
He blinked, surprised.
Lee Tae Joon (yawning softly)
— Good morning… Seriously, what time do you even wake up?
And why are you always so well-dressed in the morning?
Yuri didn't answer right away.
She stared blankly ahead, her gaze cold and distant.
Then, in a calm voice:
Han Yuri
— Pack your suitcase.
We're going back to Seoul. Now.
Tae Joon blinked, caught off guard.
Lee Tae Joon
— Huh? Already?
She turned her head slightly toward him, her tone still flat.
Han Yuri
— We agreed we'd only stay one day, didn't we?
He sighed and stood up, rubbing the back of his neck.
Lee Tae Joon (with a small grimace)
— Alright, alright… I'll pack.
If I'd known we were only staying one night, I wouldn't have brought so much.
Yuri said nothing.
She quietly finished her coffee without looking at him.
One hour later – On the road to Seoul
Silence filled the car.
Lee Tae Joon kept his eyes on the road, his hands tight around the wheel.
Yuri sat next to him, staring out the window, her mind elsewhere—somewhere between the sky and the sea.
Han Yuri's thoughts
Was it really just a dream?
Or… was someone actually there that night?
And if someone was there—if they saw everything—why didn't they call the police?
Why wait all this time to say something?
What do they want from me? Money? Probably.
Otherwise… why haven't they released the video yet?
The car kept moving steadily toward the capital, while her thoughts spiraled with no clear answer.
Seoul – Late afternoon, by the Han River
Without realizing it, they had already arrived.
Yuri was still deep in thought, eyes on the horizon, when Tae Joon turned off the engine.
The Han River flowed calmly in front of them, and a gentle breeze rustled the trees.
The atmosphere was soft. Still.
Lee Tae Joon hesitated, then reached out, touching her shoulder lightly with one finger, almost afraid to disturb her.
Lee Tae Joon (gently)
— Han Yuri-ssi… We're here.
She blinked, looking around.
Han Yuri
— Oh… Already?
(she glanced out the window)
But… why did we stop here?
Lee Tae Joon (honestly)
— Because I didn't know where to take you.
My place? Yours?
(small smile)
We never talked about that, remember?
Han Yuri (calmly)
— We're married now.
So… your place makes the most sense, doesn't it?
Lee Tae Joon
— Right… You're right.
What about your things?
Han Yuri
— I'll contact someone to bring the essentials.
But I still want to stop by my place for a few personal items.
Lee Tae Joon
— Okay. Then we'll head to my place after that—
(She cut him off, eyes fixed ahead.)
Han Yuri
— …But I need to see someone first.
I'll get out here.
Lee Tae Joon (surprised)
— Where are you going?
I can drop you off, if you want.
Han Yuri (quietly)
— I'll manage on my own.
Without waiting for a reply, she opened the door and stepped out.
Right then, a taxi passed by.
Yuri raised her hand.
The car pulled over almost immediately.
Han Yuri climbed into the backseat. The door closed with a soft click. The taxi pulled away.
Lee Tae Joon remained in his car, watching the vehicle disappear in silence.
A few minutes later – Seoul
The taxi stopped in front of a discreet, modern building.
Han Yuri stepped out calmly, slipped on a pair of black sunglasses, and shut the door without a word.
She walked straight into the reception area without glancing at the desk, heading toward a hallway at the back.
She stopped in front of a door that read: "Dr. Park's Office."
She knocked gently. No answer. She opened the door and stepped inside.
Dr. Park looked up from behind his desk, surprised to see her.
Dr. Park (serious)
— Miss Han? Is it an emergency?
Yuri didn't answer right away.
She slowly walked to the office lounge and sat down on the couch.
Han Yuri (voice calm, but tense)
— I think… someone else was there the night of the accident.
Dr. Park frowned, closed his office door, then approached her with concern.
Dr. Park (worried)
— What do you mean? Are you having the same nightmare again?
Is it because of the anonymous message?
Han Yuri (nodding)
— Yes… I had the same nightmare again last night.
But this time, there was something different. A shadow. Someone standing there.
It was blurry… but one thing I'm sure of: I wasn't alone that night.
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Dr. Park crossed his arms, thoughtful.
He remained quiet for a few seconds, then sat down across from her.
Dr. Park (serious)
— Alright… There are two possibilities.
Either it was just a dream. The message is disturbing you, you're overthinking it, and your brain is filling in the blanks. That's very common.
(He paused, looking directly into her eyes.)
— But there's another possibility.
It's entirely possible that someone really was there that night.
When trauma is too intense, the brain sometimes blocks certain memories to protect you.
It doesn't erase them—it buries them deep.
Han Yuri (softly)
— You mean… I could've forgotten something important?
Dr. Park (serious)
— Yes. You might've seen someone without fully realizing it.
And now, your subconscious is starting to bring it back… piece by piece.
Han Yuri (staring into space, murmuring)
— You're saying… what I saw in my dream could be real?
That someone really was there?
Someone who saw everything?
Dr. Park (calmly)
— It's possible.
And if that's the case… then maybe it wasn't just a dream. Maybe it was a memory.
And there may still be other pieces you've forgotten—pieces that never surfaced.
Han Yuri (shaking her head, skeptical)
— That's impossible.
How could I forget something I lived through?
I see that scene every day. I have that nightmare every single night.
I remember everything.
(She paused, her voice growing sharper.)
— The blood. Her voice. The crash.
So how could I possibly forget something that important?
Dr. Park (gently, but firmly – speaking slower now, to be clear)
— Yuri… what you're experiencing is called dissociative amnesia.
It's a defense mechanism.
When a shock is too severe, the brain sometimes puts certain memories aside.
You remember the accident as a whole, yes.
But your mind may have suppressed—or rather buried—details that were too painful at the time.
(He paused again, watching her reaction closely.)
— And don't forget… you'd been drinking that night.
That kind of shock, combined with alcohol and stress, can completely scramble your memory.
You didn't choose to forget.
It was your body's instinct to protect you.
Dr. Park (gently)
— And now that things are resurfacing—the anonymous messages, the fear—
those memories may come back in fragments… through dreams,
or triggered by smells, sounds, places.
It's like a spark.
Yuri looked troubled, but she stayed composed.
She stood up slowly, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, then pulled a small credit card from her wallet.
Han Yuri
— Alright…
Thank you for your time, doctor.
She offered him the card.
Dr. Park (shaking his head softly)
— That's not necessary.
Han Yuri (insisting, politely)
— Please take it.
For the time you spent with me.
He looked at her for a moment, then accepted with a faint smile.
He took the card with both hands—but instead of keeping it, he gently slipped it into Yuri's coat pocket.
Dr. Park (kindly, almost like a father)
— Then do me a favor…
Use that money to buy yourself a good meal.
You've lost too much weight.
And try not to overthink everything.
(He paused, his voice softer.)
— Sometimes… not remembering certain things might be a blessing.
Because remembering can hurt even more.
Yuri slowly walked toward the door, silent.
When she opened it, she found a young woman standing in the hallway.
She looked lost, anxious, nervously fidgeting with her fingers. Her lips moved, barely whispering to herself.
Young Woman (muttering to herself)
— It wasn't my fault… It was an accident…
Yuri stared at her, frozen.
FLASHBACK — April 4th, 2012, 5:30 a.m.
In that same hallway, Han Yuri sat in the exact same spot, in the exact same posture—her fingers tense, repeating the same words over and over again.
Back then, Dr. Park, still wearing his coat, had walked up to her, visibly concerned.
Dr. Park (groggy)
— Miss Han?
(seeing the state she was in)
— What happened, Yuri? Why are you here at this hour?
(he paused, noticing her pale and shaken face)
— You… you drove all the way here by yourself? That's dangerous…
Thankfully, I was spending the night at the clinic—I still had files to finish.
She looked up at him, her face ghostly, eyes filled with panic.
Han Yuri (in a broken voice)
— I… I…
Dr. Park
— Come on. Let's get you inside first.
He helped her up gently, guided her into the office, and sat her down on the couch.
Yuri broke down in sobs. Her voice trembled, soaked in fear and desperation.
Han Yuri (crying)
— I killed someone…
I… I killed someone…
Still shaking, her voice cracked with panic.
Han Yuri
— What am I supposed to do…?
Please help me, Dr. Park…
If my father finds out what I've done…
He'll kill me.
Dr. Park (serious, steady)
— Yuri… if we want to find a solution, you need to calm down first.
Dr. Park (trying to stay composed)
— Okay… breathe. Tell me what happened. Start from the beginning.
Several minutes passed.
She was trying to catch her breath between two waves of panic.
Seeing her state, the doctor quietly walked over to his desk and returned with a glass of water and a small pill.
Dr. Park (gently)
— Here… drink this. It'll help calm you down.
He handed her the glass, his expression kind and steady.
After swallowing the medication, Yuri's breathing slowly began to stabilize.
Still unsteady, but better.
Dr. Park stepped away, opened a drawer, and pulled out a soft blanket.
He returned to her and gently draped it over her shoulders.
He didn't say a word.
END OF FLASHBACK
Han Yuri stood motionless in the hallway.
Her gaze was locked on the young woman sitting there—exact same posture, same nervous fingers… same whispered words.
> "It wasn't my fault… it was an accident…"
The door to the office opened quietly behind her.
Dr. Park stepped out and paused when he saw her still standing there.
Dr. Park
— Oh… Miss Han. You're still here?
Yuri snapped out of her thoughts.
Han Yuri
— Oh… I was just about to leave.
The doctor turned to the young woman.
Dr. Park
— Miss Yoon, you can come in now.
The girl stood up slowly, her eyes empty…
And that's when Yuri noticed the handcuffs around her wrists.
A wave of shock and confusion washed over her.
Two police officers stood nearby.
Dr. Park frowned at the sight of them, then addressed them with a sharp, almost outraged tone.
Dr. Park
— What is this?
(he pointed at the cuffs)
Why is she handcuffed like that?
Officer
— Oh, uh… it's a murder case.
The girl killed her stepfather.
But the judge decided she should undergo therapy before we proceed with legal action.
Dr. Park
— She… killed someone?
Officer
— Yes. According to the report, her mother was abroad getting treatment for her younger brother.
She was alone in the house with the stepfather.
A neighbor heard screams and called emergency services.
When we arrived, we found the body—he'd been stabbed with a piece of glass.
And the girl… she didn't say a word.
She just kept repeating: "It wasn't my fault. It was an accident." Over and over.
Dr. Park remained silent for a moment.
Then he took a slow breath, his eyes darkening.
Dr. Park
— And it didn't occur to you that she might have been a victim too?
(A tense silence followed.)
Dr. Park
— Anyway…
It's not my place to judge.
But the moment she walks into this clinic, she becomes a patient.
And in here, we don't treat patients like criminals.
(He stepped closer, his voice colder.)
Dr. Park
— Take the cuffs off. Now.
Officer
— I'm sorry, sir…
We're not allowed to do that.
If she escapes, it'll be on us.
Dr. Park (calm but firm)
— Then I'll take full responsibility.
Another heavy silence.
The officers exchanged glances, visibly hesitant.
Then one of them slowly approached the girl and carefully removed the cuffs, under Yuri and Dr. Park's watchful gaze.
Officer (reluctant)
— Alright.
But if she runs, it's all on you.
Dr. Park didn't answer.
He simply nodded, then gently placed a hand on the girl's shoulder and guided her inside.
Yuri, still standing by the entrance, instinctively turned her face away—emotion flooding her all at once.
She brushed past the officers in silence, lowering her eyes to avoid meeting their gaze.
The girl disappeared into the office.
The door closed behind her.
TAXI – ON THE WAY TO HANNAM-DONG
In the back seat, Han Yuri sat in silence, her eyes empty, lost in thought as the taxi glided through the streets of Seoul.
Driver (gently)
— Miss, we've arrived in Hannam-dong.
Han Yuri (snapping out of it)
— Oh… thank you.
She stepped out slowly, each movement heavy with exhaustion.
A few minutes later, she entered the Han residence.
Everything looked the same—but she… didn't.
She climbed the stairs to her room and quietly closed the door behind her.
Her eyes scanned the space.
She opened a small travel bag and calmly began packing a few essentials: a hairbrush, some notebooks, two or three outfits she still liked.
Not much.
But suddenly—CLACK—the door burst open.
Stepmother (surprised)
— Yuri? When did you get back?
Han Yuri (without turning around)
— About an hour ago.
I'm just here to pick up a few things.
Lee Tae Joon is waiting for me.
I'm moving out today.
Stepmother (stepping inside, pretending to care)
— What? Already?
And… why did you come back so early from your honeymoon?
You should've stayed longer—got some rest, enjoyed yourself…
Stepmother (feigning ignorance)
— What are you talking about?
Han Yuri (dryly)
— Stop playing the perfect mother.
It's suffocating… and honestly, pathetic.
Stepmother (voice trembling)
— I know what I did was awful…
But I'm trying to make things right now.
You could at least let me try.
I understand you can't forgive me, but—
Han Yuri (cutting her off, cold and almost mocking)
— Forgive you?
Can you remind me… what exactly I'm supposed to forgive you for?
(she stared her down)
— Because right now, I'm drawing a blank.
Maybe you could help jog my memory.
What is it you did… that you think deserves forgiveness?
(The stepmother looked down, unable to speak.)
Han Yuri (bitter, almost tired)
— You see?
You can't even say it out loud.
(she picked up her bag)
— You know what?
I don't have time to dig through those memories again.
I really have to go.
Han Yuri walked down the stairs, suitcase in hand.
Behind her, the door remained open.
But no one called after her.
She crossed the front gate in silence.
Once outside, she paused for a moment and turned her head slightly—just enough to cast one last glance at the house.
No tears. No anger.
Just the weight of silence between those walls.
A man in a black suit stepped forward and opened the door of a waiting car, engine already running.
Without a word, she climbed into the back seat.
The door closed gently behind her, like the final period at the end of a long chapter.
The car pulled away…
And the Han residence faded into the rearview mirror.
As the vehicle rolled away, Han Yuri glanced through the window one last time.
That's when she noticed him.
A man… sitting inside a black car parked farther down the street.
He was watching her.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to make out his face—
but in that instant, the tinted window slid shut.
As if erasing him from view.
She remained still for a moment, frowning slightly, unsettled by the strange sensation that crept over her.
Then, with a soft exhale, she closed her eyes.
As if trying to silence a dark premonition whispering at the edge of her thoughts.
TO BE CONTINUED