The afternoon sun had almost sung behind the tall buildings of Seoul, when she stepped out of the Foundation. In a deep breath, she slowly exhaled,
"That was intense…" she cried. Her shoulders finally relaxed. But on a second thought, everything felt so unreal. From the interview, to the CEO and lastly, the strange story about the painting.
It all kept weighing down on her. But then, as bobbly as she was, she had a solution which actually works perfectly well anytime. Her hand briskly rummaged through her bag and there it was, her phone.
She pulled it out and immediately called someone. It rang first and on the second ring, it connected. "Did you survive?" a cheerful voice dramatically invaded immediately and she laughed.
"Barely, Min-ji ."
Kim Min-ji, was her best friend since university and she now works as a stylist assistant for a small entertainment agency. She had the type of personality that filled every room with energy.
"Tell me everything," she demanded. "Was the famous ice prince there?"
"You mean Kang Jae-min?" Ha-rin asked.
"Yes! The terrifying billionaire everyone on the internet talks about."
Ha-rin hesitated for a second before speaking up. "Well… I saw him."
Min-ji gasped loudly at her words. "You what?!"
"Relax," Ha-rin said with laugher. "He just walked through the lobby."
"And? Was he handsome?"
Ha-rin paused, her question rang home memories she had wanted to escape from. The thought of the moment their eyes met earlier invaded like an iceberg. "…Unfortunately, yes."
She finally replied and Min-ji groaned dramatically. "Of course, he is rich, powerful, and handsome. Life is unfair."
"Stop being a drama queen and share with me your day." Ha-rin smiled as she began walking toward the subway station.
"Well… nothing new or interesting. Let's just focus on you for now" She chipped in. "How is he like?" Ha-rin laughed.
"But honestly, the building itself was more impressive than anything else." She tried to divert her interest.
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"There's this artifact room with paintings from the Joseon era," Ha-rin explained. "One of them was really strange."
She briefly told Min-ji the story the researcher had shared. About the guard's daughter, the sword meant for the Crown Prince and for a moment, Min-ji was quiet. But was son cut short with her sarcastic comment.
"That's actually really romantic." She softly said. Ha-rin blinked in shock.
"Romantic?"
"Of course," Min-ji said. "Imagine loving someone so much you'd risk your life for them."
Ha-rin looked down at the street as she walked.
"I don't know…" Her chest tightened again. "It sounds more tragic than romantic."
Min-ji sighed at her dispensation. "You're too practical, my friend."
"And you watch too many dramas." Ha-rin teased as well and they both laughed.
"Anyway," Min-ji continued, "we're meeting tonight, right?"
Ha-rin stopped walking. "Tonight?"
"Yes! Don't pretend you forgot."
"Oh…Right.''
Min-ji had insisted they celebrate the end of Ha-rin's stressful job search week.
"There's a new street food place near Hongdae," Min-ji said excitedly. "And my cousin is coming too."
"Your cousin?" Ha-rin asked cautiously.
"Yes, the one who keeps asking about you." Ha-rin groaned.
"Min-ji…"
"What? He's nice!"
"Your cousin tried to impress me by reciting stock market prices." Min-ji burst out laughing.
"Okay, fair point."
They chatted a bit longer before hanging up. For the first time that day, Ha-rin felt her mood lighten. Normal conversations helped push away the strange heaviness that had followed her since the interview.
Later that night, Ha-rin returned home. Her apartment was small but comfortable. A tiny living room, a compact kitchen, and a single bedroom filled with art supplies and design sketches.
She dropped her bag onto the couch, all exhausted. But then, her phone suddenly buzzed with a message from Min-ji.
Min-ji:
Don't forget tomorrow! I'm dragging you to lunch whether you like it or not.
Ha-rin smiled and typed back.
Fine. But you're paying.
After a quick shower, she finally crawled into bed. The moonlight from the window spilled softly across the room. Her body instantly felt relaxed as she closed her eyes, surrendering to the soft glow. But then, that is when the strange dream returned.
The palace courtyard was silent. Moonlight bathed the stone paths in silver light and the cherry blossom petals drifted slowly through the night air.
Somewhere nearby, the sound of swords clashing echoed violently. Men shouted and steel struck steel. The peaceful courtyard had turned into chaos.
Soon, she noticed a young woman ran across the stone path. Her pale hanbok fluttered behind her. Fear filled her eyes but she didn't stop running. Not even when a soldier rushed toward the center of the courtyard with his sword raised.
His target was a young man standing near the palace steps and dressed in royal robes. The Crown Prince.
Everything seemed to move in slow motion. The soldier's blade flashed under the moonlight and the young woman screamed; "Your Highness!"
She ran forward but the sword soon came down; painful, sharp and cold. A gasp intuitively escaped her lips and warm blood instantly spread across the fabric of her hanbok.
The Crown Prince caught her as she collapsed into his arms.
"Arin!" His voice broke as he held her. The sound echoed painfully through the courtyard. "Why would you do this…?"
His hands trembled as he pressed against the wound. "Stay with me." His voice sounded desperate and broken. The young woman tried to speak but the words never came.
The moon above them shone silently, watching and waiting.
Ha-rin abruptly woke up. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. The room was dark and her heart pounded loudly. "Again…" Her words silently echoed but this time, the dream had been clearer.
She pressed her hand against her chest. Why did it feel so real? Why did that moment hurt so much? These questions invaded her thoughts with no answer at all.
Ha-rin slowly sat up. Her gaze immediately fell on the moon outside the window. It hung quietly in the sky. While somewhere across the city, on the top floor office of Moonlight Cultural Foundation Kang Jae-min stood alone in front of the same painting.
His fingers lightly brushed against the glass frame. For a brief moment, he remembered the girl from the hallway. Yoon Ha-rin.
The same question kept crossing her thought. Why does she feel familiar?
The night remained silent. But fate had already begun moving its pieces.