1 Chapter 1

Seorak Land was a casino located in Gangwon Province's Sokcho City.

Regardless of winning or losing, people pressed buttons like a robot and flipped cards, as both cries of joy and despair rang out together.

"…."

A young man looked down at a table with a nervous expression across his face. He stole a glance at the dealer, who remained expressionless. After glaring at the table like a hungry beast, the young man opened his mouth with great difficulty.

"Stop… No, double down!"

The dealer immediately put his hand on the deck, as if he had grown bored of waiting for the youth's decision.

The young man's throat dried up. His chin dripped with sweat, and his back was drenched as well. But unlike the anxious youth, the dealer flipped the card with apathy.

The young man wrapped his hands around his head. The sound of joy and despair once again rang out.

***

"I need more money so I can go back."

Seol stood in front of Nonhyeon Station, pondering his next move, before finally coming to a decision. He was seemingly surrounded by enemies on all sides, but there was one secret hill he could always run to for help.

*

The alarm buzzed loudly. It was 5:30 in the morning. Yoo Seonhwa opened her eyes and stretched her limbs out from a refreshing night's sleep.

The morning sunlight beamed through the window and brightly illuminated a small frame on her drawer. The frame contained a photo of seven people, including Yoo Seonhwa and her younger sister. Looking at it, a faint smile bloomed on the young woman's face.

There was Seol Ahjussi, who looked uptight on the outside but was warmer and more caring than anyone else on the inside; his wife, who always treated Yoo Seonhwa like her own daughter and made sure she was eating properly.

It wasn't just those two in the photo, though. There was also the husband and wife's oldest son, Seol Wooseok, who looked cold and stiff but possessed a warm heart; the youngest daughter, Seol Jinhee, who was open and outgoing; and finally…

There was a young man with a gentle smile in the middle of the two. Then, there she was, leaning on his shoulder and smiling radiantly.

"…."

Looking at the photo, a hint of worry crept into Yoo Seonhwa's complexion. When she checked her phone to see the time, the shadow on her face grew darker.

*

"You're leaving already? Why don't you stay for a cup of coffee?" 

"Uun, I wanna do that too, but I really gotta go. I need to finish that piece and turn it in tomorrow."

"You didn't forget anything? You're good to go?"

"Of course! I'm not a little kid. Okay, I'm heading out now! See you later!"

The front door closed shut, and tiny footsteps grew farther away. Left alone, Yoo Seonhwa finished her breakfast with a thin smile on her face. Her little sister's bright face had made her energetic as well. She had been nothing but happy in the few days, so much so that she began to wonder if it was okay.

Right, she was definitely happy. That was, if she were to disregard one little thing.

After finishing her meal, she began packing her lunch with the leftovers, when she heard footsteps growing closer to her door and snickered. Koong, koong. When she heard the hasty knocks on the door, she quickly went to unlock it, as if she knew this would happen.

"See? Didn't I tell you to double-check every…."

Yoo Seonhwa was about to lecture her little sister but froze up on the spot instead.

"You thought I was Seunghae?"

The person standing in front of her wasn't her little sister. The man wearing clothes that were at least a couple of days old reeked like he went swimming in sewage. There were dark bags under his eyes as if he had not slept a wink.

"You… Why are you here?"

"Yo, it's been a while. Have you been doing well? Wow, this place looks spotless no matter when I show up."

Seol entered the flat and took a look around. Once he spotted the leftovers on the kitchen table, he reached out with his dirty hands, shoved it down his mouth, and nodded with approval.

"Delicious. I was just getting hungry, so this is perfect. Make me some breakfast."

"…."

"Come on, hurry up."

"Who told you to come in?"

The young man's eyes widened from the voice full of hostility.

"What's wrong?"

"This is my house, not yours. Don't you know that forcefully entering someone else's house is a crime?"

"What are you talking about? How is this place yours? I know full well my dad paid the security deposit for this place."

"I already paid him back a long time ago. Why are you talking about that now? Besides, even if that was true, you have no right to come in here."

"…Hey, don't be like that. Between us?"

"Between us? Really?"

Yoo Seonhwa's voice became sharper and colder.

"Stop dreaming. It's over between us. You and I aren't anything. Not anymore."

Her words went beyond cold and began to feel venomous. Seol rolled his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Then, with a groan, he lied down on the floor.

"I'm starving, so make me food. I'm exhausted from walking all the way here."

"Hey! I'm not going to humor your antics anymore! Get up. Get up and leave before I call the police!"

Seol snorted. But when Yoo Seonhwa really pulled out her cell phone, he hurriedly stood back up.

But before he could, the world around him turned grey as if time stoped.

"Let's try something new this time" a voice sound out seeming coming out of the void.

SEOL felt as if something had reached into his head and pulled his very soul out.

SEOL opened his eyes and saw the world around him frozen.

"Where am I?" SEOL said to himself as he looked around.

"Who am I" drawing up a blank and at the lack of information. Before he could ask anymore questions, his brain suddenly received two lots memories.

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