Diego's Dark Turn.

Ji-woo awoke suddenly from her slumber, rubbing her eyes vigorously with both hands as she thought back to the strange dream she just dreamt. These strange dreams had persisted ever since Eun-kyung entered her body, taking her on fantastical journeys in different lives and worlds. It was an eerie experience, yet Ji-woo chose to keep it to herself. Who knows how others would react? They might simply laugh in her face.

As Ji-woo got out of bed, her eyes fell upon the book that Eun-kyung had written in, resting on the sheets. Knowing she had to show it to U-jin, she carefully placed it inside her bag. Then, she readied herself for school and headed to the dining hall, where she encountered her aunt, Chae-young, looking visibly distressed.

"What's troubling you?" Ji-woo inquired, resting her hand gently on her aunt's shoulder. Chae-young seemed startled at first, but her unease faded upon realizing it was Ji-woo.

"Ji-woo, I... It's nothing," Chae-young hesitated.

"I'm worried," Ji-woo expressed sincerely.

Chae-young let out a sigh. "I—I can't bring myself to see John again. I'm too embarrassed to face him after our last fight."

"You and Attorney John had a quarrel?" Ji-woo asked in surprise, only to burst into laughter. Chae-young's expression soured, prompting Ji-woo to quickly clear her throat. "I apologize. Please tell me what happened."

"My sister happened. Remember when I came home annoyed?" Ji-woo nodded in response. "I found her in John's office, lying on top of him on his couch."

"Perhaps it was a mistake on both their parts. But you should have known my mother desired to break you two apart—I warned you, remember?" Ji-woo pointed out. Chae-young looked down at her food, her sadness evident.

"I never allowed him to explain," Chae-young admitted.

"Just go back to him and ask for forgiveness. I believe he loves you enough to forgive you. Besides, he pursued you and proposed to you, not the other way around," Ji-woo suggested, just as Si-woo entered and informed Ji-woo that they were running late for school. They quickly packed a sandwich and rushed off to school.

Hours later, U-jin, Ga-ram, Eun-woo, and Si-woo stared at the video feed Mun-hee had shown them with a mixture of shock, surprise, and anger, their emotions running high. "How could he do such a thing?" Eun-woo exclaimed in a fit of anger, his voice filled with disbelief.

"If it wasn't for you showing me, I wouldn't have believed it," Si-woo said to Mun-hee, her voice laced with disappointment and betrayal.

Grasping the gravity of the situation, U-jin continued to stare at the video, his expression reflecting disbelief. Sensing his distress, Ji-woo approached him from behind and embraced him gently. "We can sort this out," she reassured him, her voice filled with kindness and determination.

Eun-woo, still fuming with anger, shared the latest news. "Are you crazy? He is working with that damn human and Yong-rae. And, guess what happened today? Diego's mum was arrested for embezzlement just this morning," he revealed, his voice dripping with frustration.

Ji-woo, unaware of the recent events, stood behind U-jin in shock. Reacting quickly, she retrieved the book from her school bag and handed it to U-jin, who looked at her with confusion. "Read it," she urged him, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Gathering around U-jin, the others read the book together, their expressions shifting from confusion to understanding. Ga-ram, the first one to finish reading, looked at Ji-woo with curiosity.

"This is Eun-kyung's handwriting. Is this what was supposed to happen before she entered our world?" she inquired, seeking confirmation. Ji-woo nodded, her face resolute.

Mun-hee laughed incredulously, finding it hard to believe the situation. "Hold on! Hearing about who Eun-kyung was from Si-woo and seeing her appear and disappear in front of me spooked me out. But learning that I worked hand in hand with Diego to destroy U-jin's company is even more absurd," she remarked, her tone both incredulous and amazed.

"Eun-kyung must have altered some events when she arrived, such as keeping me alive. However, it seems that wasn't the sole cause of Diego not blackening. We need to uncover what really happened and find out why he is doing all this," Ji-woo asserted. The group nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting a shared resolve to uncover the truth and rectify the chaotic situation they found themselves in.

As the revelation sank in, U-jin, overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility, stood up abruptly and made his way out of the student council room. Eun-woo followed closely behind, concerned about his friend's well-being. "U-jin, wait up! What's wrong?" he called out, trying to catch up.

"I was the one who took down both my grandmother's step sister and my stepmother in the previous timeline. But now, everything has changed, and Diego's involvement has complicated matters even further. Who knows who the second target is?" U-jin confided, his voice tinged with frustration and uncertainty.

Eun-woo smiled, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "Perhaps you should also be questioning why Yong-rae decided to join forces with them. It's clear that he holds a grudge against you, U-jin. You might be the next target."

U-jin's frustration boiled over, and he kicked the nearby dumpster in a moment of pent-up anger. Eun-woo's theory might be speculative, but the possibility lingered in his mind. Why did Diego want to bring devastation to his life?

"Will you calm down? People are watching," Eun-woo remarked, attempting to diffuse the tension. U-jin pinched the space between his eyebrows, his face contorted with a mixture of frustration and confusion.

Suddenly, a realization dawned on him, and he turned to Eun-woo. "That professor you mentioned, send me his account number and inform him that I will sponsor the project too."

Eun-woo's surprised expression was quickly replaced with curiosity. "What changed your mind?" he questioned.

"There's something I need to know," U-jin replied cryptically as he left.

After school ended for the day, Diego, famished and fatigued, made his way home, he didn't go to the cafeteria to eat because he was purposefully avoiding any interactions with his brother and girlfriend there.

"Diego," a voice called out, and he let out an exasperated sigh, immediately recognizing the familiar voice. Preparing himself for what he presumed would be yet another pointless conversation, he turned around to face U-jin, his expression tinged with wariness.

"What?" Diego retorted dismissively, his tone clearly reflecting his unwillingness to engage in a dialogue.

U-jin, undeterred by Diego's dismissive response, looked at him with concern. "How are you feeling?" he asked earnestly. Diego stood there, surprised by the question. How was he feeling? Excitement, of course, knowing that his mother finally faced the consequences she deserved.

"I'm fine, just going home," Diego replied curtly, his desire to leave evident in his voice. However, before he could turn to leave, U-jin held onto his hand firmly. In a moment of pent-up frustration, Diego swung his hand, accidentally connecting with U-jin's face, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground in shock.

As the onlookers watched in astonishment, murmurs spread among them, questioning the sudden act of aggression. Ji-woo, who had just arrived on the scene, witnessed the altercation and immediately rushed to U-jin's aid, crouching down beside him. When she noticed the bruise forming on his mouth, anger welled up within her.

"What's your problem?" she demanded, her voice filled with indignation as she directed her fury towards Diego.

Diego merely smirked, his demeanor unphased. "Consider this a warning," he stated coldly. "Stay the hell away from me." With those words, he turned and walked away, leaving Ji-woo and U-jin in a state of shock. Ji-woo stared after him, her eyes welling up with tears as she made a silent vow to forget him.

Meanwhile, U-jin slowly got up from the ground and embraced Ji-woo, attempting to console her in the midst of the confusion and uncertainty. "Everything will be fine," he reassured her, though unsure of the truth behind his words.

–—–—–—–—–—–—–—–

Eun-kyung opened her eyes, finding herself in her room. As she sat up, she winced in pain, clutching her left chest. Confusion washed over her, wondering what could be wrong. The pain gradually subsided, allowing her to let out a sigh of relief. However, the lingering discomfort prompted her to consider getting a check-up to determine the cause.

Getting out of bed, Eun-kyung's legs unexpectedly grew weak, causing her to stumble and fall to the ground. Just then, her brother Eun-woo entered the room, carrying a tray of food, and he looked at her with surprise.

Dropping the tray on the table, he hurried over to help her back onto the bed. "You should have called for me. You need more rest," he scolded gently. However, Eun-kyung's mind was preoccupied as she stared hungrily at the tray of food, her mouth watering. She licked her lips, and Eun-woo realized her hunger.

He handed the tray to her, and she eagerly began devouring the food. Between bites, Eun-woo couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.

"Can you tell me what happened in the novel? How did you manage to bring your body into it? The old man said it was impossible," he inquired. However, Eun-kyung remained silent, focused on finishing her meal. So, Eun-woo decided to wait until she was done.

With a sense of satisfaction, Eun-kyung wiped her mouth and turned to Eun-woo. "Why was I so hungry, and why did you prepare so much food for me today?" she asked, genuine confusion evident in her eyes.

Eun-woo scoffed. "Knowing you're a foodie, and you haven't eaten in the last forty-seven hours."

"What? I slept for two days?" Eun-kyung asked, shocked.

"What do you mean, slept? You were trapped in the novel again," Eun-woo explained. "When the old man returned you, you were almost dying. Do you have any idea how scared I was?"

Eun-kyung looked at him, perplexed, then suddenly realization dawned on her. "Nice try, but I'm not falling for that," she retorted as she stood up, dismissing his explanation.

"What?" he exclaimed incredulously, but Eun-kyung simply ignored him and went to retrieve her phone from the table. She swiped it open, only to be greeted by a notification that stated their mother would be returning today.

Eun-kyung's initial surprise quickly transformed into bewilderment as she checked the date on her phone. Her eyes widened in shock as she glanced back at her brother.

"Did I sleep for a full five days? How can that possibly be? I only recall reading your boring novel before drifting off to sleep and waking up few minutes ago!"

"Hold on a moment, you mean to tell me you have no recollection of the events of the past five days?" Eun-woo asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Absolutely not, Eun-woo. What on earth happened?" Eun-kyung pressed, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

Eun-woo was about to respond when the doorbell abruptly chimed, signaling their mother's arrival. "That must be Mom. Let's go and greet her," he suggested with a hint of urgency.

Eun-woo practically scurried away, his desire to shield Eun-kyung from the truth overpowering his need to explain. Perhaps it was for the best that she had forgotten everything; who knows what trials she faced during those lost days in the novel and the memories that could potentially impact her well-being. Yes, indeed, it was in her best interest.