Han Yuri (voice trembling) – Hello? Jae Hyun Oppa… Did you see the news? (panic rising) I think… someone saw me that night…
(Her breathing becomes ragged. She clutches the phone against her ear, eyes misty, but no tears fall. Not yet.)
Lee Jae Hyun (voice on the phone, worried but calm) – Yeah, I saw it… I don't understand how this could've happened. Are you sure you didn't see anyone that night?
Flashback – Dokseodang-ro 85-gil, Seoul – 1:27 AM, April 4, 2012
The street is deserted, poorly lit, flanked by narrow and silent buildings. Only a few streetlamps cast a pale, flickering light. The wind blows softly, making the fallen leaves rustle on the sidewalk.
Yuri is driving her car, still wearing makeup, dressed in the chic outfit from Kim Min Hee's birthday party. Her phone rings. She glances at the screen and answers without thinking.
Han Yuri (distracted) – Hello?
She briefly turns her head, and BOOM. A dull thud is heard.
Han Yuri (panicked) – Oh my god! What was that?
She slams on the brakes.
Yuri's heart races. Her breath is caught. She remains frozen at the wheel for a few seconds, staring blankly, hands clenched around the steering wheel.
Then, slowly, as if in a foggy dream, she opens the car door. Her heels click against the asphalt. She takes a few hesitant steps, short of breath. She approaches…
Slowly, toward the front of the vehicle. She leans forward slightly, trying to make out what she hit…
And then she sees. A woman. Lying there. Motionless.
Her eyes widen, her face crumbles.
Han Yuri — Oh my god… no…
She kneels down quickly, breathing fast, hands trembling. She looks closer, searching for a sign of life, some movement. But nothing. Absolutely nothing.
And suddenly — DRRR DRRR.
The phone starts ringing again.
Yuri jumps, heart about to explode. She pulls out her phone nervously. The screen lights up.
Lee Jae Hyun – Incoming call.
She hesitates for a second. Then, with a sweaty hand, she slides her finger across the screen to answer.
Lee Jae Hyun –
— I hope you're already packing your bags.
Han Yuri –
— Oppa…
Lee Jae Hyun (surprised, worried)
— Yuri? Are you okay? What's going on… don't tell me you're drunk?
(Pause. A chilling silence. Yuri tries to speak, but her throat is tight.)
Han Yuri –
— Oppa… I think… I think I hit someone…
(She starts breathing harder, her voice rising.)
Han Yuri –
— She's dead… She's dead! I killed someone, Oppa! I killed someone!
Lee Jae Hyun (on the phone) – What? Calm down and tell me what happened… No, you know what? Where are you? I'm coming right now.
A few minutes later
Car headlights sweep across the alley. Jae Hyun rushes out and finds Yuri sitting on the curb, hands trembling, eyes empty.
Lee Jae Hyun – Yuri! What happened?
Han Yuri – Oppa… I don't know… I was driving, and all of a sudden, I hit something…
Lee Jae Hyun (approaching the body) – Wait, let me check if she's still alive… (pause) …She's dead.
Han Yuri – Oh my god, we have to call the police!
Lee Jae Hyun – NO! No, we're not calling anyone! First, calm down, breathe.
Han Yuri – How can you stay so calm? Someone is dead!
Lee Jae Hyun – Yes, but think. This is not good for you… You just made your debut, do you know what this will do to your career?
Han Yuri – So what do you want me to do? Hide the body like in the movies?
Lee Jae Hyun – Why not? Think… If we hide the body, no one will know.
Han Yuri – No, this isn't right… I'm calling the police.
Lee Jae Hyun – Didn't you want to become Korea's top actress? If you call the police now, not only is your career over before it even begins, but you'll also destroy your family's image.
Han Yuri – So… what do we do? Why is this happening to me?!
Lee Jae Hyun – Go home. I'll take care of everything. Don't worry, everything will be handled.
Han Yuri – I still think this is a bad idea…
Lee Jae Hyun – Don't overthink it. I'm telling you to go home.
Han Yuri – And you, what are you going to do?
Lee Jae Hyun – I'll handle everything here. Don't worry. Go home and rest.
Han Yuri – Are you sure?
Lee Jae Hyun – Yes. Go. Don't worry, everything will be fine.
Han Yuri – Okay… Take care.
She slowly gets back into her car. As she drives away, she glances one last time into the rearview mirror. Her reflection looks foreign, almost unreal.
End of flashback.
Lee Jae Hyun – Before I got to the scene… Are you really sure no one saw you?
Han Yuri – I… I don't know. It was dark, and I was in shock…
Lee Jae Hyun – Don't worry. I'll take care of everything.
Han Yuri – No. You've already done enough for me. It's time I handle my own problems. But don't worry, I won't say anything to the police. I know you'd be involved too… if I talk.
Lee Jae Hyun – Please don't do anything stupid…
Han Yuri – Don't worry. I'm mature enough to take care of myself. I'm not the 17-year-old girl you always had to protect anymore. Thank you for helping me that night.
Lee Jae Hyun – I'd do anything to protect you. If I could go back in time… I'd do it all the same again.
Han Yuri – I know.
She hangs up the call, letting silence fill the room.
Locked in her bedroom, Han Yuri thinks back on everything she's gone through to get where she is today.
Yuri (thought) – Is this the end for me? Will I be strong enough to keep this secret? And if I talk to the police? Could I handle the public's reaction? How would my father react if he found out I killed someone?
She slowly sits on her bed, eyes blank. The dim light of her room casts a soft shadow on the walls, as if everything refuses to fully illuminate her.
She doesn't cry. She barely moves.
Her hands, though, betray her apparent calm.
Her fingers twist, rub against each other, then fumble clumsily. One by one, she peels the skin around her nails. A drop of blood appears, but she ignores it.
Her breathing is slow, almost mechanical.
Han Yuri (softly, like a broken mantra) – It was an accident… It was an accident…
She repeats it again. Three times. Four.
Her gaze remains empty, fixed on an invisible spot on the wall.
Then she slowly gets up, walks to the adjoining bathroom, and turns on the faucet. Water runs over her damaged, reddened fingers.
She looks at herself in the mirror, not recognizing the reflection.
With trembling hands, Yuri rubs her fingers under the hot water. Again and again.
She doesn't look at her hands… she stares at her reflection in the mirror.
A pale face, reddened eyes.
Han Yuri (murmurs, barely audible) – Get a grip, Han Yuri. You can't break down. Not now.
Her eyes meet her own in the mirror, empty, almost unfamiliar.
Han Yuri (whispers again) – If you break down, you destroy everything your father built…
Everything you built.
You are Han Yuri.
You are the daughter of Han Ki Tak.
You don't have the right to fall.
She pauses. The water is still running.
A drop slips from her chin.
She closes her eyes, clenches her fists… then straightens up
TO BE CONTINUED…