The heavy rain had ceased hours ago, leaving behind a crisp morning air, cool and refreshing. Birds chirped cheerfully, their songs weaving through the rustling leaves as the gentle wind danced among the trees, their branches swaying softly in response.
Sunlight streamed through the open window, falling directly across Jia's face. Her brows furrowed at the intrusion of light, slowly, she began to stir. Lifting a hand to shield her eyes, she squinted against the brightness as consciousness fully claimed her once more.
She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, having barely slept at all last night, lost in thoughts while resting her head against Jae's chest.
A moment passed before she turned to look beside her… only to find empty space where he should have been.
Her fingers traced the cold sheets as questions swirled in her mind….What kind of life had he lived? What happened after we were separated?
Then, quietly, almost afraid to voice it, "Am I… really married to him now?" The words hung in the air like a confession that couldn't be taken back.
••••••
After getting fresh, she descended the stairs, taking in her surroundings, her search for him leading her towards the kitchen. There he was, calmly preparing breakfast while staying stubbornly still, as if sensing her presence without even needing to look.
Without going closer to him or saying anything, she took her seat at the breakfast table, waiting for him to bring the breakfast for her as he always does. Soon he served the food and sat down next to her, their eyes never quite meeting.
She drank in every detail of his face, as if she had seen him for the first time, something about him seeming different, almost tender after the marriage. So this is how he acts now that they're married?
The fork was halfway to his lips when suddenly her palm struck his cheek with such force that his head snapped to the side, shock reverberating through him. Slowly, he turned back to face her, eyes wide, disbelief burning into fury in a single breath.
She didn't flinch. Just stared at him like he was the experiment.
Then she hissed as his fingers clamped around the nape of her neck like steel restraints, jerking her forward.
"What...do you think… you were doing?" His voice dripped venom.
She stayed silent, honey doe eyes locked onto his dark ones now churning with rage.
"Answer me." He demanded dangerously.
"I was... just... checking if you're alright." Her words came out in a rush, tinged with desperation.
His grip on her tightened as disbelief twisted into something darker. "Did you say what?" The question was a warning, not a genuine inquiry.
Her apology spilled out next, stumbling, quick. "I'm sorry."
"Have you forgotten the consequences of raising your hand against me? Do you think I'm a joke?"
Hearing him, she was regretting her actions. She tugged at his arm, trying to break free. "Jae, let go!"
"MASTER!"
Her flinch was instant, the sudden command freezing her. And then, her face twisted with unmasked rage, as everything triggered her after hearing the word 'master'.
"You know what? This is what happens when you treat me like some kind of puppet. You deserved that slap." Her voice rang clear, defiant.
"You've got nerve, huh? You're going to regret this action of yours." His voice was pure threat, low and venomous as he yanked her face even more closer until their breaths clashed between them.
But then, her hands shoved against his chest with every ounce of strength she had, making him unbalanced in the chair.
She shot to her feet, towering over him now as words poured out like acid.
"Do you ever think about the pain your games cause me?!" Her voice cracked under its own weight. "First you tricked me into being your slave, then dictated my every move like I was some puppet! And now this? Forced me to marry you by threatening to kill my mother?! What kind of sick victory do you even want from this?!"
"Volume down!" The command was a sharp snap as he stood on his feet, taking slow steps towards her, anger pulsing every muscle rigid.
But she was already turning away, hands grabbing the plate of breakfast.
She threw back a defiant yell—"Go to hell!"
And then suddenly she was running, plate in hand, towards the exit, leaving him gaping in stunned incredulous fury before he ran after her.
The dense canopy of the Jitsaki forest blurred past her as she sprinted, tearing into the bread and omelette with quick, ravenous bites. With a sharp glance over her shoulder, she hurled the empty plate backward at him.
He dodged effortlessly, plate shattering against a tree trunk instead.
Her dark brown hair streamed wildly behind her like silk caught in a storm, each stride carrying her further away from his grasp.
"Jia! Stop now, or you won't like what happens next!" His voice cut through the air, sharp enough to be heard but not enough to slow her down.
But she only ran faster.
"What would you do? What's left for you to do, threaten me more? Blackmail me again? Or even kill me?" She didn't even glance behind her as she spat the words.
"Jia, I swear if you don't STOP—!" His voice came out in a growl.
But she only laughed. "Or what, master?" The last word was a taunt as she pushed herself faster.
After a long run, panting, she skidded to a stop at the cliff's edge, the roaring waterfall below mirroring the one from their past. The same place, fourteen years later. Her chest heaved as she whipped around to face him.
There he stood, close but not touching, frustration carved into every line of his face.
"What is this behaviour?" His question hung heavy between them, his eyes locked with angry intensity.
And then, with deliberate calm, she took another bite of the omelette and bread.
Then she moved towards him.
Before he could react, her hand shot out, fingers gripping his jaw as she shoved the last bite into his mouth, forcing him to accept it. She leaped back instantly before he could grab her, watching as rage and disbelief warred across his face.
For a moment, he stood motionless with food unchewed in his parted lips and fury burning inside him. He was stunned, caught off guard by the audacity of her action.
Her chin lifted slightly, defiance mingling with melancholy. "Since I'm your wife now. I should behave like one, right?!"
The silence lingered for a moment, only broken by the thunder of the waterfall. Suddenly sadness flooded her eyes.
Her voice lowered into a sorrowful whisper, "I don't mind being your wife... What I mind is the way you forced it… Without any love."
He didn't react, just stared back, his eyes unreadable until she suddenly loosened her body backward to fall down the cliff.
He widened his eyes, watching her falling through the air. His hand shot out, trying to grasp her but missed, her body had already tipped over the edge.
Gulping the piece of food in his mouth, with a frustrated growl at her behaviour, he followed her down, tumbling after her with a harsh splash into the river below.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
Sarah stepped into the luxurious bungalow, her eyes scanning every corner as she called out for Samuel. The paper bag in her hand, emblazoned with the logo of a famous food brand, swayed slightly with each step.
When no response came, she headed upstairs, her voice lilting in a playful sing-song tone as she continued calling his name down the hallway. Still met with silence, she finally reached the door of his room, the room he had always warned her never to enter.
But at that time, not seeing him anywhere, a mischievous glint sparked in her eyes. With an impish smile tugging at her lips, she turned the knob and pushed it open, after thinking if he were inside, he would've answered by now.
"Samuel~~~ are you here~~??" Her singsong voice echoed as she peeked her head through the slightly ajar door, scanning the room with playful curiosity.
And found it empty.
A sly grin spread across her face as she slipped inside, swinging the door open wider. "Ohhhh~ So you're not here? What a shame~~!" She twirled on her toes, examining the room, humming in that teasing melody of hers until—
She screamed.
The paper bag slipped from her fingers and hit the floor with a dull thud.
Her eyes flew wide, mouth falling open in sheer shock at what was displayed on one of the walls. Because there, staring back at her, was something she never expected to see.
There, a collage of images captured across time, from years in high school to the present. Each picture featured Jia, her face caught in various moments.
And centered above it all, one word stood out in bold, capital letters. 'LOVE'. Alongside it, other words, some faded, some clearer, painted a picture of deep affection.
Sarah's eyes roamed over it all, stunned disbelief etched across her face. This... this couldn't be right.
"Samuel... Samuel loves Jia." Sarah's words echoed in the room as she tried to process what it all meant.
She clasped her hands over her mouth, "Is this a love triangle?!" she muttered, each word dripping with stunned realization.
"What does this mean?? I love Samuel, Samuel loves Jia and Jia loves who else?" She uttered moving her hands away from her mouth then placing it back on it.
"Oh my god~~ My head is spinning… I think I'm going to drop…"
She let out a wail, collapsing back onto the bed, head in her hands.
As she lay there on the bed, staring at the ceiling, mind whirling as the unexpected revelation sank in. "What will happen now??" she wondered aloud.
The stillness of the room was suddenly shattered with the creaking sound of the door being pushed open. Footsteps thundered closer to where she was lying on the bed.
"What are you doing here?"
Sarah jerked her head toward the voice, her eyes landing on Samuel, who stood frozen next to bed.
A towel hung around his waist, water still glistening on his bare chest as droplets fell from his damp hair. His expression was a mix of irritation and bewilderment.
"Where did you come from?" she whined, scrunching her face into an exaggerated crying expression, though no actual tears formed.
"From the shower." His tone was flat, unamused.
She fake-sobbed harder, gesturing wildly at nothing. "Then why didn't I hear any water running, huh?!"
Samuel's frustration was palpable. "Because it is soundproof, and I told you to never come into this room. Now get out." He grabbed her arm, yanking her to her feet, only for her to wrench her arm away with an overdramatic flail.
"Now what's left to hide in this room? I've seen everything!"
"You just, get out of here!" He growled, seizing her arm again, trying to drag her to the door.
"Why do you have her pictures on your wall like some kind of movie stalker? Did you take classes on this??" She was under such a jarred effect that she was asking him baseless questions. While Samuel dragged her halfway without responding to her questions before she suddenly plopped onto the floor like a petulant child, legs splayed, still being in his grip.
"I came here to celebrate your winning Best Actor award, but instead you gave me the award for the most foolish person. What do you mean the guy I love likes my best friend? Is there some drama going on? I mean she is perfect but what am I lacking?" She groaned louder, banging her forehead lightly against his bare leg as if punishing herself.
"Stop doing all this and get out of here!" he barked, voice sharp with frustration, but Sarah released her arm from his grip, arms locking around his leg like a vice.
In the struggle, her fingers snagged the edge of his towel, yanking it askew. His eyes flashed pure mortal annoyance.
Then suddenly, real tears. Big, dramatic ones.
"Fine! If there's no space in your heart," she sobbed into his knee, "then just... let me live in your lungs instead!!"
Samuel stared at the ceiling first, praying for divine intervention. Then tried to release the edge of the towel from her grip so that it doesn't open.
But In this desperate one sided tug-of-war over his towel, Samuel lost his balance. He landed hard on the floor on his butt with a thud. Seeing which, Sarah instantly released him.
Suppressing his pain, he looked at her, who was now seiza sitting there right in front of him. Tears streaked her face as she blinked up at him, all wide-eyed innocence. Samuel exhaled through gritted teeth, one hand massaging his temple like he was staving off an incoming migraine.
"Unbelievable," he muttered before pushing himself up and walking toward the forgotten food bag by the bed which she brought with her.
He picked up the bag and pulled out two burgers. Without a word, he gave one to her and began eating the other, sitting stiffly on the edge of the bed. Sarah stared at him with watery eyes, sobbing in between.
He chewed deliberately before speaking in a carefully measured tone. "Look. I ate. Celebration done." A pause. "Now you can leave without any drama." Frustration simmered just beneath his forced calm as his eyes fixed on her.
Her fingers held the burger, teary eyes still focused on him, "The way you're behaving with me, If Jia behaves this way with you too," She inquired with a displeased expression. "Would you feel bad or not?"
Hearing her, Samuel approached her, his expression neutral. "But I don't behave with her the way you behave with me," he replied, grasping her arm and pulling her to her feet. "One can't force anyone to love you," he added quietly, tone strangely gentle.
"But what's the harm in trying?" She asked.
"There is a vast difference between trying and forcing."
"So you think what I do is forcing?"
Hearing her, Samuel paused, staring unflinchingly into her silver eyes before responding in a measured tone. "You are quite shocked at this time, it's better if you go somewhere and calm down and refresh your mind a bit, if you stay here in front of me for too long, you will go crazy." His voice was soft but firm, like someone coaxing a child as he made her understand while turning her around, nudging her gently out of the door before closing the door immediately and letting out a sigh of relief.
While she stood alone on the other side of the door, staring sadly at the food in her hand while sniffling quietly.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
Three days passed.
Max was seated in a dining chair, ankles casually propped on the table edge. Meanwhile, Leo stood focused in the kitchen, meticulously preparing something with unwavering concentration.
Max watched him in a bored sort of fascination, munching on an apple. "I don't know what you've been cooking for hours. Just give me the car keys, I'll go alone. You don't need to come along." His tone indicated disinterest, although his observant gaze revealed a hint of curiosity.
"I kept the keys on purpose so you wouldn't leave without me! And why are you so impatient? Look, today I'm inventing a brand-new dish! Just let me finish it once, then we'll go together, and all of us will have it together!" From the kitchen, Leo's voice carried over with unmistakable excitement.
"I swear, sitting here staring at your stupid face is gonna drive me insane."
Leo shot Max an exasperated glance, pointing the spoon in his direction. "Then don't look at my face. And for the record, I'm not stupid. I actually have work to do, unlike some people who just sit around eating apples all day."
Across the room, Max, mid-bite into his apple, merely rolled his eyes in response.
Then silence settled between them as Max turned his attention to his phone and Leo refocused on perfecting his new dish. However, the quiet moment was short-lived.
Max glanced at the time on his screen and let out a derisive scoff. "What's with this sudden obsession of yours? It's not like they all are starving beggars desperate for your brand-new culinary masterpiece."
At that exact moment, Leo had just stepped back with a proud smile, admiring the finished dish until Max's words hit him. His grin vanished instantly, replaced by an irritated glare as he slowly turned to face him.
"Try saying something nice for once, why must your mouth always spew garbage?"
But Max, already tuning him out, was suddenly too busy inhaling deeply the rich aroma from the kitchen flooding his senses. Without another word, he abandoned his seat and strode toward the source of that intoxicating smell.
"Did you put up some invisible barrier earlier to keep this scent from reaching me?" Max mused with a grin, leaning precariously close to the dish without so much as glancing at Leo who now was staring at Max with a done face.
"Ohhhh dear brother, what is this masterpiece? It looks absolutely divine~!"
The moment those words left Max's mouth, Leo's hand shot out, clamping onto the back of his Jackets' collar like a vice.
"Hypocrite!" Leo snarled, dragging him backward with zero ceremony. "First you insult my cooking, then suddenly it's 'divine' when you want to stuff your face? Absolutely not. You don't get a single bite today, not even a whiff."
Leo unceremoniously yanked him past the kitchen threshold before releasing him with a final shove like banishing a particularly annoying stray cat.
Max clasped his hands together dramatically, eyes wide with feigned remorse. "Dearest brother, please, my words slip out by accident! If you deny me this dish today, my soul will ache endlessly! Do you understand my suffering?!" His voice oozed exaggerated sincerity.
Leo waved a hand in front of Max's face as if shooing away a persistent mutt. "Shhh! Shhh! Actual dogs get fed here, not fake ones like you." He turned on his heel toward the kitchen, only for Max to suddenly shove past him, lunging at the counter.
In one swift motion, Max stole an enormous bite straight from the dish, cheeks stuffed like a rabid squirrel as Leo stared in horrified fury.
Max let out an exaggerated sigh of bliss, eyes still closed as he savored the stolen bite. "Mmm... finally, my soul is at peace," he declared, thoroughly pleased with himself despite the glowering presence of Leo mere inches away.
Leo's expression darkened further, "You ruined my presentation by eating my Inferno Nectar! I was going to serve it properly to everyone!"
Max blinked lazily, swallowing the last remnants before shrugging. "What did you say? Inferno Nectar? You even gave it a name? And relax, it's not ruined," he reasoned with infuriating nonchalance, gesturing to the dish like it was no big deal. "You can still serve it. It's totally fine."
"You damn bastard! I'm not going to leave you today!" Leo hollered, lunging forward, but Max was too fast, sidestepping his charge and slipping away easily out of the kitchen. "You think you're getting away?!" Leo spat, chasing him, throwing anything catchable in Max's direction, but all dodged adeptly by Max.
"Leo, it's a legal offence to raise your hand on your elder brother." Max spoke, climbing up on the sofa while picking up the neckroll pillow to protect himself from Leo's attack.
"Elder brother? Ha! You're not even family, you're my sworn enemy! I did so many calculations and spent hours cooking my Inferno Nectar but you ruined it?" Leo snatched an apple from the counter and hurled it at Max with perfect aim only for Max to catch it mid-air like a smug outfielder.
"Aww, thanks for giving me this~!" Max took a theatrical bite, grinning as Leo's eye twitched dangerously. Unfazed, Leo continued his assault, grabbing whatever wasn't nailed down and chucking it mercilessly.
Max, meanwhile, batted objects away with his pillow like he was defending wickets in a high-stakes cricket match.
"It was just a small bite, and I don't think I ruined it, so just calm down!" Max evaded, darting away to the other direction and dodging flying projectiles in one smooth motion.
Leo seethed. "A small bite? You call that a small bite? You practically unhinged your jaw and shoved half the dish in your mouth! And you didn't ruin it? You ruined the whole decoration of it, I had to show it to everyone first."
"Come on brother, calm down now, why are you behaving like a child? You can decorate it again and we have to go to the festival, it's getting late. Now stop it." Trying to dodge his attacks, Max tried to remind him but Leo didn't calm down.
After a long fight, Leo collapsed onto the sofa, panting slightly from the exhausting battle of wills. Max hovered behind the sofa, eyeing Leo's weary profile with a mixture of amusement and playful hesitation. Clearing his throat deliberately, Max posed a seemingly teasing question.
"So if I already ruined your Inferno Nectar, can I eat the rest too~?"
In a lightning-fast reflex, Leo grabbed the nearby pillow and lobbed it directly at Max's face, his irritation flaring up once more.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
𓆩:*¨✧¨*:𓆪
✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩ͯ•͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ┄•͙✧⃝•͙┄✩̣̣̣̣̣ͯ
The car's audio system buzzed with an incoming call, its ringtone slicing through the hum of the engine. Bella's eyes flicked to the caller ID, her face immediately twisting into mild disgust before she tapped the answer without hesitation.
"Hello, Aunty," she greeted, voice forcibly sweet, "How are you?"
A crackly reply came through, "I'm good! How about you, Bella?"
Bella tightened her grip on the wheel, keeping her tone airy while staring straight ahead at the road. "Ohhh, just driving! What's up?"
"Where's Jia?" the woman asked, the question sharp and direct.
Bella glanced at the car console as she knew Jia was with Jae, before responding, voice carefully even. "She's home."
The inquiry deepened, the words dripping with disapproval. "Why didn't she show up at the show? She was nominated for an award."
Bella kept her tone casual, masking the tension simmering beneath her calm exterior. "She was feeling under the weather, couldn't make it."
"How is her health now?" The woman's voice instantly softened with concern.
"She's doing fine now, no need to worry."
A relieved sigh crackled through the speakers before the older woman continued, "Good... make sure you look after her properly."
Bella smiled tightly, despite no one seeing it. "Obviously."
There was a pause, then the dreaded follow-up, "...And listen, I won't be able to come back to Korea for several more months."
"Yeah don't worry, I will take care of everything here, you can do your work there comfortably."
"Thank you so much, Bella."
"There is no need to say thank you, aunty, this is my duty."
"Okay Bella, take care of yourself!" Saying the last sentence, the call ended and Bella rolled her eyes in annoyance.
"Vamp… I'll end you soon." Her voice dripped with venom as she muttered under her breath.
The car rolled to a stop at a red light. As Bella waited for the green light, her sharp eyes flickered to the side, where a cyclist had just pulled up beside her. The person was clad in an absurdly flouncy white-and-blue floral dress with a frilly belt, topped off with a joker clown wig and a bright red foam nose.
Bella's gaze sharpened. Without hesitation, she cranked down her window and leaned out slightly.
"Sarah!" She called her in a surprised tone with an open mouth smile. While Sarah immediately turned her head to the side towards Bella and after seeing Bella, she didn't react.
"Yes?" Sarah replied in a dead tone.
"Where are you headed??" Bella asked with a smile.
"At the festival, Jackson invited me."
Bella scoffed, mockery in her tone, "Like this? As a Joker?"
"Life already turned me into one ... .figured I might as well dress the part." Turning her head forward on the road, she uttered in a way as if she was lost in some deep thought, making Bella chuckle at her words.
"Hey, what's wrong? Did someone say something?" Bella asked with a slight laugh at Sarah's robotic behaviour.
Sarah gave a stiff, lifeless smile like a mannequin programmed to imitate human expressions poorly. "Why would anyone need to say anything? I myself turned out to be a fool," she stated flatly.
Bella rolled her eyes, amusement lacing her voice. "Are you even in your senses?"
Sarah's reply was instant, robotic "How to be in senses?"
Bella exhaled sharply, half laughing, half exasperated, before shifting gears. "Anyway, guess what? Jackson's friend Daniel invited me too. If you weren't with your bicycle and busy cosplaying as a circus reject, we could've gone together."
"We have to go just close by, and anyway, life is solitude. We enter alone, we leave alone... and between those points, we pedal our bicycles alone." Sarah's voice drifted out, monotone and philosophical.
Bella barely reacted, not taking her words seriously as she had seen her strange behaviour many times before. Bella just pressed her lips into a thin line, nodding as the light flicked green. Without another glance at the tragic joker beside her, she tossed out a breezy, "Sure, then see you at the festival."
And with that, Bella started to drive her car while Sarah also pedalled her bicycle with impassive behaviour.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
As at around 9:00 am Daniel, Jackson and Daisy entered the Dano Festival, they were immediately struck by the vibrant atmosphere. The air was alive with the sound of traditional music and laughter, as people milled around enjoying activities such as tug-of-war and mask dancing.
Many people were wearing traditional Korean clothes like the hanbok, adorned with colourful patterns and designs. Some men were wearing their hair in traditional topknots, while women wore their hair adorned with intricate hairpins. While some people were in their casual clothes.
The scents of traditional food and sweet rice wine wafted through the air. Overall, the festival exuded a sense of joyous celebration and cultural pride.
Jackson, Daniel and Daisy walked forward. Daniel's hand was wrapped around Daisy's waist, showing her his protectiveness while they both were in Korean traditional clothes. On the other side Jackson was walking beside them, admiring his surroundings, who was in his casual clothes.
People were eagerly participating in various activities around the festival grounds. Children were running around playing tug-of-war, while adults were cheering them on. In another area, traditional Korean musicians were performing music and songs for the crowd, who were clapping and singing along. People were also watching mask dancing performances by skilled dancers, who move and twirl to the beat of the music. The festival had traditional food stalls selling Korean delicacies such as tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and people were happily munching on them while socialising and taking breaks from the activities.
Overall, the Dano Festival is a time for people to let loose, enjoy themselves, and connect with their culture and traditions. It's a time of joyous celebration and bonding, and a chance to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to appreciate the beauty of Korean culture and history.
"Whenever I join such festivals of this country, I remember my country." Daisy uttered in a soft voice, admiring her surroundings, getting emotional.
"Us too!" Daniel and Jackson responded.
"Let's play the Tuho." Daisy excitedly pointed towards the stall of a Korean traditional game named Tuho, a game that involves throwing an arrow into a narrow necked jar or wooden pot using hands. Points are awarded based on the number of successful throws of arrows.
"Do you intend to lose?" Daniel asked teasingly.
"Lose? You're the one who always loses." The confidence was visible in her voice, making him chuckle.
"Okay let's see how you defeat me this time."
"Well since you both have decided then I am going to have fun watching you lovey-dovey couples compete, come on then let's hurry up!" Jackson said excitedly while warming up, seeing which Daniel and Daisy chuckled in disbelief before going towards the stall followed by Jackson.
As they approached the Tuho stall at the Dano Festival, there was more than one jar placed on the ground, with a line painted on the ground some distance away from the jars where the players stand to shoot their arrows. There were several arrows neatly arranged on a table nearby, for players to use during the game.
A young man was standing behind the table, overseeing the game. He was the owner of the stall and was responsible for setting up and maintaining the equipment. Other festival goers, both young and old, were gathered around the stall, taking turns to play the game and enjoying the thrill of competition.
The stall itself was decorated with colourful streamers and flags, and there was a small sign on the front that read "Tuho" in traditional Korean characters. There was a sense of excitement in the air as people cheered on their friends and family members, and the sound of arrows hitting the jars could be heard repeatedly.
The owner was friendly and helpful, offering tips and advice to players who may be struggling with their aim or form. He was clearly passionate about the game and enjoying watching people having fun and competing against each other.
Soon Daniel and Daisy also got their turn. As they both stood side by side, preparing to take their throws, they both felt a mixture of excitement and competition.
Daisy, who had always been the quicker draw and more accurate throws, was feeling confident in her abilities. On the other hand, Daniel was determined to give his wife defeat, and was feeling determined to prove himself.
As Daisy threw her first arrow, she watched as it soared towards the target, hitting it accurately. Daniel, noticing her accuracy, felt a pang of anxiety. However, he took a deep breath and focused on his own throw. He carefully took aim, and threw, watching as it too hit the target.
As the game progressed, both of them continued to compete fiercely, each throwing arrow after arrow with precision and speed. They were both motivated by the desire to win, but also by the playful rivalry that comes with competing against someone you know so well. They tease and banter with each other, trying to throw off their opponent's focus and gain an advantage.
As the game came to an end and the final scores were tallied, they both looked on with bated breath as the winner was announced.
Daisy, with more arrows in the jar than Daniel, ended up winning the game, but not without a tough challenge from Daniel. Seeing which the spectators clapped for their performance. They both also congratulated each other on a well-played game. While Jackson, standing next to them, was deliberately clapping continuously for Daniel's loss.
"Wow, Daniel lost again!" Jackson uttered in a mocking way, looking towards Daniel. While Daniel hit slightly on Jackson's forehead.
"Don't be too happy." Saying this, Daniel and Daisy turned their way to explore the festival more while Jackson also followed them when suddenly a female called them from behind, making them halt at their track and turn their head.
There, Bella was coming towards them in her casual clothes with a soft smile on her face.
"Happy Dano Festival!" Standing right in front of them, saying this with a smile, Bella bowed to them as they did the same except Jackson.
"Is this your wife Daisy? She is very beautiful and looks even more beautiful in this hanbok." She uttered surprisingly, looking towards Daisy then at Daniel with amusement.
"Oh thank you so much Bella, you're also very pretty." Daisy complimented her while Bella smiled.
On the other side Jackson was silently looking at Bella with the corner of his eyes.
"And you? What's up?" Bella asked, glancing at Jackson with an attitude.
"I was fine before you came." Jackson's reply was instant, irritating her.
"Same, I was also fine before seeing you."
"Did I ask you?"
"You don't even need to."
"Who invited her?" He muttered, turning face away to the other side but enough for her to hear.
"Who are you to ask?" She asked, narrowing her eyes in mild anger.
"Whoever I am, a million times better than you."
"You son of Jack! Don't try to ruin my mood." She warned him, glaring at him in mild anger.
"I should be saying this, not you." He uttered with an attitude, irritating her more.
"I'm warning you, I'll bury you right here!" Hearing her words, Jackson let out a whiny voice to imitate her words in annoyance, making her grab his collar in irritation.
"Son. Of. Jack, I said don't try to ruin my mood."
"You goat! You're the one who is ruining my mood."
While they were busy fighting, on the other side Daniel and Daisy were looking at them with a mixture of disbelief and amusement.
"These two are fighting for no reason, they are exactly sibling coded." Daisy whispered in Daniel's ear.
"Don't say that, I ship them both." Daniel cleared, mirroring Daisy's action.
Her eyes flickered up at him, lips curling into a teasing grin. "Really? They suit each other perfectly, you've got excellent taste."
He smirked, pulling her closer with a possessive grip around her waist. "That's true, you should have understood this years ago."
While a shy smile played on her lips.
At that moment, Max and Leo approached, their cheerful voices cutting through the air as they called out to Jackson and Daniel, waving enthusiastically. Both were dressed in casual attire, with Leo clutching a paper bag in his hand.
Noticing their arrival, Bella immediately let go of Jackson's collar and stepped back, though not without shooting him one last fiery glare.
Max and Leo then exchanged warm hugs with Jackson, Daniel, and Daisy, each greeting the other with easy affection.
"Bella, you're here too? That's great!" Leo exclaimed, his excitement palpable as Bella offered him a polite smile.
Before the moment could linger, Max interjected with eager energy, "Let's grab a seat! Leo brought surprise for all of you!" before gesturing toward a nearby traditional food stall. Outside the stall stood a long dining table adorned with roughly fifteen chairs and several bottles of water already set out. A few people were already seated there, leisurely enjoying their meals.
The group settled comfortably into their chairs, curiosity lighting up their faces as they turned expectantly toward Leo, waiting to see what surprise he had in store for them.
"Not now, some more people are about to come, then I will reveal it." Leo announced, practically vibrating with anticipation as he clutched the paper bag tighter. The group exchanged glances before shrugging in acceptance.
Just then—screech! Sarah's bicycle skidded to a halt directly in front of them. Her clown wig sat crookedly, red foam nose still intact as she stared at them with robotic emptiness.
"Hey... strangers," she droned, voice monotone. "Can I get some water?"
Leo, seated closest to her, mouth slightly agape at the absurdity unfolding beside him.
"W-what? Strangers?? Uh…anyway…here!" He fumbled for a water bottle from the table and hastily handed it to her.
Sarah snatched it without hesitation, downed the entire thing in one ruthless gulp, then slammed it back onto the table with a hollow thud.
Max leaned forward, an eyebrow raised in amusement as he took in Sarah's ridiculous getup. "So… what's with the joker aesthetic?" His tone was light, but teasingly sharp.
"I exist in solitude, detached from the ordinary. Therefore, my appearance must reflect this divergence."
Leo burst into laughter at her dramatics, the others stifling amused chuckles, before he wiped his eyes and dropped the real bomb. "Well it's good, you're here too... because I also invited Samuel."
For a split second, Sarah's robotic facade almost cracked, her eyes flickering with something alarmingly close to human panic before she locked back into her default emotionless clown mode.
"WHAT did you say? Say it again."
Leo answered easily, "Yeah, I said Samuel is also coming."
On cue, Samuel materialized behind them, "Heyy guysss!"
Everyone's heads whipped around in unison, only to see Samuel waving cheerfully at them, wearing casual clothes as he approached. His squeezed eyes hinted at a grin beneath his face mask, making the whole situation almost comical.
"Oh look, he has already arrived." Leo announced.
The moment Sarah registered Samuel's voice, she lunged off her bicycle like a startled cat, knocking it over with a loud clatter as she dove under the table in one frantic motion. The sudden noise drew everyone's attention straight to her chaotic cover-up attempt.
Bella ducked her head under the table, blinking at Sarah's curled-up form. "Uh… Sarah? What are you doing?"
Sarah pressed a frantic finger to her lips, "SHHH!!", eyes wide with something between terror and determination, her clown wig now hopelessly askew from the dive-bomb maneuver.
Above them all, Samuel simply stared at the table with a done look in his eyes.
Daisy leaned close to Jackson, her voice barely above a whisper. "What is the matter between these two?"
Jackson gave a knowing sigh, filling her in softly yet succinctly. "This is Sarah and Samuel, Sarah is a model and best friend of Jia and also friend of Max, Leo and Bella. Samuel is a famous actor who has worked with Jia many times and he is a friend of everyone here except me. Sarah has feelings for Samuel, which Samuel knows but it's not mutual."
Daisy made an oh face in understanding, eyes widening at the drama and the backstory.
"But how do you know that she likes him and he doesn't?"
Jackson shot a glance at Leo before muttering, "Leo told me."
Daisy looked at Leo, processing Jackson's words before looking at Samuel and asking again to Jackson. "Is this really actor Kim Samuel?"
Jackson blinked as yes at Daisy's question. While understanding everything Daisy gave this information to Daniel, who was sitting next to her. And hearing every word of Daisy, he also got surprised, looking at Samuel and the situation.
While Max ducked his head under the table, locking eyes with Sarah's panicked expression. "Sarah, he saw you. Hiding's pointless, just get up before this gets weirder." Meanwhile, his hand discreetly tapped Leo's leg to manage the seat for Sarah and Samuel next to each other.
Leo caught the signal instantly, master of chaotic diplomacy, and sprang into action. "Samuel! Quit looming like a lost ghost and sit." He herded Samuel toward the corner seat before plopping down himself next to Max, leaving only one spot open, right between Samuel and himself.
"Sarah, get out now." Bella said to Sarah. While Sarah vehemently shook her head underneath the table, her refusal echoed faintly around them.
Max, getting frustrated, let out a sharp scoff. "For god's sake, Sarah will you come out or not?"
Seeing her shaking her head continuously in denial, he shoved away the chair next to him, grabbing her wrist to forcibly yank her out from the table, but Sarah put up a surprisingly strong resistance, digging in her heels stubbornly.
"Cut it out, get up now!" Max growled, his grip firm on Sarah's wrist as she thrashed like a feral cat refusing a bath. She shot him a glare sharp enough to peel paint, but brute strength won in the end, Max hauled her out and shoved her toward Leo.
Leo, ever the opportunist, manhandled her straight into the chair next to Samuel before plopping down beside her.
Sarah froze. One second she was all claws and fury like a wild cat at Leo and Max—the next? Rigid as a statue, spine poker-straight, breath held hostage. Only her eyes darted sideways at Samuel before snapping forward again like she'd been programmed to ignore him.
"By the way Samuel, why are you wearing a mask?" Bella's question sliced through the stillness.
"So that today no one recognizes me and intellects my privacy." Samuel answered simply, his voice matter-of-fact.
Bella countered, a hint of challenge in her voice. "You are so famous that people will recognize you just by looking at your eyes. So don't worry, take off your mask. Do you have no intention of enjoying today comfortably? And I don't think you will have any problem today."
"Yes she is right!" Leo agreed.
Max chimed in firmly, echoing Leo's agreement. "Exactly."
Finally surrendering to the mounting pressure, Samuel lifted the face mask, uncovering his handsome features.
Sarah leaned closer to Samuel, her voice hushed but urgent. "If I knew you would be here, I definitely would not have come. Seriously, it wasn't my fault."
Hearing her, Samuel chuckled awkwardly, his cheeks slightly flushed from the attention. The table seemed to hold its breath, everyone watching their interaction with quiet curiosity.
"Perfect, now introduce yourself, those who don't know each other here." And immediately after Max said this, all of those who didn't know each other personally till now, introduced themselves.
"Now it's time to reveal my surprise." Taking out the eye catchy big tiffin box from his Paper bag, Leo said excitedly before opening the big tiffin box and quickly spreading his arm towards the Tiffin.
"Presenting delicious Inferno Nectar!"
As soon as the aroma of the food entered everyone's nostrils, they all started looking at the tiffin in surprise and amusement.
"A latest dish invented by me that is both spicy and tart, with a combination of flavours that dance on your tongue and leave you wanting more. The Inferno Nectar dish is a perfect blend of heat and tartness, made with a mixture of peppers, citrus fruits, and a secret blend of herbs and spices. The result is a fiery yet tangy explosion of flavour that will leave your taste buds begging for more–"
"Then share it with us as quickly as possible, what are you waiting for?" Jackson said desperately, cutting Leo's words off.
"Okay, okay." Leo immediately divided it among them delightedly.
As soon as everyone took the first bite of the Inferno Nectar dish, it was clear from their expressions that they all found it very delicious and good.
"I don't eat much spicy food, but this is delicious." Daniel complimented, taking another bite.
"This is your best invention till date." Daisy said.
"I knew this is amazing." Leo uttered with a delighted expression before turning towards Sarah, whose focus was on eating the food. "Do you have anything to say?"
"No words!" She replied.
"It is very good!" Samuel said.
"Right!" Bella agreed. While seeing everyone's delighted face due to his dish, a satisfied smile plastered on Leo's face.
"I wish Jae and Jia were here too." Leo sighed while having his meal.
"I don't know about Jia, but do you think Jae has ever come with us to such festivals?" Max said.
"You're right!" Leo echoed with a resigned expression.
"When are they both coming back, anyway?" Max redirected the conversation, looking at the front line of Daniel, Daisy, Jackson and Bella, his question hanging in the air.
"Jae mentioned they'd be in Japan for a week, and three days have passed already." Daniel shared what he knew.
Bella confirmed the timeline, chiming in. "Yeah, so they'll be back after another three days."
Max and Leo nodded in comprehension, silently processing the update on their friends' return.
"Is this the Billionaire Businessman Jitoku Jae? And why did Jia go to Japan with him?" Samuel's sudden voice rang in Sarah's ear as he asked in confusion, looking at all of them with a questionable face.
And Sarah abruptly swiveled Samuel's head toward the food, catching him off guard. "No, no—she didn't go with him. Eat and be comfortable."
Her words rushed out like a torrent, a hint of desperation in her voice. She shot the others a pleading look, urging them to play along. Similarly, all of them also asked 'why' by their expressions, but Sarah continued to give them a pleading look. In response, they exchanged glances and then subtly nodded, silently agreeing to Sarah's plea.
Samuel finally wriggled out of her grip, meeting her gaze with a frustrated glare. "What are you even doing?"
The table seemed to hold its breath as everyone purposefully averted their eyes, busying themselves with food, their expressions schooled into nonchalance.
"Nothing, you just eat this delicious dish comfortably." Sarah's reply came out as a casual command before focusing on her own meal with an impassive expression.
However, Samuel's gaze roamed over everyone's faces, suspicion creeping into his expression as he tried to decipher the odd dynamics at play.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●
Being bored with Jae leaving early in the morning somewhere and not returning yet, Jia was exploring the every big and small things in the room with curiosity to get rid of her boredom. Jae's Louis Vuitton Black Leather Wallet was also kept on the nightstand, which she had not paid much attention to yet. But not finding anything else interesting, she eventually decided to check his wallet.
A sly smirk danced across her lips. "Not the most ethical move, checking someone's wallet," she murmured. "But hey, it's what wives do."
With a mischievous grin, she reached for the wallet, flipping it open without a second thought.
The wallet's contents revealed cards and cash, but the real surprise was a photo tucked inside. Jia gently extracted it before studying the image within. The image was a snapshot of another time, Jae, teenager but unmistakable, standing beside a boy who mirrored his age.
The stranger had presence—long, layered onyx-black hair that caught light like spilled ink and dark deep blue eyes so striking they seemed unreal. They held an almost hypnotic pull, like staring into some forgotten ocean depth. His features were carved with effortless magnetism, every line radiating cool confidence wrapped in mystery.
Both were dressed similarly, same color scheme, same sleek style, but where Jae wore a black jacket draped over his frame with sharp ease, the other boy donned a long coat instead… something about it amplifying his enigmatic aura even further.
Their smiles? Untouched by life's weight back then, pure delight frozen mid-smile as if sorrow hadn't found them yet.
A flash of recognition struck her, she had seen that boy before.
Her mind rewound to Jae's Korean house in Seoul, the rooms' walls lined with countless framed photographs, where she had recognised Jae for the first time after her two days of unconsciousness. Amid them all frames, that same striking figure had appeared again and again, always near Jae.
Now here he was, carefully preserved inside the wallet itself like something precious… someone irreplaceable enough for Jae to carry a piece of him everywhere.
"Who is this person?" The question formed on her lips as she traced the edges of the photograph with restless fingers. A quiet ache settled in her chest, not jealousy but hunger, craving context about this hidden fragment of his past…craving to know about Jae's life deeply.
●◇◇◇◇◇◇●