The smell of sedation roamed in the room behind closed doors. The girl laying on the bed was dressed in white robes with the word hospital printed vertically on the striped material. The anesthetic in her body made her feel numb, even moving her fingers required more work than thought.

Where am I? Jieun thought as she unsuccessfully attempted to open the heavy eyelids. Her vision was blurred, with her half-opened eyes, she glimpsed the figure of a black blur surrounded by faded brightness.

The slender man stood with his back facing her, he held his phone to his ear while peeking through the narrow space of the pisse curtains that he made with his two fingers.

"People already recognized me, what else should I've done?" The man said. His tone made it clear that whatever it was, it was definitely not done by willingness. Jieun spotted the blurred silhouette of the man through narrowed eyes. She didn't know who he was speaking to, but he didn't sound happy.

"Like you always do, let others do the hard work." A thick voice responded through the phone.

Jieun figured out that the man in front of her wasn't insane but was actually speaking to someone. Though she couldn't see anyone beside him, she heard a thick deep voice respond to his question.

"If that homeless drunkard didn't provoke me..." The man took his hands to his forehead, shook his head in frustration.

He turned back with a frowned expression and noticed her, trying to sit up with the support of her trembling arms.

"She's awake, hanging up." Was the last sentence she heard from him.

Jieun suddenly felt a light stroke of air, brush against her skin as the man lightly waved his hand from side to side in front of her. His weight made the madras curve, making her heart skipped a beat as she felt his presence near. Never had she been that close to a man.

"Are you coming to your sense?" He asked her.

Jieun tried shaking away the drowsiness with a slight head shake. A grin of an unknown reason was forming on his lips as he observed her trying to gain control of her own body.

She shut her eyes tight and slowly parted her eyelids in order to adjust to the brightness. Her vision became clearer, once she got the full picture of the man in front of her, her eyes opened wide and her body flinched in fear.

The sedative that had put her nerve on a slump vanished like thin air making her body trembling uncontrollably without her permission. The only hindrance for her to pull herself away from him was the wall at her back.

Jieun's unusual behavior made the man worry and slightly panicked. The brief moment their eyes met, was enough to let him see, that her eyes held fear from a source he didn't know of.

"Are you okay?" His hand reached for her shoulder, but as it wasn't worth dust Jieun slapped his hand away. She hadn't yet gained full control of her body, hence she lost balance and fell down from the bed.

First now did he figure out the source of her fear. It was him.

Blame him for getting offended, but that was exactly what he felt. She didn't even thank him for saving her but on the contrary, gave him the eyes as if he was some trashy rapist. His heals turned at the door as he stood up, but before he could proceed a pair of trembling hands desperately wrapped around his ankle.

"Please" Jieun uttered, nearly a whisper. "I didn't see your face."

Irritation was replaced with confusion, her hands were holding his feet, but it was her words that held him back.

"I-I-I didn't see anything, I won't tell anybody, please spare my life" Jieun desperately pleaded with her sobbing voice. Her eyes were tightly closed, but not even that was enough to block the tears from escalating down the wet cheeks.

The man frowned at her, eventually bent down beside her to take a closer look. His hand extended to touch her chin, gently he lifted it so she would face him. Jieun let his hand lift her head with no resistance but still with squeezed eyes closed. She didn't dare to fight back the man in front of her.

"Don't forget," He said painfully tender.

Jieun still felt the warmth in his finger and the beating rhythm of her own pumping blood that was beating against the hand holding her chin up. Her mind was clouded but she still heard him, every word sound and clear.

Don't forget, he said.

Was that the death sentence? Jieun asked herself.

Is this the last memory of my life?

The quiet drive came to an end when they reached the outer place of Seoul. It was at some kind of valley on a hilltop. Houses were quietly distanced with fences surrounding, making the bond of the neighborhood seem as thin as paper sheets. This didn't seem like a place anyone could afford, but in fact, wasn't more attractive than a golden prison.

When they arrived, he knocked on the glass window of the car, as she didn't come out. Jieun flinched finding him standing right outside. Absorbed in observing the view she didn't even notice him stepping out of the car.

As her savor opened the door, she immediately stood up but was pulled back by the seatbelt. He looked at her with a brow lifted in disbelief as if he just witnessed a monkey slip on a banana peel.

*Is this due to amnesia? *

"...Or was her brain usually this bad?" Deep in thoughts, he didn't even realize that he spoke out his mind. It was in a whisper though but Jieun heard every single word. His half-sentence was enough for her to get the context of the whole picture.

He is mocking you!

As he just was about to lean across to help her untying the belt, Jieun pushed him with both hands making him falter a few steps back. With a questionable look, he sends her blaming eyes, which she returned with a look near a glare.

Didn't you need his help? He mentally asked himself.

Jieun attempted to stand up again, but it didn't take more than a second for the belt to harden its grip and wipe her back against the seat.

He scoffed, seeing the scene of her portraying both dumb and dumber on her own. She clearly didn't know how to come free yet she didn't let him help her.

She looked at him with a reddening face, of both embarrassment, and anger. As if she wasn't frustrated enough he even pulled the corner of his lip in a wicked grin. It only made a brief appearance on his handsome face but was enough to make her blood boil.

"Stop being stubborn." He leaned across her and clicked the belt free from its lock. Jieun grabbed the belt that was slowly being pulled away and locked it back, causing him to make a slightly pissed face.

I untied your seatbelt, you locked it back...

"I think you're trying to say you don't need my help?" He read a silent 'yes' in her eyes. He was actually used to her loud silence to the point, that her voice would be more surprising.

"Technically I just showed you how it works, so you acting up is completely unmannered and unnecessary unless-"

The last part came out in a spiteful manner,

"you have a better way of getting out."

Despite knowing he was acting petty he couldn't hold back. She's been hurting his pride on endless repeat by rejecting him so upright. So straightforward without considering his feelings.

Jieun sighed deep, she bats her inner cheeks while grabbing the wide black belt with both hands. She was trying to think of a way to breaks free. The black material was slowly pulled by gravity, it's tight grip across her chest connected at the left side of her hips was slowly loosening up. Her eyes lit up.

The chain is broken!

She figured out if it wasn't pulled forcefully but with ease, the belt wouldn't make an abrupt halt.

Her savor stood with a raising brow looking at her suddenly pulling both legs up, stood on the seat, and carefully tangled herself free from the belt. She got off the car as some acrobatic escape artist. He hid his astonishment behind a straight face, although the bulging cheek caused by his poking tongue kind of spoke for itself. Apparently, he wasn't as impressed as much as she was of herself.

What did I just bring home? He headed towards the gate of his house with a hand in his pocket but then stopped.

"You-" he turned back at her, she stopped upon hearing his voice, carefully lifting her head from the ground to meet his frown.

"Don't get out of a car like this again, it gives people thoughts."

Thoughts? Her brows knitted. What thoughts?

"People might send you to a mental hospital or something." He added. Her expression was unchanged and blank, she had no idea of what mental or hospital meant.

When she just looked at him with a blank expression he started doubting himself. Am I the weird one?

He turned back at the gate, mentally convincing himself that he is the one normal.

"I'm home." He said into the metal box hanging on the wall and immediately the gates opened wide. Jieun flinched seeing the metal gate doors move aside without anyone pulling them. It was kind of fascinating but creepy too.

"Not coming?" He said looking at her for a second then turned back and entered through the gate. Jieun had a bad feeling.

What is all this?  With no sounds of her small steps, he knew she wasn't following. He looked back with an impatient sigh. Seeing his slight annoyed expression, made her involuntarily enter the gate. She walked just behind him, very closely and cautiously.

After she had taken a few steps a sudden creak interrupted the peace and send a chill down her spine. Jieun looked back with a horrified expression seeing the gate slowly closing, she immediately ran back to the gate but it was too late. It was closed. Her savor turned back to see her frantically kicking his gate like a drunkard.

What's wrong with her?!?

"Ya!" He ran to her, afraid that people would come out from their houses due to the noise. He tried to stop her but nevertheless, Jieun kept kicking the gate nonstop.

"Ya! Ya!! YAA!!!" He shouted angrily, grabbing her wrist and spun her around, but she wasn't listening, he could tell that as she didn't let him get any eye contact.

I'm locked! I'm locked! That's why he looked at you like a stupid moron. Walking into the gate of the afterworld without knowing! What in the world was I thinking to blindly follow a man who chained me in a black speeding thing!? She was freaked out on the brick of insane.

Jieun yanked his arms in despair, indeed she was scared of him but that was when she thought he was a bloodthirsty killer, not a reaper taking her to the underworld. If she's already dead it literally means she had nothing to lose. She's not going without a fight.

"What's wrong with you?!?!" He shouted, trying to get a hold of her but she kept shaking her head not wanting to listen. He thought she was going crazy but not even that made him let go of her hand.

I need to get out of here. How did he open those gates? Jieun ran through her mind and remembered the magic words he said for the gates to open*. 'I'm home'*

"I'm home!! Open the gates!" She screamed while looking at the sky.

"Pardon?" A female voice came from the speakers on the outer side of the gate.

God?!? Jieun's eyes grew big as hope filled her heart.

"I'm home!" She repeated with a light of hope, thinking her earnestness touched the heavens. "Please open the gate!"

"Uhm... I just did?" The female voice answered awkwardly.

"No God, you just closed it! I'm home please open the gates!"

"Miss I can see you through the camera you're already inside."

"You're looking at me??" Jieun looked around in on the black sky.

"...Young master?" The woman sounded somehow conflicted and terrified at the same time. The lady she observed on the little display didn't look any ordinary. At least her act didn't seem ordinary.

"Don't mind her and don't even think of open the gate." He firmly instructed while grabbing Jieun's wrist tighter. He pulled her to face him but she kept looking at the sky.

"God, don't let him lock me up!" Her voice cried.

"What are you talking about?!? No one is locking you up!!" Jieun froze. She was afraid her hearing was playing tricks on her.

"You're...not?" She looked at him with suspicious eyes.

Goodness' sake I saved you!

His intense glare, the angry eyes that didn't show evil intents but frustration, as if he was mad at her but at the same time not.

Can I trust him?... Jieun asked herself.

Unbeknownst Jieun sort of believed him. Her savor sounded somewhat genuine. Not a hint of lie did she sense in his expression. She followed him to the house where a maid stood behind the open door and waited for their arrival.

The woman greeted them with a light bow. Jieun then recognized the voice of the old woman as she welcomed them. She suddenly felt stupid for even think that God would talk with a person like herself. What deed had she ever commit to receiving such grace?

Embarrassed, Jieun wished to dig a big hole and hide but pretended as nothing was wrong on the outside.

The woman seemed to be in the middle of cooking, but still made time to serve them fruit and water as they waited.

He must be well off to have a slave. Jieun silently thought as she grabbed the glass of water with both hands. Although he only has one. 

After preparing the food he sent the housemaid out but out of the ordinary he instructed her not to come by the coming days. The woman immediately apologized without knowing why and asked him not to fire her.

When realizing the reason behind her behavior, he assured that he wasn't firing her but just giving her a break. As easy as one plus one is two, the housekeeper figured out that this probably was connected with the woman he brought home, but she also knew unless she wants to get fired, minding another's business shouldn't be her affair.

Sending off the maid, her savor headed back to the kitchen. He seated himself across the girl he just met this morning, who he already brought home and shared dinner with. This was a weird feeling. He'd always been alone at the dinner table, it was a strange feeling to have company. Not that it wasn't strange to let a girl you just met enter your house.

Actually he wasn't the type to bring anyone home. Not even a male. Why he brought her without checking her background or questioning her identity, was something he couldn't understand himself. It wasn't out of pity for a girl who couldn't remember her name or family. There was just something around her that pulled his curiosity.

Again. Why is he staring at me like this? Noticing her stare he cleared his throat and grabbed the fork. Jieun timidly took up the chopsticks on the table and pulled the bowl of rice closer to herself.

First know did Jieun notice the line. The table was clearly split into her food and his. Her side was with a bowl of rice, soup, and various side dishes contrary to him with only a deep bottomed plate with mixed vegetables. Why did he have so little? It made her feel a little guilty.

Thinking it was out of manner that the dishes were for her to reach, she pushed the meat dish to him. He raised his head, clearly tempted by her offer.

"Diet." He said as if that was reason enough. With a bitter glare, he spewed the tomato with his fork, as if he punished it for tasting so bad.

Lord speak a language I can understand...

"And that is...?" She dared to ask.

His eyes went from his plate to her. He kind of expected something weird to come out whenever she opened her mouth, but this was something he didn't see come.

"You've never seen anyone eating like this?" he asked. With a moment of silence, she pondered whether to say more.

She knew he already found her pretty strange just like she found this whole situation. But what could happen? He hadn't shown any ill-mannered act, only feeding her and taking her with him, he wouldn't kill her right? She shouldn't be afraid.

"I had, but only because they couldn't afford more-" Even those beggars had a bowl of rice. "Why do you have to starve?"

There are nicer ways to describe it. He was less pleased with the way she phrased it, but since she finally started to speak, he didn't want to be the reason for her to stop.

"There are some criteria...following being a star," He said stuffing in the tomato and slowly chewed. It didn't seem that appetizing in her eyes.

"Do you like being a star?" Her words made no sense. He didn't know if she was just pretending or really asked for an answer.

"Everyone does." He said not looking up from the salad.

"Not everyone," Jieun said silently, which didn't go unnoticed by him. His face moved to her, waiting for her to continue.

"Stars are far away, you'll never be able to reach them." She explained.

"Then what would you be?" he said anticipated.

"The moon."

She took it way too literally.

"Why?" His half grin grew to an arrogant one as if he didn't really believe her words.

"Because it's closer" she shortly replied.

Why not be a rock now you are at it.

Jieun didn't know why she kept speaking to this stranger as if she'd had known him more than just from this morning. But she felt at ease being with him. She wanted to do something for him in return, to show her gratitude for him being overbearing and even showed her hospitality. That's when the thought hit her. His clothes, which had caught her eyes since earlier.

"Should I... patch your clothes?" She said.

"What?" He looked rather surprised.

"The big hole on your knee" she noted. Even though he had a slave, it was strange how he couldn't afford to wear new clothes. His pants were all worn out, the hole on his knees said more than words.

"I bought them because of the rips and you want to patch them?" He retorted, lifting a brow.

Maybe I Shouldn't have brought it up. She kinda pitied him somehow. Did she hurt his pride by pointing out his flaws?

"Eating like a beggar, clothing like a beggar" she murmured to herself. Not thinking it would actually reach his ears.

"What?!"

"Nothing" she hurriedly replied and lifted the bowl to her mouth like some kind of shield. He knew she had been in some way timid even afraid of him, her sudden boldness was completely illogical.

"You aren't normal are you?" He blurted. "The sudden change of attitude is way too suspicious. Weren't you scared of me to death earlier?" He came straight on, not even caring if his words were harsh or offending. On the other hand, she wasn't scared of timid, his question caught her off guard and left her pondering.

He got something. Why am I not afraid anymore? Jieun had no idea. Why wasn't she afraid? She should be. That would be the most normal reaction. Unless this body's owner knew him, then maybe it could explain why she wasn't that scared of him.

"Do...you know me?" Her eyes while asking were enchanting and he had a hard time controlling his facial expression. For a moment he couldn't get his head straight.

"Ehem" he cleared his throat and stood up, pretending as if he never heard her question. It seemed like he didn't want to give an answer.

"It had been a long day... I.. Am going to wash up.. take your time eating." He placed his dish in the sink and hurried away as if he was in a rush. Ignorantly she didn't found his awkward retreat suspicious. Maybe she was being too much?

First, you cling to him and plead for life the next moment you frame him for knowing you, of course, he'll think you are weird! It even seems like he's afraid of you... Jieun sighed in frustration. Frustrated by herself.

Sometimes he feels like a stranger, other times not...What is wrong with me?!?

Jieun had read all the books in her family's humble library, some even twice, but couldn't recall any book mentioning a phenomenon like this. No script roll described a place like this. No books wrote about waking up in another world after taking a bath. She was more lost than a fish on land, but annoyingly answers don't come dumping for the sky when you need them. Maybe her sister was right, reading really wasn't helpful at all.

Jieun wouldn't accept that she had gone insane, even though that would explain a lot, instead, she just continued eating and think that she'd slowly figure out what this is and how to go back.

Take it easy step by step.

She put the empty dishes into the sink as she finished and tried to remember where the washroom was since she needs to wash up too. She remembers him telling her the interior of the house while the slave was making food.

He said something about a washroom down here. She walked through the corridor and chanted to herself,

Second door on the left, she grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

"YA!!!"

Oh lord! Her hand moved to cover her eyes and she turned around in the speed of the light.

"I'm sorry !" She hurriedly closed it. "You should have locked the door!" Her voice was decreasing as she fled the crime scene.

Aish!!  He squeezed his eyes while running his hands through the dripping hair. I'm not used to having her around!!