The days that followed the return of Sung Hwan were filled with a palpable tension. Yena kept her distance from Jun-ho, though she couldn’t shake the feeling that their paths were now irrevocably linked. Every time her eyes met his, she was reminded of the choice she was facing—the impossible decision that loomed over her like a dark cloud.
Jun-ho, on the other hand, had been quiet. He kept his distance, too, sensing that Yena was troubled, but unsure of how to comfort her. He didn’t understand the supernatural world she had been thrust into, nor did he fully grasp the implications of what had happened the night Sung Hwan had shown up. But he could feel it—Yena was struggling. And no matter how hard she tried to keep her distance, he couldn’t help but feel drawn to her.
It was the following Saturday when it happened.
Yena was once again at the library, her usual spot by the far window bathed in the soft glow of the morning sun. She was lost in the pages of an old book, the words swirling in front of her as she contemplated the future. The sound of the doorbell ringing broke her thoughts, and she glanced up just in time to see Jun-ho walk through the door.
He was drenched from the rain, his hair matted to his forehead, but there was a determined look in his eyes. He didn’t even bother to take off his soaked coat as he strode toward her.
"Yena," he said, his voice firm but calm. "We need to talk."
Yena set the book down and stood up, sensing the seriousness in his tone. Her heart skipped a beat as he approached her, but she quickly masked her emotions.
"About what?" she asked, her voice steady, though she felt a strange unease twisting in her stomach.
Jun-ho’s gaze never left hers as he took a step closer. "About everything," he said, his eyes soft but full of intensity. "About what you are. About what happened with that man—the one who came here."
Yena’s pulse quickened, her body instinctively tensing. She opened her mouth to speak but closed it again, unsure of how to explain. How could she explain to him that she was a gumiho? That she had spent centuries hiding her true nature, only to fall in love with a human? That the very love she sought to protect might be the one thing that could destroy him?
Jun-ho wasn’t finished. "I’ve been thinking about what you said that night. About the choice you have to make. But I don’t understand. Why do you have to choose between me and your humanity?"
Yena’s throat tightened. She had wanted to keep him safe from this—the burden of her curse. But it seemed like the more she tried to distance herself from him, the more he reached for her, his determination unwavering.
"I can’t explain everything," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "But being with you... it’s dangerous. You don’t know what you're getting into."
Jun-ho stepped forward, his expression filled with empathy. "I know I don’t understand everything. But what I do know is that I don’t want you to go through this alone. I don’t want you to make a choice based on fear. I don’t want you to hide anymore."
Yena’s heart wavered. Her mind screamed at her to push him away, to protect him from the darkness that threatened to consume them both. But there was a part of her—an undeniable part—that wanted to reach out, to let him in.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady her emotions. "Jun-ho, it’s not just about you. It’s about me. About who I’ve become, and the price I have to pay for wanting to be human."
Jun-ho frowned, the confusion clear on his face. "What price?"
Yena bit her lip, her eyes clouded with uncertainty. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice barely above a whisper. "The price is... your life."
Jun-ho’s face paled at her words, and he took a step back, shock and fear flickering across his features. "What do you mean? What do you mean, my life?"
Yena closed her eyes, her chest tightening with the weight of the truth. "If I want to become human, I have to sever all ties to the supernatural. That means I have to kill the one I love. It’s the only way to rid myself of my curse."
The silence that followed was suffocating. Jun-ho stood frozen, his mind struggling to comprehend the gravity of her words. He had never imagined that the world Yena had brought him into was filled with such danger, such impossible choices.
"That’s not fair," Jun-ho finally said, his voice shaking with emotion. "You can’t just choose to kill someone to save yourself."
Yena’s eyes flicked to his, her expression pained. "I don’t want to. But it’s the only way. If I don’t, my powers will eventually consume me. And anyone I care about will be dragged into it. I don’t want that. I won’t let that happen to you."
Jun-ho took a step toward her, his voice low but firm. "Then we’ll find another way. There has to be another way."
Yena shook her head, tears welling in her eyes as the weight of her situation pressed down on her chest. "I’ve spent centuries searching for one. But there isn’t one, Jun-ho. This is the only way."
Jun-ho’s hand reached out, gently cupping her cheek. "I won’t let you do this alone," he said, his voice steady with resolve. "I don’t care what it takes. We’ll find a way out. Together."
Yena closed her eyes, the tears threatening to spill over as his warmth spread through her. For the first time in years, she felt like there might be hope. But deep inside, she knew that no matter what path they chose, there would be sacrifices—sacrifices neither of them were prepared to make.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them trembled, and a familiar voice echoed through the library.
"You really think you can escape your fate?"
Yena froze, her heart sinking. She knew that voice—too well.
From the shadows, Sung Hwan emerged, his figure standing tall and menacing, a dark smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"I warned you, Yena. You can’t outrun the past."
---
End of Episode 3
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