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nAurora (Eun-Kyung)'s POV

nIt had been three years ever since I had that weird dream about getting into the novel or something. That dream felt so real, I even thought it was really the reality.

nFor the past three years, I didn't really remember much. Time passed by really quickly and I already graduated from high school.

nI'm currently in business major and Sun-hee, she was studying in fashion and design kind of stuff.

nBut...is this where I really meant to be?

nThere was always a voice...a whisper in my mind told me this isn't where I belong.

nMy family loved me, I made a lot of friends, I'm content with my life here.

nThere was nothing more I wanted.

nBut deep down, no matter how many people surrounded me here, it felt like I was in a void, a black void with no one by my side, no one heard me even if I yelled.

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"Eun-Kyung!!! There you are. Let's go to the cinema today.

" I turned to Sun-hee in the long dress with a purse, she was really pretty in anything she wore.

nI put my hair behind my ear, somehow it was strange, I felt like I used to dye my hair pink before. I kept forgetting everything.

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"You didn't call your boyfriend, right?? I really don't want to be the third wheel.

" I giggled at Sun-hee who was blushing when hearing me calling that man her boyfriend.

nI'm really happy for her. She met her true love unlike me who is single until now.

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"Of course not, I valued my friend over love.

" she chuckled and snuggled my arm as we walked together.

nWas Sun-hee always like this??

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"Eun-Kyung-ah...

"

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"What is it??

" she looked really sad.

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"My favorite character died last night.

"

nI was worried for nothing.

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"Did you end up all night reading novel again??

"

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"Of course, my boyfriend was the one who wrote it after all.

"

nShe looked really proud of her boyfriend.

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"I haven't read it yet. So no spoiler, okay??

"

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"Ehh??? You do you know how hard it is to seal my lip when it comes to spoiler!!

"

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"Alright...who was your favorite character??

"

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"She is the villainess, her name is Maribella--ack!!

"

nThe drink on my hand dropped to the group splattered all over Sun-hee's dress.

nMari...

nMari...

nWho was Mari...??

nMaribella?? Mari...

nIt's stuck in my head, I was lost in thought even Sun-hee was panicked in the middle of the ground didn't bring me back when I was thinking hard of that name.

nI heard that name started with 'Mari' somewhere before.

nMy head hurt...

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"Eun-Kyung, are you alright??? Let me take you to the bench.

" she wiped the sweat on my forehead with the handkerchief.

nCome to think of it, I had a little fever since last night.

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"We don't need to go to the movie, let me take you to your home to rest.

"

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"No--

" I suddenly raised my voice at her, I gulped and murmured,

"I'm fine, it's your favorite movie.

"

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"But...

"

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"Besides, I want some popcorn for today.

"

nWe sat beside each other watching the screen in front of us with the cinema glass. She looked adorable wearing that red and blue glass.

nThe story of the movie started with a girl and a guy, they met each other and they fell in love. But the male lead of the movie was secretly a prince of the kingdom and he already had a fiancee.

nThe female lead went against all odd working her way to stand beside her male lead ever after all of the harassing and bullying from the villainess.

nSomehow it felt similar.

nAnd that villainess had her sidekick too, somehow I was relatable to that sidekick instead.

nHaha...

nShe had pink hair, she was strong, and always murmured behind the villainess to bully the female lead.

nWhen the female lead was bullied by the villainess, everyone including Sun-hee sympathized with her, but I really enjoyed the scene stuffing the popcorn in my mouth.

nBut as in every story, in the end, the couple married each other and lived happily ever after executing all the bad guys.

nThat sidekick in the end was the one who betrayed the villainess by joining the female lead's side...

nWhy did I feel so hurt??

nMy head felt really dizzy, I completely forgot everything in the past three years like I had amnesia.

nI came back to my house after waving goodbye at Sun-hee right at the end of the movie.

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"Eun-Kyung, you're back.

"

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"Good evening, brother.

"

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"What's wrong?

" my brother Eun-woo was really a quick wit, he caught on immediately just a look.

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"Nothing...I'll go to my room now.

" I jumped on the bed as soon as I got into my room.

nThe air conditioner, the big bed, the television, and many dolls. Had this always been my room??

nI remembered it was old, and fantasy-like with the makeup table and painting and stuff.

nUrgh...

nSo annoying!!!

nI'm definitely sure there's something missing.

nBut what is it???

nMeow meow

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"A cat??

" when I made eye contact with the white eyes who was meowing, it suddenly jumped off the window from the second-floor building.

nI almost got a heart attack, I shouldn't leave my window open.

nThe cat landed safely on the grass of my family's garden but it stopped down there staring at me like it wanted me to follow it.

nI didn't have anything to do so I followed it out of curiousty.

nIt led me to a convenience store in Sun-hee's neighborhood. It was the neighborhood she used to live with her father. But she already moved out when she got into college.

nWhy did it bring me here?

nWas it hungry?

nWith the spare change in my pocket, I entered the store and got the hotdog for it.

nIt was so cute, the white fur was fluffy as I patted it.

nIt was really eating the hotdog.

nWhile the cat was eating and protecting its food from the other stray cat, I stood up slowly and looked at the convenience store.

nIt was such a nice store located near the bridge and the atmosphere was great, the store kinda reminded me of something.

nI grabbed the cat gently walked past the light pole to sit on the bench looking at the river from there.

nMeow...??

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"Are you still hungry??

"

nMeow!!

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"Alright, here is one more.

"

nThe cat was somehow smart to take the rich person to buy it food.

nThe sun was setting, I enjoyed the breeze under the tree. The tree leaf fell on the cat's fur.

nIt will soon be winter.

nSummer passed, spring passed, autumn passed, every season, I felt like I was waiting for someone.

nThere was something deep in my heart telling me there's work I needed to do.

nHic...

nMeow...

nAnd again, the tear I tried to hold for autumn ended up falling from my eyes. I always cried which was very unusual for me.

nEven when I looked at myself in the mirror, I didn't feel like it was the reflection of myself I was seeing.

nHic...

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"Aurora!!!

"

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"???!!!

"

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nTristan's POV

nSecond time...

nThird time...

nThe fourth time...

nFifth...

nTen times...

nMany times more...

nTill twenty times...

nMy neck felt numb, the blood was flowing from my neck, and yet, when I closed my eyes once and opened it again, I returned back to the illusion with my healed neck.

nKilling myself didn't help me escape from the illusion.

nI finally threw the dagger away and returned back to the dukedom. My small and fragile body was really annoying.

nKilling myself for the first time, I was really determined, even though the pain was like dying, I thought I really died for real, but the world won't let me die no matter what.

nSo annoying...

nI guess I should observe this world a little more.

nThree months had already passed since I was trapped inside the illusion, I mixed it up with reality many times, my father and mother were such caring parents just like how I thought they would be if mother is alive till the present day.

nThe only one who made me realize every time was Marinette in this world, she was the complete opposite of Marinette I knew.

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"Brother!! Here you are, I found you!!

"

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"Ahaha, you found me!!

"

nIt's kinda fun playing hide and seek at my age.

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"Now go hide!! Brother will find you.

"

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"Ehehe~

" my smile dropped when I glanced in the direction she ran to hide.

nLet's just wait a minute until I have to go find her.

nWhat's with the illusion anymore?? Was it a temptation to lure me and trap me inside this forever?

nWas this what I've always wanted? Was this the family I always imagine I would have?

n...

nAHAHA, my mother is the best!!! I will show you my mother tomorrow!!!

nNo, my mom is the sweetest in the world!! I will take her here tomorrow!!

nHush...Tristan's mother is...

nI closed my eyes when that moment crossed my mind, it was the day of mother's day.

nThat was why I hated going to the academy on such a day.

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"Tristan, are you playing a trick with your sister again?!

"

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"Mom, you scared me!!!

"

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"Tristan, you shouldn't let her hide alone like that.

" I smiled looking in the direction my mother was looking.

nIt was Marinette hiding on the tree, she was so obvious.

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"Mom...can we talk for a second??

"

nShe tilted her head staring at me with a smile, and then messed up my hair like I was a kid.

nOh--I'm a kid.

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"You talk like an adult, Tristan. What do you wanna talk about, my dear?

"

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"It's not about me or anything...but...

"

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"Hmm??

"

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"It's about a friend!! His mother died giving birth to her sister, and he hates his sister...is it his fault??

"

nIt was an awkward silence when she put her hand on her chin thinking hard.

nAfter a second, she finally answered me.

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"Well if it's me, I would be a little mad at that baby since that baby took away my mother's life...but...when I put myself in that baby's perspective...isn't it painful for them?

"

nPutting myself in the baby's shoes...

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"Tristan, what if you were that baby instead?? What would you feel if your brother hates you just for the reason you were born?

" my mother gently pulled my head to her side, my mother was warm. But I was different from her, I'm not such a person.

nI love my mother the most, the day she died was the day I never accepted. She had a choice, but she gave up her life.

nI poured all of my anger on Marinette.

nIf I were her...

nI...

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"Tristan??

"

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"Yes, mom...it would be painful...I would be hurt...

"

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"I hope that friend of yours will learn to love his sister, it didn't have to be too fast, but I hope he will accept her and love her slowly...since no one wanted to be hated without a reason.

"

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"Yes, mom...

"

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"Ah, look!! Your sister is sleeping on the tree!!!

" she was in panic and ran to Marinette immediately. It was so funny as I watched from the under of the tree during the sunset.

n...if I get out of the illusion...mom will also disappear...

nTo be continued....!

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