Even After 1592

Dawn's POV

January 2021, present time.

Two weeks had past and I'm getting used to living here now. I don't know if it's just the signal though but I hadn't been receiving any calls or text from Cece—or anything from my family.

Nightmares from that night had stopped and I am more relieved than ever. Thinking about it right now, maybe I created that scenario in my head... or maybe that I was just hallucinating, and that maybe it was a reaction that my brain unconsciously made for me to have a reason to leave this place. 

"Eunsa halmoni!" I greeted when I saw the old lady by the windows, sitting, looking outside as I was about to enter her living quarters.

"Do you want me to take you outside?" I asked.

As usual, she didn't say anything in respond to my question. She never did ever since I came here actually. I don't even know if she realized that I am here, that I existed. Apparently, according to Chulsoo, she's got a dementia. That they're old and it's bound to happen. But then suddenly...

"You..." to my surprise, she finally spoke to me.

"You look just like the Lady... that my family once served." She said, still looking away.

"A fine young lady, smart and pretty." She added.

I didn't say anything, but in fact just listening to her talking. I know she's talking nonsense but there's definitely no harm in it. And I have all the time in the world apparently so...

"But she was mysterious... everyone couldn't understand her... they call her crazy, only becoming a disgrace in her family and the entire clan." She described her with tears forming in her eyes.

"Poor lady..." she said

"But she was just in love!!!" and she began to shout, looking at me.

"You...." her hand pointing at me.

"Do not talk to the man!!" she suddenly grabbed my hand. I can feel the old lady was actually shaking.

"Do!!! Not—" she shouted more, and louder.

I then saw Chulsoo running towards us, grabbing his wife and taking her away from me.

I was so shocked that I couldn't move from where I was standing. My heart was beating so fast and I have no idea what made me feel that.

Was it her voice?

Was it her shouting?

Or... something else?

I wanted to forget what happened so I went out to get some fresh air, looking for some parts of the temple that I hadn't yet been into—actually, I just feel like I needed to get away from there and the awkwardness; so figured I would gladly go anywhere my feet would take me.

I reached Museoljeon, also known as the Hall of No Words, the oldest room at the back portion of the temple. And unlike every other halls, this one is massive. But empty—well, aside from the antiques, some furniture and religious statues, I guess.

I was just outside the hall when I saw a paper lying down. Though it must've been carried by the wind so I picked it up, and unknowingly turn it over to see anything written on it.

"Am I talking to the right person now?" the letters in the paper read.

"Huh?" I thought. "Yeah sure, you are. whatever." I said rolling my eyes and throwing away the paper.

Evening came; it's only 7:00 PM but I am already asked to sleep. Well, I mean... is there anything else I could do? IN HERE? Nothing, right?

I got startled by the sound of notification in my phone. "Geez, I am so used to being a countryside folk that I forgot what my ringtone sounds like."

I reached for my phone and saw a text message from Cece.

Apparently, I am going to Seoul tomorrow. I can't contain my happiness. "Cece, you're the best!!" I shouted in my bed.

Looking at my phone, re-reading our text messages, I also couldn't help but check for a message from my mom.

[the text messages]

There was... nothing. No new message from her.

Last conversation was first week of January... and we're talking about Sunny.

"Mama..." my lips and my chin trembled as I uttered those words... longing for the warmth of the person.

I wiped my eyes but the tears came anyway, and I felt my warm tears starting to stream down my face.

"I missed you guys so much."

The sound of sobbing and suffering echoed in my room.

....