SECRETS & LIES | VKOOK ✓ [EDITING]

eight.

Forelset.

The euphoria you experience when you are first falling in love.

The true story was that Kim Taehyung and Jeon Jeongguk were once deeply in love. Yes, the so-called heartless Jeon Jeongguk had once known the euphoric rush of falling in love. Their journey together began years ago when they both attended university—not just any university, but Arcadia, a private institution far from the eyes of the government. It was the only university in Seoul, perhaps in all of Korea, where students could study the foundations of the mafia.

Arcadia was a place where boys were molded into men, and girls were taught to break free from the confines of pink. They learned everything from the intricacies of firearms to the subtleties of combat. Alongside these, they were also taught cultural refinements, like playing the piano. It was a tough school, but one where many things were deemed acceptable.

It was within the walls of Arcadia, four years ago—one thousand four hundred and sixty days—that Taehyung and Jeongguk fell in love. But Taehyung was different from the other students. He didn't want to be part of the mafia. He had dreams of becoming an artist, but his father forced him to inherit the family business, and Taehyung, ever obedient, complied. What drew Jeongguk to Taehyung was his innocence, a quality that stood out in the grim world they inhabited. Jeongguk was in love with that innocence.

Their love was simple, a teenage romance that lasted for a year, but it didn't end with a breakup—it ended in death.

Death, a terrifying concept, was the only thing that had once frightened Jeongguk. Now, it was just another part of life, something he no longer feared, for he had nothing left to lose. His relationship with Park Jimin was merely a feeble attempt to move on, but deep down, Jeongguk was still living as the nineteen-year-old boy who had loved Kim Taehyung.

Jeongguk was no longer a teenager; he was an adult with responsibilities. Yet, there was one person who had never disappointed him—his sister.

Jeongguk's family had adopted his sister when she was just one month old. Jeongguk was two years old at the time, and from the moment she arrived, he had loved her. They never fought, never argued; they were close siblings despite their differences. Jeongguk would always be her older brother—Park Chaeyoung's older brother. Yes, Park—she had chosen not to take on the Jeon surname.

"Yah! Jeongguk-ie, long time no see!" Chaeyoung greeted him with a warm smile as she embraced her brother tightly. Jeongguk had invited her to meet at a local Japanese restaurant in a brand-new building in the city center. She had always loved Japanese culture—the people, the art, everything. And just two months ago, she had finally achieved her dream of visiting Japan.

"Ahh, it's great to see you, Rosie," Jeongguk replied, still holding her in his arms. Rosie—Chaeyoung had many names. Her Korean name was Chaeyoung, but she had always been a creative soul, naming herself Roseline when she was just six years old. These days, they called her whatever felt right.