Vantage || Hwang Hyunjin

Chapter 57. 𓇼 ⋆.˚ Bound Through Time

"And now we're here."

Hyunjin and I finished explaining everything we knew.

Throughout our story, Hana and Dong Hyun exchanged concerned looks more than once. Certain parts clearly stood out to them, especially everything involving Hyunjin's family, the arranged engagement, and the lengths his father had gone to in order to control his future.

For a moment, neither of them said anything.

Then Hana smiled softly.

"Well... compared to us, you two have barely started living. You still have your whole lives ahead of you."

Her words somehow felt reassuring.

"Do you still have the pearls?" she asked.

"Yes."

I reached into my pocket and carefully pulled out the shell. The moment they saw it, both Hana and Dong Hyun frowned.

Not at the pearls. At the shell.

They looked at each other, confused. "So you found them inside this?" Hana asked.

"Inside a rock, yes."

"And the shell was already there?"

I nodded. "It wasn't completely closed, but it wasn't fully open either. It was kind of loose."

"I see..."

Hana slowly handed the shell to Dong Hyun.

"What do you think?"

"I honestly don't know."

He carefully lifted one of the pearls between his fingers.

Immediately, Hyunjin tensed.

"You should probably put it back. What if it switches you?"

Dong Hyun burst out laughing.

"We know how they work."

Hyunjin looked mildly offended. "Just making sure."

"Relax." Still smiling, Dong Hyun placed the pearl back inside the shell. "We'll explain everything we know. Hana?"

Hana nodded. "Okay. First of all, these aren't usually called pearls."

She pointed at the shell. "Most people know them as Tide Jewels."

I exchanged a glance with Hyunjin.

"Tide Jewels?"

"That's what they're called in most of the stories."

"How did you even get them?" I asked.

"That part is actually simple."

Hana leaned back slightly.

"Dong Hyun and I have known each other since childhood. Our families were close, and we grew up together."

A smile appeared on her face as she glanced at him.

"Five years ago, however, Dong Hyun was supposed to marry someone else."

Hyunjin immediately pointed at himself.

"Just like me."

"Exactly like you."

Hyunjin groaned. "Does this happen every lifetime or something? Because Yulhee was also supposed to marry someone else."

Hana laughed. "Considering how often it repeats, maybe it does."

Then her expression became more serious. "Listen carefully. This is everything we managed to learn about the Jewels."