Shadows and Spirits

Chapter 1 : "Unveiling the Unknown: A Mysterious Encounter"

Chapter 1 :  "Unveiling the Unknown: A Mysterious Encounter"

"YOU NEED THIS VACATION."

Jin-Ho couldn't help but keep reading the message from his sister. All Jin-Ho ever did was work. He owned a small coffee shop and pastry store near the university, and it consumed most of his time and energy. He was the sole caretaker for his younger sister, as their parents had passed away. In fact, Jin-Ho had never even met his father, who tragically died while working at a construction site. His mother, on the other hand, fell victim to the pandemic virus. Although his sister wasn't his biological sibling, their bond was strong. She was actually his cousin, but her mother had taken care of her since she was three years old because her own parents were facing difficulties in raising her.

Now, Jin-Ho was having a great time in the Philippines, although he couldn't help but wish he was in Hawaii instead. But he knew that the Philippines had its own beautiful places to offer, and after all, this trip was a gift from his sister.

The gesture meant the world to Jin-Ho, so even though his mind told him otherwise, he couldn't refuse. He didn't really have much of a choice, did he? So, here he was, enjoying his time in Boracay. And at that moment, he truly needed this vacation.

While Jin-Ho was exploring the island, something unexpected happened. He suddenly passed out and when he woke up, he found himself back in his room in South Korea. It was quite a bewildering experience for him.

"What happened to me?" he asked himself, bewildered. "Did I just black out?" Jin-Ho questioned, trying to make sense of the situation. As he realized he had no recollection of what triggered the event, a sense of panic started to creep in. "Maybe... maybe it was because of the turbulence on the plane," he speculated. "After all, I was fast asleep..." However, a sudden sharp pain in his head made him wince involuntarily, adding to his confusion and concern.

Then, out of nowhere, a man suddenly appeared right in front of Jin-Ho. He was undeniably handsome, but his intense gaze made Jin-Ho feel uneasy. There was something about the way he looked at Jin-Ho that reminded him of the piercing stare of someone who was very angry, although he couldn't quite put his finger on why. Before Jin-Ho could even question the man's presence, he spoke.

"You are awake now, Jin-Ho," the man said calmly and effortlessly, devoid of any emotion or aggression.

Startled, Jin-Ho instinctively grabbed the nearest object he could find, which happened to be a useless magazine, and threw it at the stranger. Without wasting any time, Jin-Ho dashed towards the door, intending to escape to the living room. However, to his surprise, the stranger was already there, sitting on the sofa and staring right at him.

"What... what are you? I mean, who are you?" Jin-Ho asked, his voice trembling with uncertainty.

The stranger smiled, his enigmatic expression unchanged, before he took a step closer to Jin-Ho. Suddenly, he blew a breath of air in front of Jin-Ho's face. In that instant, Jin-Ho felt a strange sensation, as if he was transported back to Boracay, reliving the moment he had just experienced.

Jin-Ho was capturing the breathtaking view of the sunset while contemplating where to have his dinner. He debated between dining at the hotel or exploring D'Mall, the vibrant center of the island where various shops, restaurants, souvenir stores, fast food joints, and coffee shops were located.

As Jin-Ho focused on capturing the beauty of the sunset, he suddenly felt an intense headache. The pain became unbearable, and he lost consciousness. When he regained consciousness, he found himself in an indescribably beautiful place. It was a garden adorned with vibrant flowers, and his attention was drawn to a magnificent golden mansion. Jin-Ho felt an inexplicable desire to enter the mansion, as if he had been dreaming of it for a long time, although he couldn't fathom why. With curiosity guiding his steps, he approached the mansion, only to come to a halt as he entered the courtyard. Standing before him was a man dressed in dark attire, his hair slicked back. The man had an air of mystery, with his hands clasped behind his back and an icy glare fixed upon Jin-Ho. In the blink of an eye, everything disappeared, leaving Jin-Ho bewildered.

Suddenly, Jin-Ho found himself back in his own world, his head throbbing with pain. "What was that?" he asked the stranger, his voice filled with confusion. "Are you some kind of magical creature?"

It was then that Jin-Ho realized the man he had seen in his vision was the same stranger who stood before him in his apartment.

The stranger smiled at Jin-Ho, his expression filled with an eerie sense of amusement. "I am your greatest nightmare," he uttered, his words sending a chill down Jin-Ho's spine. And just like that, the stranger disappeared into thin air, leaving Jin-Ho feeling even more perplexed and fearful.