**Fictional Obsession**
Cha Na-ra's life is a never-ending nightmare of parental abuse and suffocating loneliness. Trapped in a world where hope is a rare commodity, she finds an unexpected escape in a mysterious book titled "Mystery of the Midnight...
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Na-ra hurried home, her heart pounding in her chest. As she approached the front door, dread settled over her like a dark cloud. Stepping inside, she was immediately met with her mother’s furious glare.
"Where have you been?" her mother snapped, her voice a sharp whip in the silent room.
Na-ra gulped, a lump forming in her throat. "I-I was at school, and then... the library," she lied, bracing herself for what was coming.
Her mother’s eyes narrowed, disbelief and anger flashing in their depths. "Do you think I’m a fool? You’re always running off, doing God knows what! You’re just like your father—useless and ungrateful!"
The words cut deep, but this time, a flicker of anger sparked in Na-ra’s chest. She clenched her fists at her sides, feeling a surge of defiance. "You don’t know anything about me," she thought, though she didn’t dare say it out loud. The injustice of her mother’s accusations burned, adding fuel to the simmering rage she kept buried deep within.
"Do you have any idea how much I sacrifice for you?" her mother continued, her voice rising. "And this is how you repay me? By sneaking around and lying?"
Na-ra’s mind raced, searching for a way to diffuse the situation, but she knew from experience that nothing she said would make a difference. Her mother’s anger was a storm that had to run its course, and all she could do was weather it.
"Go to your room," her mother finally spat. "And don’t think about coming out until I say so."
Na-ra nodded mutely and turned, her steps heavy as she climbed the stairs. She reached her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she let out a shaky breath.
The book she had bought was still in her bag, a small comfort in the midst of her turmoil. She pulled it out and sat on her bed, running her fingers over the cover. *Mystery of the Midnight Muse.* It seemed to call to her, promising an escape from her harsh reality.
She opened the book, hoping to lose herself in its pages, to find a world where she wasn’t constantly under attack, where she could be free, even if just for a little while.
Na-ra settled on her bed, her room a sanctuary from the chaos below. She opened *Mystery of the Midnight Muse* and began to read. The first few pages introduced the male protagonist, Kim Taehyung, with a brief yet captivating description of his world and his struggles.
As she turned the page, a faded but beautiful illustration of Taehyung appeared. Despite the picture being slightly brown and worn with age, his striking features and intense gaze captivated her.
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