Fictional Obsession

Chapter 8: The Plan

That night, Na-ra couldn't sleep. Her mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, fear, and desperate hope. She lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to piece together what had happened. Her father’s anger, the loss of her precious book, the stinging pain on her cheek—it all felt surreal.

As she lay there, a thought crossed her mind. If there was a way to bring Tae to her world or find a way into his, she had to discover it. The idea jolted her upright. "There must be a way," she whispered to herself, the darkness of her room amplifying her determination.

She struggled to recall the name of the shop boy who sold her the book. What was it again? She closed her eyes, thinking hard. After a few moments, it came to her. "Jin," she said aloud, her voice breaking the silence.

Na-ra’s heart pounded with a mix of anxiety and excitement. She was now waiting for the morning to come, eager to return to the Magic Shop and talk to Jin. She was willing to do whatever it took to bring Taehyung back into her life.

As the first light of dawn crept into her room, Na-ra swung her legs over the side of the bed, determination etched on her face. "Hold on, Tae," she whispered. "I'm coming to get you."

After getting ready for school early that morning, Na-ra was prepared to leave, ignoring her anxious parents. Just as she reached the door, her father's voice stopped her.

"Na-ra, come here," he called softly, an unusual tone of affection in his voice. Surprised and still angry from the previous night's events, Na-ra reluctantly turned around.

"What is it?" she replied curtly.

Her father approached her, holding the book. "What was this book about? The whole thing's empty," he said, showing her the pages.

Na-ra’s eyes widened in shock. She snatched the book from his hands and frantically flipped through the pages. To her horror, they were all blank. Not even Taehyung's portrait was there.

"No... no, this can't be," she blabbered, trying to prove its existence.

Her parents exchanged worried looks, their expressions filled with concern as if she was a mental patient. This terrified Na-ra more than anything. Seeing their expressions, she went silent, gripping the book tightly as if it could somehow bring her back to Taehyung.

"Just... just go to school, Na-ra," her mother said softly, trying to mask her worry. "We'll talk more later."

Nodding numbly, Na-ra turned and left the house, her mind racing with confusion and fear. The book was empty. Was she losing her mind? Or was there something more to this mystery than she understood?

Na-ra took the book and ran towards the "Magic Shop." Her heart pounded in her chest, each step filled with desperation and determination. She needed answers, and Jin was the only one who could provide them. The streets blurred as she sped through them, clutching the empty book like it was her lifeline.

Na-ra couldn't believe her eyes. The shop in front of her was burnt to the core. She peeked inside to find the charred remains of what once was. A voice startled her, an old man asking in a humble tone, "Looking for something, young lady?"

Na-ra bowed in respect. "What happened here? This shop... it was open just a few days ago."

The old man sighed. "Burnt down the day after it opened. Such a shame."

"Do you know anything about the owner?" Na-ra asked, desperation creeping into her voice.

He shook his head. "No, he was only here for a short time. Never got to know him."

Na-ra's heart sank. "Ajusshi, please, are you sure you don't know anything else? Anything at all?"

The old man thought for a moment, then said, "I remember he was a young man, very polite. His name... I think it was Jin."

"Jin? Thank you so much, ajusshi," Na-ra said, bowing deeply again. "I really appreciate your help."

"Good luck, young lady," he replied, watching her with a mix of pity and curiosity as she walked away, clutching the book tightly to her chest.

Na-ra’s mind was buzzing with possibilities and questions. What's next? She reached her classroom and was the first one there; no one else had arrived yet. Taking a deep breath, she opened the book and... everything was there. Taehyung's portrait, his beginning story, and their conversations.

Na-ra doubted herself. *Am I going mad? How is this even possible?* She knew she was depressed, but this was the first time experiencing something like this. Tears began streaming down her face. Overwhelmed, she left the classroom and headed to the rooftop, clutching the book to her chest.

Once there, Na-ra sat down and let out a sob, crying her heart out. "Why is this happening to me? Am I really losing my mind?" she whispered to the empty rooftop, her tears falling onto the pages of the book.

*Maybe I'm just imagining all this. Maybe the stress is finally getting to me. But... it feels so real. Tae feels real. His words, his presence... everything.* She clutched the book tighter. *I can't lose him. I can't lose the only thing that makes me feel alive.*

Na-ra wiped her tears, taking a shaky breath. "I have to find a way to bring him here. I have to do something. Jin... he might have answers," she muttered to herself.

*But the shop... it's gone. Burned down. Where do I go from here?* She stared at the book, feeling a strange mix of hope and despair. *There has to be a way. There has to be.*

Determined, she stood up, wiping her eyes. "I won't give up, Tae. I'll find a way. I promise."

Na-ra was walking down the corridor, heading to her class, when she suddenly felt an urge to look back. When she turned, her breath caught in her throat. She saw him... Taehyung, standing amidst the crowd of students. Everyone was just passing by him, hurrying to their classes, oblivious to his presence.

*Is this real? Am I seeing things?* Na-ra thought, her heart pounding. She started to move towards Tae, pushing against the flow of students. It was difficult, like trying to move through water, but she had to reach him. She had to know if he was real.

As she struggled her way through, the crowd began to thin out, students dispersing to their respective classes. But when everyone was gone, Taehyung was gone too. He wasn't there.

Na-ra stood still, licking her lips and letting out a shaky breath. *Was he really there? Or am I just losing it completely?* She shook her head, trying to steady herself, and made her way towards her class, her mind swirling with confusion and hope.