Fragments of You. | Park Sunghoon

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HWAMIN'S EYES FLUTTERED OPEN, AND FOR A MOMENT, SHE WAS DISORIENTED, THE STARK WHITE WALLS OF THE HOSPITAL ROOM COMING INTO FOCUS. The memories of what had happened to her and Sunghoon during the Seasons Dynasty flooded back, and a wave of overwhelming emotion crashed over her.

Tears streamed down her face as she recalled it all, the tragic events that had torn them apart, and what had happened to Sunghoon. The pain and sorrow of those ancient times felt as fresh as if they had happened only yesterday.

She glanced around the room, her gaze landing on Sunghoon, who lay still unconscious on the hospital bed. The sight of him, so familiar yet so changed by the centuries, brought a fresh surge of tears to her eyes. She could see the toll of the curse in his pale face, the anguish etched into his features even in sleep.

Miss Chin stood nearby, her expression filled with a mixture of sorrow and guilt. Hwamin's tears and the emotion in her eyes spoke volumes, and the Demi-Goddess knew that the memories of that tragic event had fully returned.

"Hwamin," Miss Chin said softly, stepping closer. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I was young and reckless, and my actions have caused so much pain."

Hwamin looked up at her, her eyes filled with anguish. "Why did you do it? Why did you curse him like that?"

Miss Chin's shoulders sagged under the weight of her guilt. "I was blinded by my anger and grief. I couldn't see beyond my own pain, and I acted without thinking of the consequences. I've regretted it every day since."

Hwamin turned her gaze back to Sunghoon, reaching out to gently touch his hand. "He doesn't deserve this. We've suffered enough."

Miss Chin nodded, tears in her own eyes. "I know. I've been trying to find a way to lift the curse, but it's deeply woven into his soul. It may take a love more powerful than anything we've ever known to break it."

Overwhelmed by the flood of emotions and memories, Hwamin couldn't stay in the room any longer. She gently released Sunghoon's hand and ran out, tears streaming down her face. She needed to be alone, to process the pain and heartache that had been reignited by her memories.

Miss Chin watched her go, feeling a deep ache in her own heart. She turned her gaze back to Sunghoon, who lay motionless on the hospital bed, his face pale and troubled even in his unconscious state.

The room was silent except for the soft beeping of the medical equipment. Miss Chin moved closer to Sunghoon, her eyes filling with tears. She knelt beside his bed, her heart heavy with the weight of centuries of guilt and regret.

"I'm sorry for what I have done to you, child," she cried, her voice breaking. "I wanted to protect the balance of Equinoxia, but I ended up destroying the lives of those I was meant to protect. I see the terrible mistake I made."

*:･ﾟ✧*:･

Hwamin walked through the hospital corridors, tears blurring her vision. She found an empty waiting room and collapsed into a chair, sobbing uncontrollably. The pain of remembering her past life, the love she had shared with Sunghoon, and the tragic end that had befallen them was almost too much to bear.

She had to be alone for a while, she couldn't face anyone. Why did life have to be so unfair to her? It seemed as if everything was falling apart, and it had been ever since her mother broke the Park family apart.

I was the Fire Princess of the Summer Empire.

As she cried, a surge of emotions welled up within her, more intense than anything she had ever felt. Her body felt hot, as if consumed by an inner fire. Without realizing it, her hands began to glow, and the air around her shimmered with heat.

A soft crackling sound broke through her sobs, and Hwamin looked up to see the edge of the wooden table in front of her starting to smolder. Her eyes widened in shock as she saw small flames flickering along the surface, spreading rapidly.

She stumbled back, her heart racing. "What... what is happening?" she whispered, panic rising in her chest.

Instinctively, Hwamin raised her hands, and to her astonishment, the flames responded to her movements, flaring up and then subsiding as she tried to control them. She stared at her hands, realizing that she was the source of the fire.

The memories of her past life flooded back with even greater clarity. She remembered being the Fire Princess, the power she had wielded, and the responsibilities that had come with it. The realization hit her like a tidal wave—now that the Demi-Goddess had shown her the truth of her last life, she had regained her powers.

Hwamin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She focused on the flames, willing them to extinguish. Slowly, the fire began to die down until only a few wisps of smoke remained. She stood there, trembling, the enormity of what had just happened sinking in.

Hwamin rushed back to the hospital room, her heart pounding with the urgency to share the news about her powers with Miss Chin. But as she burst through the door, she was met with an unexpected and alarming sight. Sunghoon's bed was empty, the sheets neatly folded as if he had never been there.

"Where is he?" Hwamin asked, her voice trembling with panic. "Where's Sunghoon?"

Miss Chin looked up, her eyes filled with sorrow. "He left."

Hwamin felt a wave of horror wash over her. "What do you mean he left? How could he just leave?"

Miss Chin sighed deeply, her expression a mix of regret and understanding. "He woke up while you were gone. He was confused, in pain... he didn't want to stay. I tried to stop him, but he was determined to go."

"Where did he go?" Hwamin demanded, desperation lacing her voice.

Miss Chin's gaze softened with a knowing look. "You will know where to find him."

Hwamin's heart skipped a beat as the memories of their past life surged back. The central palace, the heart of Equinoxia, now transformed but still holding the echoes of their ancient history. She knew exactly where he would be.