Join V(Kim Tae-hung), a skilled archer and avid reader, as he discovers an ancient book in his grandparents' village. The book, filled with mysterious symbols and forgotten stories, leads him on a journey of time travel and romance. As V unravels th...
Tae blinked, his confusion matching the shopkeepers.
Tae: "But... I was here just a few days ago. You handed me the book, the one with the strange symbols on the cover. You even said it was an odd find."
Mr. Song shook his head slowly, his brows furrowing.
Mr. Song: "Tae, you must be mistaken. I've been out of town for the past month. I only returned yesterday."
Tae's breath caught in his throat. He stared at Mr. Song, the shopkeeper's words echoing in his mind. Out of town? But he clearly remembered being in this very store, talking to Mr. Song, holding that book in his hands.
Tae: "That can't be right. I remember it so clearly..."
Mr. Song gave him a sympathetic look, concern lining his features.
Mr. Song: "I don't know what to tell you, Tae. If you got a book from here, it wasn't from me.
Tae's heart sank. He backed away from the counter, his mind swirling with confusion and doubt. Could his memory be playing tricks on him? Or was something else at work here?
Tae: "Thanks, Mr. Song... I'll look around a bit more."
Mr. Song nodded, his gaze lingering on Tae as he resumed his work.
Tae wandered the store in a daze, his earlier determination replaced by a growing sense of unease. He searched every corner, but the book was nowhere to be found. It was as if it had never existed, leaving behind only a void where it should have been.
He walked back to his car, his mind racing. If Mr. Song hadn't given him the book, then who had? And more importantly, where was it now? The questions hung in the air, unanswered, as Tae drove back to his grandparents' house, his heart heavy with uncertainty.
In the evenig, Tae and Hana reluctantly said their goodbyes. They started their drive back home, but Tae's mood was grim. He sat in silence, his mind consumed by the mystery of the missing book and the strange developments surrounding Hana.
Hana: "Tae, what's wrong? You've been so quiet. Did something happen?"
Tae remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road. Hana's concern grew, and she tried to lighten the mood.
Hana: "How about we stop for ice cream? It might help lift your spirits."
Tae barely responded, giving a small nod in agreement. They drove to an ice cream parlour
As they pulled into the parking lot, Tae's phone buzzed. It was Eunji calling. Tae answered, his tone shifting from sombre to professional.
Eunji: (on the phone) "Tae, we need to discuss the upcoming auction. I've set up a conference call with Jin and Minho."
Tae: (sighing) "Alright."
They all joined the call, and Tae's mood remained tense. Eunji and Jin talked about their preparations as their parents are the main sponsors in auction. Before ending call Minho's voice soon came through with an apologetic tone.
Minho: (on the call) "Hey, Tae. I'm really sorry about what happened the other night. I got drunk and wasn't able to take care of Hana. I want to stop drinking and focus on being there for her."
Hana's eyes widened as she heard Minho's voice come through the car's speakers. She hadn't expected this and felt a pang of confusion and discomfort. Tae, however, was visibly upset by Minho's confession.
Tae: (interrupting) "Okay, Minho. We'll discuss this more tomorrow at the auction. Let's leave it at that."
With that, Tae ended the call abruptly. Hana looked at him, puzzled by the sudden shift in his demeanour.
Tae: (gritting his teeth) "Come on, let's get your ice cream."
Hana, taken aback by his anger but wanting to lighten the mood, followed him inside. They stood in line, the colourful flavors and cheerful decor a stark contrast to Tae's dark mood.
Hana: (trying to break the tension) "You know, I've always wanted to try that mint chocolate chip flavour. What about you?"
Tae: (muttering) "I'm not really in the mood for ice cream."
As they waited for their order, Hana's phone buzzed again. It was Minho calling. Hana, curious and concerned, answered the call.
Hana: "Hello?"
Minho: (on the other end) "Hana, hey... I just wanted to apologize for last time. I should've been more responsible. I shouldn't have let you drink so much, and I definitely shouldn't have drunk that much myself. I'm really sorry."
As Minho's words filled the silence between them, Tae's anger simmered just beneath the surface. Hearing Minho's voice, his apology, made Tae's frustration boil over. He could feel his possessiveness flaring up, and the mere fact that Minho felt the need to apologize to Hana for something that happened on his watch irritated Tae beyond reason.
Hana, feeling the weight of Tae's stare, tried to keep the conversation short.
Hana: "It's okay, Minho. Really, you don't have to worry about it."
Minho: "No, Hana, it's not okay. I should have been there for you. I've decided to stop drinking because I want to be able to protect you if anything like that happens again."
Tae's grip on his ice cream cup tightened, his eyes narrowing. The apology, though sincere, only fueled his anger. He was upset that Minho had put Hana in that position in the first place, and the fact that Minho was bringing it up again made Tae feel even more protective.
Hana: "Minho, I appreciate that, but we can talk about it tomorrow at the auction, okay?"
Minho: "Yeah, okay. See you tomorrow then."
Hana ended the call, turning to Tae, who had already started walking away, leaving her standing there with her phone still in hand. Panic rose within her.
Hana: "Tae, wait!" she called out, hurrying to catch up with him. She finally reached him, grabbing his arm gently. "Are you mad at me?"
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