𝑺𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 || Park Sunghoon

the dream's call

Lee Yeoreum had long accepted the calm rhythm of her life. At 26, she was a herbalist, her days filled with quiet dedication to her craft-grinding herbs, blending remedies, and providing gentle care to those who sought her out. She had once held ambitions of becoming a doctor, but the road had shifted unexpectedly, steering her toward this quieter calling. The townsfolk who visited her small clinic valued her work they were acquaintances rather than friends, people who respected her knowledge but never quite lingered long enough to get close.

But she didn't mind. She liked the peace, the soft scents of chamomile and ginseng that clung to her hands, the hours spent in quiet thought, listening to the rain or the rustling trees outside her window.

The small apartment she shared with her younger sister, Yeojin, was only a short walk from the clinic. At 20, Yeojin was her polar opposite. She brimmed with energy and a spark for life that couldn't be contained in their sleepy town. Yeojin, with her quick laugh and bright smile, saw the world as her stage. While Yeoreum found joy in the simplicity of daily life, Yeojin found hers in her latest obsession, Park Solon.

Solon was, by all accounts, a sensation-a rising star whose face graced magazine covers, billboards, and every screen Yeojin could get her hands on. Solon had a charm that seemed to defy any attempt to take him seriously. Despite his sharp looks, his demeanor was more that of a daydreamer-a little goofy, easily distracted, as if he'd wander off mid-sentence to chase a thought only he could see. Yeojin adored everything about him and never missed an opportunity to remind her older sister.

"He's so real, unpretentious," Yeojin said one evening, sprawled across the living room floor, scrolling through photos of Solon with starry eyes. "I swear, he's just... like a breath of fresh air."

Yeoreum chuckled as she finished arranging some dried herbs in a small jar. "He sounds exhausting," she teased, but there was warmth in her tone. She loved her sister's enthusiasm, her willingness to embrace a world that, to Yeoreum, felt so distant.

"You'd change your mind if you met him, I'm telling you." Yeojin sighed, her voice a dreamy murmur. "One day, I'm going to see him up close. And who knows? Maybe his older brother, Park Serim, will sign me to Orion Entertainment. I could be a star too!" She laughed, the sound filled with unrestrained hope.

Yeoreum only smiled. Park Serim was a name she had heard often from Yeojin-a shrewd, ambitious CEO who had built Orion Entertainment into one of the country's top agencies. It was he who had recognized his younger brother's talent and brought Solon into the limelight, guiding him through each stage of his career. While Solon charmed his way into the hearts of fans, Serim worked behind the scenes, handling the business with a quiet authority that contrasted his brother's playful demeanor.

As the evening wore on, Yeojin continued sharing her plans, her hopes, and her impossible dreams. And as Yeoreum listened, she couldn't help but admire her sister's resilience, her belief in the possibility of magic, even if it seemed worlds away.

But when the conversation faded, and the silence of night filled their small home, Yeoreum lay awake, a faint chill creeping in despite the warm blankets. Her mind drifted back to the dream she'd woken from that morning, a fragment of something strange, something she couldn't quite hold onto. She tried to chase the memory, the image of a shadowy figure from the dream, a distant voice that seemed to call to her.

As she drifted off, a sense of longing settled over her, unexplainable and ancient, like a memory of something lost.

Yeoreum's clinic usually closed with the fading light, her final clients trickling out with bundles of herbs and soothing teas. But today, she found herself shutting the doors much earlier than usual. Her sister Yeojin had been relentless, pleading with her to attend an event-one centered around none other than Park Solon himself. There, he would announce his upcoming projects, and for Yeojin, the chance to see him up close was the stuff of dreams. Despite her own reluctance, Yeoreum couldn't deny her sister's request.

As she prepared to leave, her thoughts drifted back to the strange dreams that had haunted her nights. The whispers-low, indistinct, and shadowed with a sense of dread. They weren't new. She'd dreamt of them before, but recently they'd become more vivid. The figure from the dream remained just beyond her reach, a dark silhouette of a man with his hand extended, his expression obscured by shadow. Blood pooled on the ground around him, and she felt an ancient sorrow woven into every image, as if tied to a history that called to her.

Yeoreum shook her head, dismissing the unease prickling her skin. Surely it was just her imagination-perhaps influenced by a historic drama she'd watched with Yeojin the night before. Still, the figure's outstretched hand lingered in her mind, and she found herself pressing her fingertips against her temples as if to will it away.

After locking up, she hurried through the crowded streets, eventually reaching the event venue. The place was bustling with people and buzzing with excitement. Yeojin had arrived early, her energy unmistakable even in a large crowd. From her seat, she called out to her sister on the phone, her voice bubbling with anticipation.

"Hurry up, Unnie! You won't believe how close we're sitting-I can practically see every detail of his face!"

Yeoreum sighed but managed a faint smile, weaving her way through the crowd as she searched for Yeojin. Her sister's thrill was contagious, even if she found herself more interested in slipping into the background than being part of the frenzy.

Then, as she passed through a quieter corridor, she paused, catching fragments of a conversation from a nearby room. She hadn't intended to listen, but the voices carried in the stillness.

"...please don't go. You know I'd do anything for you," came Solon's voice, soft yet earnest, almost pleading.

Curious, Yeoreum took a half-step closer, her gaze falling on the scene inside. Solon stood facing a young woman-a striking beauty, every bit as graceful as the actresses she'd seen on screen. Her expression was unreadable, almost amused, and she regarded him with a practiced indifference that made Yeoreum's jaw tighten.

"Anything, huh?" The girl's voice was sweet, but her eyes held a glint that made Yeoreum uneasy. "I don't know, Solon. I don't think you have what I need anymore."

Solon's face fell, though he tried to hide it, his shoulders sagging in quiet defeat. It was clear he was being used-manipulated by the charms of someone who saw him as little more than a tool, a plaything. Watching him, Yeoreum couldn't help but feel a mix of sympathy and frustration. How could someone so adored be so blind to manipulation? His warmth, his innocence-it all seemed wasted on someone who took his kindness for granted.

A small sigh escaped her lips as she stepped back, shaking her head. Solon's naiveness was frustrating, almost painful to witness, and she had no desire to see any more of it. Turning, she moved through the hallway, pushing the scene from her mind as she continued toward where her sister waited, her heart heavy with an inexplicable sadness for the stranger who, despite his fame, seemed so helplessly lost.