Sophia sat in the school library, flipping through a textbook on animal biology. The soft hum of students whispering and the occasional rustle of paper filled the room.
This was her sanctuary, where she could focus on her dream of becoming a veterinarian—a dream that had kept her grounded despite the chaos that had shaped her life.
Across from her, Ji-hyun was furiously doodling in the margins of her notebook.
“Unnie, don’t you ever get bored of studying about animals?”
Sophia looked up, a small smile playing on her lips
. “Never. This is what I want to do.”
Ji-hyun tilted her head, her wide eyes filled with curiosity. “You’d make a great vet, but wouldn’t it be easier to ask Oppa for help? He could set you up with the best school, the best clinic—everything!”
Sophia’s smile faltered for a moment. “Dreams are more meaningful when you earn them.”
Ji-hyun groaned dramatically, flopping back in her chair. “You’re way too serious. No wonder Oppa likes you so much.”
Sophia’s cheeks warmed. “Focus on your work, Ji-hyun.”
---
During biology class, Sophia felt an odd chill run down her spine. She glanced around the room, but everything seemed normal. Still, the sensation lingered—a subtle hum at the edge of her senses.
“Unnie, are you okay?” Ji-hyun whispered from the next row, her pencil frozen mid-air.
Sophia nodded quickly, shaking off the unease. “I’m fine. Just… tired.”
That evening, the sensation returned as she walked back to the dormitory after study hall. The air felt heavier, and the faint whisper of words tickled her ears:
“Chosen… awaken… beware...”
Sophia stopped abruptly, her heart pounding. She turned around, but the path was empty.
“Unnie!” Ji-hyun called from a distance, jogging up to her. “Why are you standing there like a statue?”
“I thought I heard something,” Sophia muttered, her voice uneasy.
Ji-hyun grabbed her arm and pulled her along. “You’re probably just stressed. Come on, let’s get back before curfew!”
But Sophia couldn’t shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching her.
---
That night, Sophia dreamed of a vibrant forest teeming with life. Deer grazed peacefully, birds sang from the treetops, and wolves prowled silently among the trees.
She felt a strange connection to the creatures, as though their thoughts and emotions were flowing into her.
But the dream darkened. The forest grew cold, the trees twisting into grotesque shapes.
A shadow loomed above her, its crimson eyes burning like embers.
“Sophia,” it hissed, its voice echoing in the stillness. “You cannot escape what you are.”
She woke with a gasp, her skin clammy with sweat.
The dorm room was silent, but the air felt thick and oppressive.
“Unnie?” Ji-hyun murmured groggily from her bed. “Are you okay?”
Sophia nodded, though her hands trembled. “Just a bad dream. Go back to sleep.”
But as Ji-hyun drifted off, Sophia stared at the ceiling, her mind racing. What was happening to her?
YOU ARE READING
SMITTEN BY HER (unedited)
Romance"Beyond Shadows" In a world where darkness reigns, a young orphan's dreams of becoming a veterinarian are shattered by her aunt's cruelty. But when she's drawn into the mysterious world of enigmatic Mr. Lee - a powerful figure rumored to be "more th...
