The table was set with warm, colorful dishes — bulgogi, kimchi jjigae, and japchae glistened under the soft dining lights. The aroma filled the room, drawing quiet admiration from everyone present, especially from Hyun Min, who tried to hide his surprise behind his usual calm expression.
Ji-ah stood at the side nervously, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she watched Hyun Min pick up his chopsticks. He silently took a bite of the japchae.
All three — Jun-ha, Daeun, and Ji-ah — stared at him intently, waiting.
He chewed slowly, his eyes flicking between the bowl and Ji-ah.
After a pause, he looked up and said flatly, "It's not bad."
The tension broke with a collective exhale.
Jun-ha leaned forward with a grin. "That's huge coming from him. The last time I saw Jisoo cook, she managed to burn instant noodles on set."
Daeun snorted. "Right? After that, she promised she'd take cooking classes. Guess she kept her word, huh, Chef?"
Ji-ah laughed nervously. "Well… I had to learn something after that disaster."
Hyun Min's gaze lingered on her longer than necessary. "Still… something doesn't feel right."
Jun-ha raised a brow. "What do you mean?"
He tilted his head slightly. "I don't know. I feel like she's… different. I mean, really different."
Daeun added with a grin, "It's like me being all serious and workaholic again. Impossible."
But Hyun Min's tone remained serious. "Do you really not remember anything? Or… are you not the person we knew?"
Ji-ah froze.
The question hit harder than it should have. She tried to respond, but her throat caught — and she suddenly started choking on her rice.
"Ji-ah!" Daeun cried, standing up.
Hyun Min quickly poured water and handed it to her, the smallest flicker of worry crossing his face. She took the glass with trembling hands and drank slowly, trying to ease the cough.
"I'm okay," she whispered.
Jun-ha leaned forward. "Are you sure?"
Daeun teased, "Maybe she just ate too much. Or maybe she's nervous because Hyun Min actually complimented her."
That made everyone chuckle, and the moment softened again — but under the surface, something had shifted.
Ji-ah felt it.
Hyun Min sensed it.
And the quiet between them held more than just secrets — it held the weight of two worlds slowly colliding.
---
Late Night Reflections
The mansion was quiet now, wrapped in the gentle hush of midnight. The echo of laughter and clinking plates from dinner had faded into a comforting stillness.
Ji-ah stood hesitantly at the door of her room, peeking down the hallway before softly calling out, "Daeun?"
From just a few doors away, Daeun stepped out in her loose nightwear, rubbing her eyes. "What is it?"
Ji-ah looked sheepish, tugging on her oversized sleeves. "Um… would you mind sleeping in my room tonight? It's too huge and… it just feels weird being alone."
Daeun blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Sure. I kind of feel the same. Everything in this place feels like it belongs to someone else."
"Exactly!" Ji-ah nodded eagerly, stepping aside to let her in. "I thought maybe… having you here would make this feel a little more normal."
Daeun followed her inside, looking around at the lavish space. "Wow. This place screams 'celebrity drama queen.' You sure you didn't design it?"
Ji-ah laughed as she climbed onto the bed. "If I did, I have terrible taste."
Daeun grinned and helped her adjust the pillows and sheets. Ji-ah flopped onto her back, sinking into the plush bedding.
"This bed's so big and stiff, I don't even know how to sleep in it properly," she muttered.
"You're acting like it's a throne," Daeun teased, pulling the covers up. "Okay, Your Highness, let me tuck you in."
Once they were settled side by side, Ji-ah turned her head, her voice quiet but serious. "Daeun… do you think we can really live this life? Or… should we find a way back to our world?"
Daeun paused, thinking. "We don't know how we got here. And for now, there's no way back. So... I guess we don't have much of a choice."
Ji-ah stared at the ornate ceiling. "It's so strange. Everyone here loves us. They treat us like we're important. But I feel like I'm pretending every second."
"I feel that too," Daeun admitted. "It's exciting, yeah, but also nerve-wracking. I keep waiting for someone to yell 'cut!' like we're in a reality show."
Ji-ah let out a soft laugh. "Especially Hyun Min. His eyes are like a lie detector machine."
Daeun laughed along. "Well, luckily, we've got a secret weapon."
She reached over and pulled out a sleek tablet from the bedside drawer. "This world's Daeun? Had everything mapped out. Look at this—her calendar's filled for the next year."
Ji-ah raised her brows as she looked. "Whoa. This could actually help us survive."
"Exactly," Daeun nodded. "Plus, your memory loss? It's like the perfect excuse. No one questions anything you say."
Ji-ah turned to her, smiling softly. "I still feel out of place… but maybe this isn't the worst life to live."
They lay there in the quiet for a few moments, letting the weight of the unknown settle between them.
"Whatever happens," Daeun said gently, "we'll get through it. Together."
Ji-ah nodded. "Together."
"Whispers Beneath the Moonlight"
The Decision & The Night Realizations
As Daeun adjusted the pillow beside Ji-ah to make her more comfortable, the two sat quietly on the bed, letting the warmth of their conversation settle. Ji-ah looked toward the ceiling, her expression thoughtful.
"Hey... Daeun," she said, suddenly sitting up.
"What now?" Daeun chuckled, pulling the blanket over her legs.
"What if we try to find that shaman again?" Ji-ah asked, eyes lighting up with the spark of an idea.
Daeun blinked. "Wait, what? In this world? Ji-ah, this isn't our world. That shaman may not even exist here—"
"But the people do," Ji-ah interrupted, her voice firm. "The faces are still the same. Even if the world shifted, maybe the paths haven't."
Daeun stared at her for a moment, absorbing the seriousness behind her words. Then she exhaled, brushing her hair back.
"Maybe... maybe we could go to that place again. See if something feels familiar. Who knows, we might find a clue, or something to explain this madness."
"So tomorrow?" Ji-ah asked, eyes hopeful.
Daeun nodded slowly. "Yeah. Let's go tomorrow."
On the other hand hyun min was having trouble sleeping.
Nighttime – Hyun Min's Room
Hyun Min tossed and turned in bed, unable to shake the lingering image of Ji-soo. The way her hair fell over her shoulders earlier… the softness of her voice... and the way his heart had raced when she smiled.
This wasn't the Ji-soo he thought he knew.
She was… different.
He exhaled sharply, sitting up and rubbing his temple.
"What's wrong with me…" he muttered under his breath, before heading out for air.
Meanwhile – Jun-ha's Room
Jun-ha lay on his side, staring at the ceiling with his arms folded under his head.
Daeun.
She was always just a colleague, right? The same ambitious, overworking Daeun who used to skip dinner to wrap up meetings.
Then why… why did his heart flutter tonight when she tied her hair up with that loose band and laughed at Ji-soo's joke?
Unable to ignore the tugging in his chest, Jun-ha slipped out of bed and made his way to the lawn.
The Lawn
The two men found each other standing silently beneath the starlit sky, their presence acknowledged only by a brief glance.
"Couldn't sleep?" Jun-ha asked first.
Hyun Min shook his head. "Fresh air."
"You?"
"Digestion," Jun-ha muttered with a shrug.
They stood in silence, watching the wind rustle through the trees.
Then both spoke at the same time:
"I think I'm feeling something weird for Daeun."
"I think I'm feeling something weird for Ji-soo."
A beat of stunned silence passed.
Jun-ha blinked. "You too?"
Hyun Min looked away, almost embarrassed. "She's not like before... something's changed."
"Same with Daeun. She's… softer now. Still sharp, but different."
They both sighed, unsure if they were falling for someone new… or someone they thought they already knew.
---
The night grew quieter, the city lights dimming as the mansion settled into silence. Ji-ah and Da-eun made their final plans, holding onto a sliver of hope that visiting the shaman might lead them back—or at least offer some answers.
As they returned to their rooms, the air seemed heavier than usual, like something unseen was beginning to stir.
Hyun Min laid back in bed, eyes wide open. Ji-ah's voice, her laughter, the flutter in his chest when she smiled—none of it would leave him. Something about her didn't just feel different… it felt dangerously familiar.
Jun-ha turned in his sheets restlessly. Da-eun's presence had always been a background comfort in his life—but tonight, it lingered like a spark waiting to ignite.
Neither of them could sleep.
Too many thoughts. Too many questions.
And somewhere deep down… a feeling neither was ready to admit.
---
To be continued…
[End of chapter 8]