A Soshi Christmas Carol

8/10/2019 A Soshi Christmas Carol

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Table of Contents _____________

1. Evening..............................................................................................................12. Past.....................................................................................................................93. Present..............................................................................................................294. Future: Jessica..................................................................................................565. Future: Sooyoung.............................................................................................666. Future: Krystal.................................................................................................96

. !nterlu"e.........................................................................................................12##. $orning: %al&...............................................................................................1419. $orning: 'all.................................................................................................1561(. $orning: Sun.................................................................................................16(11. $orning: )rive..............................................................................................1 112. $orning: *rrival............................................................................................1#613. $orning: )e+arture........................................................................................19614. $orning: 'o,,ence,ent.............................................................................219

15. !nterlu"e: - e Secon"....................................................................................22416. $orning: $a&eover.......................................................................................221 . $orning: 'ala,ity.........................................................................................2421#. $orning/s En": First $ove,ent....................................................................25219. $orning/s En": Secon" )eat ........................................................................2592(. $orning/s En": - ir" )egree........................................................................2 121. $orning/s En": Four 'ornere"......................................................................222. $orning/s En": Fi0t Ele,ent........................................................................2#423. $orning/s En": Si t Sign.............................................................................29424. $orning/s En": Sevent 'ircle......................................................................3((25. $orning/s En": Eig t ours..........................................................................31(26. ' rist,as: ine earts..................................................................................312 . ' rist,as: ne ove.....................................................................................32#


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1. Evening aeyeon Ki, 'E o0 *+e *"vertising loo&e" u+ in annoyance 7 en a&noc& soun"e" on er "oor. S e t re7 a 8uic& glance at t e 7all cloc&.

Eig t. $iria, er secretary 7as gone 0or t e "ay. Stu+i" 7o,an 7iter stu+i" cats. -aeyeon/s ,out o+ene" in silent sneering ,i,icry o0

t e ,issing secretary ,out ing /$ust get o,e to 0ee" ,y lovelies / instea" o0guar"ing t e "oor li&e s e s oul" e "oing.

-aeyeon ,a"e a note on a legal +a". Fire t e cat loving i"iot ire so,eone7it out +ets.

*not er &noc& soun"e". -aeyeon narro7e" er eyes. !t 7oul"n/t e t ecusto"ial sta00 t ey ca,e y at nine. $ost o0 t e ingrates 7 o 7or&e" in t e o00ice7ere +ro a ly gone so 7 o coul" e ot ering er S e cast a glance ac& at t es+rea"s eet s e 7as 7or&ing on. - e ,ont lies. - is ,ont /s 0inancials 7ere"o7n t7o +ercent 0ro, last year. )ece, ers 7ere al7ays a" 7 en +eo+le 7oul"rat er "o anyt ing ut 7or&. Stu+i" oli"ays an" stu+i" oli"ay +ay ut "o7n t7o

+ercent in a year t at a" seen *+e *"vertising gro7 al,ost 0ive +ercent

T

- e s+rea"s eet e in" t at one 7as even 7orse. - e u,an resourcesre+ort 0or ealt care e +en"itures s+eci0ically t e list o0 e,+loyees 7 o 7ere t e7orst e +en"itures an" one na,e stoo" ig er on t at list t an t e ne t ten +eo+leco, ine". Jessica Jung. % y t e stu+i" 7o,an ,ust s+en" er entire +ay on

ealt care "e"ucti les; Even t oug t e co,+any/s ealt care +lan 7as average"across t e entire 7or&0orce *+e 7as s,all enoug t at Jung/s ri"iculouss+en"ing coul" a00ect 7 at *+e +ai" 0or everyone. )i" Jung only t in& o0

ersel0 -aeyeon snorte". 0 course t e 7o,an "i" so. Everyone "i" t e sa,e.nly s e -aeyeon Ki, &e+t t is co,+any a0loat an" +ointe" 0or7ar" sailing into

t e lac&. ot t at anyone else a++reciate" t at 0act. %ell s e "i"n/t nee"a++reciation


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,a"e 0or t e co,+any an" t at 7as as goo" as a cri,e in er eyes. S e al7ays seta 0ir, e a,+le arriving on t e "ot at si in t e ,orning eating er san"7ic at

er "es& an" leaving no earlier t an nine every evening 7 en t e vacuu,cleaning an" 0loor 7a ing an" tras "is+osal a++ene". S e/" a" 8uite t e ro77it t e uil"ing/s o7ner a out t at. - ere 7ere +lenty o0 ours in t e nig t a0ter

all.>elling ,ore t an once 'It is hardly conducive to business to have to ac!

u so early"' onto "ea0 ears. ?ecause t is 7as e7 >or& 'ity. - e ?ig @nioniAe"*++le. Everyone 7 o 7or&e" on t e uil"ing/s custo"ial sta00 7as unioniAe". - e

+eo+le 7 o c ange" t e lig t ul s 7ere unioniAe"; *n" t e union 7ante" t eir +eo+le out y ,i"nig t. #ah" )i" a


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o0 inco,+etents r 7as it ou/re salarie" not so,e ourly unioniAe" cloc&C+unc er. )o ! ,a&e ,ysel0clear = -aeyeon loo&e" at t e 7o,an again "aring er to continue 7it erri"iculous state,ents.

Jessica 0elt +aralyAe". Krystal... !t 7as all 0or Krystal. S e s7allo7e" an"no""e". =>Cyes ,a/a,. !/ll e in to,orro7.= Christmas Eve.

=?e on your 7ay t en.= -aeyeon sni00e". -7o ,inutes o0 er ti,e ta&en u+ y t is si,+leton. )i" no one un"erstan" t e value o0 ti,e any,ore

- e "oor clic&e" s ut an" ra+i" 0ootste+s le" a7ay. -aeyeon 7ent ac& to

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er s+rea"s eet "is,issing t e "istur ance 0ro, er ,in". *n" t en anot er&noc& soun"e". 0or t e love o0 ,oney;

=% at ;=- e "oor o+ene" +ro,+tly an" a grinning 0ace a++eare" 8uite a it ig er

t an t e last visitor/s. =Kne7 you/" e ere.= Sooyoung ' oi. er +artner t e

+resi"ent o0 t e co,+any an" resi"ent lee"ing eart.=>ou. % at are you "oing ere )on/t you go o,e at 0ive = Five. Five P$.

$a"ness. aAiness running ra,+ant t roug t e 7orl";=* . ! 7as


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7ee&en" -aeyeon.==>ou staye" late to as& ,e t is =

oo&ing at t e u,orless 0igure Sooyoung al,ost rolle" er eyes. -aeyeon7as a nice +erson... i0 s e/" ever realiAe it. Sooyoung reac e" into er clutc an"

+ulle" out a 0lat gi0tC7ra++e" o 7 ic s e +lace" on t e "es&. =$erry

' rist,as ol" ean. ! ca,e in ere to invite you to t e +arty at ,y ouse sa,e as! "o every year. ?ut you never co,e. So t is year ! t oug t !/" give you your' rist,as +resent early.=

-aeyeon loo&e" at t e +resent an" lin&e" 0lustere". ' rist,as. %ell yes it7as. ?ecause it s o7e" t at on t e s+rea"s eet. * oli"ay an" t en anot er a 7ee& later. $a"ness. 'ele rate ran& co,,ercialis, 0ollo7e" y collective +u lic"run&enness 0or t e turning o0 t e calen"ar Joy. =>ou &no7 7 at ! t in& a outt e oli"ay. !t/s


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=?ecause t e client c ose it. ! sell t e, 7 at t ey 7ant. *ny7ay s e/scosting t e co,+any ,oney.=

=S e ma!es t e co,+any ,oney; -aeyeon really 7e/re an a" agency. %esell... i"eas. !nterest. ?uAA. >ou can/t our accounting "egrees are a out ar" nu, ersan" usiness +rooona/s not


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Sooyoung 0elt er s oul"ers slu,+ in "e0eat. %ell s e/" trie". =*lrig t t en.$erry ' rist,as -aeyeon.=

='lose t e "oor on your 7ay out.=)is,isse". - e s,ile re,aine" as Soo got u+ ut it 7as a s,all sa" t ing

as s e 7atc e" -aeyeon staring at colu,ns o0 nu, ers. - e little scrooge.

-aeyeon 7as a7are Soo le0t an" s e loo&e" u+ at t e close" "oor annoyanceco,ing ac& as a sco7l. Settling "o7n % at Do,ance $arriage ?a ; Foolissenti,ent. % o a" ti,e 0or any o0 t at in t e 7or&ing 7orl" o7 coul" +eo+lesuccee" in t eir lives i0 t ey a" t eir ea"s in t e clou"s - ere 7as certainly noti,e 0or any o0 t at silliness in er li0e. -aeyeon loo&e" at t e gi0t 7ra++e"

+ac&age. * 7atc or a +en li&ely... ut it 7as a it larger t an usual. S e e0te" itan" sa7 a ,icro +ostCit stuc& to t e 0estive 7ra+. !n Soo/s 7riting '( en me no%"'

'uriosity got t e etter o0 er. ?esi"es it 7as easier to t ro7 it a7ay eret an carry t e t ing o,e i0 s e "eci"e" it 7as 7ort less. Soo an" er oli"ays.S e al7ays "resse" in green 0or Saint Patric&/s )ay +laye" so,e silly +ran&s on*+ril Fool/s oug t er c ocolates on alentine/s a "inner invitation on er

irt "ay... 7 en -aeyeon "i" not ing o0 t e sort. Ever.Persistent. - at 7as Soo. -aeyeon s oo& er ea". Persistently 7aste0ul. *t

least t e o 7as too 0lat to e 0ruitca&e. -aeyeon s u""ere". S e ri++e" t e gi0t7ra+ o00 to reveal a strat ,ore o crea,y ivory 7it so,e gol" calligra+ y s ecoul"n/t e ot ere" to ,a&e out. ,,,. E +ensive S e o+ene" t e li" an"

+ro,+tly close" it again. - e 8uic& loo& 7as enoug to ,a&e out 'Charles )ic!ens' on t e cover o0 a re" oo&. 'A Christmas Carol' 7oul" e t e rest o0 t etitle s e a" no "ou t.

=Deally Sooyoung really = -aeyeon leane" ac& an" tosse" t e o 7itt e oo& into t e 7ire 7aste in. Soo coul" ave e,aile" t e eC oo& as a +ointe",essage rat er t an 7aste ,oney. %aste0ul stu+i" centuryCol" senti,ent a out aco,,ercial oli"ay. % o even elieve" in ' rist,as s+irit t ese "ays

-aeyeon sa7 t e o once ,ore 7 en s e le0t an our later. S e snorte"turning o00 t e lig ts to t e roo, s e/" return to in e actly nine ours.

Desonant tones s+o&e consi"eringly = ur ,ission... s e is a ar" one "oyou not t in& so Sunny =

=$, ,,. ! agree -i00any. eit er so0t nor easy. -aeyeon Ki, as a" a"i00icult li0e an" eco,e o "urate.=


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* "ar&er voice s+o&e "irectly al,ost accusingly =S e is close" to li0e. ot7ort saving i0 s e cannot learn.=

Sunny sig e" al,ost a ig +itc e" note o0 re,onstrance =)o not e soars an"


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*. +ast aeyeon ya7ne" loo&ing u+ at a ceiling s e coul"n/t see. - ere 7ere nolig ts in er roo,. )ar&ness 7as c ea+. - e curtains 7ere "ra7n tig t

against t e city/s nor,al lig ts an" t e ,erry glittering +ollution o0' rist,as "ecorations t e city 7aste" er ta "ollars on. er ,i"Crise

a+art,ent 7as t7o loc&s 0ro, t e o00ice an" er ,in" uAAe" 7it t oug ts o07or&. Pro


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Soun" an" lig t intru"e. er "oor7ay is lit a +iercing sort o0 lig t t at goesrig t t roug er eyeli"s. -aeyeon sco7ls. % at is t at lig t *n" t en er ,in"recogniAes t e soun" o0 t e security alar, an" s e sna+s a7a&e to a 0ull lo7n...

allucination - at is t e alar,... an" er nor,ally "ar& e"roo, is aglo7 lit y as a+e at t e "oor7ay.

= i = greets t e ne7co,er 7it a c eery 7ave.-aeyeon ru s er eyes. S e ,ust/ve eaten so,et ing 7rong 0or "inner.

$ay e t e long a7aite" re ellion y er o"y 0ro, eing 0e" 0roAen an",icro7ave" cartons o0 0oo". % atever a++ene" to e on sale t7o 0or t e +rice o0 one; Soo a" 7arne" er. 'That cra is going do you in. +reservatives. Artificially

flavored transfatty hi/fructose corn/s%eetened blah blah blah.' Soo 7 o coul"eat anyt ing s e 7ante" an" never gain an ounce.

- e s,all 0igure +i+es u+ in a voice t at see,s a sur"ly a++y =!t 7oul" enice i0 you coul" turn o00 t e alar,. !t/s ' rist,as Eve; )o so,e o0 yourneig ors a goo" "ee" 7ill ya =

-aeyeon lin&s. !t is er roo,. er a+art,ent. So,e "istant corner o0 er rain is eing very stri"ent a out so,et ing... 7rong. *n" t en it its er an" t elast o0 t e slee+ is 7i+e" a7ay. o,e invasion. ?rea&ing an" entering. So,eoneis in er e"roo,. %aving at er.

-aeyeon s outs =!C!C! ave a gun;= an" +roves it y "iving 0or er nig tstan" yan&ing o+en t e "ra7er an" reac ing inCC

er 0ingers 0in" no an"le no revolver gri+.=>ou ,ean t is =-aeyeon catc es a gli,+se o0 er gun eing el" et7een t7o glo7ing

0ingers an e +ressive ,oue o0 "istaste on a s ining 0ace. =% u ;= t en erover alance" o"y 0alls onto t e 0loor 7it a t u" er s oul"ers lan"ing 0irst0ollo7e" y t e au"i le clun& o0 er ea". uc .

- roug t e "ull ringing o0 er ears -aeyeon ears =*lar, Please = - esoun"s re+eat again ut -aeyeon "oesn/t register t e, as 7or"s. - e roo, iss+inning 7 ile s e stares at t e ceiling.

Sunny sig s. -rust t e silly c il" to rain ersel0 0irst o00.-aeyeon tries to get er o"y sorte". as s e ro&en so,et ing Dig t.

o,e inva"er. er eyes loo& u+7ar" at t e 0igure in t e "ar& "oor7ay. !t"isa++ears. ?lin&s out. anis es t e illu,ination 0las ing t roug er a+art,ent

all7ay as i0 so,e craAe" @F is Ai++ing a out t e s,all +lace.Concussion. I have a concussion.- en t e lig t is ac& t e sa,e instant t e alar, goes silent. o7 t e

1(


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7o,an is ol"ing a un"le o0 7ires in er an" as i0 ri++e" 0ree 0ro, so,et ing.- e ot er an" still as t e revolver... ut 7it a 7ave o0 ot an"s 7ires an"0irear, vanis . !n a lin&. i&e a ,agic tric&.

%ires. E +ensive 7ires. E +ensive gun. =$y alar,; $y gun;= -aeyeon7ails.

=- is coul"/ve starte" etter = Sunny sig s 7it a s a&e o0 er ea".=% o are you ; !s t is a ro ery ==! a, no t ie0.==>ou too& ,y gun;==! "on/t li&e t e t ings. ery noisy. ! "i"n/t 7ant you s ooting a 7all.==%ell t en 7 o are you *n"... 7 y are you... glo7ing == i. ! a, t e G ost o0 ' rist,as Past.=Deality +auses as -aeyeon +rocesses t e silliness. = ery 0unny.==! a,.= - e 0or, 7aves an ar, "o7n er o"y as i0 to say / oo& ! glo7./=- ere is no suc t ing;= -aeyeon sco7ls as s e gingerly sits u+. ot ing

ro&en. =)i" Sooyoung sen" you !s t is er i"ea o0 a ou glo7 ut ! 7on/t ave you to see y once you leave. Stu+i"

uil"ing +o7er.= @,,. er ,in" s e can 0eel it ,issing so,et ing.- e 7o,an not a girl not 7it t ose 0aintly illu,inate" curves... in a 0il,y

go7n o0 yello7 7assit lace ery 0il,y. *l,ost see t roug . * 7o,an. *ll7o,an. -aeyeon s a&es er ea". % at is Sooyoung +laying at First t e oo&no7 t is. ?ut t is is too ,uc an" s e/s going too 0ar iring a very +retty ,o"el

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to co,e arge into er a+art,ent in t e ,i""le o0 t e nig t 7earing a nig tie an" are 0eet an" -aeyeon s8uints... not ,uc else. * s,all +art o0 er is 7on"ering att e lig t. So,et ing isn/t rig t a out it. -aeyeon lin&s at t e very +retty glo7ing7o,an in er e"roo,. Dig t. *s i0 t at/s i,+ortant. Stranger in er e"roo,.

,,. * concussion coul" cause all sorts o0 visual 7eir"ness coul"n/t it

- e 7o,an laug s t en. !t/s a rig t soun" in t e ,i""le o0 t e nig t. S eta+ers o00 to a c uc&le a0ter a 0e7 ,o,ents an" says =>ou/re silly.=

=% at ==Just as& 0or lig t.=- ere/s no electricity... o rig t ,ore ,agic tric&s = ig tCC *ug ; $y

eyes;== o+s o&ay. - ere etter =

er roo, is aglo7 a 7ar, 0ullC o"ie" lig t ,uc li&e t e 7o,an veryunli&e t e e00icient 0luorescent ul s s e as in every 0i ture. -aeyeon learilyo+ens er eyes 7i"er as t ey a"es li&e ric sunlig t. * neat tric& t at. Theymust've snuc! in and %ired... but %here are the lights

Dig t. ever ,in" t at. - e ,ore i,,e"iate concern ere is t e ,isc ie0 in0ront o0 er. - e 0igure stan"s a it s orter t an ersel0 7 ic ,eans s e/s 8uites ort. S ort lon"e air ri"iculously e +ressive s,ile ,a"e y 0ull li+s. * young7o,an. * ra"iant young 7o,an. De,ar&a ly... cute. ne o0 Sooyoung/s e es

+ro a ly t oug a" Sooyoung ever "ate" a s ort curvy ,agician *n" ' arles)ic&ens/ S irits of Christmas Deally. So la,e Sooyoung. * c il"/s story; * out a,iser an" so,e g osts. - is 7o,an coul"n/t scare a unny ra it.

=>ou s oul" really go 7 oever you are. -ell Sooyoung !/ll see er on$on"ay an" !/ll ill er 0or ,y ro&en alar,. *n" leave ,y gun.= - e trou les e/" gone t roug to get a +er,it 0or it... -aeyeon/s eyes are "ra7n to t e cloc& ont e 7all. Just +ast ,i"nig t. !t/s slee+ ti,e valua le 0or t e 7or& it lets er "o.*ny 7 y isn/t little ,iss suns ine ,oving at all = oo& $iss it/s not going to7or&. >ou can tell Sooyoung t at sen"ing a cute 0ace to ,e in t e ,i""le o0 t enig t isn/t going to ,a&e ,e elieve in ' rist,as. &ay o7 go. S oo;=

* +out. * ri"iculously gorgeous +out. = ,,,. ! "i"n/t e +ect ,y 0ace toconvince you.=

ou didn't -aeyeon coug s. 0 course s e "oesn/t. S e/s seen +lenty o0 +retty 0aces in er a" agency/s 7or&. ot ing to t e,. Silly va+i" +eo+le 7itregular 0eatures. -aeyeon 0eels annoyance gro7ing. S e 7al&s to7ar"s t e girl

an"s reac ing 0or er s oul"ers to c ivvy t e inva"er to t e a+art,ent "oor.='/,on "on/t ,a&e ,e 0orce youCC u u 7 a ;=

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-aeyeon stu, les through t e girl t roug er o+en e"roo, "oor7ay an" ounces o00 t e all7ay 7all. S e s+ins to 0in" t e glo7ing 7o,an 0acing er.S,iling.

@+ close... -aeyeon can 0aintly see er e" covers t ro7n ac& through t e7o,an/s 0or,. - e s,ile ea,s at er. iterally. =- ere o7/s t at 0or

convincing =-aeyeon screa,s turns le0t an" s+rints 0or t e &itc en. P one; S e as to get

to er + one; - e ne t instant it/s "ar& as... 7ell ,i"nig t 7it all t e lin"sclose". S e stu, les in t e su""en "ar&ness stu ing er toes on t e couc in er,a" scra, le. (uch" 9C1C1; S e as to call 9C1C1.

*s i0 t e voice is rig t ne t to er ear t e 7o,anCg ostCt ing says in al,ostconversational tones =! t in& calling so,eone at t is ti,e 7oul"n/t e a goo"i"ea.=

?alance" on one 0oot in t e in&y lac&ness +anic cla7ing -aeyeon "ra7ser reat in to screa,.

'oncern colors t e tones even 7ar,er as t e voice says = "ear. aveso,e lig t.=

- e glo7 returns. -aeyeon/s reat 0reeAes in er t roat. !n t e su""enillu,ination er ar,s are outstretc e" 0ingers 7i"e an" in t e 7o,an/s c est...er... g ost/s i,+ressive c est.

=Ga ;= -aeyeon 0alls ac&7ar"s snatc ing er an"s 0ree 0alling on ertus 7it a one ou nee" to get out;/ o 7on"er er a+art,ent rent is so c ea+. Stu+i" rent controlle" +ro+erty.

!t/s not rent controlle". !t/s aunte". G osts; G osts. % at "oes s e &no7 a outg osts - ey/re stuc& to one +lace rig t - ey aunt ouses an" roo,s an"CCan"CC 0urniture - ings;


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caug t u+ y a ig 7ave. Just moved. =-C-ie ,e u+ ;=*s i0 granting a 7is t e g ost ,otions an" -aeyeon 0in"s s e can/t rise 0ro,

t e c air. i&e t e seat cus ion is an enor,ous ,agnet an" er sore utt a /69Pinto at t e scra+ yar".

Sunny laug s. - ere a gli,,er o0 u,or. Per a+s not all o+e is lost on

t is one. =S . !t/s 0or your o7n goo". ! "on/t 7ant you urting yoursel0 0lailinga out = s e says gently an" en"s "o7n loo&ing at t e -aeyeon/s +ale staring an"

+anic&e" 0ace. =>ou s oul" 7ear sunscreen. >ou/re going to ave too ,any7rin&les 0or your age. * girl ,ust ta&e care o0 er s&in.=

It uts the lotion on. - e t oug t rolls aroun" in -aeyeon ,in". * g ost. *g ost; %orrie" a out er s&in. %as it going to &ill er an" steal er s&in )i" t eg ost 7ant to live again Play at eing alive

* glo7ing eyes,ile 0or,s an" a g ostly 0inger +o&es er 0ore ea". Huite0ir,ly. Soli" 7 en s e 7ants to e =!,agination is nice ut "on/t e ri"iculous.

o7 rela . - in& o0 ,e as your t era+ist. !/, ere to hel you e0ore it/s too late.==%C% at "o you ,ean ==! ,ean e actly 7 at ! say. o7 rela .=$ay e o eying t e g ost 7ill ,a&e it go a7ay $ay e i0 s e ou 7ere a++ier once.

)o you even re,e, er 7 at a++iness 0eels li&e a++y is goo". ?eing a++y isits o7n re7ar".=

- ose 7or"s +ro" so,et ing in -aeyeon. De0le ive "e0ensiveness at eing


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+a


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= ey -aeyeon; % at/s t e rus >ou going so,e7 ere =-aeyeon rea&s into a s7eat 7atc ing er ot er sel0 er younger sel0. =- is

can/t e real. % y are you s o7ing ,e t is ==>our li0e "i"n/t start ere. !t starte" 7it a ro&en o,e. * ste+0at er 7 o

eat you. * ,ot er 7 o "i"n/t really &no7 or care o7 to el+. *t least t at/s

7 at you re,e, er o0 t e,. - at/s 7 at you t in& o0 t e, no7. De,e, er t eseare s a"o7s o0 t e t ings t at ave een. >our +ast. $e,ory is a strange t ing.- e strongest ,e,ories never 0a"e ut t e conte t t e inter+retation o0 t e, isan ever c anging t ing. *s you/ve age" as you/ve e +erience" ,ore o0 li0e 7 atyou re,e, er eco,es "i00erent. ?ut 0or no7 ! 7ant you to re,e, er as it

a++ene" 7it out t e clutter o0 a "eca"e or t7o.=- e scenes 0las . S e is in a "ar& roo, younger yet. -en years ol" oices

in"istinct yelling glass rea&ing. -aeyeon 7atc es ersel0 trying to rea" a oo&not seeing t e 7or"s t roug er tears. !t/s an ol" oo& tattere" +ages s,u"ge"7it er 0ingers. * +rincess living 7it ste+ sisters 7 o treat er li&e a scullery,ai". - ere s oul" e a +rince. So,e7 ere. - e soun" o0 a sla+ ,a&es er s iver.S e u""les un"er er covers only a sliver o+en to s o7 a +age s e can/t even see.

=- is. - is is your earliest clear ,e,ory. $ost c il"ren re,e, er ,uc,ore ,uc earlier. ?ut not you.=

-aeyeon 0eels li&e t ro7ing u+. For so long s e/s trie" to 0orget erc il" oo". - e social 7or&ers er ,ot er "ragging er 0ro, o,e to o,esc ool to sc ool. o7 is s e ever going to live a li0e ,a&e 0rien"s succee" 7 ens e "oesn/t ave a +lace to call o,e o +lace to &no7 7 o s e is

=?ut yes ere.= ?ac& to Perry Jac&son ig re" ric& as+ alt an" cruelty.=- is is 7 ere you eca,e t e +erson you are to"ay.=

Sneering 0aces t at coul" e +retty ut aren/t. *ll t e girls so ,uc tallert an s e is. $a&eu+ an" nice clot es air in t e latest cuts. - ey 0or, a ringaroun" er. - e +o+ular ones.

=% ere/s ,y o,e7or& ==% ere/s ,y re+ort == ey ner" "i" you rea" t e oo&s ! gave you =-aeyeon is s,art. S e/s al7ays een s,art. ?ut eing s,art is a curse. S e/s

silent un"er t eir 8uestioning. er ea" o7e" "o7n 0urious an" "es+erate not tos o7 it.

!t starts 7it a s ove er eavy ac&+ac& not el+ing.=S e t in&s s e can ignore us.== isten ner" you s oul" e grate0ul 7e even tal& to you.=

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ne o0 t e, sla+s er an" t at starts t e + ysical +art o0 ?ullying 1(1. S eloses er glasses ne t an" t en s e/s s+ra7le" on t e +ave,ent s&inning er

+al,. -aeyeon


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gre7 a s ell aroun" yoursel0 you stu"ie" until you coul"n/t rea" t e +ages t roug loo" s ot eyes to get t e sc olars i+ an" 7 en you le0t o,e you never loo&e" ac&. >ou never calle" your ,ot er. ast year 7 en you got t e letter sayings e/" "ie" you "i"n/t cry a tear.=

=S e never care" 0or ,e. ! 7as alone. ! a, alone.=

= oo&. See 7 at you/ve ,isse".=er ,ot er. %orn. l". ot even 0i0ty ut... ol". - in. So t in. ol"ing a

+icture o0 er "aug ter. !t/s cut out 0ro, t e year oo&. - ey/" never oug t t e +ictures. -aeyeon ates t e +icture. er air is scraggly er 0ace as +i,+les an"t e glasses sit croo&e"ly. ?ut er ,ot er stares at it. -al&s to it ,u, ling. e t toit is a scra+ o0 +a+er. -aeyeon sees er + one nu, er at t e o00ice. - e ol" 7o,ancoug s roug ly as i0 s e/s e +elling "eca"es o0 +ain. !t leaves er gas+ingtre, ling 0ingers ol"ing a loo"y clot to gray li+s. S e loo&s at t e +ay+ oneoutsi"e t e s elter t en ac& at t e +iece o0 +a+er. - e ol" 7o,an s a&es er ea"slo7ly. -oo late. !t 7ill e too late.

$ore coug ing. S e 0u, les t7o 8uarters out o0 a an"&erc ie0. - eincessant ringing o0 a Salvation *r,y &ettle sitter gro7s lou" as s e +us es o+ent e "oor. % y is e ere Peo+le at t e s elter can/t a00or" to +ut ,oney in t e&ettle. er ,ot er 7aits 0or t e +erson using t e + one to ang u+ t e col"cree+ing in t roug er t in coat. )irty ice an" sno7 on t e si"e7al& crunc esun"er er 7orn soles 7 ic s e/s line" 7it ne7s+a+er.

-aeyeon/s + one nu, er is ar" to rea" t e +a+er "a,+ 0ro, tears staine"7it "ro+s o0 7 at s e/s coug e". ne 8uarter. - e secon" 8uarter. - e +us

uttons are sti00 an" 0rigi" ut t e tre, ling o0 er an"s is 0ear regret. - e clinic"octor a" een gri, 0ace". - ere 7ill e no ti,e to ,a&e t ings rig t.

- e + one rings.*n" rings.* voice 0inally ans7ers. =- is is -aeyeon Ki,/s o00ice. $ay ! ta&e a

,essage ==!C!s s e in /=S e isn/t ta&ing calls. o7 ,ay ! "irect you =='oul" ! leave er a ,essage ==!/ll 0or7ar" you to er voice,ail. - an& you 0or calling *+e *"vertising.=*n" t en t e 7o,an s,iles an" -aeyeon ears er o7n voice s+ea&ing to

er ,ot er =>ou ave reac e" t e voice,ail 0or -aeyeon Ki,. ! cannot ta&e yourcall at t is ti,e. Please leave a ,essage.=

er ,ot er angs u+ an" 0u, les ,ore 8uarters out.

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- ree ti,es s e listens to t e recor"e" voice. - e voice o0 er "aug ter. *"aug ter s e is so +rou" o0. =>ou ,a"e it out a y. $y a y. $y -aeyeon.=

S e/s out o0 8uarters no7. S e "ro+s si teen cents all t at s e as le0t intot e Salvation *r,y &ettle an" s ivering s u00les ac& into t e u,i" 7ar,t o0t e s elter. !t is ' rist,as Eve an" s e 7on/t live to see ' rist,as.

- is -aeyeon is tre, ling li&e a lea0. *r,s e+ e,eral an" glo7ing utsoli" e, race er gently. =%C% y. % y "i"n/t s e leave a ,essage % y "i"n/ts e call earlier =

=S e 0elt as i0 s e "i"n/t "eserve to. *ll er li0e s e a" not ing to o00eryou.=

=S e... s e 7as 7ort less. S e never +rotecte" ,e never... never "i"anyt ing 0or ,e.=

=- at is 7 at s e elieve" too.==... ! coul" ave ta&en care o0 er. ! ave ,oney.==!n t is s e 7as "oing 7 at s e t oug t s e coul". S e "i"n/t &no7 t e

+olice ,an 7 o investigate" er "eat 7oul" 0igure out 7 ere to sen" t enoti0ication. S e "i"n/t &no7 you/" get t e letter. *ll your li0e you/ve a" it toug .*n" it is u,an nature to only 0ocus on your o7n lac&s your o7n urts your o7nli,itations. @n"erstan"ing ta&es ti,e.=

=% y are you s o7ing ,e t is - is... - is isn/t real; !t can/t e real. >ou/rea g ost.=

=*n" yet it is you 7 o e ists li&e a g ost. -rying so ar" to re,ain i""en.>ou/re surroun"e" y +eo+le in your li0e -aeyeon. So,e o0 t e, actually li&eyou.=

=! "on/t nee" anyone.==*n" t is is 7 ere you/re 7rong. Everyone nee"s so,eone.==% y 7oul" you s o7 ,e ,y ,ot er ==- e eig t o0 u,an 0olly. - at is 7 at co,es o0 elieving t at t ere is no

o+e le0t in t e 7orl".== o+e - ere is no o+e. - ere/s only 7 at ! can ,a&e 7 at ! can "o. !t/s

,e against t e 7orl".==So you t in&.==$y ,ot er 7as 7ea&. S e 7oul"n/t even try to... S e 7as 7ea&. %ea&...

?ut... ==?ut ==SCS e s oul" ave le0t a ,essage.==S e s oul" ave.=

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=>ou can/tCC !t "oesn/t ,a&e any "i00erence.==*n" yet you 0eel so,et ing "on/t you ==! "on/t 7ant t is.==!t is your +ast. >ou ave alrea"y a" it.==! ate" ig sc ool ,y c il" oo" ,y... %ait. ?e0ore. >ou s o7e" ,e

Sooyoung ==* yes. >our +artner your college c u, your casual 0rien" 7it 7 o,

you 7ent into usiness.==S e 7ent to ,y ig sc ool ==% y "on/t 7e loo& ==%ait; %ait.==For ==!/, a0rai". - is... is a nig t,are. r !/, going craAy.==%ell i0 craAy is 7 at you nee" t en !/, ere to el+. ?ecause you see

"ear sane is going to &ill you.=)iAAiness reigns er ri s urt t ro ing t e 7eig t o0 er ac&+ac& is a

cruelty. ?ut s e as to get to sc ool. S e can/t 0all e in" any ,ore. er gra"es aret e only t ings t at ,atter.

Eyes 7atc er as s e crosses t e +ar&ing lot. )oreen t e re" aire"c eerlea"er t e one 7it a nasty te,+er. S e sits in er car a $ustang )a""y

oug t 0or er irt "ay its engine +urring. %atc ing t e s,all "isgusting girltru"ge. S&i+ a 7 ole 7ee& o0 sc ool 7oul" s e $r. $artin as given er an 0 0or not turning in er oo& re+ort. - at +uts er +osition on t e c eerlea"ing s8ua"at ris&. - e little ungrate0ul *sian ner".

ot to &ill er ut es. )oreen +utst e car into gear an" nails t e accelerator an" out o0 no7 ere anot er car +ulls into

er 7ay.-ires screec as s e s7erves into a +air o0 +ar&e" cars t e air ag ruining er

,a&eu+. ne o0 cars "ecorating er oo" is $r. $artin/s ol&s7agen. . $. G.-aeyeon ears t e screec ut s e/s too usy gritting er teet never seeing

Sooyoung/s laug ing 0ace er 0ist +u,+. !n t e 7ee&s 0ollo7ing t e aAing t e ullying ta+er "o7n an" -aeyeon/s li0e eco,es al,ost eara le. S e never7ante" anyone/s attention. Just er "i+lo,a.

S e ,isses noticing Sooyoung. Sooyoung 7 o 7atc es er. Soo going o,e7it ruises in er +lace ut t at "oesn/t a++en too o0ten. - e +o+ular girls aretoo usy &ee+ing t eir 7ellCcoi00e" ea"s "o7n avoi"ing an onslaug t o0 +racticaltor,entsB +aint o, s in t eir loc&ers t eir cars/ 7in"o7s ro&en tires ,issing

2(


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+ressure valves +ictures o0 t e, 7it t eir oy0rien"s or ,ore o0ten so,eoneelse/s oy0rien"s s o7ing u+ in t e o""est o0 +laces. !t is a ,isera le sc ool year0or t e,.

-aeyeon is o livious stu"ying in t e li rary 0illing out a",ission 0or,s7or&ing 7it t e gui"ance counselor to get all t e +ossi le 8uali0ications. - e

gui"ance counselor. $rs. ' oi.=$o, -aeyeon is going to 'olu, ia ==- at/s loo&ing li&e er est s ot 0or a 0ull ri"e.==?ut... 'olu, ia is ar". i&e !vy eague.==!t is !vy eague. *re you sure you 7ant to go to t e sa,e sc ool ==- e &i" nee"s so,eone to +rotect er.==*n" 7 y is t at you ==! "unno. ! ,ean... ! "unno. ! ea . ! guess.==Per a+s it isn/t ealt y 7atc ing out 0or er 0ro, a "istance.==%ell li0e is ar" enoug 0or er 7it out aving t e sc ool/s iggest les o

as a notCsoCsecret a",irer.==! "on/t &no7 7 at !/, going to "o 7it you.== ove ,e $ot er. *s ! love ,e.== a a . >ou etter get to stu"ying i0 you 7ant to get into 'olu, ia "ear.==JeeA s e etter ,a&e it in or !/, going to &ill er.=-aeyeon lin&s in sur+rise. % at o7... 7 y Sooyoung - ere/s never

een... not one in"ication o0 ,ore t an 0rien"s i+ ,ore t an a cool 0rien"s i+ att at. Deverse" ,a


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=>es. Per a+s t at is t e case no7. >ou/ve ar,ore" yoursel0 7ell.==So 7 at >ou s o7 ,e t ese t ings an" it ,a&es ,e sure !/ve ,a"e t e

rig t "ecisions in li0e.== a . - at/s goo". 'ertainty is al7ays to e a",ire".==-a&e ,e ac&. ! "on/t 7ant to see any,ore o0 ,y +ast.=

=- e ,agic 7or"s. ?ut !/ve a 0e7 ,ore t ings to s o7 you.==% y % at ,ore !t "oesn/t ,atter. ! coul" care less.==>ou t in& you "on/t nee" any o"y. ?ut you are so,eone 7 o a00ects t e

lives o0 ,any +eo+le.== i&e 7 o ==>our e,+loyees 0or one. r ,any. >ou ave a lot o0 e,+loyees.==@ngrate0ul louts all o0 t e,.== ot all o0 t e,. ere.=* scene. * s,all cra,+e" a+art,ent. * girl sitting on a s,all e". >oung

+retty er 0ace aglo7 eneat a lac& &nit ca+ a++iness s o7ing er 7 ite teetas s e 7rites an" colors on c ea+ construction +a+er. - e girl is +ain0ully t in t e

ones o0 er ar,s s ar+ against +ale s&in so +ale as to e colorless. - e7 eelc air ne t to t e e" is an o,inous 0ore o"ing.

- e a+art,ent "oor o+ens an" a 7o,an enters a scar0 o scuring er0eatures er "ar& air. - e calen"ar on t e 7all says t is is a scene t ree years ol".@n"erneat t e calen"ar are a 0e7 tic& ,ar&s cli, ing t e 7all a year annotate"ne t to eac line. Krystal is 7ritten esi"e eac "ate in +rogressively etter

an"7riting as t e lines cli, . Previous occu+ants - e last line is "ate" t7oyears earlier t an t e calen"ar.

=Krystal !/, o,e.= - e voice soun"s ,ore c eer0ul t an t e set o0 t es oul"ers insi"e t e coat lets on. %eariness is +al+a le. - e 7o,an sets a +ile o0,ail on t e c ea+ &itc en ta le. - e coat co,es o00 to s o7 a 0ast 0oo" uni0or,.Kenny Dogers Doasters. * line o0 a urn s o7s on one +ale 0orear,. * "ee+ 0ryer,is a+. - e scar0 co,es o00 last. !t/s Jessica Jung er air "ar&. Fro, t e

e"roo, a 7 eelc air a++ears Krystal +us ing its 7 eels 7it 7ell +ractice",otions t e an",a"e ' rist,as car" on er la+ a uge s,ile on er 0ace.

= ey Sis; o7 7as your "ay =Jessica s,iles er 0ace +ale an" tire" =!t 7as goo".==- ere/s sou+. ! coul"n/t 0inis it.=- e 7o,an crosses to t e c air er an" reac ing as i0 to stro&e air t at

isn/t t ere. =!s t e nausea getting any etter ==!0 ! slee+ a lot it/s not too a".=

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er an" stro&es t e t in 0ace gently &no7ing t e lie. - e +ain leaves eryounger sister e auste" ut even t en it ta&es +ills to let er slee+ an" Krystal

ates t e, t e acco,+anying ,ental 0og. S e/" rat er en"ure +ain to &ee+ er,in" s ar+. S e still stu"ies. S e 7ants to gra"uate so,e"ay. =! &no7 it/s no 0un"ear ut you


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-aeyeon Ki,.

s. 2ung

,e li!e %hat %e see in your ortfolio. As such and ending a formal 3ob

intervie% %e %ould li!e to offer you a osition in our firm. ,e re4uire immediateavailability. If this is satisfactory lease call our office to discuss details andarrange a time for your intervie% %ithin the follo%ing %ee!. In order to streamlinethe hiring rocess salary including full dental and health coverage details are onattachments #/15 through #/16. +lease revie% them before calling.

-iring anager and CE(Taeyeon 7im

Krystal is a it 0rig tene" 7 en er sister 0alls to er &nees staring at t e +a+er tears strea,ing. - e 7or"s s e s+ea&s ,a&e no sense.

=- an& you -aeyeon Ki, 0or t e est ' rist,as +resent ever.=- e g ost turns to -aeyeon. =See =-aeyeon/s eyes 0eel as i0 t ey/re 0ull o0 san". )ry an" gritty. ?urning. er

,out er soul cruste" 7it as an" "ust.=! "on/t 7ant to see t is. >ou t in& ! "on/t &no7 ,y e,+loyees ave lives

outsi"e t e o00ice !t/s a toug 7orl". So 7 at So %hat 8 =*ll actions all 7or"s ave a 7eig t ave conse8uences. - e 7orl" 7oul"

e a etter +lace i0 +eo+le re,e, ere" t is.==! 7ant to go o,e no%"8 = ot 8uite yet. ne last t ing.= - e s+irit ta&es er ar, e0ore -aeyeon can

,ove an" t e 7orl" lurs again.oices. $ore t an t e t7o 0ro, e0ore. aug ter t en so,et ing else

-aeyeon narro7s er eyes as t e 7orl" co,es ac& into 0ocus. * +arty t e o00icesat *+e . eo S,it is ere t e oo&&ee+er 7 o runs t e accounts 7 en *+e is


29/358

- e gat ering is lively coc&tails eer so"a. * +otluc& 7it little +resents...a sign saying -a y Anniversary" ot a ' rist,as +arty entirely "es+ite t e"ecorations o0 can"y canes an" +ointy 0elt ats. ?ut t e +eo+le at t e o00ice ere,+loyees are laug ing enou &no7 ! 7on"er

7 y $s. ' oi stic&s it out ere. Personally i0 ! 7as er !/" ave 8uit a long ti,eago; o7 s e "eals 7it $s. Ki, is one o0 t e great 7on"ers o0 t e a"vertising7orl". a . ere/s anot er one to $s. Ki, an" er c eese san"7ic es. )a,ne"7o,an s oul" e a san"7ic s e eats so ,any o0 t e,.=

aug ter ,ore laug ter.-aeyeon s+lutters in"ignant. *l,ost everyone +resent is laug ing. S e/ll

ave to 0ire seventy +ercent o0 t e sta00. =! can/t elieve t ese +eo+le. !C!C! +ay

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Jessica is ot ere" serious. S e tig tens er li+s er ea" raising a touc e0ore continuing =! t in& t e 0act t at s e ire" us 7as great. !t/s a tougecono,y a lot o0 co,+anies are cutting ac& on t eir a"vertising e +en"ituresan" ere 7e are gro7ing year a0ter year. !0 anyt ing accor"ing to eo 7e/regetting +ai" ,ore t an t e in"ustry average ecause 7e/re al7ays ,eeting our

goals an" $s. Ki, s oul" get t e cre"it 0or t at. ! ,ean yea ! &no7 t e longours are toug t e 7ee&en"s t e allCnig ters yea t at too& so,e getting use"

to ut ringing a +ro


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-aeyeon/s 0ists tig ten. S e turns to t e s ort s+irit. =>ou t in& ! "on/t &no7a out t ese getCtoget ers = 0 course s e "oes s e/s t e "evilB s e our te,+er tells ot er7ise.=

=- is is ,y li0e. !/ll "eal 7it it. !t/s not ing.== ot ing o. - ese are t e grains o0 san" o0 your +ast. Eac ,o,ent

,eans so,et ing eac ,o,ent ,atters -aeyeon. i&e 0ootste+s in t e "esert you,a&e i,+ressions as you ,ove. oo& at 7 at you are to"ay. Eac "ecision you/ve,a"e +ut you ere. *n" all you can say is t at you/ll "eal 7it it % ere is yourres+onsi ility =

=! a, res+onsi le; o one is ,ore res+onsi le.==% ere is your res+onsi ility to yourself % ere is t e care t e &in"ness

0or you in your li0e ==% at "oes it ,atter !t/s all "one. $y li0e yes it/s my life" ! +ut ,ysel0

ere. ! ,a"e a co,+any 7it Sooyoung. ! ,a&e a si 0igure salary. ! e,+loy t osecretins. ! ,a&e sure t ey get +ai" on ti,e; ! "i" t is.=

=*n" yet you are ,isera le.==!/, not ,isera le;==>ou 7oul" lie -o ,e ! ear everyt ing going on insi"e t at little s&ull o0

yours.=89ie 8 -aeyeon e clai,s an" ste+s ac&. =>ou...= s e isses =Get a7ay

0ro, ,e; >our stu+i" tric&s t is insanity your CC t is t is isn/t a++ening; >ou/rea "rea, a 0ig,ent o0 ,y tire" rain; %e/re "one. !/, going ac& to ,y li0eCC =

= ever a++ene" = says t e g ost. =! tell you t is is your +ast. !0 you 7on/tlearn 0ro, it you 7ill ave no one to la,e ut yoursel0. - is li0e your li0e t atyou/ve ,a"e.=

-aeyeon/s reat s gro7 "ee+er 0aster er anger t reatening to oil over.=Just ta&e ,e o,e; Ta!e me home"8

- e g ost laug s one last ti,e. - e soun" o0 it is no longer rig t. - e7ar,t is gone. nly sa"ness re,ains. =*s you say you/ll "eal 7it it.=

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5. +resent aeyeon a7o&e in a col" s7eat in "ar&ness. - e 7as no lig t noglo7ing 0igure. - e "ar&ness 7as all envelo+ing as i0 all t e lig t in t e

7orl" a" gone out. S e sat u+ in e" an" too& a ragge" reat . *"rea,. Just a "a,ne" 7eir" "rea,. *not er reat . !t ,ust ave all

een a nig t,are. * +articularly vivi" nig t,are... t at 7oul"n/t 0a"e. *s i0 it &e+tre+laying every "etail re,aine" etc e". - e clin!/clin!/clin! o0 t e t ree coins

itting t e otto, o0 an e,+ty &ettle t e +u00 o0 ,isty air e,erging 0ro, t e sou+&itc en 7 ere er ,ot er a" "ie". eart 0ailure. - e 7o,an 7asn/t even 0i0ty;- e crea& o0 one o0 t e 7 eels on Krystal/s 7 eelc air its 7orn construction t ec ea+ +a+er al,ost tearing 7 ere t e girl a" colore" ' erry Christmas. I love

you 2essie"' an" un"er t at '2:;$ SISTE


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'oul" a 0ever e +lain t e realness o0 er "rea, % at i0 it 7as so,e 7eir" ESPt ing an astralC+ro


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ot c ocolate 7a0ting u+. =?ut ! &no7 you li&e t is etter on a col" 7inter/s "ay"o you not -aeyeon =

-aeyeon "oesn/t ta&e t e o00ere" cu+. S e let/s it 0loat.- is g ost isn/t li&e t e last one. Just t at "ise, o"ie" voice 0acile an"

us&y raising goose u,+s 7it its reat iness giving t e i,+ression o0 concern.

i&e a ,ot er/s voice s oul" soun". i&e er ,ot er soun"s in er "rea,. - is"rea,. - is continuing "rea,.

=*, ! scaring you = t e voice as&s gently. -aeyeon/s no"s er ea" 7il"ly.= ,,, 7ell.=

=$C$ay e i0 you 7eren/t invisi le =- e co00ee ,ug settles "o7n on t e ta le. =!0 ! s o7 ,ysel0 7ill you

+ro,ise ,e you/ll re,ain seate" ! ate c asing +eo+le. !t/s ot erso,e.==PC+ro,ise.= *n" t en t e g ost slo7ly a++ears. - is one as longer air

tie" u+ into a c ignon rig t s,iling eyes t at curve. S e/s ri"iculously +retty0e,inine alluring t oug o""ly costu,e". S e 7ears a +ointe" re" at a greentunic green stoc&ings an" +ointe" re" s oes. * 0rea&ing el0 o er ears aren/t

+ointe". $uc . e .-aeyeon as an i,+ression o0 a +out an" 0ro7n an" t e el0 "isa++ears again.

=)on/t loo& at ,e li&e t at.= )isa++ointe" urt in t ose tones. -aeyeon asn/treally a" t e c ance to stu"y t e 0or, ,uc less


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=?ac& to e" = s e says er voice rus e" ,onotonous annoye". S e isn/tgoing to +lay ga,es 7it a g ost not t is one. S e trails ac& to er e"roo, an"closes t e "oor. er e". S e/ll ou +ro,ise" = t e s+irit/s voice soun"s in er ear re,in"ing er.

-aeyeon lin&s. = u == o running a7ay. >ou 0orget = * an" a++ears in 0ront o0 er. Pal,

out7ar". !t sto+s er al07ay to er 7aiting lan&et. !t 0rea&s er out. * it. &aya lot.

='o,e 7it ,e.= - e "ise, o"ie" an" gra s er sleeve. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!""" =% at ; % ere = -aeyeon c o&es out 7 en s e

can reat e. = C o; et ,e go; ! "on/t 7ant to "o t is;==$ust you e a c ore = - en t e an" +ulls er to t e e"roo, "oor 7 ic

o+ens on its o7n. 0 course it "oes. )o7n t e all7ay to t e closet. =Put on so,es oes ! "on/t 7ant you getting 0rost ite.=

=! "i"n/t nee" s oes e0ore;==%e/re uni8ue.==% at ==Eac s+irit "i00erent. !nclu"ing "i00erent rules yes ==>es o ! "on/t &no7;==*re you t ro7ing a tantru, aving a rea&"o7n ==... ! guess a tantru,. Sorry S oul" ! a+ologiAe =* glo7ing 0inger +oints at t e closet.-aeyeon +uts on er running s oes an"s slig tly tre, ling 0eeling very

+ut u+on. Dules. o7 is anyone su++ose" to &no7 t e rules S e/s on t e verge o0re ellion 7 en t e glo7ing 0inger 7ags in 0ront o0 er nose. ?ot er.

- en -aeyeon 'E o0 a un"re" +erson 0ir, 7it o00ices not all t at 0ar0ro, t e eart o0 $an attan 0in"s ersel0 eing "ragge" to t e 0ront "oor y a

an" a nicely turne" out an" to e sure 7it sli, +retty glo7ing 0ingers. S ecatc es a gli,+se o0 er 0ront "oor o+ening an" t en t e 7orl" lurs si"e7ays.

- e only t ing s e can say is =- at/s 0unny = as s e lin&s t roug s+acet roug uil"ings t roug 7alls t roug +eo+le.

S e "oesn/t &no7 7 ere s e is ea"ing entirely it/s a s,ear o0 0astC0or7ar"i,+ressions s7i0t ,otions o0 +assage scenes o0 0las ing sno7 an" s,ears o0' rist,as lig ts yello7 ta is s&yscra+ers ustling $an attanites. e7 >or& ist e city t at never slee+s an" t e ' rist,as season is a usy ti,e.

Doc&e0eller PlaAa 7it its enor,ous ' rist,as tree t e s&ating rin& t e

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?' stu"ios -ri eca So o ittle !taly t e "ar& o0 'entral Par&. S e canrecogniAe 0a,ous sig ts not 0ro, 0irst an" e +erience ut 0ro, a"vertising,e"ia. !t/s 0unny o7 little s e/s een aroun" t e city. er li0e nor,ally revolvesaroun" a t ree loc& section. %or& o,e grocery store in a never en"ing cycle.% y it 7oul" ta&e a ghost's hand to rea& er out o0 er oring routine 7oul"n/t

it!n res+onse to er al0C,a" giggle t e ,ostly invisi le g ost says

=Everyt ing can e 0unny -aeyeon. >ou


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!nsanity "oesn/t nee" to ,a&e sense ut it 7oul" e nice to &no7 t e rules. S e0eels sic& nauseous a"renaline 0leeing. er &nuc&les ,ove a7ay 0ro, t e glassan" turn +ale as s e 0or,s a 0ist. - e stu+i" oo&. S e 7ants to rail at er +artner.This is (:< fault" !nstea" er voice is 0lat 7 en s e says =- e Present.=

= ,, =

=>ou/re t e G ost o0 ' rist,as Present an" t is is tonig t. ! ,ean to"ay/snig t. Dig t no7;=

=Dig t on co7girl. >es. *ye. 'orrect. >i++e&ayay $y... o,egirl !t t ata&in to a tri al greeting >ou ,ust a",it u,an languages evolve in con0using7ays. !/ve never really un"erstoo" it.= Finally t e s+irit rea++ears ne t to -aeyeonli&e t e ' es ire 'at a glo7ing ar, is "ra+e" over -aeyeon/s s oul"ers. S e can

feel t e 7eig t o0 it gro7ing as t e 0or, soli"i0ies. - is ti,e t e +ointy re" at iscrus e" un"er a 0ur line" oo" 7 ic is +art o0 a +onc o loo&ing t ing. -aeyeontries to resist t e al0 ug t at "ra7s er closer. !t/s t e sa,e tric& t e +reviousg ost as "one ut t is ti,e it/s even ,ore 0orce0ul. !nsistently cons+iratorial an"c ar,ing. y aren't %e having fun" Together"

=! t in& you ave your ,e,es con0use".==% at/s t at == ot ing. % y ere % y "i" you ring ,e ere = -aeyeon as&s an" turns

to loo& at t e oo"e" 0igure. - e g ost loo&s ac& at -aeyeon as i0 7it ane70oun" a,use,ent a rilliant s,ile rolling across er 0ace trans0or,ing it intot e e+ito,e o0 7 at a s,ile coul" e... in eaven. -aeyeon/s tu,,y "oes 0li+sagain t oug not 0or t e sa,e reasons as e0ore.

=)o ! sense a int o0 acce+tance = * sli, glo7ing 0inger touc es a li+ +ursing no7 as i0 s e is "eci"ing 7 at an" o7 ,uc to tell. *t -aeyeon/s stonysilence t e s+irit sni00s an" says =%e are ere ecause Sooyoung is an i,+ortant

+erson to you.==- at/s all == ee" t ere e ,ore to it = s e as&s arc ly. = ave you not ta&en to eart all

t at - e Past as s o7n you ==- e s ort lon"eC ea"e" +i ie ==Pi ie. i&e -in&er ell a a. ! su++ose t oug s e +ro a ly 7oul"n/t li&e

it. S e/s sensitive a out er eig t.==% y... 7 y t is % y are you ere % y "i" t e ot er one s o7 ,e t ose

t ings % y ,e ==-aeyeon you are our assign,ent.== ut o0 everyone else in t e 7orl" =

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=*re you not s+ecial % o else "o you &no7 etter t an you ==- at/s so+ istry;==>et t e trut . ut o0 all +eo+le 7 o reat e t is nig t you ave 7on our

attention.== uc&y ,e. ! 7oul" ave +re0erre" 7inning t e lottery.=

=>ou "on/t +lay t e lottery.==- e o""s are stu+i". ! 7on"er i0 ! nee" t era+y or i0 "rugs 7ill cure ,e... ==%e/re trying to el+ you. o7 i0 you/ll +ay attention. %e aven/t ,uc

ti,e. !n 0act 7e ave only t e +resent.= *n" t en t e Present no"s er ea" at t e7in"o7 as i0 to say '9et's stic! %ith the rogram homegirl.'

=!t ,ust e 0un tor,enting +eo+le on t e cloc&.= Even as s e says it -aeyeon7is es s e coul" ta&e it ac&. -o er ears it soun"s i,,ature. % iny.

=- is is i,+ortant -aeyeon.==!,+ortant to 7 o $e ! see Sooyoung every "ay. - is... is ot erso,e.

% y =- ere is no s,ile in t e loo& ut t ere is a 7ist0ul earnestness a 7illing an"

7elling o0 e,+at y. =>our li0e s oul" e i,+ortant.==!t is. -o ,e. ! "on/t see 7 y you s oul" care t oug .==%e all care. #elieve that. %ill you elieve ,e ==... Fine.= % at 7as s e even agreeing to=Goo". o7 listen care0ully.==-o =Fro, insi"e an un0a,iliar voice soun"s =Sooyoung; >ou s oul"n/t co,e

o,e late li&e t is all t e ti,e. !t/s "angerous.= - e 7or"s are clear as i0 t e 7allisn/t t ere. 'lear an" i,,e"iate caring lovely ric . - en -aeyeon realiAes s e isstan"ing inside t e ouse - e Present/s ar, still aroun" er s oul"ers.

Sooyoung turns to 0ace t e voice setting t e ,ug o0 tea on a ta le. - eun0a,iliar voice elongs to a sli, 0igure 7it raven lac& air t at/s ,essily tie"into a un ut so,e o7 ,anaging to loo& art0ul e +osing a long nec& as grace0ulas a s7an/s. - e 7o,an 7ears a lace +eignoir un"er a sil& go7n as i0 s e/sste++e" out o0 so,eone/s "rea,. S e el+s Sooyoung ta&e er coat o00 +utting iton a coat stan" in t e all7ay easy an" co,0orta le 0a,iliar 7it t e routine an"surroun"ings. - en t e 7o,an in lace an" sil& ste+s close an" ugs Sooyoung,ol"ing a sli, ut curve" o"y tig tly to t e taller 7o,an. - ey ,a&e a +rettycou+le.

=! a" to ,a&e sure a 0e7 t ings 7ere settle" e0ore ! le0t. $on"ay/s a +resentation "ay an" -aeyeon can e a +ain so,eti,es ut it 7asn/t anyt ing !

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coul"n/t an"le.= Sooyoung o00ers a sole,n s,ile to t e 7o,an in er ar,s. =*n"you s oul"n/t 7a&e u+ li&e t is. ! tol" you ! 7or& long ours. *t t is rate you/regoing to ave eye ags igger t an your eyes.=

)oe/s eyes in a +er0ect 0ace 7it no trace o0 "ar& circles or eye ags eauti0ully 0or,e" elegant an" gorgeous. S e ,ay e t e +rettiest 7o,an

-aeyeon as ever seen. !0 one "oesn/t count g osts.=>ours are ,uc 7orse Soo. *n" tell ,e again 7 y you even i"e your

7or&ing ours 0ro, -aeyeon !t ,a&es no sense.=- e taller 7o,an c uc&les. =!/, trying to set a goo" e a,+le to er. S e/s a

,aniac 7or&a olic. !0 ! can s o7 er t at ! get ,y 7or& "one an" still leave at a"ecent our... 7ell you get t e "ri0t "on/t ye ,e ,atey =

So... Soo a" een in er o00ice 7 en -aeyeon a" le0t ?ut Soo is al7aysone to leave early. - e t oug t "istur s -aeyeon. % y 7oul" Sooyoung e

ot ere" to "o so,et ing so +ointless As if. ,hy does she thin! she can changeme ,hat does it matter ,hy does she care -aeyeon t in&s 0uriously. - e s+iritne t to er is ra+t in giving er attention to t e cou+le lu,inously eauti0ul eyeslingering on t eir ug.

-aeyeon 0eels t e "ra7 t e easy 7ay t e 7o,en ol" eac ot er. ?ut li&es e/s al7ays "one s e loo&s a7ay "isco,0ort roiling. *0ter a ,o,ent -aeyeon

+oints er 0inger at t e stranger. =!s t atCC ==>oona. >oona !,. r !, >oona in t e language o0 your ancestry. Huite

e otic in t ese lan"s.==* .=>oona as&s =>ou/re not going to 8uit are you ==%ell a t at.= Sooyoung ru s er nec& ,ee&ly in res+onse. =! "on/t t in& !

can "ear.==>ou "on/t t in& ==!, >oona.==' oi Sooyoung ==>es "ear ==! 7on/t e "iverte". ot t is ti,e. !CC ! &no7 it/s not ,y +lace to tal& to you

a out your


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as Sooyoung "ra7s er tig ter.-aeyeon is con0use". % at is >oona=>oona is a ,o"el an" actress. Singer too. S e/s getting to e 0airly 7ell

&no7n.=-aeyeon raises an eye ro7 o0 "ou t. Entertainer. Entertain,ent is so,et ing

-aeyeon "oesn/t &no7 all t at 7ell. o ti,e 0or it. S e/s never ear" o0 >oona. ?utt e 7o,an is... i,+ressively +resent. S e 7oul" e a "i00icult +erson to ignoreany7 ere. ?ut 0a,ous Sooyoung 7oul"n/t get involve" 7it so,eone 0a,ous.%oul" s e

=S e/s so,e7 at a ne7co,er a++eare" in a cou+le o0 - s o7s a ,usicalal u,. So,e o0 your +ress ave calle" er an *sian J. o. - at/s a a reviationnot a ,onony, o0 one o0 t e ,ore 0a,ous cele rities ! elieve. Degar"lesst oug >oona as not 8uite eco,e a ouse ol" na,e s e is t oug t 7ell o0 in

er in"ustry. $any +eo+le are intereste" in er. - e /it/ girl o0 t e ,o,ent.= - ePresent gestures at t e ,agaAines an" +a+ers lai" across t e co00ee ta le. - ey areo+en to +ictures o0 t e eauti0ul s7an a legal +a" ol"ing co+ious a,ounts o0

+recise an"7riting. otes =?ut ! su++ose you "o not nee" to &no7 t at. Si,+lys e/s success0ul an" eco,ing ,ore so.=

= o7 "oes s e &no7 Soo %e/re a"vertising e ecs an" !/ve never seen er.== o7 on eart "o you "o your ou coul" 7or& any7 ere. !/ve even as&e" ,y

agent to el+ out an" e/s eating t e o00ers ac&. * lot o0 0ir,s love you t ey0ollo7 your 7or&. >ou/re t e creative rains at *+e an" t e +eo+le in your 7orl"&no7 it. ere.= S e retrieves a usiness car" 0ro, a +ile o0 ,aterial on t e co00eeta le an" an"s it to Sooyoung.

Soo/s eye ro7s rise in sur+rise. = ,nico, ==- e iggest a" agency in t e 7orl". ! 7ent to a +arty t ey t re7. - ey

&no7 you. >ou coul" "o a lot t ere Sooyoung. r any7 ere. >ou "on/t ave tostic& 7it your start u+ 7or&ing t ose ri"iculous ours.=

=)ear t ere are ot er talente" +eo+le at *+e . *n" -aeyeon is a "riving

3


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0orce in our success. ! can/t egin to ta&e cre"it. !t/s a tea, e00ort.= - e taller7o,an loo&s at t e 0ol"ers noting t e na,es. Five o0 t e to+ si agencies na,esare re+resente". >oona... 7 at a" s e "one to catc t is eauty/s eye Eleganttalente" gorgeous. Sooyoung 0eel a++iness at t e care s e receives. *nyone7oul" e lesse" to ave so,eone li&e >oona in er li0e. =?ut t an& you "ear.

!/, touc e".==>ou can say /t an& you/ later a0ter you +ic& one o0 t ese co,+anies.=Sooyoung s a&es er ea". =! 7on/t.==Soo... ==! can/t oona "o7n 7it er. =>ou s oul"/ve seen er in igsc ool s e 7as a 7al&ing train 7rec&.=

-igh school. )amn. Sto . It's 3ust a dream" ?ut a strangely consistent"rea,

= ,,,.= * note o0... "issonance in t e s7an/s e +ression. >oona 7oul"also e a ar" one to "isa++oint an" -aeyeon 0in"s s e is ol"ing er reat .

Sooyoung loo&s at >oona. =% at ==>ou/ve al7ays see,e"CC = S e t in&s 0or a secon". =>ou care a lot a out

-aeyeon.==! "o.==?ut it/s li&e s e "oesn/t really care ac&. !/ve never ear" you say anyt ing

+ositive a out er an" s e never gives you anyt ing ut a ar" ti,e.=-aeyeon o+ens er ,out to re0ute t e c aracter assassination in +rogress

ut a g ostly 0inger +o&es er ri s. Shhhhh.=- ere/s t at unicycle in our garage.==% ic you can/t even ri"e. *n" t at/s 0ro, 7 en you 7ere in university.=

>oona 0ro7ns. - e tal& is going no7 ere an" it coul" +ossi ly lea" to anargu,ent. S e "oesn/t 7ant one not a out t is issue. ?esi"es it 7oul"n/t "o tosee,


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scul+tures.- e s+irit turns er co7le" ea" to7ar"s -aeyeon an eye ro7 raise".

=>es ==% y "i"n/t Sooyoung tell ,e s e/s in t is &in" o0 relations i+ S e sai"

'Thin!ing of settling do%n.' $arriage $arriage !C!/, er +artner;=

* g ostly c uc&le. =S e/s trie" to tell you on any nu, er o0 occasions utyou never ave t e ti,e to listen "o you =

-aeyeon lin&s re,e, ering t e instances 7 en s e/s rus e" +astSooyoung in t e all7ay running 0ro, one ,eeting to t e ne t ignoring anu+raise" 0inger t e re8uest 0or 0ive ,inutes o0 er ti,e. *ll 0orgotten. !0 it isn/t

usiness it isn/t i,+ortant...- e Present gestures an" t e 7a "u,,ies eca,e 0les again.=! aven/t tol" -aeyeon yet.==>ou aven/t ==!/, +lanning to tell er over our "inner i0 s e co,es.==*n" i0 s e "oesn/t >ou sai" s e never co,es over.==!/ll ou live in "enial = - e s+irit/s voice sig s. !t is a 7ar,t still even i0-aeyeon 7ants to "eny it ut t e e"ge o0 certainty c ills er.

=! "on/t;= -aeyeon snarls. =!C!/,


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= o7 "o ==- is is stu+i". $arriage is a 7aste o0 ti,e aCC aCC ol"over 0ro, 7 en

+eo+le live" in villages all t eir lives. - e S*$E village.==>ou/ve live" in t e sa,e t ree loc& ra"ius 0or 0ive years. ave +eo+le

really c ange" - eir 7ants - eir nee"s =

=Get out o0 ,y ea"; - at/s c eating;==Silly -aeyeon. )enial. >ou live t ere.==Fine. Fine; >ou 7ant to tal& a out t is et/s tal&. $arriage. *ll t e ,oney

s+ent on one +articular "ay t e ran& co,,ercialis, o0 it an" ! s oul" &no7; neo0 ,y 0irst accounts 7as a 7e""ing s o+; Flo7ers a ca&e; Flour utter sugar.-7o t ousan" "ollars. - e go7n t e + otogra+ er it/s so stu+i"; *n" t e ring;'ar on arrange" in a nice s iny lattice oo, t ere/s t ree ,ont /s salary 0orso,e +oor sc ,uc&. !0 ' rist,as is co,,ercialis, run stu+i" 7 at t e ell is a

+articular "ay in 0ront o0 "oAens or un"re" o0 +eo+le al0 o0 7 o, you "on/t&no7 an" 7ill never ,eet again +ro,ising sole,n vo7s t at ,ost +eo+le can/teven &ee+ to 0or ,ore t an 0ive years =

=* .=8Ah Ah 7 at ==>ou ,a&e it a out ,oney ut it/s "ee+er t an t at. !sn/t it == yea sister. >ou 7ant it -ry t is on. -7o strangers ,eet. '-ey she's

hot. -ey she's cute. ,o%"' - e se is a7eso,e. Si ,ont s later a,; - e t7ostrangers su""enly t in& t ey can s are t e rest o0 t eir lives toget er. % at t e

ell is t at -rust or i"iocy ove or or,ones ,, - en t ey go into "e t u+to t eir nec&s to 0ee" e +ensive 0oo" to +eo+le t ey/ll never see again ta&e

+ictures t at t ey/ll never loo& at a0ter t e 0irst ,ont in clot es t at cost as ,uca car t at t ey/ll never 7ear again an" 0or 7 at So t at one "ay a ,ont a year0ive years later t ey 7a&e u+ an" realiAe it 7as t e iggest ,ista&e o0 t eir lives

o7 is t at a goo" t ing ave you seen t e "ivorce rates !t/s ,oronic; !t/s t eeig t o0 u,an 0olly. Peo+le are sel0is i"iots; *n" 7 at i0 t ey a" c il"renu % at a++ens to t e &i"s o0 t ose 0aile" ,arriages =

=* lot o0 t e, gro7 u+ 7ell.==*n" a lot o0 t e, "on/t; oo& at ,e;== oo& at you. >es 7e areCC == ever ,in"; ! 7ent t roug ,y +ast alrea"y. - an&0ully 0or Soo an" er

girl0rien" c il"ren 7on/t e an issue.==- ey ,ig t a"o+t. - ey ,ig t ,a&e a 7it "ra7al at t e an&. ' il"ren

enric a ,arriage.=

4(


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=' il"ren cost; >ou &no7 7 at t e nu, er one source o0 ,arriage trou leis $oney;=

=So you t in& t eir ,arriage is "oo,e".==Peo+le can only t in& o0 t e,selves; oo& at Soo. S e/s... s e/s aCC s e

"eserves to e 7it so,eone 7 oCC 7 oCC =

= oves er ==P0a ; ove. % o 7ill ta&e care o0 er;==!sn/t t at love =8;o" ove is a ou &no7 7 at ! "on/t care o7 ot ers "o an" act. - at/s t eir "eal t eir

"ecisions. !t/s 7 en it a00ects ,e t at ! 0in" it annoying.==So. >ou care ==* out Sooyoung 0 course; !C!/ve &no7n er 0or a long ti,e. S e/s ,y

+artner.==?ut you/ve a strange 7ay o0 s o7ing it. S e/s t e +artner you/re t in&ing o0

,aneuvering out o0 er +osition.=

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7it cru,+le" ills an" coins. o "e it car"s no 0oreign i,+orts i"ling 7it a"river no s ine" s oes or stoles. Just... a co,,unity o0 +eo+le 7 o aren/tstrangers to eac ot er.

=!sn/t t is nice ==! "on/t get 7 at you ,ean = -aeyeon re+lies luntly. !0 t e s+irit as roug t

er ere to s o7 er o7 t e notCsoC7ellCtoC"o cele rate t e season it 7ill e a7aste" e00ort. !t/s not as i0 s e asn/t seen t e see"ier si"e o0 li0e. - e 7orl" is 0ullo0 t e un0ortunate. So 7 at i0 t ey 0in" co,0ort in s are" ,isery )i"n/t t ey seeli0e 7oul"n/t treat t e, any etter until t ey 7or&e" 0or it an" got a7ay 0ro, t ese

+laces 0ull o0 cri,inals an" a""icts an" su C+ar +u lic sc ools- e Present gives er an annoye" loo&. = ,,.=- ey lur 0ro, store to store 0ro, little street corner gat erings to ouses

7 ere +arents struggle to +ut toget er co,+licate" toys 0or t e a++y "ay 7 enc il"ren 7ill +reten" to slee+ 7 ile straining t eir ears 0or t e noises o0 a large

ear"e" ,an in a re" suit. -aeyeon rolls er eyes at t e o viousness o0 t eatte,+te" ,ani+ulation o0 er eartstrings. )oes t e g ost t in& s e/s t at easyS e/s never elieve" in Santa 'laus an" gi0t giving an" oli"ays.

- ere is a sni00 0ille" 7it as+erity an" t ey are insi"e anot er a&ery. !t/s7ar, an" s,ells o0 rising rea". ittle ginger rea" ouses stan" on "is+lay0lan&e" y con0ections ot tiny an" ,agni0icent sugarC"uste" castles 7it,arAi+an turrets an" lolli+o+ 0lags. oli"ay treats every7 ere.

-aeyeon/s tu,,y gro7ls at er t e ,icro7ave" lasagna as&ing 0orco,+any. Stu+i" lasagna.

=!sn/t it +retty ==! see &i"s running aroun" on a sugar ig getting "ose" 7it Ditalin. )on/t

you ave anyt ing "i00erent = arro7e" eyes loo& at er 0ro, t e co7l "ar& eye ro7s un"er t e +ointe"

at are "ra7n "o7n into a 0ro7n "ar&er eyes glitter.-aeyeon 0eels unsure o0 a su""en. - e s+irit is a g ost. Per a+s it 7oul" e

est to not anger t e nice +retty g ost.* snort as i0 to say 'As if"' - e s+irit tugs -aeyeon si"e7ays an" t ey/re

e in" t e a&ery in a "ar& alley 7 ere t e only lig t is 0ro, arrels urningtras . - e alley is +eo+le" 7it t e in"igent u,s o,eless so,e o0 t e,sur+risingly young runa7ays +er a+s all o0 t e, at t e otto, o0 t e social 7ell.

>et even ere t ere is


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still... still t ere are s,iles an" easy u,or.o7... o7 can t ese +eo+le e a++y - ey ave not ing; -aeyeon loo&s at

t e s+irit 7 o as roug t er ere an" s e is sur+rise" to see t e g ostly 0or,stu"ying t e un0ortunates an eyes,ile "ancing in res+onse to t eir roug anter.

0 course not everyone is aving a goo" ti,e. So,e o0 t e, are isolate" even as

t ey rus s oul"ers lost in 7orl"s o0 t oug t an" regret or ,ental un ealt .So,e are s a&ing not 0ro, col" ut 0ro, "rug 7it "ra7al. So,e 7ill not survivet e 7inter.

,hy aren't they at least inside the homeless shelters It's the bloody fric!in%inter" They're going to freeze to death out here.

S e i,agines er ,ot er living in so,e +lace li&e t is an" s e can/t +rocesst e ugliness o0 t e t oug t. !t/s... it/s not er 0ault er ,ot er a"n/t... s e s oul"

ave calle";S e loo&s at t e g ost e +ecting to see ,ore sa"ness on er 0ace 0or t ese

un0ortunates not t at -aeyeon cares or anyt ing... ut it/s not +ity s e sees on t eglo7ing 0ace. -aeyeon sees... a++roval - e s+irit leaves er t ere stan"ing in er

+a


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i""en y t e city lig ts an" t e s,o&y orange glo7 o0 urning car" oar" an" +lastic.

=% y "i" t ey


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lessons you learn 0ro, it 7ill e your +ersonal testa,ent. ?ut your legacy 7 at isre,e, ere" o0 you 7 en you are gone ,ust e s are" to e &no7n. o 7o,an7is es to e an islan". ! 7as once as 0oolis as you as lost as +rou" asstu ornly sure ! nee"e" not ing an" no one. -oo late "i" ! see t at every actionevery 7or" every gesture ! +er0or,e" a" an a00ect 0ar eyon" ,ysel0. i&e

ri++les in a +on". * +at a s,ile a ug or &in" 7or" our actions ri++le out7ar"touc ing lives. Far 0ro, ,eaningless. - e si,+lest t ing can c ange a li0e.=

-aeyeon ,oc&s =-ell ,e so,et ing ! "on/t &no7.= - ere a" een no &in"7or"s 0or er gro7ing u+.

=* single 7or" can c ange so,eone/s 7orl" 0or t e etter.==* single 7or" can "estroy so,eone/s 7orl".= * single +unc . * single

curse a &ic& a sla+. * sneer.- e s+irit tilts er ea" li+s tig t. = ars . >ou t in& your li0e ar" ==!/, an accountant.=- e Present s i0ts t e, else7 ere. * street o0 ol" a+art,ents so,e7 ere

in... ?roo&lyn * g ostly an" +oints u+ at lit 7in"o7s. - e surroun"ing units are"ar& +eo+le aslee+ e ce+t 0or an a+art,ent on t e 0ourt 0loor. - ey lur insi"e.=)o you re,e, er t is +lace =

* s,all cra,+e" living roo, an" &itc en "ingy "ecre+it a s+in"ly' rist,as tree 7it a 0e7 "ecorations. -7o gi0ts un"er it. =S oul" ! = !s it0a,iliar

=- e Past roug t you ere.=-aeyeon sees t e tic& ,ar&s un"er t e calen"ar t e na,e Krystal 7ritten

esi"e eac line. Jessica Jung/s +lace. *gain. % y- e a+art,ent is e,+ty as i0 a su""en reeAe as s7e+t t e li0e out o0 it

t roug t e o+en 0ront "oor. !t loo&s ol"er. - e 7all+a+er is +eeling t e car+et"ingier. - ere/s +ain in t e air as i0 t e roo,s lee" it. n t e ta le t ere are +latesan" cu+s still ol"ing 0oo" an" 7ater. Sou+ crac&ers a un& o0 a, "ecorate"7it cloves an" +inea++le. one o0 it eaten. - e s+irit ,oves t e, to a s,all

e"roo,. !t s,ells ,usty unaire". - e e" is un,a"e clot ing ung 7it out too,uc care on a rolling anger. * ric&ety "es& ol"s +a+ers an" 0ol"ers 7it t e*+e logo. Jung/s roo,. i&e t e &itc en it as a sense o0 a+ aAar"

ouse&ee+ing tire"ness at t e en" o0 t e "ay overco,ing any nee" to e neat orti"y.

S i0t an" t ey/re in anot er roo,. *not er s,all e" ut t is roo, s,ells o0 "isin0ectant every sur0ace is scru e" clean t e e" neatly ,a"e. ?ut in t e,i""le o0 t e 0loor ne t to t e s,all e" an" incongruous 0or t e neatness in t e

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rest o0 t e roo, is t e 7 eelc air +artially 0ol"e" laying on its si"e staine"li erally 7it so,et ing "ar& +atterne" 7it organic s+latters o0 vo,itus.@n i""en -aeyeon/s 0eet ta&e er closer. - e lig t re0lects re" on t e "ar& stains.

i&e a screa,. ?loo". So ,uc o0 it.-aeyeon/s ,out o+ens to as& to "eny to say so,et ing ut t ey s i0t

again.* all7ay seats. ?rig t 0luorescent lig t s ines on tile t e s,ell is

antise+tic. ig t 0ro, a co,ing "a7n colors t e 7in"o7s. Sterile roo,s 7itcurtaine" +artitions. * os+ital. * lon"e 7o,an is seate" alone ent over ea""o7n. S e/s roc&ing slo7ly. - ere are "ar& stains on er gray slac&s er 7 ite

louse.-aeyeon 0eels alar, er voice rising in stri"ency. =Jessica = er 0eet ,ove

er 0or7ar" ut s e is +ulle" ac&.=S e can/t ear you.=* "octor a++roac es 7al&ing t roug -aeyeon an" t e s+irit an" Jessica

loo&s u+ an" s+rings to er 0eet 7or"s tu, ling 0ro, t in al,ost colorless li+s.= C o7 is Krystal = !,+loring eyes egging +lea"ing.

-aeyeon is s oc&e" at o7 "i00erent t e 7o,an loo&s. Fe rile terri0ie" ereyes re""ene" er 0ace as +ale as a g ost.

- e "octor/s 0ace is tire" ut cal,. S e as a loo& o0 stoicis,. So,eoneuse" to "ealing 7it "istress ut 0in"ing it onerous an" 7earing. er


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- an&0ully t e Jung sisters ,atc . For ,ont s Jessica as een "onating er o7naving it 0roAen to a"" to t e +itia le a,ount availa le eating li&e ,a" to &ee+er 7eig t a ove 0i0ty &ilos tottering to t e su 7ay on "iAAy legs 7or&ing longours 7 ile er ea" constantly s+ins.

=!/ve +ut a call into all t e loo" an&s in t e city an" t e su ur s 0or ,ore

ut you alrea"y &no7 o7 rare it is.=>ears o0 7aiting 0or t e rig t "rugs t e rig t treat,ents. o+e t at Krystal

,ig t 7al& again... - ey/" ga, le" on a ris&y "rug +rotocol one t at ,ig t causeinternal lee"ing ut coul" ,a&e Krystal strong enoug 0or t e surgery to re,ovet e tu,ors.

=>our sister in a critical state an" s e/s very 7ea&. - e loo" is t e "eci"ing0actor. %e ave to o+erate to"ay an" on t e ulcer t at/s lee"ing er out.=

=?C?ut t ere/s a surgery 0or er legs to re,ove t e tu,orsCC ==*n" 7e ave to o+erate on er legs as 7ell. ?ut t e +lanne" +roce"ure can/t

a++en. !t 7oul" ta&e ti,e s e "oesn/t ave.==- en 7 at are you tal&ing a out ==*s you &no7 t e one surroun"ing t e tu,ors is ,ostly "ea" an" starting

to necrotiAe. er o"y can/t ta&e ,ore intravenous anti iotics an" 7aiting is goingto 7ea&en er even 0urt er. S e coul" su00er a syste,ic colla+se even 7it out t e

lee".==%C% at are you saying ==S e/s 0ailing. S e coul" "ie 7it in t e "ay. oo& saving er legs isn/t an

o+tion any,ore. ot 7it out ,ore loo".==!C! can give ,ore.==! 7ent t roug t e stoc&+ile. >our na,e is on ,ost o0 t e units. *n" you

"onate" ou can/t... you can/t ,ean... aCa,+utation = Jessica/s 0ace is a solutely

+ale. orri0ie". Krystal 7it out o+e. %it out er "rea, o0 7al&ing again.=)o you 7ant er to live er legs are &illing er.=-aeyeon can/t ta&e it. S e turns at t e s+irit 7 o loo&s on 7it sa"ness in er

eyes. =Get ,e out o0 ere. ! "on/t 7ant to see t is any,ore.=- ey lur u+7ar"s to t e os+ital roo0. - e sun s ines on t e,. !t a"vances

in t e s&y er s a"o7 s i0ting li&e a sun"ial.-aeyeon roun"s on - e Present t e el0 in er silly +onc o 7it er +ointe"

at an" "aAAling s,ile. -aeyeon screa,s at er =% y % y "o you ! ave to see

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t is ==- is is your +resent. - e lives o0 t e +eo+le in your li0e.==So ! arely &no7 t e 7o,an; !/ve never ,et er sister; !t/s tragic it/s

un0ortunate ut 7 y "o ! ave to see t is ==-o s o7 you love.=

-aeyeon 0alls silent. ove. ot so,e silly senti,ent in a co,,ercial 0or a ou 0oug t t e est you coul". >ou 7ere so rave. >ou "i"everyt ing rig t... ut...=

Jessica s+ins a7ay er 0ace 0lus e". o. o; S e can/t ta&e er sister/s last7is a7ay.

S e +ulls t e "octor into t e all7ay.=! can/t give you +er,ission to ta&e er legs o00. ! can/t. !/, not going to.==- en s e/ll "ie.==!t "oesn/t ,atter. osing er legs 7ill &ill all t e o+e s e as le0t. %anting

to 7al& again "ance again... it/s t e only t ing t at/s &e+t er alive t oug all t isCCt is... = Su00ering loss +ain. So long so "i00icult. - e torture o0 c e,o o0 losing

er air o0 eing con0ine" to a 7 eelc air in a cra,+e" an" "irty a+art,ent uil"ing 7it an elevator t at never 7or&e". %as t is all t e li0e t at Krystal7oul" ave

=%e "on/t ave t e loo".=='an ! see t e list o0 loo" "onor services ==% y ==!/ll go to eac one tal& to t e, +ersonally.==$ost o0 t e, are close". !t/s ' rist,as Eve. - ere are a 0e7 in t e see"ier

+arts o0 to7n t at ,ig t e o+en ut !/ve alrea"y calle" all o0 t e,.==- e list. Please.=

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- e "octor loo&s at t e "istresse" 7o,an. !t 7ill e a 0e7 ours until t esurgery tea, can asse, le. !0 $s. Jung goes aroun" an" sees t at t ere isn/t any

loo" to e a" t en s e/ll ave to 0ace reality.=- ree ours e0ore +reCo+. !/ll nee" your "ecision y t en.=- e lon"e no"s ta&ing t e list an" races out.

%it out t in&ing -aeyeon reac es an insistent an" to t e s+irit an" t ey,ove to t e lo y. Jung is ne t to a an& o0 ven"ing ,ac ines. S e e,+ties er7allet an" 0ills er +urse er +oc&ets 7it s7eets an" ou ,a&e ,e care 0or t e, you ,a&e ,e see t ings ! ave no usiness

seeing; >ouCC Follo7 er;= -aeyeon tries to leave ut 0in"s er legs "on/t ta&e erany7 ere.

=% at is love =-aeyeon screa,s in 0rustration. = o; o ,ore 7or"s;==-aeyeon % at is love == o7 s oul" ! &no7 ==?ut you "o &no7.==Sto+; >ou &no7 7 at s e/s going to "o; >ou ear" er t oug ts


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0latscreen. 'ra+ gi0ts too.=-aeyeon sees t e t7o +resents. Knit gloves. * scar0. - e o es torn roug ly.=-ear t is +lace a+art. $ay e s e/s i"ing so,et ing.==E777. ! s,ell +u&e. ey 7 eelc air.=='ool. %e can sell "at.=

='lot es. ot ing 0ancy. ere/s a nec&lace. oo&it. $o, an" )a" ,ay e ==! t in& t at ,ig t e gol".==! "on/t see no cas .==$aaan. - ey "on/t ave cra+. ot even a co,+uter. % o "on/t ave a

co,+uter ==-a&e anyt ing t at ,ig t e valua le.==- is is +iti0ul. Santa ates us.== o . ?o . eavy.==)rag it out ere.==)a ell. P one oo&s l" ones.==?allet tro+ ies !s t is a tutu =-aeyeon 7atc es ag ast as t e t ree ,en e,+ty "ressers closest ca inets.

ot ing is le0t untouc e" everyt ing violate". ot ing res+ecte" no reverence +ai".

- eir loot is a tiny +ile o0 "u ious 7ort all +ut on t e 7 eelc air.S e reac es 0or t e 7 eelc air ut t e s+irit yan&s er ac&.= et ,e go;==- ey aren/t 7 y 7e/re ere.=='an/t you call t e co+s == o.==% at is t e +oint t en % y s o7 ,e t is ==- ey/re not i,+ortant.==-a&e ,e ac& to ,y +lace;==% y ==So I can call t e co+s;==-aeyeon 7 y "o you care - is isn/t your a+art,ent.=8,hy 8 -aeyeon tries 0reeing ersel0 ut t e gras+ ut is too strong. = er

sister is going to lose er legs or "ie; - eir ouse is eing ro e"; o7 can youevenCC >ou 7ant t eir lives to "isa++ear


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=>ou arely &no7 er. De,e, er !t ,a&es no "i00erence it as no,eaning. - e Jung sisters/ 0ates are t eir o7n t e +ro"ucts o0 t eir "ecisions an"c oices in li0e. % at as c ange" !t "i"n/t ,atter to you t en it s oul"n/t ,atterto you no7.=

=- is is "i00erent; >ou/re 7rongCC =

=*n" 7 at ,a&es you t in& t at you are rig t = t e g ost sna+s. -aeyeon lin&s. *ll er 7or"s t ro7n ac& into er 0ace. - e g ost sig s. =Pay attention.- is is 7 y 7e are ere.=

= ey loo& ! 0oun" so,et ing. - is loo&s li&e it ,ig t ave so,et ingvalua le.=

ne o0 t e, as 0oun" a o i""en e in" a stac& o0 oo&s on t e livingroo, s el0. !t/s a +retty 7oo"en o inlai" url 7it "ecorative scroll 7or&.

= et/s see 7 at Santa as 0or us no7.=- e o is loc&e" ut it yiel"s to t eir strengt t e loc& rea&ing 7it a

tinny +ing.=% at t e ell =='ar"s ?irt "ay car"s + otos. P00t ,an 7e can/t sell t is cra+.==% at a 7aste.= e loo&s at t e 7 at t ey/ve collecte" so 0ar. =!s anyone

gonna uy any o0 it esi"es t e c air == ear t e, -aeyeon = t e g ost 0inally s+o&e. =% at/s in t e o is


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ac& o0 t e one 7 o is +us ing t e 7 eelc air s e is suc&e" ac& an" t ey s i0t a0inal ti,e.

ere t ere are no ' rist,as lig ts no ou... ==$e 7 at =-aeyeon stares ac& glaring 7or"s stuc& in er t roat. - en s e reat es.

@n"erstan"ing. =>ou/re testing ,e = s e accuses.- e Present raises er eye ro7s gentle a,use,ent +lain.= o7 "o you t in& you are "oing !0 ! a, testing you == o7 s oul" ! &no7;==-aeyeon you t in& 7 en you s oul" e 7atc ing. earning. ! a, not

testing you. ! si,+ly s o7e" you 7 at is a++ening in t is no7. $o,ents o0 anig t an" "ay. $o,ents o0 t e season. $o,ents in t e lives o0 +eo+le you &no7an" "on/t &no7.

=-aeyeon ,yria" are t e lives you touc 7 et er you &no7 it or not. *n"0ro, eac touc ot ers react eco,ing or leaving urting s,iling. - ese are t e

a++enings t at you slee+ t roug soun"ly at nig t 7 ile you 7ait to re+eat your"ays/ e00orts. >ou 7a&e u+ you go to 7or& you eat an" t en you slee+. *n" you,iss everyt ing. >ou ,iss your li0e. % at it coul" e 7 at it s oul" e. Sooyoung

as er loves Jessica as er "ecisions. *ll t e +eo+le in t ose +oorneig or oo"s ave t eir lives te,+ere" ,a"e 0uller y t eir 0eelings y 7 att ey s are.=

=% at/s Jessica going to "o % at/s going to a++en == o7ever it turns out 0or er an" er sister li0e 7ill go on. !0 a++iness is

te,+orary 7ell t en so too is sa"ness. ?ut love en"ures t e ,e,ory o0 it. S e7ill ave t at to ol" to in t e "ays a ea". *s you/ve sai" it isn/t i,+ortant to you.!nstea" let ,e as& you a 8uestion.

=% at "o you -aeyeon Ki, Ki, -aeyeon 7 at "o you ave =

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- e Present ,oves closer to -aeyeon gro7ing 7it eac ste+ until s eloo&s "o7n 0ro, a great eig t. -aeyeon s rin&s ac&. ot ing ,a&es any &in" o0 sense. S e can/t esca+e t e


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?. 0uture@ 2essicae s+irit a" roug t er to see "eat or rat er t e +lace 7 ere its

a0ter,at 7as ritualiAe". * verge ne t to a ce,etery. Pu00y clou"s

scu""e" t roug a )ece, er s&y. *t least s e t oug t it a )ece, ers&y. n t e oriAon s e coul" see t e s&yscra+ers o0 t e city. S e 7as

so,e7 ere on ong !slan" 7it not ing ut er snea&ers an" +a


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0or, o0 t is s+irit. Potency an" intolera le attention li&e glass eing groun" in er teet sto+s er reat .

-aeyeon is too 0rig tene" to e scare". !t/s ,ore a 0ascination. - ere isnot ing 0a,iliar or u,anistic ere not ing o0 7is ing or 7anting not ing o0co,,union or co,+assion a,use,ent or 0rustration. !t "oes not care 0or er

sanity er e8uili riu, er 0eelings er a ility to co+e 7it its strangeness.!t si,+ly is.Fro, t e ,ist o0 a c urne" an" ,acerate" reality 7 ere groun" an" lig t

an" s&y ave s,eare" into a s ar" 0ille" not ingness a voice s+ea&s. !t is a nonCsoun" 0ire" "irectly into er +aralyAe" ,in" y+assing sto++e" u+ ears t at avealrea"y een clai,e" y t e col". !t is ars ly e"ge" 7it intent an" +ur+oset oug 0or 7 at +ur+ose -aeyeon cannot i,agine. !t is eyon" any +ossi leconce+tion o0 e +erience eyon" any +ossi le e +erience 7it 7 ic to conceiveit.

-aeyeon only &no7s one t ing. S e is 0rig tene" 0ocuse" an" very attentive.*s i0 struc& lin" t e voice s ears e istence cleanly i,+rinting ,eaning. !ts

trut is a solute.TAE E(; 7I T-


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t roug t e an"le. S e "ives in o+ing er ass 7on/t 0all t roug t e seat to t estreet. o7 is t is su++ose" to 7or& er 0eet "on/t 0all t roug ut er utt 7antsto so s e en"s u+ s8uatting ne t to t e seat loo&ing u+ at Jessica/s +ale +ale 0ace.

Jessica closes er eyes an" 0alls aslee+. *slee+. er 0ace is cal, unline".>oung. er s&in so +ale in t e ,orning lig t t at s e see,s to al,ost glo7 as i0

s e too is eco,ing a s+irit. -aeyeon realiAes s e/s scare". Scare" 0or so,eone.Per a+s 0or t e 0irst ti,e in er li0e.

- e ta i slo7s an" t e "river loo&s in is rear vie7 ,irror. e s outs 0or is0are to 7a&e u+. !t/s only een a ,inute;

!t tears so,et ing in -aeyeon/s c est to see t e con0usion in Jessica/se +ression as startle,ent t en 0ear 0las . *7a&e er 0ace is a tor,ent 7orrie"7orrie" sic&.

Jessica loo&s at er 7atc . !t/s only een a ,inute. nly a ,inute. Gri,"eter,ination settles once ,ore re+lacing t e last ,o,ents o0 slu, er to onceagain consu,e er. -aeyeon ears er e,otions. Jessica is alone. S e as no oneto turn to no one to el+ er. - e ta i "river s outs at er an ious to 0in" anot er0are annoye" t at e/s only ,a"e t e ,ini,u, 0ro, suc a s ort ri"e.

Jessica +ays i, o+ens t e "oor 7it e00ort an" +auses gat ering erstrengt to ste+ out. -aeyeon 7ants to screa, at er to rail at t is i"iocy ut s e isstruc& "u, y t e i,ages in Jessica/s ,in". er little sister running aroun" t eliving roo,


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It %as her choice. ;o% return.=!t is ,y c oice. !/, going to 7ait. !C!/, going to 7atc over er.=So,et ing un+leasant curls aroun" er. So,et ing t at 8uestions er. *

gestalt o0 "is elie0 cruel re,in"ing an" "is,issiveness. !t see,s to say ,hy do you care for someone you %ere going to fire ,as she not a liability ,hat

connection do you have %ith her ,hy %ould you be bothered by someone's oordecisions )idn't she bring this on herself The %orld is full of fools. She %as 3ustone more.

= o; S e 7as...


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= o 7e 0oun" er in ?roo&lyn. Deal ugly +art o0 to7n. ot o0 "rug users.==Jessica "i"n/t "o "rugs. !/, sure o0 it.==>ea 7e t oug t it 7as 7eir". - ey "i" a to screen an" s e "oesn/t ave

any "rugs in er syste, ut t ey t in& s e/s ,issing a lot o0 loo". - ere/s nee"le,ar&s on er ar,s an" an"s.=

= u o7 ,uc loo" ==%on/t &no7 till t e coroner says ut t ey t in& a out al0. - at coul" e

7 at &ille" er. %ell y+ot er,ia ut s e ,ig t ave +asse" out 0ro, t e loo"loss. !t/s a real ea" scratc er. - e auto+sy 7on/t e till $on"ay an" t ey/re

as ing it out rig t no7. S e/s liste" as an organ "onor ut t e coroner nee"s ,osto0CC = - e co+ rea&s o00. - e 7o,an is loo&ing a little green. >ea not t e estti,e to tell er t at t e "octors are trying to 0igure out 7 at to ta&e to el+so,eone else.

=?loo" i&e... ave you tal&e" to t e "octors u+ t ere == u ==So,et ing s e tol" ,e once. ! 0oun" er in t e at roo, at 7or& loo&ing

li&e s e 7as a out to 0aint an" s e sai" s e/" es t at/s 7 at s e sai". So,et inga out rare loo" ty+es... er sister.=

Sooyoung 0ollo7s t e +olice,an out an" -aeyeon gives one last loo& at t e0ace o0 t e 7o,an on t e ,etal gurney. - e o"y ,ig t ave een ,a"e o0,ar le. o +er+etual 0ro7n no 7orry re,aine". ?eauti0ul... 7 en a" Jessica

eco,e so eauti0ul?ut e,+ty o0 everyt ing t at a" ,a"e er real. -aeyeon 0eels a soul "ee+

ac e. S e recalls er annoyance at t e ,ousy 7o,an co,ing to tell er a out t een"erson account. * no o"y. o7 ironic t at s e s oul" eco,e so,e o"y...

7 en it 7as too late.-aeyeon 7al&s t roug t e close" "oor an" ri"es t e elevator u+ 7it er

+artner. Sooyoung "a s er eyes sni00ling t e +olice,an s i0ting is 7eig t 0ro,0oot to 0oot +ain0ully a7are o0 t e 7o,an/s tears. -aeyeon is e,+ty o0 tears o0t oug t an" reason. % y "oes s e re,ain -aeyeon "oesn/t &no7. Per a+s it/s to

e a 7itness. Jessica/s li0e er "eat s oul" count 0or so,et ing. *nyt ing.?ut still 7 y is Sooyoung ere o 0a,ily. Jessica a" no 0a,ily. So t e

+olice 7oul" call er 7or& * . ?ut... t en 7 y isn/t t e ot er -aeyeon ere - eD ,anager re+orts to -aeyeon not to Sooyoung. -aeyeon realiAes s e s ivers at

t e t oug t. % at ,ig t t at e li&e seeing er ot er sel0- e "oor o+ens an" t e +olice,an 7al&s out. - ey 0in" t e "octor an" a

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os+ital a",inistrator. - ey tal& an" t e "octor gas+s "is elie0 on er 0ace. S es a&es er ea" slo7ly. This can't be right.

Slo7ly un"er +ro""ing s e 0ills t e, in. - e +atient Krystal Jung a verynasty internal lee" 0ro, ,e"ication s e 7as ta&ing 0or er con"ition. 'on"ition$alignant tu,ors in ot 0e,urs. steosarco,a. - e a" &in". *n" on to+ o0 t at

a very rare loo" ty+e. one to e 0oun" in any o0 t e local loo" an&s t at isuntil 0our units s o7e" u+ su""enly. Even 7it t e 0our a""itional units it 7as aclose t ing t e ulcer 7orse t an e +ecte" t e lee"ing "i00icult to sto+.

- e "octor continues a0ter a eat slo7ly 7on"eringly. =S e... Jessica s esave" er sister/s li0e.=

- e 7or"s ec o in -aeyeon/s ,in".- e "octor is s a&ing er ea". =?ut t ere 7as no consent 0or t e leg

surgery t e a,+utation. - e c il" is still a ,inor an" er guar"ian 7asn/t ere. So7e sto++e" t e lee" an" close" er u+ ut until t ere/s clear li0e en"anger,ent7e can/t "o surgery on er legs.= - e "octor ts!s. =?ut no7 7e can/t even "o t at.

o ,ore loo" no a,+utation. !0 er legs 7orsen it 7ill &ill er.== o7 rare can t e loo" e = t e +olice,an as&s out o0 curiosity ,ore t an

anyt ing else. e/s seen +eo+le "ie 0or t e stu+i"est reasonsB


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- e t ree 0all silent t in&ing a out a girl 7 o as lost er only 0a,ily on' rist,as Eve. Sooyoung t in&s o0 anot er girl 7 o lost er ,ot er on ' rist,asEve an" "i"n/t even &no7 it until a ,ont later. - e +ain insi"e 7 at it/s "one to

er 0rien".-aeyeon ears a silent screa,. !t +ulls er. !n t e roo, Krystal as ear".

- e anest etic as 7orn o00 enoug t at 7 ile t e 7or"s are co,ing 0ro, so,egreat "istance still s e can ear an" un"erstan" t e,. Jessie. er sister. Gone.

- ere is a clatter a rus o0 soun" 0ro, t e roo, an" ea"s turn an" all t reeenter to a scene 0ro, a nig t,are.

!n er "istress Krystal as 0allen. 'la7ing ! lines stra+s s eets t e railinger t in ar,s ave +ulle" er 0ree only to 0all to t e ar" 0loor. er legs are

ro&en 0ro, t e s ort i,+act t e rittle rotte" ones insi"e t e, sna++ings attering


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% o else ut er only 0rien". Frien". *n alien conce+t 0or so ,uc o0 erli0e ut so,e o7 Sooyoung as 0oun" a +lace. Sooyoung as earne" er res+ect.

ot y trying to 0it ut y eing ersel0. Sooyoung is t e one 7 o al7ays aso+e t at t e 7orl" ,ig t turn out to e a nicer +lace t an it lets on. - e o+ti,ist

to er +essi,ist t e alance 0or er severity er asceticis,.

Sooyoung 7 o as s are" so ,uc o0 er li0e. %it er e00ortless a ility to&no7 an" care 0or +eo+le. Sooyoung 7 o once turne" u+ at t e o00ice 7it a o0ull o0 +u++ies 0oun" un"er a ri"ge t eir ,ot er "ea" on t e street s7ollen teatsevi"ence o0 ungry ,out s so,e7 ere close. Sooyoung 0ilt y 0ro, cra7ling intoa culvert un"er t e e, an&,ent ut er eyes so +lease" er s,ile uge. -aeyeonre,e, ers t e orror. $utts. 0 no value at all running aroun" er o00ice.

Sooyoung a" 0oun" t e, all o,es. Even t e one t at lic&s -aeyeon/san" 7agging its ri"iculous little tail.

,ant one(f course not"Soo 7 o never sto+s 7it er c arity 7or& no ,atter o7 ,uc -aeyeon

sneers.Soo un"erstan"s. S e &no7s 7 at li0e is 7 at it s oul" e so ,uc etter

t an -aeyeon ever coul". % at "oes s e &no7 % at can -aeyeon learn 0ro, er=S o7 ,e Sooyoung.=- e 7orl" en"s yet again t e col" eco,ing so intense s e 0eels er

eyelas es s iver 7it 0roAen tears ,otion reat all loc&e" in stasis.*n" t en s e is ,oving again. o s e is in a car. Stan"ing on t e 0loor

e in" t e "river ent lo7. !t is Sooyoung "riving.-aeyeon s u00les 0or7ar" t roug t e 0ront seat to loo& at er 0rien".

Sooyoung/s ,ascara is a ,ess ravage" y crying. S e is "riving ut er ,in" ista&en u+ y ot er t oug ts.

First is er love 0or >oona. S e "es+erately nee"s to ol" er love a0terto"ay. !t as een a orror. * sently s e ta&es er le0t an" 0ro, t e 7 eelru ing er 0ingers. - ere is loo" on t e,.

* 0las an" -aeyeon is earing Soo/s t oug ts earing t e +oor +oor girlcrying screa,ing. - e "octor trying to cal, er er an"s overing over t es attere" legs. S e nee"s gloves. S e runs 0or t e, s outing 0or a nurse. - ea",inistrator is 0roAen ag ast +ro a ly t in&ing o0 lia ilities o0 eing sue" o0

aving ot er +atients an" t eir 0a,ilies co,+laining o0 rea"ing a" +ress in t ene7s. Soo &no7s t e ty+e. - at/s o7 -aeyeon 7oul" t in&. 'o,+any 0irstal7ays.

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Sooyoung s a&es er ea". S e cra"les t e ro&en girl. Krystal. %earing a&nit at. So,et ing an" ,a"e an" +oorly at t at. Sooyoung instinctively &

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