'What should I do?'
It was complicated .
I just found out why Ji-eun kept on dying, but that didn't make me feel any better, instead, it made me feel worse .
'If my speculations are correct, there are no other solutions . '
The only way to solve this problem is to get Bae Irene, who's currently residing in Ji-eun's body, safely back to her own world .
But how?
'Wait . If Irene returns to her world, will the original Ji-eun come back?'
I understand the current situation, however, I don't know the answer .
The thought made me furrow my eyebrows .
Even after knowing what was going on, it felt more like I was trapped in a labyrinth .
'No, this is much better than when I didn't know anything......"
Just then, Ji-eun was waving her before my eyes .
"Sis . "
"......?
"Is there a pond here? This is a garden after all . "
Ji-eun asked as she slightly lifted her dress revealing her feet .
"The moment I found out you were Korean, although it's your previous life, I got a little too excited that I forgot to wear my shoes......"
Ji-eun's feet were covered with mud and grass .
Come to think of it, the shoes she took off earlier were still lying on the grass .
"I should put my shoes back on, but not when my feet are like this . I should wash them . So where's the pond?"
"It's probably in there......"
It hasn't been long since the new pond was built .
So, I reflexively pointed at the direction where the pond is .
And then when I realized it, I hurriedly tried to stop her .
"Wait!" I called out in panic, but Ji-eun was too fast .
I was so surprised by how far she was that I started running after her .
"Wait a minute, Irene!"
"Huh?"
I dropped all the formalities and at this point, I didn't really care .
I could hear her answering me from afar .
I mean, just when did she get there?
Is she faster because she's barefooted?
"Come back! It's dangerous!" I shouted while I chased after her .
"What? Is the pond dangerous?"
"To you, it is!"
Is there anything that doesn't pose a threat to Ji-eun's life right now?
What if she was suddenly bitten by an ant while walking barefooted?
Some ants contained venoms .
Ah, I must be out of my mind for telling her where the pond is .
"Oh, I'm just going to wash my feet . " Ji-eun replied with a calm and peaceful voice .
"I'll fetch you some water to wash your feet with, so just come back......"
"And I know how to swi...... Kyaa!"
SPLASH!
'Shoot!'
I wanted to swear .
I ran as fast as I could, but I was too late .
I couldn't catch the falling Ji-eun in the nick of time and ended up grabbing the air .
The pond isn't really that deep, but it was deeper than a person's average height .
Ji-eun began to splash around the pond .
And as I've said earlier, everything was considered dangerous to the current Ji-eun .
I clenched my teeth, took off my shoes, and jumped into the pond .
Since I also knew how to swim, I jumped in without any second thoughts, thinking that I'll be able to save Ji-eun .
However, I think I made a little mistake .
"Pfft, pffpft!"
"Ji-eun, guah, stay sti..."
"Mpfpft!"
I should've saved her from drowning .
However, Ji-eun, who said she could swim, was flailing around struggling to float .
Far from getting her out of the water, I was about to drown with her .
"Ji-e, pfpft!"
Water flooded into my mouth as I called out to Ji-eun .
My vision was turning blurry due to the water .
Ah, this is insane .
This is crazy .
It was at this moment that I remembered someone saying .
'When you want to save a drowning person, wait 'til their exhausted before jumping in . '
'Damn it...'
Gradually, my body started losing strength .
My initial confidence to save Ji-eun began to fade away .
I should've waited before jumping in .
No, I should've used the marble instead of jumping in .
Regrets and numerous curses whirled around in my head .
It was then that I felt a strong hand grasping onto my arm and pulling me up instantly .
"......!"
I was fished out of the water and landed on the grass .
I violently coughed my lungs out and the water that I swallowed was coughed out as well .
My chest heaved so much as I tried to catch my breath .
I barely managed to see the person with my hazy vision .
'Jungkook?'
I could glimpse the bright shade of yellow in his eyes .
Am I just imagining things?
The familiar face before my eyes has an expression full of rage .
Then I realized that I was the only one pulled out of the water .
I was still out of breath and my eyes were hazy, but I somehow managed to get the words out of my mouth .
"Ji-eun... Save......"
I raised my finger that felt like lead and pointed towards the pond .
Did he get what I'm trying to say?
And while I wondered about it, Jungkook took out his sword without a word .
Sword?
Wait, what is he doing?
'What are yo......'
The words I wanted to utter never came out .
Did I drink too much water?
Or did I spend too much energy trying to stay alive?
I suddenly felt the world spin .
Jungkook, with a sword in hand, jumped into the pond .
That was the last thing I saw before I lost consciousness .
***
"......!"
I quickly sprang up .
Sitting, scanned my surroundings .
The room was dark .
I stretched out my hands to feel my surroundings until I get used to the dark .
I could feel the soft mattress and blanket with my hands .
'A bed . '
I wasn't wearing a soaked, filthy dress .
Instead, I was wearing loose, comfortable pajamas .
Once I could grasp the situation, I asked myself .
'What about Ji-eun?'
I felt uneasy at the thought of it .
The last scene I witnessed was absolutely outrageous .
Jungkook unsheathed his sword and......
"Gasp . "
I held my breath .
There was someone else besides me in the room .
My eyes have more or less adjusted to the dark .
I looked around the room, only to spot a person sitting beside the bed .
I blinked my eyes once more .
My vision, which hasn't completely adjusted to the dark, was becoming clearer and clearer with each passing second .
At last, I could see the person sitting there .
"......Jungkook?"
I called out to him, but he didn't reply back .
With his crystal-like eyes and sharp nose, there was no doubt in my mind that he was Jungkook .
Jungkook didn't move a single inch and continued to sit still .
Then, he suddenly moved, raising his hand and placing it on my forehead .
He pushed me back down the bed .
"......?"
As I laid down, I turned my head to face Jungkook .
I was about to ask what he was doing there, but once again, he pushed my forehead to the bed .
"Sleep more . " Jungkook said .
His big and warm hand gently slid down to my eyes as if he was actually trying to put me back to sleep .
My vision, which has just gotten used to the dark, could only see nothing once again .
"Jungkook . "
"......"
"......Where's Ji-eun?"
I asked without attempting to remove his hands that were covering my eyes .
I was curious about Ji-eun's condition .
Even more so after witnessing such a scene before I lost consciousness .
I heard Jungkook's voice after a few seconds of silence .
"If it's something you really want to do, I don't care whatever it is . "
"......?"
"You're free to do anything if that's what you wish for . "
"......"
"However, this time......"
He hesitated a bit before continuing .
"It infuriates me . "
He said with a low and deep voice .
That's when I suddenly thought that perhaps, the real reason he was covering my eyes was not to put me back to sleep, but to prevent me from seeing his face .
'So I wasn't really imagining things . '
Jungkook really seemed angry when he saved me from the pond .
It wasn't just an illusion .
I wavered for a while before I tried to speak .
"Sorry . "
I'm not stupid enough not to understand why Jungkook was furious .
I made him worried .
I knew that .
It's just that, I felt something weird in my chest .
I'm his sister, a person he gets angry with because he was worried......
'But I am also not his biological sister- the one who is fated to die by her own brother's hands . '
My heart sank from the thought .
Jungkook stayed silent after hearing my apology .
I also didn't speak a single word after that .
I immediately knew that no answer would come from him if I asked about Ji-eun right now .
'Yeah, let's sleep . I'll wake up then afterward... I'll check on it in the morning . '
And after a long time has passed...
Jungkook eventually removed his hand from my eyes and left the room .
I didn't notice him doing those things as I was already asleep as it happened .
***
I automatically opened my eyes .
I turned my head to check the bedside .
It was empty .
'Was it a dream?'
I have a memory of talking to Jungkook .
But I don't know whether it really happened or if it was just a dream .
Maybe I was just confused because of the darkness and wasn't fully awake then .
I stopped thinking and sat up .
It was bright outside .
I have no idea how long I've slept, but it was probably morning .
'......Ji-eun . '
I remembered Ji-eun again .
What happened?
I wanted to check on that first, so I kicked off the blanket .
And suddenly .
"Sis!"
The door flung open and a doll-like person came running in .
It was only then that I realized that the person was Ji-eun herself .
"Ji-eun......Irene?"
"Milady!"
"You're awake . "
More people popped in one after another .
It was Bessie and the doctor .
"How are you feeling?"
The doctor inquired, adjusting his glasses as he walked towards me .
I lent him my arm for him to examine my pulse .
"I'm fine......" I answered blankly .
"Sis, sniff, I was really scared . "
Ji-eun muttered with her face buried in my chest .
I looked at her hugging me and thought,
'She's alive . '
Ji-eun was alive .
I could feel the warmth of a living person from this fragile, thin girl .
'Did Jungkook save her?'
Then what was the sword for?
I don't get it .
Jungkook lifted her head from my chest while I rack my brains to looking for answers .
"Sis, that pond... Is it cursed?"
"Hmm?"
"I should've listened to you when you said it was dangerous . I wish I had known it was that kind of pond . "
"She said that her legs had cramps as soon as she fell in the pond . That's why she tried to float to the surface by flapping her arms, but there was something holding onto her ankle . It was just seaweed though . "
"I really thought I was going to die . "