I don't even know what to say about Heeseung's exit. I can't believe what's just happened, there's no way he would go out of his way to tease me like.
He's so frustrating, in a way that makes me want to be around him more. How can he just act like he's going to kiss me then walk away at the last moment? That shouldn't be legal to do, just raised my heartbeat for absolutely no reason. And the smirk he gave me before he left, he knew exactly what he was doing, he knows that he gets to me. That only irritates me more.
However, I can't dwell on that for too long, I'm in the middle of an investigation. After that I can't help but pray that whatever I find won't ruin whatever you would call this thing between. Since when was there an us anyways?
And by the way my body is unconsciously trembling just from the energy of the book, I know that whatever inside definitely has some sort of hint, or information about the boys that I've been looking for.
However, the more I think about it, the more I actually don't want to open it anymore. I've only just grown to like them and vice versa, what If what I find is extremely damaging? Then again, if I've only just started to enjoy their company, it shouldn't be too hard to go back to how it was before.
But deep down I know that this has to be done. I didn't start this not knowing that my friendship with them may become ruined, I knew what I was getting myself into. And with the answer possible a page turn away, I can't just give up now.
Whatever happens, happens. I just have to accept whatever outcome that will arise because of what I'm doing. I owe it it K, to myself, to figure out who these boys are and what their intentions are.
As I touch the book I immediately find myself in a series of flashbacks yet again.
I'm used to just seeing flashes of red, and fists and screams. Flashes that I'm slowly getting convinced are my own memories that I've forgotten. But the ones I'm seeing now are much much worse, and they're definitely not mine.
I see a series of princes, or some sort of noblemen desperately running away. A flash. Then behind them I see a black mist following after them. Another flash. The men are slowly getting swallowed by the mist one by one. Another flash. They're in a room before a lady holding a vial of red before pouring it.
The flashes and events get faster and harsher as I start to feel a severe amount of anger and distress, that is not my own, flow through me.
And then I'm dragged through time?
I see many different eras, many of them I don't even know, all I know is that they're definitely ones from a long time ago. A flash. A group of men, faces all hidden by caps surrounding a big table. Then a frenzy of yells and screams flood my ears, continuing for what feels like years as I struggle to get the noises out of my head.
I try to bring myself back to reality.
I'm in a library at Seoul International High School. It is present day and I'm trying to read a book. A very important book, about the boys. This investigation is vital, and I have to do it!
In that moment I break free from the flashback, I feel my nose start to bleed as my head tries to stop itself from spinning too much. I almost fall over, regaining balance at the right moment.
Now that was the weirdest flashback yet.
Those are definitely not anything to do with me, so who are they to do with? And why trigger right when I try to open the book? I shake away the thoughts, giving time for my brain to relax.
Something important has to be inside here, the way my body has been reacting since I saw this book has to prove for something. I take a deep breath as I reluctantly flip open the cover to the book and flip through a few pages.
The pages are empty...
There's no way I went through all of this for an empty book. I keep skipping through the pages hoping that something, anything will show up further through the book. Still nothing.
I close the book in frustration, all that anticipation just for nothing to be there. I slam it a bit too hard as one of the thorn-like designs on the book cuts my hand and I start bleeding.
The book falls to the floor as I try to grab a tissue from my pocket to clean it up. I decide to let the blood drip onto the book, it's better than staining the carpet, and continue looking.
After I clean myself up, I go back to pick up the book and stare in confusion. The design of the book has changed slightly. The thorn things that pricked me are no longer there, and the empty crevice in the middle now has a red jewel in the middle.
Just as I'm about to put the book away, something compels me to open it up again. Once I do that, I'm in complete shock.
The pages are now full...
I flip through the pages, skipping past what looks like the history of this and the prophecy of that. No concrete information that is important to me yet. I keep skimming through until I find a chapter labelled something that piques my interest.
"The Wild Ones..." I whisper as I reluctantly turn the page.
I'm suddenly immersed into pages of writing and hundreds of images. Seeing as I'm very much a visual person, I opt to look at the pictures first. I look and see an image of seven boys, stood in our high school attire with blank expressions on their faces.
Below the image I can find, there's a series of names under each male; Yang Jungwon, Lee Heeseung, Park Jay, Sim Jake, Park Sunghoon, Kim Sunwoo, and Nishimura Niki.
It's the boys...
Realising I may have found what I'm looking for, I slowly inspect every image and everything within them. And the more I keep looking, the more confused and worried I get.
In each image they look the same, the only difference is their choice of hair cut and colour. But their faces, don't look like they've aged a day.
Even as I reach the 2000's years, where realistically I should've seen baby photos, their the same teenage boys dressed in the style of the time period. My brain can't process it so I continue going through the pictures, seeing how far back each one dates, seeing how their faces and age still don't seem to change. I don't stop until I'm at the very last picture.
This image dates all the way back to the Joseon Dynasty. And they still look exactly the same in that picture as they do in the most recent one. But that can't be possible! How does one not age?!
Then again, who am I to question what's possible?
I hate to have to think this way, and people will probably think I'm crazy for this, but this situation seems to have taken a turn to the supernatural. This can either only be one massive prank or proof that these boys have been living for over a century and still look exactly the same, there are no other ways to explain it.
As much as I hate believing in anything supernatural related, it's one of the only plausible pieces of information K would want me to know.
But now that makes me question him too...
"Library is closing in five minutes, please get ready to leave the premises." The librarian announces through the speaker before my mind can wander any further.
Sunbi told me that the books in this section don't have a barcode, most because nobody ever entered or borrows anything from there, so I should be able to take this book without having to go to the front desk and asking to scan it out.
I double check the book just to make sure the barcode isn't there, and when I'm convinced it's not I put the book into my bag and leave the library.
The school day ended an hour ago, so not many people are here. Perfect for me, I can leave here in peace with no hassle. I take one step down the hallway when I hear a voice.
"You're still here?" I sigh out of annoyance and turn around towards the voice, a voice that I very well recognise.
"So are you Jake." I look at him with a blank expression, subtly examining his face.
If the images are true, either he has a remarkable history of doppelgänger relatives or he's really been living for centuries on ends. But in front of me, he just looks like a regular high schooler.
"Rugby practice. You?" Completely forgot they're all on the varsity team and today is Wednesday, one of their practice days.
All this has done is put me in an odd situation, I don't know what to say. With all of this information, and the flashbacks included, I don't know if I can trust any of them anymore.
There are still so many questions unanswered.
"Library." I give Jake a blunt response, it sounds cold but it wasn't supposed to come out that way.
This triggers an extremely long and awkward silence, I look away from Jake as he analyses me with a very confused look on his face. We stay this way for an uncomfortable amount of time before Jake decides to speak again.
"Jiyeon you've been avoiding us, why?" He tries to take a step closer to me as I take one back, his voice is soft and full of worry.
"Just personal things going on. I'll see you later." I don't even give Jake a chance to respond as I turn and walk outside of the school.
I can't even keep a conversation with him after what I've found out. Yes I may not fully understand what going on, but that book and pictures inside has definitely shown me that something about them doesn't make sense. There's a lot more to them than what meets the eye.
Now I have to know more.