The Veil: Between LIFE and DEATH

Chapter 3: The Mysterious Man

*Taehyung POV*

Step by step, I walked down the long, dimly lit corridor. When I reached a door, my footsteps came to a halt. Slowly, I turned the doorknob and stepped inside, my figure vanishing behind that door marked 050.

*Taehyung POV end*

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"What are we going to do here?" I asked, pretending to be clueless. It was obvious we were in the music room now, and surely Jiyeon wanted both of us to practice singing for that competition.

"Come sit here," she said with a bright smile, motioning to the seat beside her that facing a grand white piano in the middle of the room.The ivory surface of the piano gleamed under the soft light of the room, its elegant curves and intricate woodwork adding a touch of sophistication to the space. Despite my initial hesitation, I found myself drawn to its beauty and finally settled down next to Jiyeon.

As her fingers delicately danced across the keys, she began to play a mesmerizing melody, one that resonated deeply within me. I was taken aback by her skill; I hadn't known she could play the piano so beautifully!

After the final note, she turned to me, anticipation in her eyes. "What did you think?" she asked, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. I couldn't help but be sincere in my praise.

"That was amazing! You're really talented. Even it's my first time listening to the song you played, but I really love it." I complimented, genuinely impressed. However, her reaction wasn't what I expected. Her expression shifted once again, her features contorting with pain and sadness. Did I said something wrong?

"Don't you remember? You... really don't remember? This song..." Her voice trailed off, heavy with emotion. I hung on to her every word, anticipating a continuation, but the silence between us grew louder, filling the room with an unspoken tension. Suddenly, she rose from her seat and stormed out of the room, leaving me bewildered and alone with my thoughts.

Is it still just my imagination this time? I'm certain she cried. I could see those clear droplets glistening on her cheeks just now. What's been going on with Jiyeon lately? After crying for the first time, she's crying again. Is there something happening to her that I'm unaware of?

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As night fell and I returned home from school, Jiyeon remained elusive, her presence nowhere to be found. As I cautiously pushed open her door room, darkness enveloped the space, shrouding any clues to her whereabouts. Where could she be disappearing to? The sense of her perpetual vanishing act only deepened my unease.

However, in the dimness, I noticed the sliding door inside this room that leading to the balcony was ajar, offering a glimpse of a man's silhouette behind the billowing sheer curtain. Who's there? How could there be a man in the house? It should only be me, Jiyeon, and our mom, and we hadn't expected any guests tonight.

"Could it be that..."

A powerful surge of panic crashed over me like a tsunami, stealing my breath and engulfing my entire being in trembling terror. Yet, immobilized as I was, I couldn't simply remain inert. I refused to let Jiyeon be endangered by him.

Armed with the courage I could muster, I silently entered the room, my hand instinctively finding the flower vase resting on the small table beside Jiyeon's bed. Gripping it tightly, I vowed that this vase would become my weapon and it will soon land on that intruder's head. Moving cautiously, I approached the billowing curtain, feeling my heart race with each step.

With a silent countdown echoing in my mind-3, 2, 1-I swiftly yanked aside the curtain, raising the vase high into the air.

Quotes for this chapter:

"Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come."
- Rabindranath Tagore -

To Be Continued...

Total: 613 words