Chapter : 21
“Get ready to dive in as soon as you’re ready!”
“Yoon Haein, relax your shoulders!”
Standing on the edge of the large water tank, Haein sat precariously on the railing. She gave a faint smile to Gayoung, who was cheering her on with repeated cries of “Fighting!”
Then she took a few steadying breaths and began inhaling deeply through her mouth. She had to finish the shoot in one breath, so she needed to take in as much air as possible.
When her final breath was done, Haein slowly descended into the tank like a mermaid.
“Oh my God! Haein looks so pretty! She’s like a real mermaid!”
Her long, thickly waved hair floated beautifully in the blue water. The black dress that exposed her shoulders contrasted against her pale neckline, giving her an alluring, almost mystical appearance.
As she swam gracefully downward, Haein looked straight into the camera.
Her flowing hair brushed across her face, white light beamed down from above, and the dreamy hues of the water blended together—every element combined to make the scene itself look like a finished piece of art.
“Okay! Haein, lower your chin a little. Yes, that’s it! Perfect!”
“Wow, she’s really gorgeous.”
“Haein, this time turn to your right! Okay! Good—perfect! Let’s take a short break and go again!”
Even Park Taeyoung, the photographer, couldn’t stop expressing his amazement as he rapidly adjusted the camera angle to take shot after shot. The regret that he couldn’t take more because of the limits of underwater filming was almost palpable.
Even the staff around them kept gasping in awe.
“Oh my, she’s so beautiful!”
“Haein, you’re amazing!”
And as their admiration filled the studio, Haein swam through the water like an actual mermaid.
“Ah, f**k. Has no one here ever seen a mermaid before? She looks more like a tuna.”
“Ayeon, please shut your mouth. I’m begging you.”
Watching Haein move so effortlessly underwater, Ayeon couldn’t hold back her curses. She had worked with Park Taeyoung for five years, but she had never once seen him so excited before.
The man who usually muttered “scrap it” or “trash” every other sentence was now saying “okay” over and over again.
From the other side of the tank, Ayeon’s face twisted with visible frustration. Haein noticed it too.
With that kind of personality, Ayeon would definitely feel like something had been stolen from her.
And yet, instead of pity, Haein felt a strange sense of satisfaction—maybe because of everything she’d endured up to now.
Feeling overwhelmed, she closed her eyes and began preparing to rise to the surface. But just then—
“Hey! Haein, what’s wrong?! Safety team!”
“Kyaaa! Haein!”
“Safety team, what are you doing?! Move!”
Haein’s eyes suddenly flew wide open. She frantically glanced around, her face filled not just with fear—but with deep sorrow.
A strange humming sound filled her ears. Then, that unfamiliar sound shifted into a voice she knew all too well, piercing her heart like a knife.
Sis… Sis… I’m so cold…
…Haejin?
Haein shook her head violently, desperately searching for any trace of Haejin.
But all she could see was dark, heavy water closing in around her. Her sister’s familiar face was nowhere to be found.
Sis, I hope you’ll be happy.
No, Haejin… I’m sorry. I’m not happy…
…Sis. Please, save me. There’s something I never told you. The person who killed me was—
Suddenly, Haein’s body convulsed. She clutched her throat, as if something were strangling her, and began thrashing wildly underwater.
“Get the safety team in there now! Hurry!”
“Someone—anyone, get in!”
“Kyaa! What if something goes wrong?!”
Haein’s face was pale as death. It looked like she could lose consciousness any second.
Each passing moment felt like an eternity.
Then—with a loud splash—a man in a suit dove straight into the tank.
Dojoon hadn’t gone too close to the water tank. He was worried Haein might feel burdened if she noticed him there, so he watched the shoot from a distance.
In the light drizzle outside, Haein’s form moving gracefully through the water looked ethereal—unreal, like something not of this world.
“Wow, Yoon Haein’s doing way better than I expected. Guess the boss really knows how to spot talent.”
Hearing Kang’s impressed tone, a faint smile crossed Dojoon’s lips.
It seemed his worries had been unnecessary.
She was clearly more than capable—so why had he been so anxious?
“I should head back to the office,” he said.
“What? Hyung, you just got here! You’re leaving already? Without even saying hi?”
Kang stared at him in disbelief.
They were close enough to talk casually outside of work, so his tone was informal, but his confusion was obvious.
“Yeah, I’m going.”
“Hyung, it took you an hour and forty minutes to drive here from Cheongdam. You’re just gonna leave after seeing that? At least say hi to Yoon Haein—let her know you came in person—”
“Kyaaa! Haein!”
“Safety team! What are you doing?! Move!”
Before Kang could finish, a piercing scream ripped through the air like a blade to the heart.
Instinctively, Dojoon sprinted toward the tank.
Through the glass, he saw Haein, shaking her head frantically as though possessed by something.
And for a brief moment, her eyes met his.
Help me.
He didn’t have time to think.
Haein was clutching her throat, gasping for breath—completely panicked.
She couldn’t save herself.
“Where’s the ladder?”
“What?”
“I said, where’s the ladder?!”
Dojoon ripped off his jacket and climbed up the ladder the staff had hurriedly brought over.
Those five seconds felt impossibly long.
“Director!”
Without even pausing for breath, Dojoon plunged into the water and swam downward with incredible speed.
As soon as his fingertips brushed Haein’s arm, he shifted his position and dove lower beneath her.
Seeing her eyes darting around in terror, he knew there was no time to hesitate.
When rescuing a panicked drowning victim, the rule is to approach from below—and never let them grab you.
A drowning person’s survival instinct can endanger the rescuer.
They’ll push you under in their desperation to breathe.
Dojoon knew that better than anyone.
But he couldn’t ignore Haein’s outstretched hand.
“Director, it’s dangerous!” someone shouted.
Dojoon moved up beside Haein, ignoring the flailing arms that could easily have hit him, and grabbed her hand tightly.
It’s okay. I’m right here. You’re safe.
As if she understood his unspoken words, Haein’s tense body went limp in his arms.
Wrapping an arm around her waist, Dojoon surfaced with her.
Safety staff rushed over to help pull her out.
“Haa… haaah!”
“Haein, are you okay?”
“Ha… huff…”
Still trembling, Haein began to cry as soon as she was out of the tank.
Dojoon silently ran a hand down her back to comfort her.
Shhhhhh—
Rain poured down hard on the outdoor set.
Drenched in her black dress, Haein wept as heavily as the falling rain.
With her face buried against his chest, she sobbed uncontrollably.
Dojoon could only suppress the painful tightness in his chest as he watched her.
Behind them, Gayoung turned away, swallowing back tears.
A deep, heavy silence blanketed the set.
“…Mermaid, my ass,” Ayeon muttered coldly. “She looked more like a tuna caught on a fishing line. Let’s go.”
Without looking back, Ayeon stormed off the set.
Watching Yoon Haein crying so pitifully stirred up something in her—a strange, complicated mix of emotions.
“Here. Hot cocoa. Manager Kang just went out and bought it.”
Inside the waiting room, all the staff had cleared out. Only Haein and Dojoon remained.
Wrapped in a thick blanket, Haein still trembled, her body shivering from the lingering cold.
It all felt like a dream.
Amid the haze, she could still clearly hear Haejin’s voice.
Yes—it had definitely been her one and only little sister’s voice.
