Chapter 1
The dojo, now empty of all trainees, was filled with a quiet loneliness. Director Park, who had been cleaning with Ye-eun, picked up the remote control.
Turning on the TV, a table tennis match was in full swing—the finals between China and Japan.
Contrary to expectations that China would dominate, Japan was holding its own fairly well.
Director Park, slowing his hands while tidying up the boards, eventually took a seat to watch the match.
Ye-eun shook her head as if she had anticipated this, continuing to arrange the remaining boards.
By the time the dojo was clean, the broadcast had switched.
<Finally, South Korea’s proud Kim Hae-jin enters! With overwhelming skill…>
As a player in a taekwondo uniform appeared on screen, Director Park started glancing around.
“Where did the remote go? Oh, dear.”
Of course, he couldn’t find it—the remote was in Ye-eun’s hands.
“It’s fine now. Stop worrying about it.”
Ye-eun waved the remote, and Director Park gave an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head.
“…Was it obvious?”
“Yes, very, very obvious.”
“…I’m sorry. I was just…”
“I know. But that’s all in the past now. I’m satisfied with my life as it is.”
Though others might consider it modest, Ye-eun was content with having a comfortable place to sleep, rest, and work.
Enough that she had no desire to disturb this peaceful routine.
Director Park, seeing Ye-eun like that, tried to hide his sense of pity.
“…Alright. Finish up properly today, okay? If you need anything, just let me know.”
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes, kid. I’m going home to rest.”
As he prepared to leave, Director Park waved his hands.
“Of course. Thank you, Coach.”
Now, he was the director—but he had been her first and only coach, so the habit of calling him “Coach” stuck.
Once he had left, the dojo was engulfed in complete silence.
<Oh, she raised her head! Kim Hae-jin scores a facial point!>
Compared to the excitement on the screen, the space around Ye-eun was still and quiet.
Ah… really. So unlike you, Chae Ye-eun.
A strange ache tugged at her chest. She took a few boards and fixed them between bricks.
“Ha.”
Clenching her fist, she slammed it into the board.
With a crisp crack, it shattered perfectly.
The queasy feeling in her stomach began to settle. She fixed another board and broke it again.
She repeated the process so many times that broken pieces of boards were scattered around her.
…Guess I’ll have to clean again.
Rubbing her tingling hands, Ye-eun looked up at the TV.
<The match is over! Kim Hae-jin wins both rounds and advances to the semifinals!>
“That’s better now.”
Her stomach no longer churned. She felt ready to watch the next match without worry.
“Though I bet Coach is going to scold me.”
The boards were expensive… she could already imagine his nagging.
Ye-eun stared at the broken pieces. Of course, they wouldn’t reassemble themselves.
After tidying up, she walked toward the interior of the dojo. Opening the door revealed a fairly spacious area—staff showers and sleeping quarters, prepared by Director Park just for her.
Gathering her change of clothes, Ye-eun headed to the shower.
Coach, or rather Director Park, was like a benefactor and father figure to her.
Though she had never had a father.
Shaking her long hair dry with a towel, Ye-eun reflected that it took ages to dry.
Should she cut it short like her sister? But it would be a shame to waste the length…
Lost in trivial thoughts, she entered the bedroom. It was small but well-equipped.
The bed was comfortable, there was internet, and the TV worked.
Turning it on, Kim Hae-jin’s semifinal match was underway.
Unlike before, Ye-eun settled in comfortably to watch.
“Ah—”
End of round two. The score was tied 1-1.
To advance to the finals, she had to win the third round.
<Round 3, start!>
“Did it touch? Is there a replay?”
Ye-eun, intending to watch casually, found herself increasingly absorbed.
“Careful with your head! Be careful!”
Hands clenched, she leaned into the match.
“Just one point… just one!”
With five seconds left, Kim Hae-jin was trailing by one point.
“Please… please!”
As if sensing her fervent wish, the player executed a head spin attack just three seconds before the end—securing her place in the finals.
<Match over! Kim Hae-jin successfully completes the final attack, advancing to the finals!>
It was a gripping match. Ye-eun clapped her hands and cheered.
She couldn’t even remember the last time she watched a taekwondo match purely for enjoyment.
Yeah… it feels okay. Life like this is enough.
I should watch the finals too.
Ye-eun took out her phone to check the final’s schedule.
“Let’s run away, together.”
It was a text from her older sister, Yu-eun. Instantly, her heart plummeted.
That day, Ye-eun could not watch the finals.
Yu-eun, just a year older, was Ye-eun’s only family.
Although they lived apart due to complicated circumstances, their relationship was never bad.
In almost every way except appearance, Ye-eun and Yu-eun were opposites—part of why they had to live apart.
Once a promising taekwondo athlete, Ye-eun had excelled in sports, while Yu-eun showed talent in the arts.
Ten years ago, after catching the eye of the country’s largest gallery, Youngjae Gallery, Yu-eun became an exclusive artist—a significant one at that.
However, Yu-eun hadn’t released any notable works since last year, due to what was said to be a slump.
Ye-eun suspected something was off. Yu-eun’s face had grown darker with each passing day, and a simple slump didn’t explain it.
That’s why, the moment she read the text, Ye-eun’s heart sank.
“Let’s run away, together.”
“Come to the hideout.”
Ye-eun and Yu-eun had met and contacted each other often, so the request itself wasn’t strange.
But it was unusual for Yu-eun to suddenly ask her to come over so late at night.
“The customer you are trying to reach cannot take your call right now. Please try again later.”
Ye-eun frantically tried calling her, but there was no answer.
“…Ha…”
Her pounding heartbeat made her head spin.
Ye-eun ran, repeatedly trying to call Yu-eun.
Gasping for breath, a metallic taste in her throat, she finally spotted the hideout.
It was the small shed behind the park, where they had secretly met in the past.
Thumping on the door, she got no response. She hurriedly opened it.
“…Sister!”
Yu-eun was under a flickering light, unconscious.
“Sister! Wake up! Sister!”
Ye-eun quickly checked her breathing and pulse.
They hadn’t stopped.
She needed to call an ambulance…
Just then, a paper fell from Yu-eun’s hand.
Reading it, Ye-eun dialed a different number.
“It’s an overdose of sleeping pills.”
“…Sleeping pills? Then…”
“Judging by the type and number of pills taken, it likely wasn’t intentional. Something must have triggered acute anxiety just before this. Side effects or tolerance of the previous medication can’t be ignored either.”
Ye-eun’s face darkened. Director Park spoke on her behalf.
“So? Is she okay?”
“No. It’s not okay. She took the medication on an empty stomach with minimal nutrition. It’s serious.”
“When will she wake up?”
“That can’t be guaranteed. She needs a full examination in a hospital…”
“No. That’s not possible.”
Ye-eun said urgently, all eyes on her.
“…There’s a reason. Sorry, but not here. Couldn’t it be…?”
“There are limits…”
Dr. Kang trailed off, troubled.
He was a friend of Director Park and ran his own clinic.
Only Director Park could have thought of someone who would help after seeing Yu-eun’s note.
Despite the audacity of contacting him, Park willingly helped Ye-eun.
“Alright. Ye-eun, not going to a big hospital… it’s risky.”
Park tried to reason with her.
“I have to hide my sister. At least until she wakes. No one can find her. To do that…”
Ye-eun could not compromise. For her sister, she had to act.
“…It’s a bold request. Sorry. Is there really no way?”
“There is, but I don’t recommend it. She’s unconscious…”
Taking her to a hospital as-is could cause problems even if she regains consciousness.
Ye-eun had to remove the source of the crisis first.
“It’s okay. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility.”
She knew it was a lot to ask, but there was no other way.
“…Alright then. We’ll take responsibility for now.”
After a moment of thought, Dr. Kang agreed.
“Thank you! Truly. I’ll repay this favor.”
Ye-eun repeatedly bowed in gratitude.
After stressing the danger of prolonged unconsciousness, Dr. Kang let her go.
Outside, the night was pitch dark.
Ye-eun collapsed onto a bench, her legs giving out.
Reaching into her pocket, she found the paper Yu-eun had held.
Do not get caught. I want to hide. I need to escape… escape, escape, escape…
The shaky handwriting reflected Yu-eun’s fragile state.
“Something must have triggered acute anxiety just before this.”
Though close, Ye-eun felt distant from her sister. Between them was an invisible wall.
A wall Yu-eun could see through, but Ye-eun could not.
It had been there since that day ten years ago.
Since then, Yu-eun always smiled before Ye-eun—as if nothing was wrong.
Even when Ye-eun asked repeatedly, Yu-eun insisted she was fine.
That’s why Ye-eun had to watch her sister’s decline in silence.
But she hadn’t expected it to get this bad.
Her indifference had been reckless.
As she berated herself, a warm glass bottle touched her cheek.
“…Coach.”
Director Park had plopped down beside her.
“Drink this.”
“…Thank you. Always… really…”
Ye-eun carefully held the bottle of warm soy milk. The tremor in her hands subsided with its warmth.
“Ye-eun… you’ve got me shaking in my shoes. My liver must be stuck to my soles from all the worry.”
“Sorry…”
“Stop apologizing. Don’t lose heart.”
“…Still.”
“If you feel that bad, go find my liver that fell out or something.”
Ye-eun let out a weak laugh at his silly joke.
“Why aren’t you asking anything?”
She had asked for his help without any explanation. He must be curious.
“Want me to know?”
“Not right now. Honestly.”
“But why ask? I’ll find out when the time’s right. I know you well enough.”
The trust was solid. Ye-eun forced back tears.
“…Thank you. Always.”
Park, her coach, her benefactor, her guardian—without him, Ye-eun might not exist as she did today.
“I probably won’t be coming to work for a while. I’ll need a substitute…”
“That’s fine, I’ll handle it.”
Park waved his hand, then met her gaze with a serious reminder.
“Your job now is one thing. Don’t lose heart. Anywhere, anytime.”
Ye-eun couldn’t stay at the dojo indefinitely without working. She gave a vague reason to Park about having a place, then headed to a nearby inn.
She had no intention of sleeping. She just needed a quiet place to think.
Nothing would change unless she acted. If Yu-eun woke up, the same cycle would repeat.
Yu-eun hiding everything, Ye-eun helplessly watching her sister decline.
She couldn’t let that happen.
If hiding was Yu-eun’s choice, Ye-eun would have to act in her own way.
All night, Ye-eun reached one conclusion: she would cause a major stir. She would expose the secrets tormenting Yu-eun and destroy the root cause.
To do so, she’d need to temporarily put her own name aside.
At dawn, Ye-eun went to a hair salon.
“Please cut it like this.”
She showed a photo of Yu-eun.
“Wow! You grew it out from then? Short suits you too! Very different from now.”
The stylist seemed convinced the photo was Yu-eun.
“…Yes. Make it exactly the same. Completely.”
“I’m good at that! Completely, exactly.”
Her hair, once reaching her waist, was snipped away by the stylist’s hands.
“All done.”
Looking in the mirror, Ye-eun now resembled Yu-eun. Uncannily so.
