Chapter 2

"Aaaaa!!!!" Both of my hands pressed against the mirror, and my gaze dropped. "I'm scared... I've become a monster." Leaving the mirror, I returned to the dressing room. My legs moved weakly, losing the will to live. But, my mind continued to try to think rationally. "It's okay, Myrede... You still have Mr. Hyunjae, that man loves you. A lot, Hyunjae won't leave me, Hyunjae will be with me... Always." I continued talking, "I will explain to Mr. Hyunjae. I'm not a sex maniac slut as they talk about me." My thoughts were filled with the image of Hyunjae, about Hyunjae smiling at me and holding my hand gently. "Myrede, you remain a beautiful woman to me. I won't leave you; I'll be with you through all of this, Myrede." "In my eyes, you're not just an actor. But, you're also the man I love. No matter what happens, we will always be together forever." In my illusion, I felt Hyunjae kissing my lips and embracing my body tightly. "Right, I don't care about anything else. I just want Hyunjae with me. Hyunjae will come to protect me; I believe that will happen." "All I need is Hyunjae." The sound of a loud door slam startled me, and my body trembled. "MYREDE!" I woke up, sitting on the bed. I saw Hyunjae's face looking at me with anger and disgust. "Hyunjae!" I tried to smile at Hyunjae's gaze which looked at me disdainfully. "Hyunjae, what's wrong?" Hyunjae put his hands on his hips, giving me a sarcastic glance. "You're disgusting!" I flinched, trembling. "You're utterly useless now! Embarrassing!" he exclaimed, harshly. I was shocked, my heart ached to hear his hurtful words. "Let's go!" Hyunjae said, walking away. "Alright, Sir," followed by his assistant. Staring at his departing figure, I trembled, and tears streamed down my face. My heart was in so much pain. Everything I saw felt like a nightmare! It was all beyond my comprehension; my hopes had completely disappeared. "Ha. Haha. Hahaha..." I laughed like a mad person. Laughing with tears flowing, not expecting this nightmare to happen to me. Laughing in my sorrow is very painful. "Haha! Hahahaha... Hahaha..." I covered my face and closed my eyes, and the nightmare about Hyunjae came back. "Aaaaa!!! Shit!" I screamed as loud as I could. "Myrede, what have you done in your life? That it deserves to be abandoned like this?" "Ah, is this karma?" I took a knife from the table and went to the bathroom. My sanity seemed to have disappeared. "I will die." The sound of water splashing from the shower filled my ears. Lying in the bathtub full of water, I slashed my wrists with the knife, and blood sprayed out. "Haha! Hahahaha... haha... My life is so miserable!" "Mother, forgive me... You gave me this beautiful face, but I ruined it." "My death will surely make everyone laugh, right?" "Better to die than live like this..." At that moment, my vision was completely dark, and I took my last breath. A moment later... I stood in a room, pitch black. I lost my sense of direction. "Where am I?" I was confused, looking around, and there was only me and the remaining dark room. "Myrede." Surprised, I heard a voice calling me, not knowing where the voice came from. Slowly, a handsome man with a gentle smile walked towards me. "Are you okay, Myrede?" My eyes welled up; I froze in disbelief at what was in front of me. My mother returned; my mother came to me, and I could hug her tightly again. "Mom!" It had been so long since I felt the warmth of my mother's body. It had been a long time since I cried like a child in my mother's embrace. "Is this you, Mom?" I cried, pouring out all the emotions in my chest. I couldn't believe I could hug her tightly again, and confide in her when life left me and hated me. "Oh, my dear child. You've grown up, but you're still a crybaby." "Mom, I have a lot I want to say to you, Mom." Mom held my shoulders, giving me a gentle look and a warm smile. "Myrede, my dear, this is all I can say to you, sweetheart. Because we don't have much time. Myrede, you have to live right this time." I stared into her gentle eyes with an anxious gaze. "Mom, what do you mean by" My mother's hand pushed me backward, very forcefully. The last thing I could see was her warm eyes. "Mom... Mom!" "My dear child, I will take all the misfortune that is upon you, dear." "Mom!" "Go to the place you desire and live right." "Mom!" Surprised, I sat down. My head hurt, looking around the room. "Hah! Mom? Where's my mom!" I was startled, gasping for breath. I was confused and anxious. "Where am I? Is this the afterlife? But... for that, everything looks too real." Approaching the mirror, staring at the vanity table. "All the cosmetics I got through sponsors." My eyes shifted to the wall, a large-sized frame displayed on the wall with a picture of me smiling. "A portrait I took a few years ago. And even the furniture arrangement. It's too similar to my room." I sweated and was only confused in my head. "Right. My wrist!" Shocked, the scars on my wrist... disappeared! "Not even a single mark left?" My gaze dropped, and all the confusion settled in my mind. "What happened? Did my wounds vanish because this is the afterlife?" "I can't understand everything that's happening now." "Actually, what is happening now?" I stepped out of the room. The first person I saw was my assistant, the one I always called an idiot. "Oh, you're awake?" His face looked panicked and slightly sweaty; he quickly closed the instant noodles cup on the table. "Uh..uh. Myrede." He stammered; panic and fear within him were so evident. "I thought you'd wake up after I woke you. I'll clean up all this mess. This instant noodle cup..." "My manager, Claudia?" I saw him freeze, so terrified that he didn't dare to look at me. The room fell silent as he lowered his gaze.