Rebirth:Love Amidst Vengeance

"Am I dead?" Min Ju's mind raced as she struggled to open her heavy eyelids.

The sound of chattering surrounded her, though it seemed a bit distant, muffled by her foggy consciousness.

Her eyelids fluttered open, greeted by a warm, golden light, momentarily blinding her.

She blinked, her vision blurry, as her pupils adjusted to the radiance.

As her focus sharpened, the soft hum of conversation and clinking dishes anchored her to reality. 

Greeted by a strange ceiling, confusion swirled, like a vortex, pulling her under.

The chatter grew louder, and she strained to make out words. 

A delicious smell wafted through the air, but her stomach churned with unease. Where was she? Heaven, hell, or somewhere in between?

"...are you done eating ?" a voice asked.

"Almost. Taking my time to savour the deliciousness" another voice replied, accompanied by laughter.

Min Ju's mind stirred, confusion swirling. Where was she?

She tried to sit up, but a wave of dizziness washed over her, forcing her back onto the pillow.

The chatter continued, a gentle murmur in the background.

Her eyes scanned the room, it looks so... familiar.

She struggled to sit up as she took in the familiar decor.

This was her room from three years ago.

She had packed away from this place after she graduated from college, and she had been leaving in her dad's mansion since then.

So, why's she here?

Or, is this all a dream?

She looked at her hands, then pinched her cheeks.

"Ouch..." she winced when the pain stung her.

Then, her memories came rushing in.

The betrayal felt so deep. She could still vividly remember the look on their faces as she fell.

Her eyes became teary as the pain stung deeply.

Never had she expected such a betrayal from the ones she called "family".

She stood up and placed in the room, stopping in front of the mirror.

What she saw, shocked her. How come?

She tilted her head in confusion. What's going on?

She looked at her image; staring back at her was her twenty two-year-old self.

Her raven-black hair was neatly packed into an updo bun, a few stray strands escaping to frame her heart-shaped face. 

Wire-rimmed glasses perched on the end of her nose, accentuating her bright, expressive eyes.

Thick lashes fringed her eyes, and a smattering of light freckles across the bridge of her nose added depth to her features.

Min Ju's mind reeled as reality dawned: she had died and has been reborn. The tales she'd once dismissed as myths, now stared back at her.

Her gaze lingered, taking in the familiar contour of her younger self. The same, soft, trusting eyes, looked back at her.

This is who she had always been - the nerdy Min Ju.

Even though, she's from a wealthy background, she had always devoted her time to her studies.

After college, some months later, her father died.

And since then, she had been managing the family's business, hardly having anytime for herself.

She had always been soft and defenseless. The only thing that stopped her from being bullied, at school, was because she was a Jang.

Still, she was always poked at.

Unlike her stepsister who had always been in the limelight.

Ji-Ho was a party freak. Once she steps into a party, everyone would always go wild.

Anyone hardly notices Min Ju.

But still, she had never for once gotten jealous of her sister.

She had loved her with all her heart, and even though she was a year older than Ji Ho, she had never looked at her as a younger sister.

She had always treated her as an equal.

"Min Ju!" she heard someone call.

That voice.

"Min Ju, are you awake?"

She frowned.

That was her dad's voice, is she really dead?

"Sweetie" he called again, followed by a knock.

"Come.." her voice sounded croaked and she cleared her throat.

"Come in," she said, eager to see the face behind that door.

"Ahhhhh" she screamed, clutching on to the pillow, when she saw her dad enter.

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Seung-ho, her dad asked, concerned.

She had slept in, which was very unusual.

She usually comes down, even before breakfast is ready.

He was a bit worried and decided to check on her. But now, he is even more worried.

"Why did you scream like that?" he asked, his voice soft.

Min Ju's eyes widened as she touched him a little.

"He isn't a ghost," she thought inwardly.

"Since, I am back to my twenty-two years' self...does that mean, dad is still alive?" she muttered.

"You are scaring this old man" Seung-ho said.

"You're...alive?" Her voice trembled.

"Of course, I'm alive. Why would I be otherwise?" He asked as he approached her bedside

He chuckled, but stopped when he saw tears prickling from the corners of her eyes.

"Why are you crying?" he asked but Min Ju threw her hands around him, sobbing.

"Dad..you are really alive. I have missed you so much. I have really missed you" she sobbed and Seung-ho slowly raised his hands to pat her back.

She clung to him, the familiarity of his scent and warmth overwhelming her.

He held her close. "I'm here dear, I'm not going anywhere," he said, reassuringly.

Perhaps, she had a bad dream.

Min Ju stared at her dad, and almost couldn't believe that she was looking at him, physically.

Throughout the years, she had only been able to check the framed pictures, reminiscing their past memories, and wishing he were still alive.

But now, he is right here.

Alive and well.

"If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up" she said, inwardly.

"You are fine now, right?" Seung-ho asked her and she nodded.

"Okay. That's good. I guess you had a nightmare," he said, and she nodded her head, unable to give an explanation.

"Freshen up and come downstairs for your breakfast. I'm leaving for work now" he said before leaving.

"I was given a chance to live." she muttered.

"A chance to live" she repeated slowly, her eyes blazing with determination.

"This opportunity I was given, I won't waste it." she said, loosing her bun, allowing her long hair to fall down her shoulders.

"There's a reason I was given another chance.

This life...I won't be the stupid girl I once was" she said, removing her glasses.

"I'm back here; solely to achieve one purpose." she said to herself, her head held up high.

"I'm going to make life hell for my betrayers.

They had all exploited my naiveness.

They had all seen my soft side.

How about a more dangerous one?" she smirked.

Min Ju is back! And she's back for REVENGE!!!"