The Past Unwritten

The wind was gentle in his dream. A park bathed in the soft glow of a late afternoon sun. The sky stretched endlessly, painted in shades of blue and gold. Somewhere in the distance, children laughed, and the faint scent of wildflowers hung in the air.

"Oppa!"

A familiar, bright voice called out to him.

Park Eun Ho turned — and there she was. A young girl with long, dark hair, her smile brighter than the sun, holding a crooked flower crown between her tiny hands.

"Hurry up, you slowpoke!" she giggled, slipping the crown onto his head.

Eun Ho chuckled, chasing after her as she ran ahead, her laughter ringing like a bell. It felt so real — the warmth of that afternoon, the sound of her steps on the grass, the way the light caught in her hair.

But in an instant, the dream darkened. The sky faded to stormy gray. The air grew heavy.

Seri stood by the path now, no longer smiling. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

"I have to go, Oppa."

"No... hajima, Seri-ah... don't go!"

His young voice cracked as he reached out.

She turned away, walking without a backward glance, her figure blurring into the gathering shadow.

"Hajima... Seri-ah!"

"Hyung!"

A firm shake yanked him out of the nightmare.

"Hyung, wake up!"

Park Eun Ho's eyes snapped open, his chest heaving as beads of sweat clung to his brow. The dim glow of the bedroom lamp replaced the eerie darkness of the dream.

Shin Minjae stood by the bed, looking concerned.

"What kind of horror movie were you acting out just now?" Minjae muttered. "I've been calling you for ten minutes."

Eun Ho blinked slowly, sitting up. The ache in his chest lingered.

"It's nothing… just a bad dream."

Minjae scoffed. "Yeah, well, get your butt up. Baek Dongmin wants to see you in an hour."

Eun Ho groaned, rubbing his face. "For what?"

"I don't know. He just said it's urgent." Minjae avoided eye contact, fiddling with his phone.

"Yah! Shin Minjae!" Eun Ho called as his manager dashed out.

Dragging himself out of bed, Eun Ho stepped into the bathroom. As he stared at his reflection, the fragments of the dream clung stubbornly to his mind. He didn't say anything — not aloud. But a flicker of emotion passed through his eyes before he turned on the tap.

---

Taeri stood before the mirror, adjusting the collar of her soft ivory blouse tucked neatly into a fitted navy skirt. Her hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, a simple chain necklace resting at her collarbone. She barely recognized herself.

"Wow — who's this? Isn't this the PA of Cha Jinhwan of Daehan Group?" Eun Jung teased, leaning against the doorframe.

"How do I look?" Taeri asked, turning.

"Heaven, sweetheart."

"Now quick, don't be late," Eun Jung grinned.

"Wish me luck."

"Good luck," Eun Jung said softly.

Taeri rushed to the door but spun back. "Oops — I almost forgot!"

The two of them raised their fists, did a quick cringey but beloved chant they'd invented in college: "Success mode: activated!" then bumped fists.

"Go kill it, girl!" Eun Jung yelled after her.

Taeri waved and hurried out.

Eun Jung watched her leave with a smile that lingered. Moments later, her phone buzzed. A message from Seo Mira at Silverline Entertainment lit up the screen:

[Hi Eun Jung! Just a heads-up — the script reading is in two days. Details to follow!]

A grin broke across Eun Jung's face. She threw her hands in the air, dancing around the room.

"Let's gooo, Kim Eun Jung!"

---

Meanwhile, Park Eun Ho stepped into Baek Dongmin's office at Genesis Entertainment. The moment he entered, Baek Dongmin leapt from his chair, arms wide.

"Woooo! Look who's here — our one and only Golden Goose!" he exclaimed. "Without you, I'll starve!"

"Why did you call me here this early?" Eun Ho asked coldly, 

Baek Dongmin shot Minjae a glare. "You didn't tell him?"

"How could I? That's your job," Minjae retorted with a shrug.

"You little punk!" Dongmin grumbled, pulling a file from his desk. "Eun Ho-ah..."

"I'm not doing it," Eun Ho cut in.

"You haven't even looked!" Dongmin whined. "It's gonna be a hit! Silverline Entertainment's producing — big budget, huge names. They want you for the male lead."

"I just got back from Jeju yesterday. Remember our deal? You promised I'd rest after finishing that drama."

"I know, I know! But just this once. After this, I swear, you can rest for a year — no, five years! I'll build you a vacation house myself."

"That's what you said last time."

"I mean it this time!" Dongmin suddenly slid to the floor, dramatically grabbing Eun Ho's leg.

"Yah! Baek Dongmin-ssi! Get off!"

"Not until you say yes! Do you want to see me starve? Huh? I have a mortgage!"

Minjae burst out laughing while Eun Ho sighed 

"Fine, give it here," Eun Ho finally grumbled, snatching the script.

Both Dongmin and Minjae immediately cheered like kids at a soccer match.

---

Meanwhile, Taeri stood outside Cha Jinhwan's office on the top floor of Daehan Group. Her hands were cold.

"You can do this," she whispered to herself.

The secretary gave a polite nod. "Go in."

Taeri pushed open the heavy glass door. Stepping into a room so pristine it felt like a showroom, everything was in shades of black,grey and silver - cold, flawless and intimidating 

Behind the massive desk sat Cha Jinhwan

He didn't look up immediately flipping through a file with gloved hands- the man was known for his obsession with hygiene, the rumors were true

When he did, his gaze was sharp, unreadable.

"You're late."

"I-I'm sorry, sir. The elevator—"

"Excuses waste my time," he cut in, snapping the file shut. "Sit."

Taeri sat stiffly.

A long silence passed.

"Your records are excellent. Top of your class. But I don't care about paper achievements."

Taeri forced herself to meet his gaze.

"At Daehan, we value discipline, loyalty, and the ability to survive pressure. Prove yourself or you're out in a month."

She nodded. "Understood, sir."

His eyes flickered — surprise, maybe.

"I don't tolerate mistakes, Miss Kang. Disappoint me, and I won't be merciful."

"I won't, sir."

Another long stare.

Then he waved a hand. "You're dismissed. Report to Section Chief Han."

Taeri rose, bowing slightly. "Thank you, sir."

As she reached the door, his voice came again, soft, almost to himself.

"Let's see how long you last.

"

The door closed behind her.

"Aish… what a scary man," she muttered under her breath, her heart pounding. Yet, something inside her stirred — an unplaceable feeling.