Stranger that I Know: The Forgotten Promise

cla

ational issues is purely coincidental. The content is not intended to offend, disrespect, or misrepr

a the s

h Ko

ou

r 2

t of sandalwood lingered in the air, clean and carefully curated, while a wall of untouched books loomed like silent

you feeli

e, his pure white doctor's coat crisp and spotless. Opposite him w

ng different? And call me

any emotion behind th

ffled. "Didn't you say 'Ilya

being called Ilya,"

conceded. "Are you still

" Ilya said, his tone detached. "It's like I don't belong he

tfully. "Have you ever c

der about?" Ilya's res

ed. "It's stopping you from opening up emotionally to the people around y

_____________

a's

inn Wi

lya, a good-looking, go

ave birth to me. They've forgotten. Even my fans don't know my real bir

doing special

my psyc

rs of therapy, and it never helped. I've watched that so-called doctor grow from a one-room

ttered curses under my breath. That damn docto

cycle of exhaustion. Meaning

n the rearview mirror. Messy hair. Dark circles

why I even keep

eams, and nightmares, re

killing my

me my constant companion. Those violent urges don't just haunt my nights; they linger all day, especial

know I

point where the desire to kill myself, or them, rose to th

I hope your coming days are f

elp but smile. A soft, sweet sm

ll myself. That incident had been enough to

rom me after that, but little else changed

e Vice President of my agency, Cairo Astor. He's the person I fell

rthday gift?" I murmured to my

ne buzzed again. This time, i

or you at your apart

it weren't for Cairo, I would've

ed into the phone, my ton

t's

trashy personality, greedy parents, bloodsu

f Ily

ning of th

e one more

o was still wearing his glasses, though t

t, a location far out of the city, in the middle

'm on med

s manager, Leo, deep in conversation with the director a

lead for this drama. No need

present made any attempt to stop him as he rudely filled Ily

following the failure of his last drama especially because of his unauthorize

u have to respect me, no matter ho

out as he continued pouring. Before things could es

him go now," A

d, but his role is sti

them alone. However, Ilya, already

don't have to

acing a hand on Ilya's face

s porcelain-like skin had turned a bright shade of red. His lips, slightly wet from the alcohol, curved in

from me,

e needed the bathroom. Instead, he walked toward a

y hired actress, oblivious to Ilya's departure. The room was alive with more than f

he cold wind sting his flushed cheeks. The dizziness from the al

e originally stood on the grounds, and an additional structure had been constru

hat...

e distinctly remembered being told that the shrine was off-limits. The c

Without a word to anyone, Ilya

ce was eerie, not even the faint buzz of insects disturbed the night. Th

im whole. For a moment, his senses abandoned him, and unease gripped his chest. De

t had appeared, and Ilya found himself c

forehead, pooling and seeping beneath the shrine's door. He lay there,

thing he saw was the heavy wooden d