Stranger that I Know: The Forgotten Promise

Stra

a's

do this to yo

glass. The noise swelled, relentless, as if the world itself was tearing apart. My ears

g? Screaming? D

, and in the haze, I saw a man standing before me with sword in his han

is

I've had this dream, I

d for a fleeting moment, leaving an eerie silence behind. But t

lifeless and bathed in crimson. Blood seeped around

.. why is

My chest tightened, each breath burni

ywhere, consuming me. My skin felt like it was on f

hhh

m my throat, prim

hhhh

sight of her lifeless body-they pressed down on me, s

me... pleas

f Ily

and dampness against his skin, followed by a sudden

rly jumped out of his chest. Looming above hi

A

who ar

ground. Only then did the figure fully come into view-a man with imp

re, save for the curtain of hair draped over it, while his lower half was ba

gaze, drawn almost magnetically, met the stranger's left eye-a ra

an unusual co

are y

his voice trem

averingly on Ilya, frozen like a statue. The sight sent a chill do

ne. Memories of the previous night came rushing back. He remembered collapsing here, blood dri

through him. He vividly recalled the pain, the blood

n kneeling a few feet away, stil

er, Ilya slid forward on his knees,

u? What wer

ad begun to dissipate, revealing more of the man's imposing figure. Ily

ily, his breath visible in the crisp morning air, before reaching out. His trembling f

eil of hair was hauntingly beautiful-more striking than anything Ilya had ever seen. The sharp, sculpted feat

s, fear, fascination, and something inexplicabl

ly

reality. He hesitated, his heart resisting the moment, but eventually, Il

are you

companied by another staff member. They must have realized his absence earlier in the morning when he failed to

ou

ger-but in the brief moment his g

h so quickly. Yet the shrine's heavy metal door remained shut, as still and silent as ever.

alls, Ilya continued searching, his eyes dartin

dealing with a celebrity, espec

a frowned, his annoyance plain on his face. It w

astic surgeries and treatments to maintain their looks, th

either idolized him for his carefully curated public image or r

so I just have to

er working with Ilya for five years, Leo should have known better

u sucking up

s he stepped toward them, his mocking to

king for you. Why ar

who Ilya recognized as a small-time co-star-looked away awkwardly. Ilya could see

for a mor

wearing the same clothes from the previous night. Without waiting for a

ind him, the co

hink he h

n one of the biggest dramas within two months-was proof of his influence in the industry

itude? I don't

his breath, his eyes fixed

you, you

ging at his lips. Suddenl

eo

es

ched, straighten

ng my beauty

is mocking sm

the co-star exchang

he

s eyes flicked once more to the shrine. Its door remained shut, bathed in the clarity of the morn

d toward the buildin

side of the shrine's door. Despite the weight and stillness of the metal remaining u