Nora didn’t sleep that night.
The message kept lighting up her phone screen every time she closed her eyes:
“If you want the whole truth… come alone tomorrow.”
She hesitated…
Then looked at the other message from Yeonho:
“Don’t trust anyone.
No matter what happens.”
She put the phone aside, her heart pounding hard.
The truth scared her…
But ignorance was even more terrifying.
In the morning, Nora left early without telling anyone.
The place written in the message was the old garden behind the school.
The path was eerily quiet.
The trees were still…
As if holding their breath.
Nora arrived and stopped at the rusted gate.
Footsteps approached.
Taeho appeared from among the trees.
He said calmly:
“I knew you would come.”
She took a step back:
“Where’s Yeonho?”
He gave a cold smile:
“He’s looking for you now… but we’ll be done before he gets here.”
Nora clenched her fists:
“Talk.
What do you want from me?”
“Years ago… your father worked with powerful people.
A secret project… dangerous.”
Her eyes widened:
“My father?!
But… he died in an accident!”
He shook his head slowly:
“It wasn’t an accident.”
Nora felt the ground shift beneath her.
“And what’s my connection to it?”
He took a step closer:
“You’re the key.
Something your father left behind… can only be accessed by you.”
She froze.
“And where does Yeonho fit into all this?”
Taeho smiled bitterly:
“Yeonho?
He was part of the guard.
His mission… to protect you until the time came.”
Nora shouted:
“That’s a lie!”
And at that moment—
Yeonho burst through the trees.
“Stay away from her!”
He stood in front of Nora without hesitation, shielding her with his body.
His eyes were angry… and afraid for her.
Taeho said mockingly:
“You’re late.”
“Nora… everything he said isn’t the whole truth.”
She asked in a trembling voice:
“Yeonho… did you know all of this?”
He lowered his head for a moment… then said:
“I knew the danger would return.
But I didn’t know you’d be forced to face it like this.”
Nora took a step closer, tears in her eyes:
“Were you protecting me because it was your duty… or because you wanted to?”
He raised his head and looked straight at her:
“At first… it was duty.”
Then he added in a sincere voice:
“But now… it’s because you’ve become the most important person in my life.”
A short silence fell…
Broken by the sound of distant sirens.
Taeho stepped back:
“This isn’t the end.”
Then he disappeared.
Nora stood before Yeonho, her heart torn between fear and relief.
She said quietly:
“No more secrets.”
He nodded:
“I promise.”
He held out his hand to her.
She hesitated for a moment… then took it.
She knew the road ahead would be hard…
But she was no longer alone.
Because her heart—
Was still under protection.