...was one of the darkest days of my life. I couldn’t sleep that night, haunted by the image of Woo Seok’s young face, his eyes reflecting the horrors he had endured. I tried to convince myself that he was strong enough to survive. But the uncertainty gnawed at me, each day blending into a restless vigil of worry and hope.
---
Mehek’s hands trembled as she read her mother’s words. A deep sense of empathy filled her heart, mingling with the sadness she felt for the young boy Woo Seok had once been. It was hard to imagine that her own mother had encountered such a harrowing story, and even harder to believe that Woo Seok’s past was intertwined with her family’s. Questions filled her mind. Why had she never heard about this before? Did her mother still remember Woo Seok? Did she even know what had become of him?
Her heart was still pounding when she heard her mother’s footsteps coming down the hall. Quickly, she shoved the diary back into its hiding place. A small part of her wanted to confront her mother, to demand answers about Woo Seok, but she knew that she had to gather more information first. If there was one thing Mehek was good at, it was keeping secrets — especially from her overly inquisitive family.
---
Meanwhile, far across the globe in Russia, Woo Seok, or Melor as he was now called within the ranks of the mafia, sat in a dimly lit bar with his fellow enforcers. The air was thick with smoke and tension. His reputation was that of a cold-hearted enforcer, loyal only to his boss and ruthless to anyone who crossed him. But tonight, something felt different. An inexplicable restlessness gnawed at him, as though a memory long-buried was struggling to resurface.
“Melor!” barked one of the other enforcers. “You in?”
Woo Seok blinked, drawn back to the present, and nodded. It was a simple job: extract information from a rival gang member. Nothing he hadn’t done a hundred times before. But as he moved to stand, he caught a glimpse of himself in the dusty mirror behind the bar. His own reflection looked back, colder and more detached than he had ever felt. Suddenly, he remembered the orphanage, the kindness of the woman who had taken him in, and her granddaughter — what was her name? Mehek? He hadn’t thought about her in years.
A pang of regret flickered in his chest, but he brushed it aside. In this world, softness was a weakness, and he couldn’t afford that.
---
Back in Kolkata, Mehek couldn’t focus on her studies. Her thoughts drifted again and again to the mysterious boy her mother had once cared for. The diary had hinted at so much pain, so much darkness. But as she lay in bed that night, another feeling stirred within her — a strange sense of destiny. She knew she was far from uncovering the full story, but she was certain of one thing: she had to meet Woo Seok, wherever he was, and find out what had become of him.
The weeks that followed were a whirlwind. Mehek poured her energy into her studies and prepared for her college applications with renewed determination. She knew that studying in South Korea was no small feat, but her heart was set. She would go to Seoul, and somehow, she would find Woo Seok.
---
Months later, after tireless studying and the many ups and downs of high school life, Mehek’s dreams finally came true. She arrived in Seoul on a crisp autumn day, her heart swelling with both excitement and trepidation. The bustling city felt alive with energy, a stark contrast to her quiet life back in Kolkata.
But finding Woo Seok was easier said than done. After all, he was no longer the innocent boy her mother had written about. He was a ghost, a shadow within the Russian mafia. The few inquiries she made only led her to cryptic warnings and closed doors. Despite the setbacks, Mehek’s resolve never wavered. She knew she was getting closer.
One evening, after a particularly tiring day, Mehek stumbled into a small café to rest. She ordered a warm coffee and sat by the window, watching the city lights. A familiar face appeared at the counter, ordering his drink in a low, quiet voice. Tall, with an air of mystery, he seemed oddly familiar. Her heart raced as she realized — it was Woo Seok.
Gathering her courage, she approached him, her heart pounding. “Excuse me,” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “Are you... Byeon Woo Seok?”
He turned, his face cold and impassive, but something in his eyes shifted as he looked at her. “Who’s asking?”
Mehek took a steadying breath, determined to hold her ground. “My name is Mehek,” she replied softly, “and I think... I think you once knew my family.”
A flicker of recognition crossed his face, but he masked it quickly. “You must have the wrong person,” he said curtly, turning away.
Mehek’s heart sank, but she wasn’t ready to give up. “I know about the orphanage, and my grandmother... Madhuri Basu. She took you in once. And my mother,” she added, voice softer still, “wrote about you.”
At this, Woo Seok’s cool demeanor faltered. He turned to face her fully, his expression unreadable. “Come with me,” he said, his tone softer yet firm. Together, they left the café and walked in silence until they reached a quiet park, far from prying eyes.
For the first time, Woo Seok opened up, his words halting but sincere. “I haven’t heard that name in years. Your grandmother… she was kind to me. More than anyone ever was.” His gaze softened, and for a moment, the hardened mask of the mafia enforcer slipped, revealing the lost boy Mehek’s mother had written about.
They spent hours talking, sharing stories of their lives and the hardships they had faced. Beneath the façade, Woo Seok was still that boy in search of a place to belong. And Mehek, with her infectious warmth and gentle spirit, offered him a glimmer of hope he had long thought lost.
As the night deepened, Mehek leaned into him, her voice barely a whisper. “You don’t have to be alone anymore, Woo Seok. You have people who care about you — even after all these years.”
Woo Seok’s heart ached with emotions he hadn’t felt in so long. He reached out, hesitating for a brief moment before gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. In that tender gesture, Mehek felt the beginning of something new, something beautiful and hopeful.
And for the first time in his life, Woo Seok allowed himself to believe that he could be loved, that he could belong. The city lights shone around them, reflecting the start of a love that would transform them both — a love that would finally bring light to the shadows of their pasts.
