Mystical Fantasy : Not the Destiny Heroine

Jinhyuk's footsteps echoed slowly down the hospital corridor. In his hand was a paper bag carrying two warm meals. His eyes scanned each room one by one before stopping in front of the door to Han-na's hospital room.

He gently pushed it open. The room… was empty.

The bed had been neatly made. The pillows arranged carefully. No bag, no spare clothes. No… Han-na.

"Huh?" Jinhyuk stepped in, double-checking to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

Everything looked like the room had been cleared out. He stared at it for a few seconds, his thoughts racing.

Did she go home? Or… back to work? In that condition? That's insane… did that girl forget she just got stabbed yesterday?

Jinhyuk looked down, trying to control his frustration. He scratched the back of his neck.

"Should I check her workplace?" he muttered, uncertain. "That's probably overstepping. I mean… who am I? Not even a close friend. Just someone lucky enough to be saved by her."

Still, the image of Han-na's fainting body, the blood trailing down her back, and her pale face from the night before made his chest ache.

"Aish… why am I like this," he sighed quietly.

He turned around, ready to leave and perhaps try to figure out where she had gone—

But then nearly bumped into someone behind him.

"Oh!" Jinhyuk took a step back instinctively.

Han-na stood there, still a bit unsteady, one hand pulling along her IV pole. She looked surprised to see Jinhyuk turn around so suddenly.

"Ah, Jinhyuk-ssi… you're here?"

"H-Han-na?!" Jinhyuk blinked in disbelief. "Where have you been? I was just about to go looking for you."

Han-na smiled sheepishly. "Sorry… another patient was using the bathroom in this room, so I borrowed the one outside… Didn't expect you to arrive so soon."

Jinhyuk let out a sigh—half relief, half exasperation. But he said nothing about his earlier panic.

"Here, I brought something…" he said, handing her the paper bag.

Han-na's eyes widened. "Eh? Food? For me?"

"Yeah. Two portions. I figured you hadn't had dinner yet. And hospital food... isn't exactly appetizing."

Her eyes sparkled. She accepted the bag eagerly. "Thank you so much, Jinhyuk-ssi…"

Jinhyuk simply gave a small nod and sat down in the chair beside the bed, rubbing his sore shoulders. His eyes drifted toward Han-na as she began opening the bag like a child unwrapping birthday presents.

"Wow, honey-glazed chicken? And this… oh, beef rice bowl. Mmm! Smells amazing…"

Without thinking, Han-na began eating from both boxes—first a bite from the chicken, then from the rice bowl… and then kept going…

She ate neatly, in a rather unique way. Her cheeks puffed slightly, eyes closed in delight.

Despite the dullness in her face, the traces of skin issues, and her far-from-conventional beauty—there was something captivating about her.

Minutes later, both boxes were empty.

"Ah…" Han-na turned slowly, blinking. "Eh… I finished both, didn't I…?"

Jinhyuk stared blankly at the now-empty boxes in her hands. His stomach hadn't even had time to enjoy the scent of that honey-glazed chicken.

"Ah… I'm sorry, Jinhyuk-ssi. I couldn't help myself. I'm really sorry…"

Jinhyuk let out a small laugh, forcing a smile. "It's okay. Hehe… you need to eat more to recover, right?"

"Yeah… but still, I was careless." Han-na looked down, embarrassed.

Jinhyuk was quiet for a moment, then shook his head. "Just focus on getting better. When you're healthy again, you can treat me instead, okay?"

Han-na smiled brightly. "Deal."

Jinhyuk smiled back, though his stomach grumbled silently in protest.

---

A stark contrast to the modest hospital meal shared between Jinhyuk and Han-na, in the heart of Seoul, two young people were enjoying a luxurious dinner. They sat at a rooftop restaurant glowing with crystal lights and smooth jazz playing softly in the background. Glasses of red wine in hand, a dazzling cityscape spread out before them.

Jang Daejin leaned back casually, dressed in a black shirt without a tie, the top buttons undone. Sitting across from him was Hwang Bo-ra, elegant in a deep blue dress that contrasted with her golden-brown hair.

"Sorry I didn't answer your call earlier, Daejin-ssi. I had some… trouble at my father's university today," Bo-ra said.

Daejin smiled as he looked at her. "Trouble? Doesn't sound pleasant."

Bo-ra exhaled lightly. "Honestly… it's kind of embarrassing. I shouldn't be talking about this. Especially since we're here for business."

"No worries." Daejin kept smiling. His eyes were sharp, yet charming. "Actually, I'm glad."

"Eh?"

"Being able to talk about things without hesitation means you feel comfortable with me, Bo-ra-ssi. I appreciate that."

The words were simple, but spoken with such sincere tone that Bo-ra's heart skipped a beat.

"Hehe… thank you," she replied, bowing her head slightly, a bit flustered.

"If you don't mind," Daejin continued, "what kind of trouble was it today?"

Bo-ra hesitated, then finally said, "A student… his name was Jin… I think it was Jinhyuk. He really pissed me off."

"Jinhyuk?" Daejin raised an eyebrow. "Ryu Jinhyuk?"

"Yes, that's right. Ryu Jinhyuk. Do you know him, Daejin-ssi?"

"Hmm, not personally… but my secretary has an old friend studying at Daehwa. Name's Ryu Jinhyuk too. Guess it's the same guy."

"Oh…" Bo-ra nodded slowly.

Their conversation continued—warm, casual, and laced with hidden agendas. But behind Daejin's charming smile, his mind wasn't fully at that table.

So Hwang Bo-ra met Jinhyuk. Those destined to be with him always seem to find a way… But…

Yoon Seri… Hwang Bo-ra… whoever fate connects to that boy… they'll all eventually be mine.

What the heavens give to the chosen… I will take, piece by piece. Because this world doesn't belong to the naïve.

Daejin smiled to himself.

---

Meanwhile…

The night sky above the hospital began to cloud. In the small garden behind the inpatient wing, two young people sat side by side on a long bench.

Han-na held onto her IV pole beside her, her face no longer quite so pale. Jinhyuk leaned back slightly, hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

"Sorry," Han-na said suddenly. "I keep troubling you, Jinhyuk-ssi…"

Jinhyuk turned to her. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Because… I'm a stranger. Yet you bought me food… stayed with me… even now, sitting out here with me this late…"

"Hm."

Jinhyuk exhaled softly, then gave her a small smile. "If we're keeping score, I've done way less for you than you have for me."

Han-na tilted her head, confused.

"I know you remember what happened last night. You protected me from that knife, Han-na-ssi," Jinhyuk said quietly. "You jumped in without hesitation. If I were in your place… I'm not sure I could've done the same."

Han-na fell silent.

Jinhyuk glanced at her briefly before returning his gaze to the sky. "So… don't say you're a burden. If anything, I haven't even begun to repay what you did."

Han-na smiled faintly. "I don't know why I did it. Maybe… instinct. Or maybe because you looked like someone who had no one… just like me."

"Hahaha," Jinhyuk chuckled softly. "Because I really don't have anyone."

They both laughed quietly, the only sounds being the breeze and the occasional footsteps of passing nurses.

But… from a second-floor window, a nurse stood watching them.

Her gaze was sharp. She wasn't smiling. Her fingers touched a small badge pinned to her pocket—a faint symbol shaped like a circle.