chapter 8

The next morning came and finally Raimin came up with a plan for herself. She considered all the methods she could use to survive until she finds a way of going back.

Even though she wanted neither to make anyone get involved in her plan nor get anyone's help, she knew that there'd be some chances if she received the help of someone trustworthy.

'How am I supposed to find someone who might be willing to help me? Even if I find someone, can I really place my trust on them?' she thought.

First, she thought of getting rid of all the ties which could be harmful for her. In fact, she tried to stay away from any kind of risks of getting exposed or found out. She stayed in her room most of the time and didn't let any maids in except for Haeyon and mrs.Hong.

'Ha... If only, if only I could get out of this place...., then I can at least get an idea of where the hell this place might be.' She thought.

"Haeyon, you know what?" Raimin suddenly said. "I can't believe I've been trapped here for almost a week and yet I did nothing about it?"

Haeyon tilted her head. "What do you mean, Miss?" she asked.

"Well... right now, I feel like shit. I have exams in the coming months. And my whole life might depend on those exams. Maybe you don't get how I feel. But, I really really need to do something...."

"I really don't understand what you're saying. But, miss, I think I know something to make you feel good." Haeyon said, clasping her hands happily.

Raimin raised her head and looked at her with a question on her face.

"Miss, why don't you spend some time with our young master?" Haeyon said.

Raimin burst into laughter hysterically. "What did... you say?" She asked Haeyon while wiping off the tears on her face. "Do you really think I might feel good if I spend some time with that dude? Ha ha... it's the worst kind of joke I've ever heard." She said, still laughing.

"Why? Is it not? Miss?" Haeyon asked.

"Of course not. Girl, I feel bad for you. The Kim Raimin whom you used to know too well, isn't here any more." Raimin replied with a somewhat kinder voice.

"Mm?? What do you mean Miss?" Haeyon asked.

"Mhm... nothing... Even if I tell you the truth, I don't think there's anything you can do about it. So, don't worry too much." Raimin patted Haeyon on her head.

After a while, Raimin decided to go on a walk with Haeyon. She assumed that there might be a possibility to find the lake and figure out what might have happened to the other Raimin.

Or so she thought. But she never thought she might be busy looking at the car collection of her so-called fiance. As a college student, Raimin has always been interested in super cars and stuff. She dreamed of buying one when she grew up. So it was natural for her to get stuck in a collection of super cars she has only seen on the internet.

"Ha.. well shit. I was not going to do this but, Why the hell did I not know this?" Raimin told Haeyon while looking at all the cars.

"This is just the red collection miss." Haeyon said calmly. "Our young master also has a black and white collection."

"What?! Lucky him. Must be good to be born with a golden spoon." Raimin mumbled.

"Hmm? Why are you sighing, Miss? You will also have a similar collection when you marry the young master. Maybe you will be able to travel together. Isn't it always what you wanted?'' Haeyon replied.

"Ha ha... I guess that was my dream... Right? How embarrassing!" Raimin laughed awkwardly.

'Kim Raimin, you silly girl. Why the hell did you hope to spend your life with someone who never even looked at you once? Gosh... you're a conglomerate too! Then why didn't you consider living an independent and free life?' Raimin thought.

"Haeyon, you know what? I don't think I will need him anymore." she said, looking at Haeyon.

"Hmm? What do you mean Miss?" she questioned.

Raimin laughed and patted Haeyon on the shoulder. "You will get it one day..." she replied.

While coming back to her room, Raimin was deeply in thought. Haeyon didn't want to bother her, so she quietly followed her from behind.

'Kim Raimin... I really don't know why I became you. And I don't know why we look alike. If I really met you one day, I wanna ask you why you ran away. But I don't know when you're gonna return. If you return, then does that mean I can go back too? Your life is a mess. I realised it the very day I came here. And to be honest, I don't plan on making it better. What do I gain from doing so? Nothing. All I want to do is to go back.

But if you're not gonna return, if I will be trapped here for some time, then at least let me live your life in my way. I can't promise you to protect what's important to you. Just like this marriage.' Raimin thought. She felt bad for some reason. But she didn't change her decision. She needs to break free from the engagement. That way, she assumed that she could at least go outside from the Sky Castle.

"That's right!" Raimin suddenly stopped. "Let's go meet him." she said, turning to the opposite direction.

"Who are we going to meet, Young miss? The young master?" Haeyon asked.

"Yup. My fiance. I need to talk about something with him.'' Raimin replied.

After that, Raimin followed Haeyon to Song Kang' room. After Haeyon knocked on the door, someone's footsteps were heard and after a while, the door opened.

Raimin raised her head and looked at the person who was standing there silently looking at her.

"Oh! It's you!..." Raimin said, looking at him.

Han Seo didn't say anything; instead, he slightly nodded his head.

"Can I meet Song Kang? Is he inside?" Raimin asked.

Han Seo nodded and asked, "Do you want to talk to him?"

"Yes... can I go inside?" Raaimin asked politely.

"Wait here." Han Seo said and went back inside, shutting the door.

'Geez...! What the heck? Is he a princess or something? Why should I wait here until they decide on whether to let me in or not?' Raimin thought.

"Did this always happen to me whenever I came to see this guy?" Raimin asked Haeyon.

"Huh? Mmiss... Well, it did happen from time to time. But you said it was okay to wait here a bit." Haeyon replied while trying her best to avoid eye contact.

Raimin sighed. "But it seems like it happened pretty often." she said.

'What a dumb girl you're Kim Raimin... If a man is keeping you waiting, then that person surely doesn't deserve you.' she thought.

After Han Seo went in like that, Raimin told herself that she would wait for them just for two minutes. After two minutes passed, she turned to go back. Just as she was about to leave the corridor, the door suddenly opened and Song Kang dashed out.

Raimin stopped and looked back. Song kang was looking at her with surprise. "Miss Kim? Were you trying to go back?" He asked suddenly.

Raimin sighed and turned back. "Yes. I waited here two minutes for you to open the door." She said, sarcastically. For her, two minutes was not a mindable time. But for some reason, she didn't want to give that guy any convenience.

Song Kang was silent for a moment. "So, did you want to meet me? Miss Kim?" He asked.

"That's right. I have a very important thing to tell you." she replied.

"To me?" he asked. "Please come in."

He said, opening the door for Raimin. And she entered the room first.

After that, Haeyon and Han Seo were asked to leave the room. Raimin sat on a long cozy sofa, while slowly glancing around his gloomy yet enormous room.

Song Kang sat right in front of Raimin with a plain look on his face. He didn't say anything and for a while, Raimin did the same.

She was observing him closely.

'I guess his face is always emotionless. Or is it only when he meets with me? It's true that he's not showing any interest. But his gaze is a bit different from the first day I saw him. I don't know if I'm overthinking this, but he seems a lot more attentive than before. Anyway, what should I tell him first? Should I just say that I want to break off the engagement?' She thought.

"So, Miss Kim, what did you want to tell me?" Song Kang finally broke the silence.

"Well. There's something I wanted to tell you. Since I only got the chance now, I'll be frank with you." Raimin said.

Song Kang nodded as a response. "Please go on.." he said.

He was waiting for Raimin to hear her requesting for the same thing. To have dinner with him or at least a lunch. Whenever Raimin was free from her classes, she used to come looking for him and even though he agreed sometimes, he turned her down most of the time. But this time, he was ready to accept a simple request from her. He didn't know the reason, but somehow, he felt something different about Raimin. He recognized the changes in the way she dressed and the way she spoke. 'She seems more relaxed than before. She used to act cautiously in front of me and smile all the time. But why is she looking at me like that?' he thought.

"So, this is what I want from you." Raimin said while leaning forward. Then she stopped and waited a while.

"....I want an annulment.'' she said.

"What?" Song Kang asked.

"I said I want you to break off this engagement." Raimin said calmly.

'You know what, Mr.Song, I don't feel any pressure to ask something like this. Neither do I feel any regret. Because, to me, you are nothing but a stranger.' she thought.