INTO THE FUTURE The world keeps on evolving, as time waits for no one. At a point in time, there were no cars, phones or even the internet but now you can see that and so much more. The year 1322, a girl born in that era had a terrible life, orphaned by her parents, she lived with her aunt who treated her like she was a slave. Which she eventually became after her aunt and uncle sent her back to the palace. The people there laughed at her and mocked her, calling her “THE FALLEN PRINCESS” because her parents were the king and queen of Goryeo but they died not long after she was born. Her father’s assistant took over as king, stripped her of title and made her a lady in the palace. She lived every day of her life filled with regret, woe and despair. Tired of it all she decided to commit suicide in an old house. Only to be found alive by a man 700 years in the future but unfortunately, she had lost her memory. She has another shot at life, will she be able to regain her memory and live a happy life? CHAPTER ONE: THE GIRL IN A SHACK PRESENT TIME YONG-SUN’S POV: “Do I really have to check there myself?” I complained “Yes sir it is very important that you check the site by yourself but you won’t be alone, I’ll be tagging along” Secretary Lim said trying to convince him “Fine let’s get going” I said taking off my jacket and loosening my tie. “We heard this house was the house that the fallen princess of old Korea killed herself in.” Secretary Lim said quivering “It is said that her spirit still roams on this land so I think it’s best for us to leave it, I mean how much is a small land like this going to cost us?” He said shaking when I sighed and walked into the shack. “Sir! CEO Han! Aish! Wait for me” I surveyed the house, checking everywhere. I was about to check the master bedroom when my phone rang. It was Chairman Han, I didn’t hang up so I let my phone ring and put it in my pocket. My ring tone was a smooth song played with violin, I was strangely attracted to that very song and hummed it whenever I was less busy. My mother always sang it for me when I was a child. “Creak… Creak…” Was the sound the doors made, a sudden strong wind blew around making it hard for us to see. “AAH!! Mommy!!!” Secretary Lim yelled running out of the house, I would’ve have followed suite but I dropped my phone. Before I knew what was happening I was captured by the storm, after a while it stopped and a fog covered the house. A pale figure appeared in my front but it was too dark for me to see, it was a faint image walking towards me. I started hyperventilating when I heard her voice. “Yah! Are you okay?” She asked touching my forehead which made me jump in fear. “What are you doing here?! This is private property and what’s with the outfit?” I asked angered by the way she scared me. “I…” She stuttered “Oh so this is a prank to get to me leave the land! Well go tell your boss his plan failed!” I yelled angrily “Huh? Wait a minute” She said gesturing for me to stop talking. “What am I doing here?” She asked herself confused “You are coming with me!” I said dragging her by the hand “You will explain to the police everything about this little stunt” “Police?” “I caught her trespassing on private property!” I said to the officer when we got to the station. “Young lady I want to ask you a few questions, is that alright?” The officer asked the girl who was busy looking around like a lost child. “Yes it’s alright” “What is your name?” “My name? I don’t know” She replied with a stoic look “Ok what were you doing at the time when he found you? “I don’t know, I don’t remember anything” She said looking lost. “Are you serious at all?!” “Look I don’t know how I got here… Wait! What year is this?” “What kind of question is that?” The officer was about yelling when I interrupted. “Looks I’m going have to let you off the hook” I said after making a call. “See you later officer” I said waving, after I turned to leave “Wait for me!” She cried scurrying after me “No! I don’t know you and you are not my responsibility” I said blocking her from entering my car, just then my phone rang. “Oh it’s that song!” She said while she sang along “What song?” “The song I heard when I first got here.” “How do know how to sing it?” The song was made by my mother especially for me. “I don’t know, the lyrics just came to me.” “Whatever, anything that happens to you from now is none of my business” I said running my hand through my hair and with that my driver drove off. EUN-KYUNG’S POV: He left me behind, with no memory of my life I roamed the streets. Metal horses ran across the road, splashing water all round, girls walking up and down in groups pressing some kind of machine, they all dressed strangely. “Maybe if I try harder I might remember something.” I thought as I sat on the side-walk of a brown mansion, but all I got was a really bad headache. Soon after, it started raining and everyone was looking at me like I was crazy thanks to my dreary attire. “What do I do now?” I cried pressing my face on my hands, then I felt an eerie but cool presence in my front, so I looked up only to meet the brightest pair of emerald eyes I have ever seen looking at me. “It’s alright” He said wiping my tears away CHAPTER TWO: HER SAVIOUR YONG-SUN’S POV: I felt bad on the way back to my office, imagine leaving a girl with no memory of who she is and where she lives, behind with no assistance. I couldn’t live with the guilt if something bad happened to her so I immediately told my driver to turn around. When I got back, she wasn’t there. Out of worry, I ran round the whole neighborhood looking for her. Searching for a person without any means of contact is so hard. How could a girl her age not have a phone? She didn’t have a phone so I couldn’t call her, I didn’t know her name so I couldn’t call her out until I saw her crying at my doorstep. It was quite ironic, I told her to leave and I found her at my doorstep. After a while of watching her I went over. “It’s alright” I assured her, it took her some time to reply “What are you doing here? I thought you left?” She asked angrily “I did leave… To come home that is” I said pointing to the mansion behind her “You mean you own this?!” She asked in disbelief to which I nodded my head “Do you want to come inside?” “Yes please” “Wow it is so huge! What is all this?” She said looking round the house. “Come here” I said dragging her to one of my extra rooms. “This is where you will sleep tonight, go take a bath while I go get some clothes for you.” She entered the bathroom and stared at it blankly. “Don’t tell me you don’t know how to shower” I sighed, it was like raising a baby from scratch. “Shower?” “You take off your clothes, go to the bathroom, turn on the shower and use to the water to bathe, there should be some soap and shampoo there” I explained step by step. When she looked like she still didn’t understand, I went over to the shower. “This is a shower” I said turning it on “AAAHHH!!!” She screamed when the hot water touched her skin. “Let me go get some clothes for you.” I got to my room, had a shower as well and changed my clothes before going to look for hers. I didn’t have any girl clothes so I picked one of my old outfits for her. I already told Secretary Lim to cancel everything on my schedule for the next two days. “I hope you are done” I said entering her room and to my surprise I saw her with a towel wrapped around her body. “There is something wrong with your-your-your…” She struggled while talking. “Bathroom” I said walking towards the bathroom “What the hell did you do?!!” I yelled. She shampoo bottle was empty, the soap was nowhere to be seen, the water switch was broken and the WC was pink. She turned the bathroom upside down. “I’m sorry!!” She said falling to her knees and facing the floor which was so unexpected. “Stand-up” I said lifting her up “Wear this and come out for dinner” I said before leaving, I was so exhausted. EUN-KYUNG’S POV: I put on the clothes he gave me and I went down the stairs to make dinner. “Now that I think about it, I don’t even know his name” I thought. I met some vegetables and some instant noodles on a table in the kitchen. “What is this?” I asked myself turning some kind of metallic switch to the left, to my surprise like electricity it shot fire. “AAAHHH!!!” I screamed, immediately he came running into the kitchen and turned off the fire. “What are you doing?!” He snapped. “I wanted to make dinner but I don’t know how to use this machine” I said softly. He sighed and turned the machine on again. “This is called a cooker, you use it to cook” He said showing me how to use it. He brought a pot from a cabinet under what he called an island, then he poured the noodles in the pot when the water was boiled and went to dice the vegetables and you know the rest… “Wow this is delicious, I didn’t know men could cook” I said while eating on what he said is the dining table. “By the way what is your name?” I asked stuffing my mouth, he blinked a few times before replying. “Yong-sun” “Han Yong-sun” He replied poking the kimchi. “Han Yong-sun, Han Yong-sun… Aaah!” My mind was raging, my thoughts scattered, the glass plates shattered, utensils clinging and clanging, memories coming and going until… FLASHBACK A young man wearing a royal hanbok on a horse came over to me “Hello fair maiden” He greeted alighting from his horse “Good day young master” She replied bowing “May I know where such a beautiful lady like you comes from?” “Unfortunately it is too shameful to be told, my lord” “Then can I at least know your name?” “Hye Eun-kyung and what is yours my lord?” “Han Yong-sun” BACK TO REALITY “Yah! Are you okay?” Yong-sun said shaking me “My-my name…” “What!? Do you remember it?!” “Yes! Yes I do! Hye Eun-kyung” “Wow! What else do you remember?” “Ummm Nothing else” “Oh really? Okay” He said sounding disappointed. “You should go to bed” He said after doing the dishes using what people call a dishwasher. “Good night” CHAPTER THREE: EXPERIENCING THE NEW WORLD YONG-SUN’S POV: One full month had passed with me and her living together but there was still no sign of her regaining her memory. On a fateful day, I was sleeping peacefully when I heard a knock at my door. “Yong-sun, Yong-sun?” She called. “What do you want?!” I yelled opening the door. “I want to tidy the house but I didn’t see any brooms” “I don’t have any brooms but the vacuum should be in the storage room below the stairs.” “But I don’t know…” “Figure it out!” I said slamming the door in her face “Did I just tell her to find out how to use the vacuum? What was I expecting? She doesn’t even know how to shower” I thought and reluctantly went to lend her a hand. “How to start…” She said reading the manual. “Let me help you” I went over and grabbed the vacuum from her. I turned the vacuum on started vacuuming. “What can I do to help?” She asked uncomfortable “Go and get the duster and clean the TV and furniture” “TV?” “The television, you know, the big thing that has a screen and is hanging on the wall” “Oh you mean that?” She responded pointing to the TV “Yes” I replied. She went to the kitchen to get the duster and started dusting the furniture before going to dust the TV, she dusted it like it was sacred or a prized possession. “What are you doing?” I asked when I noticed her “I don’t know what this is but I’m really sure that is very expensive” Before I could reply, her finger touched the middle of the TV making it turn on. “AAAHHH!!” She screamed running to hide behind me “Why are you afraid of everything? It doesn’t bite, look” I said turning the TV on and off using the remote “It’s not my fault, everything just seems new to me” She yelled defending herself “Hah you are really funny, I thought you only lost your memory but it seems you’re also mentally derailed” “Are you calling me crazy?!” She replied angrily “No, no, no don’t get me wrong, I said you act crazily” “Yah! Should I rip all the hair on your head?!” “AAAHHH!!! Stop it!! You really are crazy!!!” “I’m sorry” She pleaded. We stopped fighting a few minutes ago but as punishment, I said she wouldn’t eat breakfast, perfect! “Please! I promise to be obedient from now on” “Fine…” I was speaking when my phone rang, it was Secretary Lim. “Hello?” “Yes sir” “I thought I told you to cancel my schedule, what do you need me for at work?” “Erma, the chairman called for an emergency board meeting. I called to ask if you will be attending” “Of course I will attend! Send the driver here. I’ll be there in 10 minutes” “Okay sir” I hung up “You!” I pointed to Eun-kyung “Make breakfast on your own” I said climbing the stairs to my room. “Why? Are you leaving?” “Yes, I’ll be back in an hour or two” I replied slamming the door behind me. Dak-ho, my driver, was already outside. “Are you ready sir?” He asked when I got in the car. “Let’s go” “We haven’t had any new trainees since Min-hyuk’s debut, at this rate we’re going to get bankrupt before next season.” A shareholder complained. “Yes, that’s right!” The others agreed. “Yong-sun, what do you propose?” Chairman Han asked. “I don’t really have an idea but by the end of the week, we should at least twelve persons auditioning for a spot as one of our trainees.” “Are you sure?” He asked “Yes sir” After the meeting, I decided to stop by the training room and check on the dancers. EUN-KYUNG’S POV: After Yong-sun left, I had a hard time making breakfast, so I checked the fridge for any leftovers. Lo and behold, I saw assorted types of food. I decided to pick a bowl of rice with seaweed stew and 2 spicy chicken feet. I eventually figured out how to use the TV although it was a long series of tries. “Are you ready to dance?” The lady on TV asked. “Yes!” I replied joyfully. I carefully followed each step given to me through the television and danced accordingly. "Wow this is amazing, if only this had been invented years ago!” We went from classical to hip-hop and modern. Just then the front door opened but I was so busy dancing that I didn’t notice when Yong-sun came in, after a few minutes the lesson came to an end. “Tune in tomorrow for more!” The lady said waving goodbye. “Of course! Wow I’m so tired.” I said flopping onto the couch. “Aahh! What the hell are you doing here?!” “It’s my house” “But still, why were you standing at the door like some psycho stalker?” “I didn’t know you could dance” “Well you know absolutely nothing about me, so…” “If I give you a couple of moves for you to make a choreography, could you do it?” “Sure! What do you take me for?” “Great! I’ll send the movements to your phone!” “Um, I don’t have a phone remember.” “Right! Let’s go get you a phone!” He yelled dragging me with him. “What?!” “Pick one” He told me when we got to the electronics store. “What is up with you?” “Stop asking questions and just pick one” “Okay, okay, I don’t which one to choose, they’re all so expensive” “Hmph, we’ll take this one” He said pointing to an Oppo phone. “Yah! I heard that phone costs over 1000 dollars!” “So?” “Why would you buy it for me?” “You’re helping me, so it’s only fair that I help you” “I’m helping you? How?” “Aish! Forget it, please help me package it” “Where are we going now?!” “To my office!” “But I want to go home!” When we got to the parking lot of a big company, it was called Shooting Star Entertainment Industry. I was a little bit confused, in fact I thought his office was the small shop across the street. “This is my company” He announced with a big smile. “Wait! You own this?!” “Of course, let’s go in” “Wow! This is huge!” “This is where we bring in new trainees and turn them into famous choreographers.” “Really? Mention one dancer that has debuted in your company.” “Sarah Kim, The trio, Jennie Hoon and many more.” “So what am I doing here?” “How long have we known each other?” “A month why?” “Well I have noticed that you are a born dancer.” “You’re complimenting me? Where are you going with this?” “Nowhere” He said nervously. “I guess this has something to do with the increasing number of trainees coming in.” “How did you know? I need your help!” “No!” “Please just sign up for it! I promise it will be of use to you!” “Nope” “You’ll be able to hone your skills and…” “Fine!” “Oh come on… Wait what?” “I said I’ll do it” “Really?!” “Yeah!” “Come let me introduce you to your class!” “Slow down!” “Listen class, this is…” The instructor said nudging me slightly. Yong-sun already left me in my class a while ago, now it’s time for the introduction. “Huh?” “Introduce yourself” He whispered. “My name is Hye Eun-kyung, I am 22 years old and I am from Seoul.” I said feeling proud of myself, THE YEAR 322 EUN-KYUNG’S POV: “Look at her, she can’t even clean the floors right!” The others mocked and cackled evilly as they dirtied the floor even more, poked my head and insulted me, it hurt my pride and feelings. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I punched one in the face and gave another a knee to the stomach. “All my martial arts training is finally paying off” I thought while I fought. Soon after, we found ourselves in the office of the Chief Lady, Miss Mo-rin, she was the one in charge of the ladies in the palace. “Hye Eun-kyung...” Miss Mo-rin yelled “Yes!” I responded “Lee Ho-sook...” “Yes!” Ho-sook cried “Lee Jae-hwa...” “Yes!” Jae-hwa replied “You three were caught fighting this morning, what do you have to say for yourselves?” The head maid asked sounding furious. Immediately Ho-sook and Jae-hwa burst into tears. “We were just showing Eun-kyung the spots she missed while cleaning when she started hitting us” They claimed crying, while I just knelt down watching their act. Once they finished I was ready to tell my side of the story but to my dismay Miss Mo-rin shut me up stating that she didn’t want to hear any more of our nonsense. “We are sorry!” We yelled before we scurried of to our various posts. “That’s her, the fallen princess” A group of concubines of the king jeered as they walked past me. ” The fallen princess, the fallen princess…” Their words echoed in my head “My lady, are you alright?” My personal maid, Sun-hi asked running towards me looking worried but I was too engulfed in my own thoughts. I was deaf to everything that happened around me. I never wanted my life to turn out like that, all my life I thought that why it had to happen to me, me of all the people in world. THE NEXT DAY… I was still sleeping when Miss Mo-rin walked into my room. “Rise and shine sleeping beauty!” She said drawing the curtains open, she was smiling. “Something good must’ve happened today.” I thought while I got dressed. She told me to wear my fanciest and most elegant clothes because someone important wanted to see me. We walked down the halls and entered a room near the 3rd Prince’s room. “Good morning, this humble servant greets you” I said kneeling down and bowing my head as a sign of respect, Miss Mo-rin did the same. “Arise” He said and gestured for me to sit down “What is your name?” “My name is not important My Lord” Miss Mo-rin nudged me meaning I should reply “My name is Hye Eun-kyung” “Do you know who I am?” He asked gazing at me “No my lord” “Does that mean I am not famous?” “No my lord! I dare not!” I cried throwing myself on the floor. Regarding one of the king’s guests as someone of low status is a grave offence, so it was best to treat them with proper care and watch the words you use when speaking to them. “Haha… No need to be so serious” He chuckled. He had long hair and his dimples showed while he laughed, his broad shoulders bent as he used his hand to touch his perfectly curved jaw. His pink lips curved into a smile when he finished laughing, his blue eyes shimmered from the reflection of the sun. Wow! His face alone was a work of art. “As you know the Crown Prince’s birthday is coming up next month…” He started. “And I hear that you, Lady Hye Eun-kyung, are the best dancer in the kingdom…” “Me? No, no, no I am only a mere slave” “But I heard that while you dance, you become one with the music and your beauty can not be compared to that of any princess that I have seen.” “So I want the entertainment for that day to be done by you”. He finished raising a brow at me “Um-um-um...” I stuttered “I’m not sure if I can do it…” “She’ll do it!” Miss Mo-rin spoke up. “We’ll pick four other ladies to assist her.” “Good” He said clapping his hands, immediately a lady came in and stood by him with her head facing the floor. “If you need any help Lady Ae-woo will help you” He stated pointing to her. “Yes!” We said in unison, then we left the room. “Me, dance in front of the crown prince” I thought while we went back to my quarters. “The two of you over there come with me, Eun-kyung go and call me Bongsoon” She said rushing her speech. “Good you are all here” She said when Bong-soon and I came in. “Just doing a head count……… Hye Eun-kyung, Lee Ho-sook, Lee Jae-hwa, and Moon Bong-soon” She called our names one after the other. “Ok you three must be wondering why I called you here.” “Well the Crown Prince’s birthday is coming up and you three are the most elegant and beautiful girls I know…” “She wants us to dance for the prince” I said cutting in, Miss Mo-rin glared at me for a while before responding. “Yes, Lady Hye Eun-kyung will teach the dance for the next month, it must be perfect! If not you all will lose your positions as a lady” She warned. “Yes ma’am!” We responded in unison. “Any activities you have planned for the month will be put on hold for you to concentrate entirely on the dance, you will stay here every day to practice.” “What about our educational sessions?” Bong-soon asked raising her hand. “That will be done twice every week and your sessions will be done together” “Any more questions?” Understanding what the silence meant she continued. “You will begin tomorrow, so use the rest of today to pack all your clothes and books because the next time you step in here, you will not be allowed to go out” She finalized. CHAPTER: EUN-KYUNG POV: “My lady, are you all set?” Sun-hi asked helping me pack my books. “Yes, thanks a lot Sun-hi, I’ll miss you so much” I said carrying my bag.
