🇰🇷 South Korea...
A foreign girl named Marine grew up there; with short black hair, fair skin, and a spirit full of recklessness and enthusiasm. She never stopped pursuing novels as if they were treasures.
In complete contrast... stood her closest friend, Lylia; with short blonde hair and calm, serious features, she was rational to a degree that never resembled Marine's uproar.
Marine was running across the street toward the high school, waving a new book she gripped tightly, as if her heart was beating between its pages. She reached Lylia, panting and beaming a wide smile.
Marine, with explosive excitement: "Lylia! Guess what?!"
Lylia interrupts with a small, sarcastic smile: "Did the boy you like finally reject you?"
Marine's expression twisted for a moment: "Y- yes. But that's not what I wanted to say! I found a new novel! Let's read it instead of attending class!"
Lylia raised a disapproving eyebrow: "Your mother will hang you on the wall if she finds out you skipped again."
Marine didn't care about her comments, waving her hand with affected confidence: "She won't know! Come on, quickly!"
With a light sigh, Lylia succumbed to her friend's tide and followed her toward the old school storeroom.
They sat on the floor, and Marine took the book out of her bag. It had a strange, dark cover, with no title or author's name, as if it was hiding secrets in the depths of its pages.
Lylia, scrutinizing it: "It looks old... nothing indicates its source."
Marine, illuminating the place with a press of a button: "A handsome man gave it to me and told me: 'Read it.' My curiosity wouldn't let me ignore it!"
Lylia crossed her arms with obvious suspicion: "A book from a strange man? That's fishy!"
Marine laughed, hugging the book to her chest: "What's the problem? The important thing is that the story is enjoyable!"