Eunji had always prided herself on her vigilance and readiness for the unexpected in her life. From her early days of rigorous training to her current position, she had honed her instincts and always trusted her gut. Never before had she felt trapped or helpless in a situation, and her confidence had seen her through countless challenges.
Despite her cunning and intelligence, she was betrayed by one of her closest allies. She was given a laced drink and, not suspecting a thing, consumes it greedily. However, the poison didn't take any effect, but the fall from a building-as she dies in agony, never suspecting the hand that led her to her doom.
"'No... this can't be happening...'
'I trusted them. I thought they were on my side. How could they do this to me?'
'I was supposed to be the one to change everything, to make a difference.'
'But now I'm dying... alone. And no one even cares.'
As the poison starts to take effect, Eunji feels a mixture of anger and sadness. She is furious at being betrayed by one of her own, especially after she had trusted them with her deepest secrets and dreams.
As she lies there, dying alone, Eunji's mind races with a swirl of emotions. She feels a pang of anger towards the betrayer, the one she trusted and respected, the one who had claimed to share her ideals. How could he do this to her? How could he betray her so cruelly and selfishly?
Yet, she also feels a deep sense of despair as she realizes that her plans and ambitions will never come to fruition, and that her vision of a better world will die with her.
A deep sense of sadness and regret spread through her chest. She had dreamed of changing the world, of making a real difference, and now it was all slipping away from her. She was going to die before she could achieve her goals.
This serves to emphasize the cut-throat nature of the society where back-stabbing and betrayal are commonplace, and even the most powerful people can fall victim to the harsh reality of their own creation.
Eunji lay on the floor, her body weakened from the poison coursing through her veins. Her once strong and vibrant self now lay weakened and wounded, defeated by those she had trusted.
Her eyes were glassy and dazed as the poison took its toll on her, and she gasped for every breath, every moment a struggle.
She was alone, the sting of betrayal still fresh in her mind, and the cold, hard truth that no one had truly cared for her settled heavy on her heart.
Her breathing is shallow, and she became very weak and pale. She was poisoned, by her closed aide, and the poison is taking a visible toll on her once healthy body. Her face contorts in pain, and her eyes are half-lidded. It's clear that she will die in a matter of seconds.
Eunji never thought she'd find herself in this situation, on the verge of death, betrayed by those she thought she could trust.
As she lay there, her memories rushed through her mind. From her childhood to now, it was almost vivid as if she re-live those moments again.
And then, she remembered the minor villainess in that cliché novel. She didn't know she did remember her all of sudden, it's not like she was attached to her or even thought about her for a long time.
The image of the naive and defenseless character came back to her, and she couldn't help but draw parallels between herself and that character. She realized that just like the minor villainess, she had been taken advantage of.
So sad. So ironic.
In stark contrast to the minor villainess, Eunji had always been strong, vigilant, and cautious. She never let her guard down, and she never trusted anyone completely.
Despite her guarded nature, she had been betrayed by someone who she had thought was close to her. As she lay there, dying, she couldn't help but feel a sense of irony. She had fought so hard to be unlike the minor villainess, and yet, in the end, she had still met a similar fate.
Eunji had pushed the minor villainess and that cliché novel to the back of her mind. She never gave her another thought until the moment of her death. As she lay there, wounded and poisoned and on the verge of death, she wondered how can no one notice that a body was laying here, infront of such a famous restaurant.
But even if an ambulance came and they were able to save her, she will die in the end.
Like who can survive a fall from several stories?
Even the strong can fall.
As she lay there, her life slipping away, she realized with a jolt that no one had truly cared or loved her.
Her father had only seen her as an obedient daughter, her mother as a good prospective wife, and her friends as a means to enhance their social standing.
No one had appreciated her for who she was, and no one had genuinely cared about her happiness or dreams.
The realization stung, and regret washed over her as she came face to face with the truth of her lonely and loveless existence.
What a lonely life.
What a tragic way to die.
Memories of the minor villainess flooded Eunji's mind again and again for some reasons. She remembered how easy it was for the other characters to manipulate and deceive the naive villainess.
She had always been anxious and nervous, never letting herself be fooled. Yet there she was, embracing death, betrayed by all the people she had trusted.
The realization hit her like a ton of bricks - despite all her efforts, she had been swayed by Soo-Min's words when he supported her goals, that they had one ambition to reach. Was it even true? He was genuine and she was good at reading lies.
It was a bitter pill to swallow.
The minor villainess' last words were a plea for forgiveness, begging for someone to care and save her. It was a desperate and pitiful end, but Eunji was too prideful to beg to plead, even in her last moments.
As her breath grew weak and her vision dimmed, she managed to murmur one final thought.
"Perhaps...I was more like you than I wanted to admit, Melisande."
Melisande.
The name of the minor villainess who died quite pitifully.
As Eunji's heart slowed and her body grew cold, she felt a sense of understanding and kinship with Melisande. Both of them had been used, betrayed, and forgotten. Both of them had died lonely and loved by none.
Eunji's words were the last she would ever speak.
Her body went limp, and her eyes grew still. The warmth slowly left her, and her soul departed this world. Her story was one of struggle and heartache, of determination and betrayal. In the end, she had been much like Melisande she had once dismissed as a comic, yet tragic, character.
She felt her life force slowly slip away, her vision darkening. As her body went slack and her pulse stilled, the night cold breeze swayed her dark locks.
Eunji, the strong and guarded girl who had fought so hard to be unlike Melisande, had finally breathed her last.
She died.