Chapter 7

The Red Notebook — Episode 7: (8:40 PM)

Yuri woke up earlier than usual.

Her parents were still asleep. She quietly reached for the red notebook and opened it to the page.

214.

She stared at the number.

Why this room?

Yuri checked the time.

7:12 AM.

She slipped the notebook inside her jacket and left the room. The hallway was almost empty. She took the stairs instead of the elevator, not wanting anyone to notice where she was going.

208... 209... 210...

1. 212. 213.

Then—

214.

Yuri stopped.

The door was locked.

She looked at the notebook again.

Something new had appeared beneath the number.

8:40 PM.

Yuri frowned.

“What happened at 8:40?”

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown Number.

“You're at 214, aren't you?”

Yuri froze.

She typed:

“How do you know?”

The reply came seconds later.

“Because I know what happened there.”

Yuri stared at the message.

“Then tell me.”

A few seconds passed.

Then—

“Look underneath the door.”

Yuri crouched down.

A thin white envelope was pushed underneath it.

She pulled it toward herself and opened it.

Inside was an old hotel receipt.

ROOM 214
AUGUST 16 — SEVEN YEARS AGO

Yuri's eyes moved down the page.

Then she saw the guest's name.

Her father's name.

Yuri stared at it in disbelief.

Her father had stayed in this room seven years ago.

But why had he never mentioned it?

She turned the receipt over.

One sentence was written on the back:

“Ask him what happened at 8:40 PM.”

Her phone buzzed again.

“Now you know why I told you not to follow her.”

Yuri's mind immediately went to Mrs. Han.

But Mrs. Han was supposed to be living in Yuri's old country.

Then who had Yuri seen outside the window?

Yuri looked at the red notebook.

For the first time, she wondered if the notebook wasn't only revealing the past.

Maybe it was warning her about the present.

She took a picture of the receipt and slipped it into her pocket.

She would ask her parents.

But not yet.

First, she needed to know what they were hiding.

Yuri turned to leave.

Her phone buzzed one last time.

Unknown Number.

“Don't ask your father about Room 214 yet.”

Yuri stopped.

Another message appeared.

“Ask him why he really brought you to Seoul.”

Yuri's expression changed.

Her parents had told her they came to Seoul for a fresh start.

But now she knew one thing for sure—

They had lied.