Full description:

Sim Daejung’s rent period is over, and so is his time at Haute Heights. He has to move and start fresh once again, which means more new faces, more challenges and more secrets to discover.

He finds them all as he meets Perla Small, who’s sick and tired of the monotony of her apartment block and is longing for a change. The more she approaches Daejung, the more she finds herself attracted to him and his mysterious aura.

At the same time, however, he has to face the ghosts from his past once again, especially when a familiar face finds him… and is not willing to let go of her goal without a fight.

Disclaimer:

This is an entry for the Open Novella Contest 2022 and is based on the prompt 99: "It's always what/who you least expected that blows your mind away."

This novella is a sequel of my ONC entry of 2021, Face, and is therefore part of a series. While this book can be read as a standalone, I'd advise to read Face first to understand the main character's personality and his motives.

Three of the protagonists are ethnically Korean. According to Korean naming tradition, the surname always comes before the first name. The story, however, takes place in the United States of America. You'll find out why as you read the story.

Notes for narration in each chapter:

Chapters 1-3, 5, 7, 9, 11-12 and all chapters listed as "Encore" are told in Daejung's point of view

Chapter 4 is told in Sujin's point of view

Chapter 6 is told in Daehwa's point of view

Main characters:

Sim Daejung

He left South Korea in 2018 and has since made a new life for himself in the States

Han Sujin

A mysterious girl who keeps a huge secret...

Perla Small

A young woman looking for a purpose in her apparently dull life