Evelyn's POV
I woke up to an unfamiliar smell — something faintly floral, mixed with the lingering scent of coffee. My head throbbed as I blinked against the brightness, but when I tried to sit up, the world spun for a moment.
I closed my eyes, swallowing hard. Where am I?
I looked around the room. The walls were decorated with posters I recognized — SOLIX's official photos, bright lights, fans cheering. But these weren't just photos. These were my photos. My face was beside theirs. I knew the group from a distance, but seeing myself in the middle of it all felt like stepping into a dream.
A low groan escaped my throat as I placed my hand to my forehead. It felt like I had just woken from a nightmare. My heart raced, and I realized something was wrong.
The last thing I remembered was the performance, the crowd's cheers echoing in my ears, the blinding lights… then nothing.
I heard footsteps approaching, and I looked up to see Minseok entering the room. His face softened when he saw me sitting there, looking lost and confused.
"Evelyn," he said, his voice filled with concern. "You're awake."
I blinked, trying to focus on his face. It was familiar, too familiar, but something in my brain wasn't processing it.
"Where... am I?" I whispered. My voice felt strange, as if the words didn't belong to me either.
Minseok's expression shifted, confusion creeping into his eyes. He stepped into the room slowly, unsure. "You're in your room. You've been resting."
My room?
I glanced around again, my chest tightening. This isn't my room.
I swallowed hard. "I don't… I don't remember…"
Minseok's brow furrowed. He didn't answer right away, but his eyes lingered on me for a moment. "Are you… okay?"
I shook my head, my thoughts racing. The reality around me didn't feel like mine, and my body trembled with uncertainty. "I don't understand. I remember the stage, the performance, but… everything else is foggy. Why does it feel like I've been living this life for longer than I've been here? I don't even know how I got here."
Minseok blinked, his face filled with confusion. He looked at me, then around the room as if searching for an answer. "What do you mean?"
"I… I don't know," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I don't remember…"
Minseok's confusion deepened. He seemed unsure of how to react. "You've been with us for… a while. You've been part of SOLIX, Evelyn. You've always been with us."
His words only made me feel more detached from the situation. The idea of having always been with them didn't match the memory of me before all of this. I couldn't connect with it.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "No. I haven't. I just… can't remember…"
Minseok didn't respond immediately. He shifted, clearly not knowing how to comfort me or even what to say. There was a brief, uncomfortable silence as he tried to understand what was happening.
"Something's wrong," I whispered to myself, more to the empty space around me than to him. "I feel like I'm in someone else's life. I don't belong here."
Minseok stood there for a moment, trying to figure me out. "Evelyn…" he began, unsure, but his voice trailed off. He had no answer.
The silence stretched on, both of us unsure of what to say next. Minseok opened his mouth as if to offer comfort, but nothing came.
He took a step back, his face still etched with confusion. "I'll let the others know you're awake." He hesitated before leaving. "If you need anything, we're here."
But there was no comfort in his words. The confusion between us hung in the air like a thick fog.
I sat there, staring at the door after he left, my mind racing with questions I couldn't answer. Who was I here?