Giovanni Merano is a spectacle, an ethereal beauty that seems to transcend the mundane. His presence at Merano’s Domain* is a phenomenon, a magnetic force drawing students to him like moths to a flame. His teal eyes sparkle with an almost otherworldly light, and his chiseled features seem sculpted by divine hands. Every day, throngs of admirers surround him, hoping for a smile, a word, a glance—anything to bask in his radiant aura.

But Giovanni is more than just a pretty face. He is kind-hearted, always ready with a gentle word or a helping hand. He’s friendly and approachable, his charisma bridging the gaps between cliques and social hierarchies. He excels academically, his intelligence as sharp as his looks, and his talents know no bounds, from athletics to the arts. Giovanni Merano is perfect. Too perfect.

Among the multitude infatuated with Giovanni was Sahara Grenelle. Sahara's obsession was intense, a burning fixation that consumed her thoughts and dictated her actions. She followed Giovanni everywhere, desperate to be near him, to capture even a fragment of his attention. Then, one day, Sahara vanishes. Her body is later found near a secluded beach, lifeless and cold. The coroner rules it a suicide, but Sahara's sister, Savannah, wasn’t convinced. She is certain that Sahara was murdered.

Haunted by grief and suspicion, Savannah devotes herself to uncovering the truth. She retraces Sahara’s steps, piecing together the fragments of her sister’s last days. One evening, as she completes her student council duties, she notices Giovanni slipping behind the abandoned school buildings. Curious and wary, Savannah follows, her heart pounding in her chest.

Hidden behind thick bushes, Savannah watches Giovanni. He stands over a prone figure, the body of one of their teachers. Giovanni’s teal eyes are devoid of emotion, his movements deliberate and unhurried. As he walks away, Savannah hurries to the teacher’s side, her hands trembling. The teacher’s neck bears a dark, ominous mark, and he is no longer breathing.

Savannah’s mind races. Could it be? Giovanni, the epitome of perfection, capable of such monstrous acts? Her thoughts turn to Sahara, remembering how her sister had mentioned a secret meeting with Giovanni on the day she disappeared. The pieces of the puzzle begin to fit together in a dark, horrifying picture.

Savannah’s heart aches with a chilling realization: the angelic Giovanni, adored by all, might be hiding a sinister truth. As she stares into the night, she knows she has to uncover the depths of Giovanni's secrets, no matter the cost. The perfect facade is beginning to crack, revealing the darkness that lies beneath.

*Merano’s Domain: A school system, ranging from elementary through senior high, owned by the Merano family.

Cercis slumped deeper into her worn-out armchair, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the dim glow of her laptop screen. The cursor blinked mockingly at the end of the synopsis of her unfinished novel, a project she had started back in university. She took another swig from the nearly empty beer can, its bitter taste mingling with the pervasive bitterness in her soul. The other empty cans lay scattered around her feet, silent witnesses to her slow descent into oblivion.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, trembling with a mix of fatigue and frustration. She let out a heavy sigh, her thoughts drifting to the chaotic mess that was her life. Ever since childhood, she had known nothing but pain and disappointment. Her sister’s disappearance had left a void that her mother’s death only deepened. Her father’s abandonment was the final nail in the coffin of her happiness, leaving her utterly alone.

Finishing the last can of beer, Cercis tossed it aside with a clatter and picked up her phone. She scrolled mindlessly through her social media feed, a parade of perfect lives and smiling faces that only fueled her resentment. Then she paused, her gaze locking onto a series of photographs. The man in the pictures is strikingly handsome, his features almost ethereal. Shun Okazaki, a 25-year-old model, is the epitome of male beauty.

“Oh it’s you…” she mumbles, pointing at her phone screen.

Cercis blinked, her vision blurred by alcohol and unshed tears. She glanced back at her laptop screen, then at the unfinished portrait of Giovanni Merano pinned to the wall. Her character, her creation—Giovanni, the perfect, unattainable ideal. She looked back at Shun's photos, her mind reeling with a strange sense of recognition.

“Giovanni…” she whispered, the name slipping from her lips like a plea. “Okazaki Shun.”

In her drunken haze, Cercis felt a sudden, irrational urge to reach out. With clumsy fingers, she composed a message to Shun on social media, her thoughts swirling in a fog of alcohol and desperation. She told him he looked familiar, that he reminded her of someone. She even went as far as to invite him to meet up.

She hit send and stared at the screen, her heart pounding. The silence in her apartment was deafening, broken only by the hum of her laptop and the distant sounds of the city outside. As the minutes ticked by, doubt began to creep in, mingling with the ever-present despair. What had she done? Why would someone like Shun Okazaki, someone so perfect, ever respond to someone like her?

Cercis closed her eyes, letting the darkness envelop her. “Damn you Sean Kor—mhm…” she again mumbles as she finally passes out.

The morning arrives, Cercis woke up to the dull throb of a hangover, her head pounding and her mouth dry. She blinked at her phone, the screen lighting up with an unexpected notification. Shun Okazaki had responded to her message, not only that, but he had agreed to meet her. Her heart skipped a beat as she reread his reply, disbelief warring within her.

She quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a wrinkled blouse, not bothering to tame her messy white hair. The remnants of last night’s drinking session lingered in her system, making every movement feel sluggish and heavy. She splashed cold water on her face, hoping to clear her head, and hurried out of her apartment, the prospect of meeting Shun propelling her forward.

The city’s grand library is a quaint place, filled with the comforting smell of books. Cercis found a table in the corner and sat down, her hands trembling slightly as she waited. Doubts gnawed at her mind—maybe he wouldn’t show up, maybe it was all a joke. She stared at the door, anxiety twisting in her gut.

But then, he entered—Shun Okazaki, with his striking features and captivating presence, walked through the library doors. Nearly everyone paused, heads turning as they were drawn to his beauty. Cercis's breath hitched as his aquamarine eyes swept across the room, eventually settling on her. He smiled, making his way toward her with purposeful, confident strides.

“So…you were looking for me? Cercis?” Shun’s voice was smooth, his eyes locking onto hers as he sat down across from her. 

Cercis blinked, trying to process the situation. 

“It’s been a while, Cercis,” he continued, his gaze steady and warm.

“A wh–huh?” she stammered, raising an eyebrow in confusion, still somewhat hungover.

Shun tilted his head, a hint of disappointment flickering in his eyes. “You don’t… remember me?”

Cercis stared at him, her mind racing, but she slowly shook her head. “You’re Okazaki Shun, a model.”

Cercis gazes at him with a look that's neither admiration nor curiosity; instead, her eyes hold a cold, distant expression.

He nodded, a sigh escaping his lips. “I see... Anyway,” he said, smoothly shifting the conversation, “you mentioned that I look familiar, what do you mean by that?”

"You remind me of a character in my novel," Cercis blurted out, almost instantly, as if she were eager to steer the conversation towards her writing instead. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Giovanni Merano,” she began, her voice trembling slightly. “He’s... he’s this perfect character I created. Handsome, kind, talented—everything I’ve always wanted to be, everything I’ve always wanted in someone.”

Shun listened intently, though a hint of disappointment crossed his face as Cercis showed no sign of remembering him. He tried to maintain a thoughtful expression despite his downcast mood.

“As for the novel… well… It’s about... it’s about the facade of perfection and the darkness that can hide behind it,” Cercis explained, her words flowing more easily now. “Giovanni is adored by everyone, but there’s a mystery, a hidden darkness that slowly unravels.”

Shun’s eyes sparkled with interest. “It sounds fascinating. And you say I look like him?”

Cercis nodded. “Yes, you’re exactly how I imagined him. It’s uncanny.”

Shun leaned back, a small smile playing on his lips. “Well, I’m flattered.”

As Cercis and Shun continued their conversation, she felt a familiar ease in his presence—something she wasn’t quite ready to acknowledge. They delved deeply into Giovanni Merano, with Shun posing thoughtful questions about the character’s motivations and the novel’s themes. Encouraged by his genuine interest, Cercis resolved to take a bold step.

"Would you like to read it?" she asked, pulling out her laptop. "It's unfinished, but maybe you'd enjoy seeing where Giovanni's story is headed."

Shun's eyes lit up. "I’d love to. Send it to me."

Cercis quickly emailed him the latest draft of her novel. "It’s a bit rough, but I think you'll get the gist."

They continued chatting, delving into the intricacies of her writing and Shun's experiences in the modeling world. 

A notification from her phone interrupted their conversation. Cercis glanced down at the group message from her boss, Mr. Park. Their agency,  Mystic Light Media, is in a bind, scrambling to find a model for an upcoming campaign after their original choice had backed out. Cercis’s mind raced as she considered the opportunity before her. She looked at Shun, her eyes sparkling with a sudden idea.

Well, isn’t that convenient—for her career and her personal agenda…

"Shun," she began, a secretive grin spreading across her face, "I have a proposition for you. My agency is in desperate need of a model for a new campaign. The previous model dropped out last minute, and we’re running out of time. Would you be interested?"

Shun raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Tell me more."

Cercis leaned in, her enthusiasm bubbling over. "I work as a graphic designer at a marketing agency. We’re launching a major campaign and your look would be perfect. It’s a high-profile gig and could be a great opportunity for you. What do you think?"

Shun considered her offer, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "It sounds exciting, but I’d need to check with my management first to ensure it doesn’t conflict with my existing schedule."

"Of course," Cercis nodded, understanding the complexities of his profession. "If you’re interested, I can give you all the details to pass on to your management. It would be amazing to work together."

Shun smiled, his eyes twinkling. "I’ll definitely bring it up with them. And thank you for thinking of me for this opportunity."

Cercis smiled back, although her eyes remained as dead as ever.

After a few more hours of conversation, the two exchanged contact information and bid farewell. Cercis took the bus while Shun was picked up by a fancy-looking car. 

Cercis trudged back to her apartment, the weight of the day pressing heavily on her shoulders. She clutched a newly bought pack of canned beer, her fingers gripping the cardboard handle with a familiar desperation. The encounter with Shun had left her mind buzzing with possibilities and lingering questions, but as she crossed the threshold into her dimly lit living room, the intoxicating high of the meeting began to ebb away.

She dropped her bag and kicked off her shoes, the apartment echoing with the dull thuds. Without hesitation, she tore open a can of beer, the hiss of escaping carbonation a small comfort in the silence. She sank into her desk chair, staring blankly at the cluttered surface. Papers, pens, and her laptop lay scattered, but her eyes didn't register them. Instead, she gazed into the empty space before her, lost in a fog of thoughts.

Taking a long swig, Cercis let the bitter liquid wash over her tongue, hoping it would drown the swirling emotions inside her. She replayed the afternoon with Shun in her mind, his smile, his aquamarine eyes, the way he understands Giovanni a little too well. 

Her gaze drifted to a framed family photo perched on the edge of her desk. The glass is smudged, and the frame slightly askew, but the image is still vivid. There she was as a toddler, wide-eyed and curious, flanked by her mother and father. Yet, it’s the girl beside her who captured her attention. Iris, her older sister, with her bright smile and protective arm around Cercis's tiny frame.

Cercis's heart ached as she stared at Iris, memories rushing back with a painful clarity. Iris had gone missing years ago, shattering Cercis’s world. The search had been exhaustive and desperate, but it had yielded no results. Eventually, the authorities declared Iris legally dead—a conclusion Cercis could never fully accept. She needed answers.

She whispered Iris’s name, her voice almost swallowed by the emptiness of the room. “Iris... where on earth are you? Are you even alive?” Her voice trembled, barely audible.

As her vision blurred with tears, she shut her eyes, trying to recall the happier times before Iris grew distant and eventually vanished abruptly. 

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze returned to the family photo, her heart heavy with unresolved grief. She lifted a can of beer in a silent toast to the past, to the family she had lost, and to the fragments of her life that still felt achingly incomplete. As the night wore on, she continued to drink, the alcohol mingling with her tears, binding her more tightly to the memories she could never escape.