Ow.

It's not hard for me to remember anymore.

But, like any hangover, the more sober you get, the worse the headache.

Wait.

No.

I need to escape.

I need to leave, now-

"Going anywhere? You know, I really admire Niki for his bravery. He attempts to save all those who catch our eye. But sadly, he always fails. You had the most potential, you know. A reason to live, a hatred towards parties, and we do love a challenge. Yet, here you are."

"Sunoo, let the poor boy be. You're scaring him!"

"Let him be scared. Tell me, Hyojun, do you know why Niki survived so long?"

"There you go again, with the Niki this and the Niki that-"

"Niki, he's not letting me finish!"

"Please let him finish."

"I swear, you two should just make it official by now. Fine, since you asked so nicely. Sunoo should learn some manners from you."

"Oh, shut up. Now, where was I?"

"You were explaining why I survived so long."

"Ah, yes. Do you know why he survived so long, even though he's not in Dionysus? It's because he was like you. He hated parties, and he was far more intelligent than the other people who come to our parties. And above all, he was pretty."

"Nope, nope, nope! I'm finishing this, I can't stand you. He had an aura. So we tried to recruit him. At the time, he was... how old were you again?"

"I was 19."

"Yes, he was 19. Do you know that he even stuck into the party? It was all because he found out that his little sister was there too. So he snuck in to get her out. Too bad, he never left. But-"

"But he didn't get drunk no matter how much he drank, despite being an alcohol virgin."

"You did not just say alcohol virgin."

"Shut up, Won. Doctors put you under when you're about to experience surgery, and they make sure to numb you so you don't feel a thing. Likewise, we numb our see victims with wine, so they don't feel the pain of falling. But Niki was immune to the numb. "

I swallowed, attempting to speak "So what did you do to him?"

"Well, we tried to make use of him. But no matter what we did, we couldn't lure him to our side. So we just decided to make him our servant. He runs errands for us, and we pay him with our affection and care. Well, I do, at least."

"You forgot to mention that you're completely whipped for him-"

"Why you little-"

"Do you two ever stop arguing?"

Jungwon and Sunoo instantly hush, as a voice spoke. A face comes out of the shadows. I'm sure we never met, so why does he look so familiar?

"You'll scare our guest. Oh, and look at poor Niki. You've been talking about him as if he wasn't right in front of you guys. Here, let me finish telling Hyojun everything. You two take Niki and join the party downstairs. They're playing truth or dare."

Jungwon and Sunoo nod, leading the youngest out of the room. Finally, he faces me.

"Niki is a good servant, you know. He's sweet and cares a lot for the kids. They care for him too, even if they act cold towards him sometimes. They didn't even need any blackmail to get him to agree. He's a good servant, right?"

"Then why does he try to save people? Why did he try to save me?"

"Oh, that? He has a kind heart, something that the members of Dionysus don't. That's why we realized that he couldn't be one of us. But Sunoo was reluctant to let him go, so he stayed. He tries to warn people so that they don't go through what he went through. And you... well, you were worth the effort."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

"Well, you heard Niki earlier. They don't remember anything. They don't even remember people closest to them. They remember their passions and such, but the smaller details, no. But you, you were only in the daze for a moment. You didn't forget. You remembered everything, that's why you find my face familiar."

It all clicks together. "You. You're the man my mom was talking to that one night."

"You finally figured it out. I'm your father, Hyojun. What Niki didn't tell you was that Harin ran away. She changed her name and even got plastic surgery to look completely different once she had you. But you still look like the real her."

For some reason, this didn't surprise me anymore. Maybe life was getting so messed up that I was numb not only to the daze, but also to everything else.

"Then... what will you do with me?"

"Well, that's simple. I'll have to get rid of you."

"W-what?!"

"You know too much. You've seen what happens at the parties. You've been a victim. You've survived the daze. It only makes sense if I kill you. People who survive the daze, they can't join us."

"But Niki-"

"Niki was... different."

"How? Why does he get to live?"

"Niki has a vampire's mark."

"A vampire's mark?"

"He's the son of a vampire. It's different than a vampire bite, and he's only half, but he has royal blood in him. He's protected, we can't hurt him or his family. It's a mystery, why he doesn't just call his father to stop us. I guess he cares for Dionysus that much. But you, you're just a sad kid looking for his sister. She's gone, Hyojun."

"Don't you even care? She's your daughter too."

"Oh, Hyojun. You're so clueless. She's not your twin, not even my kid. Your mother went and had a kid with someone else. Don't you wonder why you guys don't really look alike?"

"No... please, spare me. I won't tell. I'll keep this all a secret, I'll go back to my regular life, or I'll even join you-"

I suddenly spot Jungwon, peeking from around the corner. His eyes are sad for just a moment as we make eye contact.

"Shhh. It'll be quick. Just close your eyes."

No!

Must... stay... awake...

"You'll wake up soon, I promise."

Yang Jungwon...

Please...

"Lose yourself, Jung Hyojun."

It seems impossible, but I swear that a teardrop is running down Jungwon's face as he watches.

"Lose yourself to the wine."

My eyes shut close, as much as I try to fight it.

"Make sure to say hello to Jung Minji for me."

Please, help me...

"We were friends at one point, after all."

Jungwon...

And black overtakes me once again.

•••

"Are you ready?"

"Mhm!"

"Oh, your brother is saying bye!"

Minji turned around, waving to her twin brother. "Okay, Jungwonnie, let's go!"

The two went to the party, having the time of their lives.

Halfway through, Jungwon got called aside.

"Is that who you brought, Jungwon?"

Jungwon nervously nodded, praying under his breath that she wouldn't get picked.

But luck was never on his side.

"Let's get her then."

And at that point, Jungwon could do nothing.

Jung Minji. The only person Jungwon remembered after he joined Dionysus. She was his best friend, someone he deeply cared for (platonically, of course. Minji preferred women anyways).

Jungwon had no choice but to bring her. The others kept pressuring him, there was no way he could keep her safe forever.

So he just hoped that she would join them peacefully and quietly.

But no.

She drank and drank, falling deeper into the daze. But the effect didn't last forever. The daze wore off, her headache grew, and she sobered, remembering everything.

"Kill her."

"W-what?"

"She knows too much, Jungwon."

"But she's... she's my best friend."

"You know, this is why you're supposed to forget everything that happens. Everyone, everything, all that's left is Dionysus. But her, you just had to remember her. And she now remembers not only you but everything. Everything that happened here, she knows."

"But-"

"Do it. Or else I'll kill her instead, painfully and slowly, and make you watch."

"...Fine."

So he made sure she'd forget everything, forever.

And that was that.

Her last words?

"It's okay. I'm sorry that you remembered me."