Sarasah is a Korean manhwa written by Ryu Ryang and published by Yen Press.[1]
Ji-Hae is a regular high school girl who has had a crush on Seung-Hyu for a very long time. Seung-Hyu has rejected Ji-Hae's public confessions of love on multiple occasions. After her last & most embarrassing declaration of love, Seung-Hyu lost his patience and pushed her, causing Ji-hae to fall down a flight of stairs to her death. In the afterlife, Ji-Hae is greeted by a couple of sympathetic gods who are touched by her unrequited feelings & untimely death. Looking at her spirit, they sense that Ji-Hae's problems were caused in a former life and therefore send her back in time.
After being sent back a few centuries, Ji-Hae wakes up in the body of her past life with a floral tattoo on her chest, which will gradually bloom more as someone falls deeper in love with her. She meets Seung-Hyu's past self, Ja-Yun, who is already in love with another girl who will eventually end up dying due to Ja-Yun's actions.
As a daughter to a high-ranking official, Ji-Hae disguises herself as a boy to join the Hwa Rang (local male educational facility) to get close to Ja-Yun. Ji-Hae's life becomes more complicated as she tries to balance her multiple identities (a modern girl from the future, a socially elite female and a lower-class young male with aspirations). She strikes up a close friendship with Ja-Yun's girlfriend, and attracts the affections of various different handsome young men.
, the story remains unfinished as only five volumes have been translated into English by Yen Press in 2009–2010, with no sign of further volumes being published.[2]
Ji-hae – A tomboyish girl who likes Seung-hyu but was pushed down from a flight of stairs that led to her death. When she was sent to the past, she grew her hair longer. She used the name Seung-hyu to be a "Nang-do".
Seung-hyu – The boy Ji-Hae has a crush on who pushed her down a flight of stairs leading to her death (it might have been accidental).
Ja-yun – The past self of Seung-Hyu. A boy who comes from a low-class background. He attends the Hwa Rang; he is also the reason Ji-Hae joins the Hwa Rang disguised as a boy. Currently thinks Ji-Hae is a boy. Finds out Ji-Hae is a girl later on. It seems that he fell in love with Ji-hae a little.
Bun Min Rang – A general in the Hwa Rang and the only one who knows Ji-Hae's secret. He fell in love with Ji-hae. He doesn't like Misa-heul very much. Has excellent skills in sword fighting
Misa-heul – A cold/smart guy. The leader of The Hwa-Rang's and he's also Ja-Yun's boss. Ji-Hae accidentally injures him with and arrow but later treats his wound. Also finds out Ji-Hae is a girl later on.
Lady Ari – Ji-hae's past self, she is the opposite of Ji-hae as she is feminine, smart and arrogant. She fell in love with Ja-yun, but was rejected and she was jealous of So-dan because she was his lover, so she paid So-dan's father to sell her to a noble who loves young beautiful girl and ended up (unintentionally) killing her.
So-dan – Seung-hyu's past lover. She is very beautiful and kind. In the past she was killed by Ari unintentionally. Her death is what led Seung-hyu to hate Ji-hae in the present.