CHAPTER ONE

Professor Khynny Myggz Cuenca glided through the National Museum of Korea, her emerald gown catching the light with every step. The polished marble floors reflected the elegance of the evening, blending the ancient history on display with the modern sophistication of the gala. Overhead, warm golden lights bathed the exhibits in a soft glow. At the center of it all stood the evening's crown jewel: a Goryeo celadon vase, its jade surface gleaming under the spotlight.

The vase, a masterpiece of 12th-century Korean celadon, radiated a serene beauty. Its deep jade hue, known as 'Kingfisher Green', shimmered like water in the soft light. Intricate crane and cloud motifs swirled around its curves, symbolizing peace and longevity. A tiny imperfection near the base hinted at the artisan's touch—a reminder that even perfection carries the weight of humanity.

Once lost during the Japanese occupation, the vase had been rediscovered in a European estate, and Khynny had spent years ensuring its safe return to South Korea. This was more than an exhibit for her—it was the culmination of a long, personal journey to preserve a piece of her country's history. As she stood before it now, a wave of accomplishment washed over her.

Her gaze shifted from the vase to the guests, taking in their awestruck expressions. But a shadow in the crowd caught her attention—a man dressed in dark slacks and a plain jacket lingered near the display, his presence unsettling. Before she could react, the monitors flickered.

A chill ran down her spine.

"Did you see that?" Khynny asked the nearby technician, her eyes glued to the security screens.

The tech glanced up, indifferent. "Just a glitch. No need to worry."

But worry gnawed at her. She forced a smile, masking the growing tension that gripped her shoulders. Her eyes kept darting back to the vase, a nagging sense of unease pulling her deeper into dread.

Across the room, Moon "Oner" Hyeon Jun navigated through the crowd, his sharp eyes scanning every face. He wasn't here for the art. His heart beat harder as he neared his girlfriend, the reason for his presence at the gala. There she was, radiant in a silver gown, her dark hair flowing like silk. For a brief moment, a sense of calm washed over him.

But that calm shattered the second he noticed the man standing beside her—too close, his arm casually draped around her waist. The sight hit Oner like a punch to the gut.

His chest tightened as betrayal crashed over him in waves. She wasn't pulling away. She wasn't protesting. She leaned into the man like it was the most natural thing in the world, as if this wasn't something new. The ground seemed to shift beneath Oner's feet. His fingers curled into fists, nails biting into his palms, the pain barely registering through the storm of emotions.

He kept his face neutral, though every muscle in his body screamed with the urge to confront her. He had felt them drifting apart for months—the distance growing between them, the late nights spent at practice, the endless travels, her replies becoming shorter and more delayed. Yet seeing it now, happening right in front of him, carved the betrayal fresh into his soul.

Oner took a step forward, anger thrumming under his skin. But before he could act, a cold logic cut through the haze—confronting her wouldn't change anything. It was already over.

He turned his gaze away, forcing himself to swallow the hurt, but his attention snagged on a different figure. A woman. The curator of the exhibit. There was something familiar about her, but he couldn't quite place it. His instincts flared when he noticed another figure lurking suspiciously near the vase.

The crowd swirled around him, laughter and soft music filling the air, but it all felt muted. Tension buzzed beneath the surface, a quiet hum of unease growing louder by the second. His focus locked onto the suspicious figure again, but before he could move, a voice interrupted him.

"Hyeon Jun? What are you doing here?" His older sister, Hye Jin, appeared beside him, eyes wide with surprise.

"No time to explain," he muttered, his voice urgent. "Stay close."

Hye Jin blinked at his tone but nodded, sensing the seriousness in his expression. She stayed by his side as the atmosphere in the museum thickened. The lights flickered again, then plunged the room into darkness.

The crowd erupted into chaos. Glass shattered, and alarms blared through the panic. Khynny's heart raced. She knew now—this wasn't just a glitch. The thieves were here.

Without hesitation, she moved through the panicked guests, her voice cutting through the noise. "Everyone, get down!" Calm and deliberate, she pushed through the chaos, her mind laser-focused on the vase.

Oner moved instinctively toward her, drawn to her decisive action. There was something captivating about the way she handled herself—graceful yet powerful, commanding in a way that demanded attention. Her resolve was palpable, unshaken by the unfolding disaster.

Khynny's eyes locked onto the thieves as they advanced. The first lunged at her, but with a swift twist of her body, she trapped his arm and slammed him to the ground in a fluid motion. She was already turning toward the next attacker before the first hit the floor.

Oner watched, breathless, as she moved. Her precision, her strength—it stirred something deep within him. He snapped out of his daze just as the second attacker charged toward her. With a quick sidestep, Khynny drove her heel into the man's chest, sending him crashing into a pedestal with a sickening thud.

Oner joined the fight, his instincts sharp, eyes scanning for any other threats. A shadow moved behind Khynny. "On your left!" he called out.

She spun, catching the thief's wrist mid-strike, flipping him over with practiced ease. Oner followed up with a swift kick to the man's ribs, sending him skidding across the marble floor.

For a brief moment, it was just the two of them—moving in perfect sync, anticipating each other's actions without a word. It felt natural, as if they had trained together for years. The rhythm of their movements was seamless, each step flowing into the next.

Oner's heart pounded, adrenaline coursing through him, but it wasn't just the fight. It was her—her courage, her fearlessness. There was something magnetic about the way she stood her ground, unflinching in the face of danger.

The wail of sirens cut through the air as the police stormed in, quickly subduing the remaining thieves. The chaos finally ebbed, leaving only the wreckage of the gala in its wake.

Khynny stood still, catching her breath, her emerald gown now torn in several places. She felt the cool air prickling her skin, but before she could react, Oner was at her side. Without a word, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

"Here," he said, his voice soft. "It's not much, but it'll keep you warm."

Khynny blinked, momentarily surprised by the gesture. The jacket was still warm from his body, carrying a faint, woodsy scent that wrapped around her like a protective shield. "Thanks," she murmured, pulling it close.

Oner gave a small, almost shy smile, his eyes flicking to her torn gown. His cheeks reddened slightly, but he quickly recovered. "It's the least I could do after... all that."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the tension between them shifted. There was something deeper there—an unspoken recognition, a bond forged in the heat of the moment. Khynny felt her pulse quicken, the weight of his gaze making her heart skip.

But before either could say more, Hye Jin's voice broke through the silence.

"Hyeon Jun!" she called, rushing over to them.

Oner turned, the connection with Khynny momentarily severed.

"Professor Khy?" Hye Jin's voice held a note of surprise. "Wait... you two know each other?"

Khynny blinked, realization dawning as she looked at Hye Ji. "Miss Moon?" The pieces fell into place.

Hye Jin glanced between them, eyes wide. "Wait... you're the one who—"

The sentence hung in the air, but the meaning was clear. Both Oner and Khynny realized they had met before. That fleeting connection from the past had resurfaced in the most unexpected way.

Oner let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "Small world, huh?"

"Too small," Khynny agreed, her own disbelief mixing with a sense of fate that lingered between them.

Hye Jin, ever perceptive, grinned. "Looks like you two have some catching up to do."

Khynny smiled, her attention shifting between the chaos around them and the man beside her. "Maybe another time," she said, glancing at the wreckage. "There are still a lot of loose ends to tie up. See you around campus, Mister and Miss Moon?"

Oner smiled, a warmth blooming in his chest. "Yeah... I'll see you around."