Chapter 3

After a moment of silence, Ara Jeon shook off the memories of her past, pushing them deep into the recesses of her mind. The day had to move on, and so did she. She finished her jog, wiped the sweat off her brow, and took one last look at the rising sun before heading home to change and prepare for work.

It was another ordinary day—at least, it should have been.

When Ara arrived at the café, the familiar scent of coffee beans and freshly baked pastries hit her like a warm embrace. She tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to mask the lingering weight in her chest, and got to work.

As she moved through her usual routine, arranging tables, greeting customers with the same polite smile, she felt the usual detachment she'd come to embrace over the years. But it was no use. That ache from within wouldn't go away.

It didn't take long for her boss, Mrs. Han, to notice.

Mrs. Han was a middle-aged woman with a kind heart, a sharp eye, and an even sharper intuition. She'd been the one to hire Ara right out of university. She had heard the rumors about Ara's past—the ones that Ara had desperately tried to keep quiet. Mrs. Han never pried, but she always made sure Ara knew she had a safe space at the café, a place to escape if she ever needed it.

As Ara wiped down a table near the counter, Mrs. Han walked up beside her, her gaze softening as she noticed the tiredness in Ara's eyes.

"You're not looking well today," Mrs. Han said, her voice gentle but laced with concern. "Is everything okay?"

Ara froze for a second, her heart pounding in her chest. Her face immediately flushed with discomfort, her mind racing to find a way to avoid the question, to deflect the attention. She forced a smile, trying to sound casual.

"It's nothing," Ara answered quickly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just a little tired, I guess. It's nothing to worry about."

Mrs. Han didn't buy it. She placed a hand gently on Ara's shoulder, her touch warm and reassuring. "Ara, you know you don't have to keep pretending. If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

Ara swallowed the lump in her throat, blinking away the sudden rush of tears threatening to spill. She didn't want to burden Mrs. Han. Not today. Not ever. She couldn't let anyone see how broken she truly felt.

"I appreciate it, really," Ara said, forcing a laugh to mask the tremor in her voice. "But I'm fine, just... one of those days, you know? I've got this."

Mrs. Han studied her for a moment longer, her expression soft but understanding. "I know, dear. Just don't forget, you're not alone. Take care of yourself."

With that, Mrs. Han patted her back lightly and walked away, leaving Ara standing there, still haunted by the echoes of her past. She wanted to believe her own words—that she was okay, that everything would be fine. But deep down, she knew she was far from it.

The hours passed in a blur, and although she kept busy, Ara couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed. That the weight of her past had become heavier, more suffocating, as she tried to move through life like everything was normal. She had managed to hide the scars for so long, but some wounds never truly healed.

The hours passed, and Ara tried to push through, focusing on her work. But no matter how much she tried to distract herself, something felt off. The past lingered at the back of her mind like a shadow, never quite leaving her.

Then, the bell above the door jingled, signaling the arrival of a new customer. Ara turned, her eyes automatically scanning the room. And that's when she saw her.

The woman approached the counter to place her order, and as she spoke to the barista, Ara's stomach twisted. She couldn't shake the feeling that this was someone she had known long ago. Her face... her voice... everything about her stirred memories of a time Ara thought she had buried.

As Ara was lost in thought, the woman suddenly turned and locked eyes with her. A familiar spark of recognition passed between them. For a second, Ara's heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat.

"Ara Jeon?" The woman's voice cut through the haze of Ara's thoughts, and her words sent a ripple of tension through her. "It's really you, isn't it?"