Stirring Emotions

Chapter 6: Stirring Emotions

Hyun couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling in his chest. That fleeting moment outside the campus café, the way Yuna had laughed so effortlessly with someone else—it lingered in his mind far longer than it should have.

Why do I care so much?

That question haunted him throughout the night. He tossed and turned in his bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to reason with himself. They weren't even together. Yet, the thought of Yuna being close to someone else gnawed at him in a way he never expected.

The next day, he made up his mind.

He had to do something. He had to step up.

The opportunity presented itself sooner than he thought.

That afternoon, Hyun saw Yuna struggling to carry a stack of books out of the library. Without thinking, he stepped forward and grabbed the top half of the pile from her hands.

Yuna blinked up at him, surprised. "Hyun? What are you—"

"Helping." He smirked. "Unless you enjoy breaking your arms?"

She let out a small laugh. "Thanks. I didn't realize how heavy these were until I checked them all out."

As they walked together, Hyun tried to find the right words. He wanted to ask her something—anything—that would bring him closer to understanding her.

"Are you free this weekend?"

The question left his lips before he could second-guess himself.

Yuna glanced at him curiously. "Why? Do you need help with something?"

Hyun shook his head. "No, I just thought… maybe we could hang out. Just us."

Yuna paused, a flicker of surprise in her expression. Then, slowly, she smiled. "Alright. That sounds nice."

Hyun felt his chest tighten—but this time, it wasn't jealousy. It was anticipation. Excitement.

As they parted ways, he realized something: He was falling for Yuna. Again. And this time, he wasn't going to let the moment slip away.

Chapter 7: A Step Closer

Hyun found himself staring at Yuna more often than he should. It wasn't intentional—at least, that's what he kept telling himself. But every time she laughed, every time she brushed her hair behind her ear, or even when she was simply lost in thought, his heart clenched in a way that was both unfamiliar and exhilarating.

Ever since that day at the café, something inside him shifted. Seeing another guy so effortlessly make Yuna laugh had left a bitter taste in his mouth. And he hated that feeling.

"Hyun?"

Yuna's voice snapped him out of his trance. She was standing in front of him, hands on her hips, an amused smirk playing on her lips.

"Huh?"

She raised an eyebrow. "You've been staring at me for the past five minutes. Something on my face?"

He coughed, looking away. "No. Just… thinking."

She chuckled. "Must be some serious thoughts."

Yeah. You have no idea, Hyun thought.

That evening, Hyun made a decision.

If he wanted to get closer to Yuna, he had to take the first step. He had to stop overthinking and start acting.

So, when she casually mentioned a bookstore she wanted to visit, he didn't hesitate.

"Let's go together," he said.

Yuna blinked. "You read books?"

He scoffed. "Of course I do."

She tilted her head, unconvinced. "Fantasy or mystery?"

Hyun hesitated. "Uh… biography?"

Yuna burst out laughing. "Oh, Hyun. You're terrible at lying."

Despite his embarrassment, he smiled. If making a fool of himself meant seeing her like this, then maybe it wasn't so bad.

The bookstore was small but cozy, lined with shelves filled with the scent of old pages and nostalgia. Yuna immediately wandered off to the fiction section, her eyes lighting up like a child in a candy store.

Hyun watched her, amused.

"You look like you belong here," he remarked.

She grinned. "Books are magic, Hyun. They make the world feel less lonely."

Something about the way she said it made his chest tighten.

Maybe… maybe he didn't just like Yuna.

Maybe he was falling for her.

And this time, he wasn't sure if he could stop himself.

Chapter 8: Whispers of the Past

Hyun's grip on the book tightened as he watched Yuna's laughter echo through the small bookstore. It was warm, familiar, like a melody he had long forgotten but still knew by heart. Yet, as the moment stretched, a sharp pain pulsed through his head.

Déjà vu.

For a split second, everything around him blurred, replaced by flashes of something he couldn't quite grasp—Yuna, standing in the rain, her face shadowed by sorrow. A voice calling his name. The distant sound of a car skidding against wet pavement.

"Hyun?"

Yuna's voice pulled him back. He blinked rapidly, shaking off the sudden wave of dizziness. She was standing in front of him, brows furrowed in concern.

"Are you okay?"

He forced a smile. "Yeah… Just spaced out for a second."

Yuna tilted her head, studying him for a moment before reaching out and lightly tapping his forehead. "Don't go daydreaming too much. You'll miss all the fun."

He chuckled, but deep inside, unease coiled within him. Why did that moment feel so real? Why did it feel like a warning?

As the day went on, Hyun found himself mesmerized by Yuna's presence. They walked side by side, sharing stories and small jokes, yet every now and then, those flashes returned. The way she tucked her hair behind her ear, the way her fingers brushed his when they reached for the same book—it all felt too precise, as if he had lived it once before.

And every time it happened, the pain in his head grew sharper.

It wasn't until they reached a quiet park that he finally stopped walking, pressing a hand to his temple. The world spun slightly.

"Hyun? What's wrong?"

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Nothing. Just… maybe a headache."

Yuna didn't look convinced. She stepped closer, her hand resting lightly on his arm. "Do you need to sit down?"

He hesitated before nodding. They found a bench beneath a willow tree, its leaves swaying gently in the wind. For a moment, there was silence between them, only the sound of distant chatter and rustling leaves filling the air.

Then, softly, Yuna spoke. "You know… sometimes when I'm with you, it feels like we're picking up a story we never finished."

Hyun's breath hitched. His fingers curled into fists on his lap. "Yuna…"

She smiled, her gaze distant. "It's strange, isn't it? How fate works."

His heart pounded. He wanted to tell her. Wanted to ask her if she ever felt it too—the echoes of something long lost between them. But before he could, another pulse of pain hit him, stronger this time, and the last thing he saw was Yuna's startled face before his vision darkened.

Somewhere in the abyss of unconsciousness, a memory stirred.

A road slick with rain. Headlights flashing. A desperate cry.

And then—nothing.