Fragments of the Past

Chapter 12: Fragments of the Past

Hyun had never been the type to believe in fate, but lately, his heart seemed to whisper otherwise. Every touch, every glance exchanged with Yuna carried an eerie sense of familiarity—like a melody he once knew but could no longer hum. But unlike a forgotten tune, this feeling was relentless, gnawing at the edges of his reality, demanding to be acknowledged.

It started subtly. The way Yuna brushed her hair behind her ear, the way she tilted her head when she was thinking. Hyun found himself caught in moments where the world around him faded, and only she remained, as if time had folded upon itself.

One evening, as they sat by the riverbank, the sky painted in hues of amber and violet, Hyun finally gave voice to the unease gnawing at his chest. The golden light reflected on the water, shimmering like memories just out of reach, teasing him with something he couldn't quite grasp.

"Yuna, have we… met before?"

Yuna's eyes widened slightly. "What?"

He exhaled. "I mean, before college. Before everything. Do you ever feel like we've been through this before?"

Yuna fell silent. Her fingers played with the hem of her sleeve, her brows furrowing. "Sometimes," she admitted softly. "It's like déjà vu, but stronger. Like I know what's going to happen before it does."

Hyun felt his pulse quicken. He wasn't imagining things. "I've been getting flashes," he confessed. "Scenes I can't explain. Rain on glass. The scent of winter—cold, crisp, familiar. And…" he swallowed hard, "…your voice, Yuna. Calling my name like it was the last time you ever would."

Yuna sucked in a sharp breath, her hand reaching for his instinctively. "Hyun… I've felt it too."

Their fingers intertwined, the warmth grounding them as an unspoken understanding settled between them. But the more they tried to chase the past, the faster it slipped from their grasp, like a dream fading at dawn.

That night, Hyun lay awake, the phantom of memories brushing against his mind. Each time he closed his eyes, the echoes of something unfinished whispered to him. Then, just as sleep threatened to claim him, an image struck—sharp, unrelenting, as if tearing through the veil of time itself.

A car. A blinding light. The deafening crunch of metal twisting. A scream—his own? Yuna's? He couldn't tell. But the fear, the absolute terror, was unmistakable.

He jolted upright, a cold sweat clinging to his skin. The vision wasn't just a dream. It was too vivid, too raw. Like a memory clawing its way back to the surface.

And at the center of it all—Yuna. Always Yuna.

Tomorrow, he would find out the truth. No matter what it took. Even if it meant unraveling everything he thought he knew.

Chapter 13: Unraveling Fate

Hyun had thought that love was something that grew over time, a slow and steady process. But with Yuna, it was different. It felt inevitable, as if every fiber of his being had already chosen her long before he could comprehend why.

Yet, every time he tried to piece together the fragments of his past, an unbearable pain surged through his skull. It was as if something—or someone—was preventing him from remembering. But one thing was clear: Yuna had been his before, and he had lost her.

This time, he wouldn't let that happen.

The problem was, Yuna didn't belong to him in this life. Not yet. And perhaps, not ever.

A new presence had entered their lives—a transfer student named Rey. Unlike Hyun, who was cautious and reserved, Rey was effortlessly charming, his presence magnetic. Yuna seemed drawn to him, laughing at his jokes, engaging in deep conversations that Hyun couldn't bring himself to join. It was agonizing to watch.

Every time Hyun tried to approach her, the visions would strike—sharp, blinding pain searing through his skull. He saw glimpses of a past he couldn't fully grasp. A wedding ring on his finger. Yuna's tears. The sound of an ambulance siren echoing into the night.

But he wouldn't let his suffering stop him. If Rey was a variable that hadn't existed in their first life, then perhaps he was the key to unlocking the truth.

One evening, as Hyun stood in the library, he watched Yuna and Rey study together. Yuna looked comfortable, almost too comfortable. It made his chest tighten. As he turned to leave, he caught Rey's gaze. There was something unnerving in his eyes—something knowing.

As if Rey was aware of everything.

Hyun clenched his fists. If fate was trying to rewrite their story, he would fight against it. No matter the cost, he had to protect Yuna.

Even if she didn't remember their past, he did.

And he refused to lose her again.

Chapter 14: Fractured Memories

The days following Rey's arrival felt like a cruel test of Hyun's patience. Yuna was spending more and more time with him, and no matter how much Hyun tried to focus on other things—classes, his family, even his own emotions—his thoughts kept drifting back to her.

The déjà vu was getting worse.

The pain had become a constant, dull throb at the back of his head, only flaring up whenever he got too close to the truth. Every attempt to recall his past life felt like chasing smoke—intangible, slipping through his fingers the moment he thought he had it.

And yet, he knew one thing for certain: Rey wasn't just an ordinary person.

One afternoon, Hyun found himself walking alone through the campus courtyard. He needed air, space to think. His mind was cluttered with fractured memories and emotions he couldn't fully process.

That's when he saw them.

Yuna and Rey stood near the fountain, their faces illuminated by the golden hues of the setting sun. She was laughing—truly laughing. It was a sound Hyun hadn't heard in so long, and it made his chest ache. But it wasn't just that. It was the way Rey was looking at her, the way he leaned in just slightly, as if they shared some secret he wasn't privy to.

For the first time, doubt crept into Hyun's mind.

Had Yuna really loved him in their past life? Or had he simply forced himself to believe it?

The moment that thought entered his mind, the pain struck again—sharp, unbearable. He stumbled, gripping the side of his head as the world around him blurred. The visions came in flashes this time.

A hospital room. Yuna's hand in his. A whispered promise.

And then—

A voice. Soft yet firm, cutting through the haze.

"You're not supposed to remember, Hyun."

Hyun's eyes shot open, and he found himself face to face with Rey.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them was charged, heavy with unspoken words. And then, Rey smiled—that same knowing smile that had been haunting Hyun since the day they met.

Hyun's blood ran cold.

Rey knew.

And suddenly, the game had changed.