A Moment to Last Forever

Chapter 76: A Moment to Last Forever

The night sky stretched infinitely above them, a canvas painted with glimmering stars. The soft glow of lanterns illuminated the garden where Hyun and Yuna sat, their hands intertwined beneath the moonlight.

Yuna sighed, leaning her head against Hyun's shoulder. "Sometimes, I wish time would just stop like this," she murmured. "Just you and me, with nothing else to worry about."

Hyun smiled, his fingers gently tracing circles on her palm. "If I had the power to freeze time, I'd do it for you. For us."

She lifted her head slightly to look at him, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the lanterns. "You always know what to say, don't you?"

He chuckled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Only when it comes to you."

Yuna felt her heart flutter, warmth spreading through her chest. The way he looked at her—like she was the only thing that mattered in the world—made her forget everything else.

"Close your eyes," Hyun whispered.

She raised an eyebrow but complied, feeling the warmth of his hands as he cupped hers. A moment passed, and then she felt something cool against her wrist. When she opened her eyes, a delicate silver bracelet adorned her skin, a small charm shaped like a star dangling from it.

"Hyun…" she gasped, her fingers brushing over the charm. "This is—"

"A promise," he interrupted softly. "That no matter what happens, no matter where life takes us… we'll always find our way back to each other."

Yuna swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "You're really not making it easy for me not to cry right now."

Hyun chuckled, pulling her closer. "Then don't hold back."

She let out a soft laugh, before resting her forehead against his. "I love you, Hyun."

His arms wrapped around her as he whispered back, "And I will love you for as long as the stars shine."

The garden remained silent, save for the rustling of leaves and the quiet melody of their hearts beating as one.

Chapter 77: The Shelter of Secrets

The wind howled through the trees, carrying a crisp chill that nipped at Hyun and Yuna's skin. The warmth of the garden felt like a distant memory now as they wandered deeper into the unknown, searching for shelter before night fully settled in.

"It's getting colder," Yuna murmured, rubbing her arms. "We need to find somewhere safe."

Hyun glanced around, his eyes scanning the darkened landscape. The dense forest surrounding them seemed endless, but then—a glimmer of something ahead. Hidden behind the overgrown vines and tangled branches was a structure, barely visible in the moonlight.

"There," he pointed. "That looks like a cabin or maybe an old shrine. We can take shelter there."

Yuna hesitated, her instincts tingling with unease. "What if it's not abandoned?"

"Then we'll deal with it when the time comes," Hyun reassured her, gently pulling her forward. "We don't have much choice."

They pushed through the thick foliage until they stood before the weathered structure. It was an old wooden building, its walls worn by time but still sturdy. The entrance was slightly ajar, as if inviting them inside.

Hyun nudged the door open cautiously. The scent of aged wood and damp earth filled the air as they stepped in. Inside, the space was empty save for dust-covered furniture and a fireplace, its ashes long gone cold.

Yuna shivered, hugging herself. "It's better than nothing."

Hyun moved toward the fireplace, kneeling down to inspect it. "If we can find some dry wood, we might be able to make a fire."

As he spoke, Yuna wandered further into the room, her eyes drawn to a lone cabinet standing against the far wall. Something about it felt… strange. As if it didn't quite belong.

She reached out, running her fingers over its worn surface before hesitantly pulling the doors open.

Her breath caught.

Inside the cabinet, carefully arranged as if untouched by time, were scattered notes—pages filled with handwriting eerily similar to Hyun's.

"Hyun…" Yuna whispered, her fingers trembling as she lifted one of the papers. "You need to see this."

He turned at the urgency in her voice, striding over. The moment his eyes fell on the notes, a shiver ran down his spine.

The words written on the page sent a cold dread crawling through him:

'If you are reading this… it means you've finally arrived.'

Silence stretched between them as realization dawned.

This wasn't just a shelter.

This place held the answers they had been chasing all along.

Chapter 78: Rest Before the Storm

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the wooden walls of the old cabin. Outside, the wind still howled, but inside, warmth finally seeped into their bones. Hyun and Yuna sat near the fireplace, wrapped in an old blanket they had found in the corner.

For the first time in what felt like forever, there was silence—not the kind laced with tension, but a rare, peaceful quiet.

Yuna stretched her legs, letting out a slow breath. "It's been so long since we had a moment like this. Just… breathing."

Hyun leaned back against the wooden wall, his gaze fixed on the flames. "Yeah. Feels strange, doesn't it? Like the world outside doesn't exist for now."

She nodded, hugging her knees. "Even though we found those notes… I don't think I have the energy to unravel another mystery tonight. Just for now, can we pretend we're just two people escaping the cold?"

Hyun glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. "That doesn't sound so bad."

They sat in comfortable silence for a while, the fire's warmth wrapping around them. Yuna's eyelids grew heavy, exhaustion settling into her limbs. Without realizing it, she shifted closer to Hyun, her head resting against his shoulder.

He stiffened for just a moment before relaxing, allowing himself to soak in the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"Hyun?" Yuna murmured sleepily.

"Yeah?"

She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you ever feel like… we've done this before? Like we've been here, in this exact moment, but we just don't remember?"

His breath hitched slightly, his mind flickering back to the notes they had found earlier. The handwriting, the message—If you are reading this… it means you've finally arrived.

Had they been here before? Or was it just coincidence that everything felt so familiar?

Hyun swallowed the unease rising in his chest. "I don't know," he admitted. "But if that's true… then maybe, just maybe, it means we found our way back to each other before."

Yuna smiled against his shoulder, her fingers lightly gripping his sleeve. "Then I hope we always do."

Hyun watched as her breathing evened out, sleep taking her under. He exhaled, leaning his head against hers.

Tomorrow, they would search for answers. But tonight, they had this moment.

And for now, that was enough.