Love, Once Again

Chapter 4: Love, Once Again

Min-jun stood at the edge of the bustling campus festival, his heart pounding in his chest. The fresh spring air carried the scent of blooming flowers and delicious street food, mingling with the laughter of students enjoying the event. His fingers curled behind his sleeves as his gaze swept across the crowd, searching—not, longing—for her.

Then, as if the universe had aligned just for this moment, he saw her.

Eun-ji stood near a booth, her long black hair catching the golden sunlight as she adjusted a banner for her club. She smiled—so effortlessly beautiful, so achingly familiar. The sight stole the breath from his lungs. Min-jun had prepared himself for this moment, convincing himself that he could handle it. But now, standing here, seeing her again for the first time in years—he felt the same jolt of wonder he'd felt back then. No, even stronger.

"Eun-ji…"

The name barely escaped his lips, but it felt like a prayer.

His feet moved before his mind could catch up, weaving through the sea of students until he was only a few steps away. He watched as the girl struggled to lift the banner, standing on her tiptoes to fix the last corner. A smile spread across his lips before he could stop it.

"Need help?"

Eun-ji turned at the sound of his voice, and for a moment, time seemed to slow. Her deep brown eyes met Min-jun's, and he felt an indescribable warmth spread through his chest. It wasn't just attraction—it was familiarity, nostalgia, longing.

She blinked, then tilted her head. "Min-jun? Weren't you in the hospital?"

He blinked. Of course. In this timeline, they already knew each other—not closely, but familiarly. They were in different majors, yet somehow their paths always crossed during campus events. It wasn't just coincidence; it was as if some unseen force kept pulling them together, over and over again.

Min-jun cleared his throat, forcing a smile. "Yeah, but I'm fine now. I couldn't miss the festival."

Eun-ji's lips curved into a soft smile. "Still reckless as always, huh?"

Something inside him ached at her words. Back then, he had ignored those small remarks, never realizing the hidden affection behind them. But now, knowing what would happen in the future, knowing how much he had lost, he wanted to cherish even the smallest moments.

"Yeah… but maybe this time, I'll try to be more careful."

Eun-ji chuckled, handing him the tape. "Well, be careful with that. Hold the banner while I fix it."

Min-jun took it from her, their fingers brushing for a moment. A spark ran through him, something undeniable, something real. His grip on the past may have slipped, but this—this moment, this chance—remained firmly under his fingertips.

As they worked side by side, fixing the banner under the golden afternoon sun, Min-jun made a silent vow.

This time, I won't let you go.

Chapter 5: Unraveling Threads

The festival had ended, but the memory of that beautiful afternoon lingered in Min-jun's mind. Seeing Eun-ji again had stirred something within him—an unexplainable longing, a quiet promise he wasn't ready to break. Since then, their interactions became more frequent. It started with casual greetings in the hallways, small conversations in the library, and occasional meetings at the café near campus.

But Min-jun wanted more.

One night, as he left the library, he saw Eun-ji sitting alone on a bench outside, her fingers flipping through the pages of a thick textbook. The dim light of the streetlamp above her created a soft halo around her figure, making her look almost unreal.

"You're still studying at this hour?"

Eun-ji looked up, startled for a moment, before a faint smile spread across her lips. "I have an exam tomorrow. Didn't expect to see you here."

Min-jun chuckled, then sat down on the bench beside her. "I was about to leave, but I guess fate had other plans."

Eun-ji rolled her eyes playfully but didn't deny it. They sat together, a comfortable silence stretching between them. Occasionally, the rustling of leaves and distant sounds of vehicles were the only noises filling the air. Then, Min-jun noticed something—the way her fingers fidgeted, the slight furrow between her brows.

"Everything okay?"

Eun-ji hesitated for a moment before sighing. "It's just… my group project. One person keeps slacking off, and I had to take over their role. It's frustrating."

Min-jun smirked. "Want me to talk to them?"

She laughed softly, shaking her head. "No need. I just needed to vent."

The way she looked at him then—her eyes softening slightly, her lips curving gently—made Min-jun's heart race. It wasn't dramatic or grand, but it was real. And he wanted to hold onto it.

As time passed, their bond grew stronger. They shared stories about their pasts, dreams, and fears. For Min-jun, every moment with Eun-ji felt like rediscovering something he had lost.

But just as he began to feel secure in this growing connection, something happened.

One afternoon, Min-jun saw Eun-ji laughing with another man outside the campus café. A senior who looked familiar, someone from his department. The way she smiled at him, the way she leaned in slightly—it made Min-jun's chest tighten uncomfortably.

He shouldn't feel this way. They weren't dating. But still…

That night, when they coincidentally met again in the library, Min-jun found himself quieter than usual.

Eun-ji tilted her head. "Are you okay?"

He forced a smile. "Yeah. Just tired."

Eun-ji frowned but didn't press further. Still, Min-jun knew. This feeling—jealousy—was something he couldn't ignore.

Was he falling in love with her again?

Chapter 6: Stirring Emotions

Min-jun couldn't shake the uncomfortable feeling in his chest. That brief moment outside the campus café, the way Eun-ji laughed freely with someone else—it lingered in his mind longer than it should have.

Why do I care so much?

The question haunted him all night. He tossed and turned in bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to reason with himself. They weren't even together. Yet, the thought of Eun-ji being close to someone else gnawed at him in ways he hadn't anticipated.

The next day, he made a decision.

He had to do something. He had to move forward.

The opportunity came sooner than he expected.

That evening, Min-jun saw Eun-ji struggling to carry a stack of books out of the library. Without thinking twice, he stepped forward and took the upper half of the stack from her hands.

Eun-ji stared at him, surprised. "Min-jun? What are you—"

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

She chuckled softly. "Thank you. I didn't realize how heavy these were until I checked everything."

As they walked together, Min-jun tried to find the right words. He wanted to ask her something—anything—that could help him understand her better.

"Do you have any free time this weekend?"

The question slipped out before he could second-guess himself.

Eun-ji glanced at him curiously. "Why? Do you need help?"

Min-jun shook his head. "No, I was just thinking… maybe we could hang out. Just us."

Eun-ji fell silent, a hint of surprise in her expression. Then, slowly, she smiled. "Sure. Sounds good."

Min-jun 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 in love with Eun-ji. Again. And this time, he wasn't going to let the moment slip away.