One Step Closer

Chapter 7: One Step Closer

Min-jun couldn't help himself. His eyes kept drifting toward Eun-ji more often than he realized—way more often than they should. Every time he saw her smile, heard her laugh, or even when she was just sitting quietly lost in thought, his heart would race. There was something about the way she tucked her hair behind her ear or gently touched a book, small gestures that felt so intimate, making his chest feel full.

Ever since that day at the café, when he saw Eun-ji laughing with another guy, something had been gnawing at him. A faint but sharp pang of jealousy. He hated the feeling, but he couldn't shake it off.

"Min-jun?"

Eun-ji's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She was standing in front of him, one eyebrow raised, lips curled into an amused smile. "Are you okay? You've been staring at me for a while now."

Min-jun flinched, feeling heat creep up his cheeks. "Oh, I... was just thinking," he said quickly, trying to mask his unease.

Eun-ji chuckled softly. "Serious thoughts, huh?"

Min-jun could only manage a weak smile. Yeah, serious thoughts. Too serious to put into words.

That night, Min-jun made up his mind. If he wanted to get closer to Eun-ji, he had to take the first step. No more hesitation, no more delays.

The next day, when Eun-ji casually mentioned wanting to visit a bookstore, Min-jun jumped in. "Let's go together," he said, trying to sound casual despite his pounding heart.

Eun-ji blinked, looking surprised. "You read books?" she asked, skepticism clear in her tone.

Min-jun smirked. "Of course I read books! Do I look like someone who never reads?"

Eun-ji laughed, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Fantasy or mystery?"

Min-jun hesitated for a moment before answering with a half-joking tone, "Biographies?"

Eun-ji burst into laughter, her body shaking lightly. "Oh, Min-jun. You're terrible at lying!"

Though embarrassed, Min-jun smiled. If cracking a dumb joke like this could make Eun-ji laugh like that, maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

The bookstore was small and cozy, filled with the nostalgic scent of old paper. Tall shelves lined the walls, giving off a warm and intimate vibe. Eun-ji immediately headed to the fiction section, her eyes sparkling like a kid in a candy store. Min-jun watched from a distance, smiling at how enthusiastic she was.

"Looks like you belong here," Min-jun commented softly.

Eun-ji turned, her smile widening. "Books are magical, Min-jun. They make the world feel less lonely."

There was something in the way she said it that made Min-jun's chest tighten. It wasn't just a passing fondness anymore. Maybe... maybe it was more than that. Maybe he was starting to fall for her.

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

Chapter 8: Whispers of the Past

Min-jun's grip on the book tightened as Eun-ji's laughter echoed through the tiny bookstore. Her voice sounded so familiar, like a melody he'd forgotten but still lingered in his mind. But as time passed, a sharp pain began throbbing in his head.

Déjà vu.

For a split second, everything around him blurred, replaced by flashes he couldn't quite grasp—Eun-ji standing in the rain, her face shadowed with sadness. The screech of tires on a wet road. A desperate scream ringing in his ears.

"Min-jun?"

Eun-ji's voice pulled him back to reality. He blinked rapidly, trying to shake off the sudden dizziness. Eun-ji stood in front of him, her brows furrowed with concern.

"Are you okay?"

Min-jun forced a smile. "Yeah... just daydreaming for a bit."

Eun-ji tilted her head, studying his face for a moment before gently patting his forehead. "Don't space out too much. You'll miss all the fun."

Min-jun chuckled softly, but inside, unease was growing. Why did that moment feel so real? Was it some kind of warning?

As they walked home together, Min-jun noticed something strange. The way Eun-ji tucked her hair behind her ear, the way their fingers brushed when they reached for the same book—it all felt so right, as if he'd experienced it all before.

The pain in his head grew sharper. When they reached the quiet park, Min-jun finally stopped walking, pressing a hand to his temple. The world seemed to spin slowly.

"Min-jun? What's wrong?"

He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "It's nothing. Just... maybe a headache."

Eun-ji didn't look convinced. She stepped closer, her hand lightly touching his arm. "Do you need to sit down?"

Min-jun nodded faintly. They found a bench under a willow tree, its leaves swaying gently in the breeze. For a moment, there was silence between them, only the rustling of leaves filling the air.

Then, softly, Eun-ji said, "You know... sometimes, when I'm with you, it feels like we're starting a story that never ended."

Min-jun's breath caught. His fists clenched in his lap. "Eun-ji..."

Eun-ji smiled, her gaze distant. "Weird, right? That's just how fate works."

Min-jun's heart raced. He wanted to ask if she felt it too—the echoes of something long lost between them. But before he could, another wave of pain hit him, stronger this time. The last thing he saw was Eun-ji's shocked face before everything went dark.

Somewhere in the depths of unconsciousness, a memory surfaced.

A rain-slicked road. Headlights blinding. A desperate scream.

And then—nothing.

Chapter 9: Fading Echoes

Min-jun's awareness drifted between light and shadow. Fragments of the past whispered in his mind—distant voices, the rumble of rain, the metallic screech of brakes. Everything blended together, slipping through his fingers just as he tried to grasp it.

Then, warmth.

His eyelids felt heavy as he stirred, his senses slowly returning to normal. The first thing he felt was a gentle touch on his hand. A presence—familiar and comforting.

"Min-jun... you're awake?"

Eun-ji.

He blinked his eyes open, the golden hues of sunset casting a soft glow on Eun-ji's worried face. They weren't in the park anymore. Instead, he found himself in a quiet café, a steaming cup of tea still in front of him.

"You scared me," Eun-ji said, her fingers still wrapped around his hand. "You suddenly passed out."

Min-jun exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the lingering dizziness. "Sorry... I didn't mean to."

Eun-ji snorted, shaking her head. "Apologizing for passing out? You're something else."

Min-jun chuckled softly, but the unease lingered. That vision, the strange familiarity with Eun-ji's presence, the way his body reacted as if it had lived through this before—it all confused him.

And then there was the memory.

Rain. A car. A heart-wrenching sense of loss.

His chest tightened. He had to know.

"Eun-ji," he began, his voice cautious, "have you ever felt like we've... been through this before?"

Eun-ji blinked, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Min-jun let out a sharp breath. "I don't know. It's just... there are moments with you that feel so familiar. Like we've lived through them already."

Eun-ji was silent for a long while, her fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of her teacup. Then, softly, she said, "Sometimes... I feel it too."

Min-jun's eyes locked onto hers. "Really?"

Eun-ji nodded faintly. "It's hard to explain. But with you... it feels like déjà vu. Like I'm remembering something that never actually happened."

A heavy silence passed between them, filled with unspoken words. And in that moment, Min-jun knew—this wasn't just a coincidence. This was something deeper.