Part 7 – First Close Contact

I tripped and stumbled backward, panicked… and just when I tried to keep my balance, my foot slipped on something.

I didn't even have time to catch myself. I hit the ground hard, and my palm landed on something sharp.

But I didn't notice the pain right away. The sound of my fall, my breathing, and the invisible pounding of my heart drowned out everything.

I didn't know… had he seen me? Was he still here?

In that moment, a shadow moved closer.

Someone stood in front of me…

Clean boots, the kind worn indoors.

Loose pants and a plain white shirt.

His shadow blocked the light from my face.

I slowly lifted my head, my heartbeat stuck in my throat.

It was Lee Min-ho.

The moment our eyes met, time stretched for a few seconds.

Neither of us spoke.

The only sound left was the slow drip of liquid falling from between my fingers onto the stone floor.

Min-ho finally broke eye contact.

He looked at my hand, now covered in blood, and said in a dry voice,

— "Your hand is bleeding."

I looked down.

— "Huh? Oh… right… now I feel it. It hurts…"

He spoke calmly but firmly,

— "Come inside. I'll bandage it. My place is right here."

Without any resistance, I followed him. My hand burned, but not enough to pull my mind away from his presence.

Once inside, he led me straight to the living room.

He left and returned with a first-aid kit, sitting down in front of me.

The warm yellow light made the lines of his face even clearer.

I just… kept looking at him. It was like there was no room left to breathe.

Suddenly, without looking up, he said,

— "If you keep staring like that, I'll get uncomfortable."

I blinked.

— "Ah, sorry…"

I turned my head, pretending to look at the decor, but my thoughts stayed right where they were.

A sting ran under my skin.

— "Does it hurt?" His voice was soft, without judgment.

— "Not… I mean, yes… but not much."

I hesitated.

His eyes stayed on my wound, but I could feel his mind wandering somewhere beyond my hand.

— "Do you… live alone?"

— "No, with my aunt."

Silence settled between us. It felt like we were both waiting for the other to speak.

Min-ho asked,

— "Were you following me?"

My face burned. It felt like the blood was dripping from my cheeks now.

— "I… just… well…"

He didn't say anything more. The bandaging was done.

Suddenly, I jumped to my feet.

— "I have to go!"

Before he could take a breath, I ran out of the house.

I didn't realize… my phone was still sitting quietly on his couch.

A few minutes later, the quiet of the room broke as Min-ho's aunt entered, a towel wrapped around her head.

— "Did you have a guest?"

Min-ho kept his eyes fixed on the computer monitor. After a pause, he said quietly,

— "A friend. She was hurt, so I helped her."

His aunt smiled and asked,

— "What are you watching this late at night?"

Min-ho turned slightly and said,

— "Just a short anime."

His aunt hesitated, took a deep breath, and said,

— "I spoke to your father today. They want to send you to France. They're losing patience."

The air in the room grew heavy. Her voice stayed gentle but serious,

— "I convinced them to let you stay here, but only if you really try. They think staying here is wasting your potential."

Min-ho's lips moved slightly as he asked in a low voice,

— "Are you… on my side?"

She gave him a small, calm smile.

— "I always have been. Even when you didn't realize it."

Before closing the door, she added with a cheerful tone,

— "I'm glad you made a friend."

Min-ho was left alone in the dim room. He put his hands over his face and closed his eyes.

His father's voice echoed in his mind:

"We have to send him away. He can't improve here."

His aunt's voice followed, steady and sure:

"He just needs to believe he can…"

And then, another thought suddenly crossed his mind:

"That boy… why does he remind me of someone?"