Chapter 8: Echoes of the Past

...Woo-seok's head throbbed as he slowly opened his eyes, his vision still blurry. His surroundings were unfamiliar at first, but then he saw Song Yun's worried face hovering above him. ...

..."Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern, her eyes wide with worry....

...Woo-seok's vision was still hazy, and as he tried to focus, a sharp pain shot through his head. Suddenly, a vivid, dream-like vision flashed before his eyes. He saw a girl dressed in a traditional hanbok, her face eerily similar to Song Yun’s, shaking him gently, her voice echoing in his ears....

..."Master, open your eyes! Open your eyes, master!" the girl called out, her face filled with desperation....

...Woo-seok's breath quickened as he was pulled back to reality. He gasped, his chest heaving, and his eyes shot open wide. Song Yun was still beside him, her hand on his shoulder, her expression etched with deep concern....

..."Are you okay? You scared me," she asked again, this time with tears brimming in her eyes....

...Woo-seok quickly composed himself, hiding the fear and confusion that gripped his heart. He didn’t want to alarm her with the strange vision he’d just seen—the girl in the hanbok, her voice calling out to him. Was it a dream, or a distant memory? He wasn’t sure....

..."Yeah, I’m fine," he lied, offering a small, reassuring smile. "Just a little disoriented, that’s all."...

...Tears spilled from Song Yun’s eyes. "You had me so worried. The doctor said you need to rest."...

..."I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you," Woo-seok said softly. "It’s probably just from overworking at the office. Nothing serious." He tried to sound convincing, but his mind kept replaying the image of the girl in the hanbok....

...Song Yun wiped her tears, sniffing. "Okay, if you say so. Let me get you some soup," she said, standing up to head to the kitchen....

...Woo-seok watched her leave, his eyes lingering on the window nearby. The vision replayed in his mind again and again—each time more vivid than the last. The girl’s face, her urgent voice, and the strange familiarity of it all. Why did she look so much like Song Yun? And why was she calling him 'master'?...

...Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, Song Yun returned with a bowl of warm soup. "The soup is ready. Would you like me to serve it here, or would you prefer to have it with my dad and me?" she asked with a gentle smile....

...Woo-seok hesitated for a moment. "We can eat together? Is that okay?" he asked, surprised by the casual invitation. In his world, dining was always a formal affair, marked by silence and etiquette....

...Song Yun chuckled softly. "Of course! Why not? Come on, it’ll be nice."...

...---...

...They moved to the dining table where Song Yun's father was already seated, a kind smile on his face. Woo-seok joined them, and they shared a cozy meal together. The atmosphere was light, filled with laughter and easy conversation—something Woo-seok wasn't used to. At his home, the dining table was a place of silence and formality....

...As they chatted and laughed, Woo-seok felt a warmth spread in his chest, a stark contrast to the coldness of his family dinners. Song Yun’s father was kind and welcoming, teasing his daughter playfully and making Woo-seok feel like a part of their little family....

..."This is so different," Woo-seok confessed with a smile. "At home, we’re expected to eat in silence. No talking, no laughing—just... eat."...

...Song Yun’s father chuckled. "Well, that sounds pretty dull! Here, we believe in enjoying our food with good company and good conversation."...

..."I love it," Woo-seok said earnestly, feeling a genuine warmth he hadn’t felt in a long time....

...---...

...After a while, Woo-seok felt much better, the color returning to his face. He thanked Song Yun and her father for their hospitality and prepared to leave. Just as he was about to step out, Nam Ju appeared at the gate, holding a bouquet of flowers and carrying a bag....

..."Hey, Song Yun!" Nam Ju called out cheerfully, waving as he approached....

...Woo-seok’s eyes narrowed slightly, his chest tightening with a feeling he couldn’t quite place. "Who is this?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of jealousy....

..."Oh, Nam Ju! You’re here," Song Yun greeted him with a smile. "Woo-seok, this is Nam Ju. He’s a friend of mine."...

...Nam Ju walked up, a bright smile on his face, and handed the flowers to Song Yun. "I heard you were feeling down, so I thought I’d cheer you up with these," he said warmly....

...Woo-seok clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the sudden irritation bubbling inside him. "Nice to meet you," he said curtly, not bothering to hide his displeasure....

...Nam Ju, sensing the tension, offered a friendly grin. "Nice to meet you too. Song Yun’s told me a bit about you."...

...As Song Yun chatted with Nam Ju, Woo-seok’s mind was a whirl of emotions—confusion, irritation, and a strange possessiveness he couldn’t quite understand. But amidst all that, the vision of the girl in the hanbok kept replaying in his mind, making his heart ache with an inexplicable sense of longing and familiarity. ...

...What was happening to him? And why did he feel like his connection to Song Yun ran deeper than he could comprehend?...

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