Episode 1: The Beginning of Love

So-eun had always believed in love—the kind that made hearts race, hands tremble, and the world seem a little brighter. She had heard the stories, read the books, and watched the films, but never expected to experience it herself. That was, until she met Joon-ho during her first year of college. Everything changed the moment their eyes met. It wasn’t dramatic or love at first sight, but rather an undeniable connection, one that seemed to transcend time and space, as if they had known each other in another lifetime. From that day, their bond grew effortlessly, as if it had always been there, waiting to be discovered.

Joon-ho was quiet but undeniably charming, his words always laced with an honesty that made So-eun feel safe and understood. He wasn’t the type to speak much, but when he did, his words were like a calm breeze, soothing and genuine. So-eun admired the way he saw the world, always noticing the small, beautiful things others overlooked. To him, So-eun was a burst of light, vibrant and full of life. She pulled him out of his quiet shell, making him laugh, making him dream. They complemented each other in ways neither had ever imagined, like two pieces of a puzzle finally fitting together.

In the early days, their love was simple and pure. They spent countless hours together, talking about their dreams, their fears, and their favorite books and movies. Sometimes, they met in the campus library, pretending to study, but mostly stealing glances at each other from across the room. The late-night phone calls, though never long enough, soon turned into shared breakfasts and walks across campus. Time seemed to slow when they were together, as if the world outside their little bubble of love didn’t exist. Their relationship wasn’t just built on passion or excitement—it was built on understanding and trust. Love, for them, wasn’t merely an emotion—it was a world they had created, brick by brick, promise by promise.

One evening, as they sat by the river that ran through their university, So-eun turned to Joon-ho, her heart full of love and a little bit of wonder. "Do you think we’ll always be like this?" she asked, her fingers tracing small, gentle patterns on his palm, her voice soft with the vulnerability she only ever showed him.

Joon-ho looked at her, his dark eyes filled with an intensity she couldn’t quite place. His gaze seemed to pierce through her, as if he was searching for an answer only he could give. After a long pause, he squeezed her hand gently, his voice quiet but certain. "I want us to be," he murmured, his words carrying a weight that made So-eun’s heart flutter. "I want to spend forever with you."

At that moment, So-eun believed him. She believed in the forever they had promised each other. She believed in the love that seemed so strong, so unshakable. As months passed, their relationship only deepened. They celebrated each other’s successes, shared each other’s dreams, and comforted one another during hardships. The bond they shared felt like a shield against the outside world, a place of safety and warmth. On cold winter nights, they huddled together in cozy cafes, sipping warm drinks and exchanging soft kisses. In the spring, they spent lazy afternoons under the cherry blossom trees, laughing and talking, the world around them a blur of pink petals. So-eun couldn’t help but believe that these were the moments that would last forever, moments they would both treasure for a lifetime.

But love isn’t always as simple as two hearts beating in perfect harmony. Time, as it always does, brought with it the complexities of reality. Doubts began to creep in, whispers of insecurities and fears slowly eroding the foundation of their seemingly perfect relationship. So-eun didn’t know it yet, but the love she had cherished so deeply was standing on fragile ground. The pressure of their growing expectations, the challenges of their separate futures, and the weight of the outside world were starting to take their toll. As the months passed, the cracks in their perfect world began to appear, small at first, but growing steadily, like cracks in a once-pristine vase.

For now, though, So-eun held onto Joon-ho’s promise, clinging to the belief in a forever that may not have been destined to last. She tried to ignore the unease that sometimes lingered in the quiet spaces between their words, the subtle changes in his gaze. She focused on the present—the moments of warmth, the laughter, the shared dreams—and tried not to think too much about the future. She believed in the love they had built, in the world they had created together. But deep down, she knew that love, no matter how strong, couldn’t always protect them from the inevitable changes that life brings.

And so, for now, she loved him with all her heart, hoping that their forever would be enough to weather whatever storms lay ahead.

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