Hyunjae sat at his desk, staring at the stack of paperwork as if sheer willpower could make it disappear. He'd rehearsed speeches, coffee-fueled strategies, even mentally mapped out every future conversation with Yejin… and for what? Thinking back, this all sounds really creepy and weird, maybe it was all a part of fate to get rejected after all.
Hyunjae (thinking):Okay… maybe… just maybe… it's time to accept reality. She's calm, composed. My attempts to impress? Laughable since I'm very funny. My confessions? Politely declined. Right. Time to… move on I guess, uh find something else to take my time.
He leaned back in his chair, exhaling. For the first time in weeks, he felt a small sliver of well nothing. There really wasn't anything to look forward to or hope for.
Coworker:"Hyunjae? You're… did you finally lose it? Did something crazy happen?"
Hyunjae:"No. Just… actually yeah something crazy did happen, a bunch of aliens landed on my house yesterday. They came for peace too. Definitely."
Lunch came, and for the first time, he didn't glance at her café. He didn't scan the streets. Instead, he actually enjoyed his sandwich, chewing thoughtfully and noticing the small things around him: the office plants, the buzzing fluorescent lights, the way sunlight hit the conference table just right.
Hyunjae (thinking):I guess… I've been too focused on her. Too worried about… whatever she feels. Time to focus on me. Maybe… grow a little. Maybe… be happy without needing... wait I'm broke, am I truly happy if I'm broke?
That evening, he passed Yejin's neighborhood but didn't stop at the café. He didn't even glance toward the window. He just walked, letting the cool air brush past him, feeling… free.
Hyunjae (thinking):And yet… somewhere deep down, a quiet corner of his heart still remembered her faint smiles, her calm voice, the way she seemed untouchable. Okay this actually felt weird to him now. But this time, instead of acceptance, it was a hard stop, saying this is too weird, maybe time to retreat.
Hyunjae (thinking):It's okay. Maybe someday I'll heal my mental illness… maybe not. Doesn't matter. I'll survive. I'll live.
He rounded the corner, leaving her neighborhood behind. The city lights flickered on, the streets hummed with life, and Hyunjae felt… lighter.
Hyunjae (thinking, faint grin forming):Yeah. Life goes on. And so do I. Time to... actually am I late right now?