The buzz of the city faded as Kianna stepped into the sleek, quiet elevator, pressing the button for her floor. The familiar hum of the building's machinery filled the silence as she leaned back against the cool metal wall, feeling the weight of her week settling on her shoulders. Teaching had been... exhausting lately. But she wasn't one to let it show.
The doors were almost closed when, suddenly, a hand darted through the narrowing gap, stopping them from sealing shut. She looked up, mildly annoyed but mostly indifferent—until she saw who stepped in.
Choi Min.
Kianna's breath caught for a split second, but she composed herself, her expression smoothing into one of neutrality. She hadn't expected to run into him here, of all places. Choi Min was one of her students, and though he wasn't exactly troublesome, he had a presence that was hard to ignore.
"Ms. Lee," he greeted, his voice deep and casual, as though seeing her in this setting was the most natural thing in the world. His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary before he turned to press the button for his floor, just one below hers.
"Choi Min," Kianna replied, her tone polite but professional. She couldn't help but feel a bit thrown off by the encounter. This was her time, away from the classroom, from her role as a teacher. But now, standing here with him, she felt a sudden tension, like their usual dynamic didn't quite fit in this tiny, enclosed space.
The elevator doors closed, sealing them into a silence that was both awkward and strangely charged. Kianna wasn't sure what to say, so she said nothing, focusing on the smooth ascent of the elevator. But she could feel his eyes on her, watching her with an intensity she hadn't noticed before.
"You look tired," he remarked, breaking the silence. His tone wasn't condescending, just observant.
Kianna glanced at him, surprised by the comment. "Long week," she replied, keeping her response vague. She didn't want to get into details. Especially not with him.
Choi Min nodded, his expression softening slightly. "Yeah, I noticed. You've been working harder than usual."
Kianna felt a faint flush rise to her cheeks, though she quickly brushed it off. Why would he notice? It wasn't like she was doing anything different in class. But there was something in his tone, a kind of quiet attention, that made her uncomfortable in a way she couldn't quite explain. It wasn't inappropriate—far from it—but it was... "unusual".
"Everyone's busy these days," she replied, offering a small smile to diffuse the tension. "I'm just one of many."
Choi Min's gaze lingered on her again, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The only sound was the quiet hum of the elevator as it climbed floor after floor, the lights blinking softly in rhythm with the motion.
"I suppose," he said after a pause. "But some people carry more than others."
Kianna felt her chest tighten at the unexpected weight of his words. She glanced at him, frowning slightly. He was looking straight ahead now, his face calm, almost unreadable. He wasn't a typical student—that much she had always known—but today, there was something different about him. Something she couldn't quite place.
"You should take care of yourself too, Ms. Lee," Choi Min added quietly, almost as if it was an afterthought.
Kianna let out a small, surprised laugh, shaking her head lightly. "I'll keep that in mind," she said, half-amused, half-baffled by his sudden concern.
The elevator slowed to a stop, and with a soft *ding*, the doors slid open. Choi Min stepped out first, pausing just outside the elevator. For a moment, he seemed to hesitate, as if there was something else he wanted to say.
"See you in class," he said finally, his voice soft, but there was something in his eyes—something unreadable, like a secret he wasn't ready to share. Then, with a nod, he walked away.
Kianna stood there, watching him go, the doors closing slowly as her mind whirled with the strange tension of their encounter. She shook her head, trying to clear the sudden fog that had settled there.
"He's just a student", she reminded herself, though the words felt oddly hollow.
As the elevator continued its climb, Kianna leaned back against the wall, her heart still beating a little faster than usual. Something about that encounter had stirred something in her, though she couldn't say what. Maybe it was just exhaustion, or maybe it was the fact that Choi Min was... different.
She wasn't sure what it was, but she knew she couldn't let it distract her.
Not now.
The following morning, the usual hum of school life wrapped around Kianna like a heavy cloak. She pushed through it, her mind still lingering on the strange encounter with Choi Min in the elevator yesterday. It wasn't the first time she'd run into him outside of school, but something about that moment stuck with her in a way she couldn't quite shake off.
Her first class of the day was already in full swing. The students sat in neat rows, their heads down, working quietly on an assignment she had given them. The room was filled with the occasional rustling of paper and the soft tapping of pens, a peaceful silence that made her feel momentarily grounded.
But her gaze kept drifting toward Choi Min, who was seated near the back of the classroom. He wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary—just scribbling notes like the rest of the students—but her mind couldn't help but replay their brief conversation in the elevator.
It was his comment about carrying more than others that kept surfacing. She wasn't sure why, but it had unsettled her in ways she couldn't explain. *Why did he say that?*
She snapped back to the present, catching herself staring. Clearing her throat, she moved to the front of the class and began the next part of the lesson.
"Alright, class," she started, trying to refocus on the task at hand, "we've been discussing psychological theories, and today we're diving into Freud's concept of defense mechanisms. These are unconscious processes we use to protect ourselves from stress or uncomfortable truths."
She began to outline the common defense mechanisms on the board—denial, repression, projection, rationalization—but her mind flickered back to a familiar image: the boy in her dreams. For years, this nameless figure had haunted her sleep, a fleeting presence whose face she could never quite see. It wasn't often, but when he appeared, she woke up feeling both comforted and shaken, as if the dreams were trying to tell her something.
And lately, the dreams had returned.
"...examples of defense mechanisms include rationalization, where we justify actions that we know are wrong," Kianna explained, her chalk tapping softly against the board.
Just then, Choi Min's hand shot up from the back of the classroom.
The abruptness of his gesture startled her. He was never one to actively participate in class discussions. Kianna paused, turning to face him, trying to ignore the sudden tightening in her chest.
"Yes, Choi Min?" she asked, her voice calm but curious.
"Ms. Lee," he began slowly, his tone deliberate, "don't you think that everyone has their own way of using defense mechanisms to hide from the truth, even when it's something they really want to know?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with something more than just academic curiosity. Kianna blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation. There was something in the way he asked it—so calm, so precise—that made her feel as though he wasn't just asking about the theory. He was digging for something deeper.
For a moment, she felt exposed, as though the question wasn't aimed at the class but directly at her.
"Defense mechanisms are often about self-preservation," she replied carefully. "They protect us from things we're not ready to face."
Choi Min's gaze held hers for a moment longer than necessary. "But what if those things come to us in dreams? Could a dream be part of that... protection?"
Her heart skipped a beat. How could he know? How could he even hint at something so close to what she'd been wrestling with in the quiet moments of her life?
"Dreams," she started, her voice faltering just slightly before she regained control, "can sometimes reflect our subconscious fears, desires, or unresolved conflicts. But they're not always literal. Sometimes they just... symbolize something deeper."
Choi Min nodded, but there was an odd, almost knowing look in his eyes. He seemed to study her for a moment, and then, just as suddenly as he'd raised the question, he settled back into his seat, his attention turning back to his notebook.
Kianna felt a wave of unease wash over her. She hadn't planned on reflecting on her own defense mechanisms today—let alone in front of her students—but Choi Min's words had unsettled something deep inside her. The boy in her dreams... What was he? A defense mechanism? A figment of her subconscious, shielding her from something she wasn't ready to acknowledge?
She tried to shake it off, moving forward with the lesson. But the rest of the class passed in a blur. Every now and then, her eyes would flicker back to Choi Min, who was sitting quietly, not offering any more questions, but still exuding that strange, unreadable energy.
As the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, the students began to pack up their things and file out of the room. Kianna stood behind her desk, organizing her notes, when she noticed that Choi Min was the last one to leave. He moved slower than the others, his expression unreadable as he slung his bag over his shoulder.
Before stepping out of the room, he paused and glanced back at her.
"Dreams are complicated," he said softly, as if the thought had only just occurred to him. "Sometimes they're trying to tell us something we're too afraid to hear."
Kianna froze, her breath catching in her throat. And then, without another word, he walked out, leaving her standing alone in the empty classroom, her mind buzzing with questions she wasn't sure she wanted to answer.
As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, Kianna gathered her things slowly, her thoughts still lingering on the strange conversation with Choi Min. His words echoed in her mind, stirring something deep inside her—something she wasn't ready to confront. She had been avoiding the boy in her dreams for so long that now, in the stark daylight, the idea of facing whatever those dreams symbolized felt almost overwhelming.
She shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought as she slung her bag over her shoulder and made her way out of the classroom. The hallway was bustling with students, their voices a low hum as they headed toward the exits. Kianna weaved through the crowd, her mind a swirl of questions she couldn't seem to escape.
As she rounded the corner toward the front entrance, she spotted a familiar face—Yoora, her best friend, standing by the lockers. Kianna's first instinct was to head over to her, hoping that maybe a light conversation would distract her from the confusion still buzzing in her head. But she stopped in her tracks when she saw who Yoora was talking to.
It was Choi Min.
They were standing a little too close for a casual conversation, their heads slightly bent as they exchanged words in hushed tones. Kianna couldn't hear what they were saying, but the intensity of their conversation was unmistakable. Yoora's expression was serious, her brows furrowed as she nodded at something Choi Min was explaining.
A strange sensation flickered in Kianna's chest—something sharp and unexpected. *Jealousy?* She blinked, startled by the feeling. Why would she feel that? Choi Min was her student. And Yoora, well... she could talk to whoever she wanted.
But it wasn't just jealousy. It was something else. A deeper connection, almost like déjà vu, tugged at her senses. She had felt it before, that day in the elevator, but it was stronger now. Watching Choi Min talk to Yoora, it was as if she knew him—really knew him—from another life, or another time. It didn't make sense, but the pull was undeniable.
As Kianna stood frozen, observing the scene, a flood of questions raced through her mind. How did Yoora know Choi Min? Were they close? What could they possibly be discussing that seemed so serious?
Her thoughts were interrupted when Yoora glanced up, spotting her from across the hall. A smile broke out on her face, and she waved Kianna over.
"Kianna! There you are!" Yoora called, her voice cheerful, but there was a hint of something beneath it, as if she, too, had been caught up in the weight of the conversation. "Come here, I was just talking to Choi Min."
Kianna hesitated for a second before forcing a smile and walking over, her heart pounding in her chest for reasons she couldn't fully understand. When she reached them, Choi Min's eyes met hers briefly, and once again, she felt that unsettling connection—something deeper.
"Hi," Kianna greeted them, trying to keep her tone light. "What's going on?"
"Nothing much," Yoora said with a shrug, but her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "Choi Min and I were just catching up. I just bumped at him and ask a few question. He's good, and you know what's funny we've met a long time ago when we we're in high school but I barely remember, and when he told me I just realized he was that person whom..we've been talking about before"
Kianna raised an eyebrow, surprised. *whom what? Before?* She had known Yoora for years and never once had she mentioned this and she couldn't remember any topic. How long had they been friends? Why was this the first time Kianna was hearing about it?
"I see," Kianna said, trying to mask her confusion. "That's... interesting."
Choi Min offered a small smile but said nothing, his eyes lingering on her for a second longer than necessary before shifting back to Yoora.
"I should get going," he said suddenly, breaking the silence. "Nice talking to you, Yoora. Ms. Lee." He nodded at Kianna before walking off, leaving her and Yoora standing in the hallway.
Kianna watched him go, her mind racing. The way he'd looked at her just now—it was like he knew something she didn't. And that connection she felt... it wasn't just in her imagination. It was real. She was sure of it.
"Are you okay?" Yoora's voice broke through her thoughts, her tone laced with concern. "You've been a bit off since the weekend. Something happen?"
Kianna turned to her best friend, torn between confiding in her and keeping the strange feelings to herself. How could she explain what she didn't even understand? The dreams, the boy, the weird connection with Choi Min—it was all too much, and yet not enough to form into words.
"I'm fine," Kianna said finally, forcing a smile. "Just a lot on my mind, that's all."
Yoora didn't seem convinced, but she let it slide, linking her arm through Kianna's as they started walking toward the exit.
"Well, if you ever want to talk, you know I'm here," Yoora said softly. "And about Choi Min... he's a bit quiet, but he's a good guy.
Kianna gave a half-laugh, trying to ease the strange tension between them. "Really? I'm his teacher, Yoora. I think I know him well enough."
Yoora smiled, but there was something in her eyes—something almost knowing—that made Kianna wonder what her friend wasn't telling her.
As they walked out into the cool afternoon air, Kianna couldn't shake the feeling that the more she tried to understand what was happening, the more questions she had. And it all seemed to circle back to one person: Choi Min.
There was something about him—something that felt like a missing piece in the puzzle of her life. And somehow, she knew that until she found out what that something was, she wouldn't be able to rest.
Kianna walked alongside Yoora, her thoughts still swirling around Choi Min. The air outside was crisp, and the fading sunlight cast long shadows on the pavement, but the warmth of the day did little to dispel the chill settling in her heart. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something significant about him—something that tethered him to her past in a way she couldn't fully grasp.
As they made their way to the parking lot, Yoora chattered about her day, her voice a comforting background noise. Kianna tried to focus, nodding along, but her mind kept drifting back to Choi Min's mysterious aura and the way he seemed to peer right into her soul.
"Hey, are you even listening?" Yoora's playful nudge pulled her back to reality.
"Yeah, sorry! Just... thinking," Kianna replied, forcing a smile.
"About Choi Min?" Yoora teased, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes.
Kianna shot her a quick look. "It's not like that! I'm just... curious about him, that's all."
"Curious? Or interested?" Yoora pressed, her grin widening.
Kianna rolled her eyes, trying to mask her embarrassment. "You know me, I'm not interested in any of that right now. I have too much on my plate with school and everything and he's my student."
"Sure, if you say so," Yoora laughed, but there was a knowing look in her eyes that made Kianna uneasy.
Just then, Kianna's phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her attention away. She fished it out, her heart sinking slightly when she saw the notification. It was a message from an unknown number.
*"Thinking of you. I hope you're okay."*
A shiver ran down her spine. She stared at the screen, her heart racing. *Who was this?*
"Who is it?" Yoora asked, glancing at the screen.
Kianna quickly tucked her phone away. "Just a random message."
"Random? You sure it's not from a secret admirer?" Yoora teased, nudging her shoulder again.
Kianna couldn't help but laugh, but the unease lingered.