Yihwa pushed open the library doors, expecting the musty scent of old books and the whispered hum of students studying. Instead, she stumbled upon a scene that made her heart skip a beat. Mook and Tharn were wrapped in each other's arms, their faces inches apart.
Yihwa's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. She strode towards them, her hands on her hips. "What the hell are you guys doing?" she demanded, her voice low and even.
Mook and Tharn sprang apart, their faces flushed. Tharn grasped Yihwa's hands, his eyes pleading. "Yihwa, calm down. You've misunderstood. Mook just broke up with her boyfriend, and I'm comforting her."
Yihwa's gaze flicked to Mook, who looked sheepish. Tharn pulled Yihwa into a gentle hug. "Please don't misunderstand."
Yihwa's eyes sparkled with skepticism. "Is this how you comfort someone? By hugging them?" She raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Mook shot her a bombastic side-eye, as if daring her to make a scene. "Sorry, babe. It won't happen again," Tharn whispered, his breath warm against Yihwa's ear.
Later that day, Yihwa spotted Pete leaning against a wall, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Rumors swirled around campus that Pete was a mafia prince, with a reputation for being ruthless and untouchable. But Yihwa saw only a handsome young man with a vulnerable glint in his eye.
She marched towards him, snatching the cigarette from his lips. "Smoking is not good for your health, especially for a handsome young man like you."
Pete's eyes widened, surprised by her boldness. "Yihwa, why are you here? Are you flirting with me?" he teased, his voice low and husky.
Yihwa smirked, her eyes sparkling. "Can't I? Smoking is bad for your health, and I don't want to attend your funeral."
Pete chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, then I'll stop, because I don't want you to faint when you hear I'm dead."
As he teased her, Pete's hands rested on Yihwa's head, his touch sending shivers down her spine. Over the past two months, their friendship had blossomed, and Yihwa felt an inexplicable connection to this enigmatic young man.
But as she gazed up at Pete, Yihwa's eyes landed on a scar on his arm. Her heart skipped a beat. "Pete, where did you get this scar?"
Pete's expression turned somber. "Oh, this? I got it six years ago, saving a girl from some thugs."
Yihwa's eyes widened, memories flooding back. She had been that girl, and Pete was the mysterious stranger who had saved her life. She touched the scar, her fingers tracing the jagged line. "Can you tell me what happened?"
As Pete recounted the story, Yihwa's eyes locked onto his, her heart pounding in her chest. "Black Dragon," she whispered, the name echoing through her mind like a prayer.
Pete's eyes narrowed, confusion etched on his face. "Are you the girl?"
Yihwa's eyes spilled tears as she hugged Pete tightly. "Yes, it's me. I've been looking for you for almost six years."
As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, Yihwa knew that her life was about to change forever.