Eu Nu reached out and placed a comforting hand on Micha's arm. "Hey, it was just a dream. You're here, you're safe. Plus, I'm here too, and I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" She gave Micha a reassuring smile. "Maybe we just need some coffee and breakfast to shake it off."
Micha smiled weakly, appreciating Eu Nu's effort to lighten the mood. "Yeah, maybe. I'm probably just overthinking it."
After a few moments of silence, Eu Nu stood up and stretched. "Alright, let's go make something to eat. I'm starving, and I want to hear all about how things are going with you and So Hyung—again." She gave Micha a playful wink.
Micha laughed softly and got out of bed, following Eu Nu into the kitchen. They moved about the kitchen with ease, brewing coffee and making a simple breakfast. As the familiar smells of toast and eggs filled the air, Micha found herself relaxing more, the dream slowly fading into the background.
They sat at the table, sipping their coffee, the early morning light creating a warm, cozy atmosphere. Eu Nu leaned forward, grinning mischievously. "So... back to the important topic. What's going on with So Hyung? You seemed pretty happy last night after that phone call."
Micha blushed slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It was nice. He's been so busy with work lately, but he called just to check in. It felt... sweet, you know? Like he's really trying."
Eu Nu smiled, her eyes twinkling. "I'm happy for you, Micha. You deserve someone who cares about you like that."
"Thanks, Eu Nu," Micha replied, feeling a warm sense of gratitude for her friend's support. "But enough about me. How are things with Oscar? You never finished telling me last night."
Eu Nu's face lit up at the mention of Oscar. "Oh, it's been really good! He's been so patient, you know? I didn't realize how much I'd miss him after graduation, but he waited for me, just like he said he would. We've been talking more, and he's... well, he's just amazing. I feel really lucky."
Micha couldn't help but smile at the happiness in Eu Nu's voice. "I'm glad, Eu Nu. You deserve that kind of happiness too."
They continued to chat and laugh, the nightmare that had haunted Micha's sleep now a distant memory. The morning stretched on, filled with the simple joy of friendship, conversation, and the comfort of having someone who understood her completely.
But deep down, as Micha smiled and laughed with Eu Nu, a small part of her couldn't help but wonder if the dream had meant something more. There was an uneasiness that lingered in her chest, something she couldn't quite explain. But for now, she pushed it aside, choosing to focus on the present—on the warmth of her friend's company and the promise of a new day.
As the days drifted by like quiet whispers of the wind, time seemed to lose its meaning for Micha. The sun rose and set, marking the passing of each day, but inside, her heart felt still—heavy with the weight of loneliness and a growing emptiness that seemed impossible to fill. It had been exactly one month since her family had moved away, leaving the house quieter than ever. Eu Nu, her cherished friend, had left that evening after their heartwarming reunion, and since then, Micha had been swallowed by the silence that echoed in every corner of her home.
She tried to hold onto the memory of her last moments with them—the laughter over breakfast, the warmth of their presence. But no matter how hard she tried, the days felt hollow without them. There was no lively chatter at the dining table, no loving goodnight hugs, no comforting words from her parents when she needed them most. Her heart ached with a longing she couldn't put into words.
In the absence of her family, Micha turned to work, hoping to distract herself from the gnawing feeling of loneliness. But with each passing day, it became harder to ignore the ache in her chest. She would spend long hours at the office, burying herself in reports and projects, her fingers flying over the keyboard as if the faster she worked, the faster she could forget. But no matter how hard she tried, the emptiness followed her like a shadow.
The stress of work piled on top of everything else. The deadlines were relentless, and her responsibilities only seemed to grow heavier each day. Micha, once vibrant and full of life, felt herself growing dull—like a candle that had been burning too long, flickering, struggling to stay alight. She hardly ate anymore, skipping meals to focus on her work, telling herself that she wasn't hungry. But deep down, she knew it was more than that. She was losing the energy to care for herself, too lost in the maze of stress and sadness that consumed her life.
And then, there was So Hyung. Her beloved, her anchor, the one person she thought could pull her out of this storm. He had promised to come see her, to visit when his schedule cleared, but weeks had passed, and there was still no sign of him. His calls had grown fewer, his texts shorter. She knew he was busy—running a company wasn't easy—but the silence between them felt heavier than any workload. Each time her phone rang, she hoped it would be him, but disappointment followed when it was not.
Her heart ached with the absence of his presence, his laughter, the warmth of his words. She missed the way he used to make her feel safe, like no matter how hard things got, he would always be there to catch her. But now, it felt like he was slipping through her fingers, like the distance between them was growing with each passing day. Micha couldn't help but wonder if he was truly too busy—or if something deeper was changing between them.
As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into a month, Micha found herself withdrawing more and more. Her bright smiles became rare, her laughter almost non-existent. She would sit in her room late at night, staring at her phone, waiting for a message from So Hyung that never seemed to come. The loneliness grew unbearable, suffocating her. Her heart felt heavy with a mixture of sadness, frustration, and longing. She missed her family. She missed her best friend. And more than anything, she missed the feeling of being loved, of being cared for, of knowing that someone was there for her.
The nights were the hardest. Lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her mind would wander to all the moments she felt alone—her family miles away, her friends busy with their lives, and So Hyung, distant in both heart and presence. She would replay their last conversation in her mind, his promise echoing in her thoughts: "I'll come soon, I promise." But soon had never come.
Each morning, she would wake up feeling just as tired as she had the night before, the weight of her dreams pressing down on her as if they were chains, binding her to this never-ending cycle of work, stress, and heartache. She kept telling herself that she was fine, that she was strong enough to handle it. But inside, she felt fragile—like she was holding herself together with nothing more than sheer willpower, and at any moment, she might break.
Her co-workers noticed the change in her. The once vibrant, energetic Micha had become quiet, reserved, her eyes dull and tired. They would ask if she was okay, but she would always force a smile and say, "I'm fine, just a little tired." But the truth was, she felt anything but fine.
One evening, after a particularly exhausting day, Micha sat at her desk long after everyone had gone home, her eyes scanning the endless stream of emails and reports. But the words blurred together, and for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to stop. She leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and let out a long, weary sigh. The weight of it all felt crushing—the work, the loneliness, the uncertainty of her relationship with So Hyung. It all felt like too much.
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away. She didn't want to cry. She had to stay strong. She had to keep going. But as she sat there in the quiet, empty office, she couldn't help but wonder—how much longer could she keep pretending everything was okay? How much longer could she keep pushing herself without breaking?
Micha stared at the clock as the hands ticked away slowly, marking the end of another long, exhausting day. The office was eerily quiet, the hum of the air conditioner the only sound keeping her company. She had stayed behind after everyone else had left, hoping to get through the mountain of paperwork she'd fallen behind on. But no matter how much she worked, it never seemed to be enough to drown out the gnawing emptiness in her heart.
As she leaned back in her chair, rubbing her tired eyes, her phone vibrated on the desk. Startled by the sudden noise in the silence, she quickly grabbed it, her heart skipping a beat. It was a message from So Hyung. Her breath caught in her throat as she opened it, expecting the usual apology for being busy. But this time, the message was different.
"Hey babe, I'm sorry it's been so long. I've got something really important to talk to you about. Can we meet tomorrow night? I promise it's something special."
Her heart raced. Something important? Special? After a month of almost no communication, this message came out of nowhere. Her mind swirled with possibilities. Could he be planning something? A surprise?
Maybe this was finally the moment he'd been waiting for—a chance to make up for all the lost time, to explain the distance between them. But as much as she wanted to believe it was good news, a small part of her couldn't shake the anxiety building up inside.
She texted back quickly: "Of course! I'll be there. Where should we meet?"
Within seconds, So Hyung responded: "I'll pick you up at 7. Dress nice. You won't want to miss this."
Micha's heart fluttered. A sudden rush of excitement filled her chest. For the first time in weeks, she felt something other than stress and loneliness. She stared at the message, her mind racing with thoughts of what this meeting could mean. Could this be the moment she'd been waiting for—the moment where everything finally made sense?
As she packed up her things and prepared to head home, she couldn't help but smile. Tomorrow held a promise, a spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, things were about to change for the better. Little did she know, tomorrow's meeting would be more than she could ever imagine—something that would change everything.