Micha stood by the window, the city lights glowing softly beneath the evening sky. The anticipation of seeing So Hyung after so long had her heart racing, though her mind was clouded with doubts. What if something was wrong? What if all her fears about their relationship were true? She bit her lip, anxiously waiting for the sound of his car outside.
At exactly 7 p.m., the soft hum of an engine reached her ears, and her heart leapt. She quickly grabbed her coat and headed out, trying to steady her breath. As she opened the door, there he was—So Hyung, standing beside his car with a gentle smile that could melt her worries away.
"Hey," he said softly, his voice carrying warmth despite the cool night air. "You look beautiful."
Micha's lips curled into a small smile, but the weight of their time apart still lingered in her heart. "Thank you. I've missed you," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
He stepped closer, gently cupping her face in his hands. "I know. And I'm so sorry, Micha. I've been terrible, leaving you alone like this. Work has been overwhelming—endless meetings, negotiations, and projects. But none of that should have made you feel like you weren't a priority. I've missed you more than words can say."
Micha felt the sting of tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought to keep them at bay. "I understand, but it's been hard. You were so distant, and I didn't know what to think. I started wondering if maybe…maybe you didn't want to be with me anymore."
So Hyung shook his head immediately, his expression filled with regret. "No, no, don't ever think that. I love you, Micha. I've always loved you, and I always will. I never meant to make you feel alone." His thumb brushed gently across her cheek as he continued. "I was so wrapped up in everything going on, but that's no excuse. I should've been there for you. Please forgive me."
The sincerity in his voice broke down the walls she'd built over the past few weeks, and she let out a deep breath. "I do forgive you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I was just so scared… scared that I'd lost you."
So Hyung pulled her into a tight embrace, holding her as if he never wanted to let go. "You'll never lose me. I'm right here. And I'm so sorry for not being there when you needed me. But from now on, things will be different. I promise."
Micha rested her head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It calmed her, reassured her in ways that words never could. She pulled back slightly, looking up into his eyes. "I haven't been taking care of myself, either," she admitted. "With everything going on, I stopped eating properly, stopped sleeping well… I guess I let it all get to me."
So Hyung frowned, his eyes filling with concern as he gently touched her cheek. "I can tell. You've gotten so thin… Micha, you need to take care of yourself, especially when I'm not around. Promise me you'll eat properly from now on. I hate seeing you like this."
Micha nodded, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "I promise. But I'll need you to remind me sometimes," she teased lightly, trying to lift the mood.
He smiled back, his eyes softening with love. "I'll remind you every day if I have to. You're too important to me." He brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch tender and full of affection. "Let's go inside. We've got so much to talk about."
They spent the evening curled up on the couch, talking for hours, sharing stories and catching up on everything they'd missed in each other's lives. The laughter that had once seemed so distant returned, filling the room with warmth. They talked about work, about family, about their dreams for the future. The conversation flowed easily, as if all the time apart had never happened.
Eventually, as the night grew late, Micha yawned, her head resting on So Hyung's shoulder. "I'm so glad you're here," she whispered, her voice sleepy but content.
He smiled, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'm glad too. I've missed this—being with you, just like this."
They moved to the bed, slipping under the covers together. Micha felt the familiar comfort of his presence next to her, a feeling she had longed for during those lonely nights. As they lay there, So Hyung held her close, his arm wrapped protectively around her waist.
"Goodnight, my love," he murmured, his voice soft and soothing.
"Goodnight," Micha whispered back, her heart full of peace as she drifted off to sleep, knowing that no matter what challenges they faced, they would always find their way back to each other. In that moment, she felt whole again, wrapped in the warmth of his love.
Micha stirred restlessly in her sleep, shifting under the warm embrace of So Hyung. The peacefulness of the night blanketed them, but deep in her subconscious, something began to stir. Her dreams, once filled with soft, comforting memories, started to shift. Shadows crept in, and she felt herself slipping back into that same unsettling dream she had last month—the one that left her feeling shaken, uneasy. Only this time, she wasn't alone.
In the dream, she found herself standing in the same dark, foggy space, surrounded by a dense mist that clung to her skin like cold air. The familiar sense of foreboding crept into her heart, and she instinctively reached out, searching for something, someone to anchor her in the eerie void. The sound of footsteps echoed in the distance, just like last time, but this time, they didn't belong to her friends.
She turned around slowly, her breath catching in her throat, and saw a figure standing behind her—So Hyung. His presence in this haunting dream was both comforting and alarming. His face was calm, but his eyes held a sadness she couldn't quite understand. He reached for her, his hand trembling slightly as if he, too, was unsure of where they were or why they were there.
"Micha..." he said softly, his voice almost a whisper, carried by the cool, invisible breeze that surrounded them. "What is this place? Why are we here?"
Micha's heart raced, her pulse pounding in her ears. She remembered the dream vividly from last time—the faceless figures, the blood, the sound of crying. But now, it was different. Now, So Hyung was here with her, and the terror that had gripped her before was tempered by his presence. Yet, something about this dream still felt wrong.
"I... I don't know," Micha replied, her voice shaking slightly. "I've been here before. Last month. But back then, I was with my friends... Now, it's you. I don't understand what's happening."
The dream shifted again, the mist parting as more figures emerged from the shadows. Micha's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the blurry shapes—people she had seen before, but never quite clearly. They were still faceless, but their presence felt closer, more intense, like they were trying to say something, to reach out to her. Blood still dripped from their foreheads, just as it had the first time, and the faint sound of crying echoed in the distance, growing louder and more insistent with each passing second.
Micha gripped So Hyung's hand tightly, her heart pounding as the figures came closer, their faceless features still hidden in the mist. "We need to go," she whispered, her voice filled with urgency. "Something isn't right. We need to get out of here."
But no matter how hard they tried to move, their feet seemed rooted to the ground. The figures continued to approach, their silent cries growing louder, more desperate. Micha felt her chest tighten with fear, the weight of the dream pressing down on her like a heavy fog.
So Hyung's grip tightened around her hand, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. "It's just a dream, Micha. I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you."
But the dream wouldn't release them. The figures came closer, their hands outstretched, as if begging for something—help, understanding, forgiveness? Micha didn't know. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it all, but the more she thought about it, the more the dream seemed to slip through her fingers, like sand in an hourglass.
Suddenly, one of the figures spoke—its voice soft, almost a whisper, but filled with sorrow. "Micha... why didn't you help us?"
The words sent a shiver down Micha's spine. "What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling. "I don't know who you are."
The figure's faceless head tilted slightly, as if it were confused by her response. "You were supposed to help us. You were supposed to be there."
"I don't understand," Micha whispered, panic rising in her chest. "What do you want from me?"
The faceless figure took another step forward, its hand reaching out, almost touching her. "We needed you. And you left us behind."
Micha stumbled back, pulling So Hyung with her. But the figures were all around them now, closing in, their silent cries filling the air with a haunting melody. The weight of their sadness pressed down on her, suffocating her, drowning her in a sea of guilt and confusion.
So Hyung's voice cut through the noise, pulling her back from the edge. "Micha, listen to me," he said, his voice calm and steady. "This isn't real. You're not alone. I'm here with you. Focus on me."
Micha forced herself to look at him, to focus on the warmth of his hand in hers, the steadiness of his gaze. The figures around them began to blur, their cries fading into the background. Slowly, the mist began to lift, and the oppressive weight of the dream started to dissolve.
"It's okay," So Hyung whispered, pulling her into his arms. "It's over. You're safe."
Micha closed her eyes, her body trembling as she clung to him. The dream still lingered in the back of her mind, its eerie presence refusing to fully disappear. But for now, she was safe. For now, she was with So Hyung, and that was all that mattered.
When she opened her eyes again, she was back in her bed, the familiar warmth of So Hyung's body beside her. The room was quiet, peaceful, the only sound the soft rhythm of his breathing. Micha let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing from the dream.
She looked over at him, his face calm and serene in the dim light of the room. He was here, with her, and that was all she needed to know.
But as she lay there, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream, a part of her couldn't help but wonder—what did it all mean? Why had the dream come back, and why had it felt so real this time?
She didn't have the answers yet, but something told her that this wasn't over. Something was coming, something that would change everything. And as she drifted back to sleep, her mind filled with both anticipation and unease, she knew that whatever it was, she would face it with So Hyung by her side.