**Seoul, Present Day**
The early morning light filtered through the high-rise buildings of Seoul, casting a golden hue over the bustling city. In the midst of the urban sprawl, the air buzzed with the energy of countless lives intersecting, yet Han Soo-min felt strangely disconnected from it all. His routine was predictable—wake up, go to work, return home—but today, there was a sense of unease lingering in the back of his mind, as if something crucial was missing.
Soo-min stepped off the subway, the cool breeze of the autumn morning brushing against his face. He adjusted his tie and straightened his coat as he walked toward the towering glass building where he worked as an architect. Despite the success he'd achieved, there was a void within him, an unshakable feeling that his life lacked meaning.
As he entered the building, Soo-min's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of soft laughter. He turned his head toward the source and saw a group of schoolchildren walking hand in hand with their teacher, crossing the street toward a nearby park. His gaze lingered on the teacher—a petite woman with long, wavy brown hair and a warm, inviting smile. There was something about her that caught his attention, something that stirred a strange familiarity in his heart.
Soo-min shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. It was just a passing moment, nothing more. He had work to focus on.
---
**Later that Day**
Lee Eun-ji guided her class through the park, her green eyes sparkling with warmth as she answered the children's endless questions. She loved teaching, loved the innocence and curiosity that her students brought into her life. But lately, there was a lingering sadness beneath her cheerful demeanor, a sense of longing that she couldn't quite explain.
As they approached the fountain in the center of the park, Eun-ji felt a strange sensation wash over her. She paused, looking around as if searching for something—or someone. The feeling was fleeting, gone before she could fully grasp it, but it left her heart pounding in her chest.
"Eun-ji, are you okay?" asked her friend and colleague, Yoon Mi-ra, who had accompanied her class on their outing.
Eun-ji forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, just felt a bit dizzy for a moment."
Mi-ra gave her a concerned look but didn't press further. They continued with the outing, but Eun-ji couldn't shake the sense that something significant had just passed her by, like a moment of destiny slipping through her fingers.
---
**That Evening**
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city as the day came to a close. Soo-min sat alone in his apartment, staring blankly at the architectural designs spread out on his dining table. Despite the success of his latest project, his thoughts kept drifting back to the woman he'd seen that morning, her image lingering in his mind like an unfinished sketch.
He didn't even know her name, but something about her had struck a chord deep within him. It wasn't just her appearance—there was an inexplicable sense of connection, as though they had met before, though he knew that was impossible.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed, jolting him from his thoughts. It was a message from his best friend, Kang Ji-hoon.
*Ji-hoon:* *Hey, you up for drinks tonight? Haven't seen you in a while!*
Soo-min hesitated, his mind still swirling with the events of the day, but he quickly typed out a response.
*Soo-min:* *Sure. Usual place?*
*Ji-hoon:* *Yep. See you in an hour!*
---
**Later that Night**
The small, cozy bar where Soo-min and Ji-hoon often met was tucked away in a quiet alley, far from the noise of the city. When Soo-min arrived, Ji-hoon was already there, nursing a glass of whiskey.
"Long day?" Ji-hoon asked as Soo-min slid into the seat across from him.
"You could say that," Soo-min replied with a sigh, ordering his usual drink. "Just… been feeling a bit off lately."
"Off? How so?"
Soo-min paused, debating whether to share his thoughts. "It's hard to explain. I keep thinking about someone I saw today. A woman. I don't even know her, but… it feels like I do."
Ji-hoon raised an eyebrow. "A mysterious woman, huh? Sounds like the beginning of a rom-com."
Soo-min chuckled, though the feeling of unease remained. "Yeah, maybe. But it's more than that. It's like… there's something I'm supposed to remember, but I can't."
Ji-hoon leaned back in his chair, his expression thoughtful. "Maybe it's your mind playing tricks on you. Or maybe you're just lonely. You've been burying yourself in work for months now. Could be your heart telling you it's time to change things up."
Soo-min considered Ji-hoon's words, but the feeling that this was something deeper wouldn't go away. "Maybe," he said finally, though he wasn't convinced.
As they continued to talk, Soo-min's thoughts kept drifting back to the woman in the park. He couldn't shake the feeling that their lives were somehow intertwined, that there was a reason they had crossed paths, even if he didn't understand it yet.
---
**At the Same Time, Across the City**
Eun-ji sat by her bedroom window, staring out at the city lights. She had tried to focus on lesson plans for the next day, but her mind kept wandering back to the moment in the park when she'd felt that strange sensation, like she was missing something important.
She absentmindedly fingered the necklace she wore—a simple silver chain with a small, intricate pendant that she'd had since she was a child. It was one of her most cherished possessions, though she didn't know why. It had always made her feel connected to something bigger, something beyond the life she knew.
As she gazed at the stars, Eun-ji wondered if she was being foolish, letting her imagination get the better of her. But deep down, she knew there was something more to it. A connection she couldn't see, but could feel.
Little did she know that at that very moment, Soo-min was experiencing the same sense of longing, the same inexplicable pull toward a future they were destined to share.