After his first day at university, Alex felt a mix of excitement and confusion. His mind was still buzzing with the new experiences—the campus, the people, the endless information. He needed something to settle his nerves.
In his dorm, Alex and his roommate Daniel shared a glass of soju. It wasn't much, but it was enough to ease some of the tension in his body. He wasn't used to drinking, but tonight it felt right. After some casual conversation, Alex felt a wave of loneliness creeping in despite being surrounded by so many new faces.
He decided to take a walk. The air outside was cool, and the night felt inviting. With no particular goal in mind, Alex wandered to the nearby convenience store, thinking of grabbing some ramen and snacks.
Inside the store, the soft Cool white lights buzzed above him. The shelves were filled with snacks, instant noodles, and convenience foods. Alex moved slowly, casually picking up a few different packets of ramen, feeling the need to try something new.
That's when he saw the figure near the back of the store. The man's presence was oddly familiar. He looked like someone Alex had seen before, but the memory was blurry. Maybe it was just the soju still affecting his mind.
The man glanced up and met Alex's gaze. There was a slight pause before he gave Alex a knowing, almost amused smile. "Hey," he said, his voice friendly but with an air of mystery. "I think we've met before."
Alex blinked, confused. "We have?" His words slurred slightly, still under the influence of the drink. "I don't—uh—don't think so."
The man gave a small chuckle. "Hmm, well, maybe it's just me. I'm sure I've seen you somewhere."
The stranger moved a little closer, as if he wanted to make sure Alex was listening. His eyes seemed to sparkle with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "You're a freshman, right? Just started at the university today?"
Alex nodded, trying to recall if he'd seen this guy during the orientation, but nothing clicked. "Yeah... yeah, first day... I guess. But I don't... I don't think I saw you there."
The man tilted his head, studying Alex for a moment. "Ah well, maybe I'm mistaken. But you look... familiar. Like someone I know. Maybe I'm just imagining things."
"Uh..." Alex scratched his head, still unsure. He looked the man over, trying to place him, but there was something about him that felt out of place. "You work here?" Alex asked, his brain still fuzzy. The man didn't seem to be a fellow student, but he was acting like he knew Alex.
The man smiled again, this time with more amusement. "Work here? Nah, not at all. Just passing by." He gave Alex a small wink, making him feel even more disoriented.
Alex, feeling slightly embarrassed, tried to salvage the conversation. "Right... well, maybe I'll see you around?" He grabbed his snacks and walked toward the counter.
"Sure, maybe," the man replied, his tone light and teasing. "But next time, I'll remind you where we've met."
Alex felt his cheeks flush as he hurried to pay. The whole interaction felt strange. Why did this guy seem so familiar? Was it just the soju playing tricks on him? He had no idea.
As Alex left the store and stepped back out into the cool night air, his mind raced. The man's face lingered in his thoughts. Something about him felt connected to his first day at university, but he couldn't figure out why.
The Next Day
The morning, Alex was still feeling the aftereffects of the soju. As he sat in class, trying to focus, his mind kept drifting back to the strange encounter in the store.
And then, there he was. The man from the convenience store. He was sitting in the lecture hall, at the back of the room, his posture casual as he typed away on his laptop. The same familiar presence. The same strange feeling of connection.
Alex stared at him, his heart racing. There was no way this could be the same guy. He couldn't be. He was just... another student, right? But the more Alex looked at him, the more that nagging sense of familiarity grew stronger.
Alex blinked and looked away, hoping it was just his imagination. But the feeling wouldn't leave him. The man's face, his demeanor, his presence—they were all too familiar. It was like they had met before, but Alex couldn't remember when or where and the Class started.