Chapter 1: The Melody That Shouldn't Exist
The soft hum of the espresso machine filled the café, blending with the faint chatter of the last few customers. The warm scent of roasted coffee beans lingered in the air, mixing with the distant sound of rain tapping gently against the windows. It was a peaceful evening—almost too peaceful.
Jihoon hesitated at the entrance, his fingers tightening around the hood of his jacket. He had planned to grab a quick coffee and escape unnoticed, but then… he heard it.
A melody.
Not just any melody, but that melody. The one that haunted his dreams for years, slipping through his mind like a forgotten whisper. The one he had never heard in real life.
His heart pounded against his ribs as he turned toward the source of the sound.
There, at the far end of the café, sat a girl at a grand piano. Her fingers danced effortlessly across the keys, her posture relaxed, as if she had played this tune a thousand times before.
Jihoon barely noticed the way her long sleeves covered her wrists, or how a loose strand of hair fell over her face. His gaze was locked on her hands—on the way she played with such certainty.
It didn't make sense.
This song should not exist.
His legs moved before his mind could catch up, leading him closer until he was just a few steps away. The final note lingered in the air, fading into the soft murmur of the café. The girl exhaled slowly, as if waking from a trance, and reached for her cup of tea.
Jihoon finally found his voice.
"Where did you learn that song?"
She flinched slightly, turning to face him. Her hazel eyes widened in surprise. Up close, she looked foreign—not Korean, yet familiar in a way that made his chest tighten.
"I…" She hesitated, brows furrowing in thought. "I don't know."
His breath caught.
"What do you mean you don't know?" His voice was steadier than he felt.
The girl placed the teacup down, fingers trembling slightly. "It just… came to me. Like I've always known it."
Jihoon's hands clenched at his sides. That wasn't possible.
That song had never been played before.
Because it wasn't written.
Because it only existed in his dreams.