Unevitable | Ryeji |

Chapter 19: Whispers of the Heart

Yeji's Pov:

I was sitting in the corner of a quiet restaurant, my thoughts spiraling as I absentmindedly stirred my drink. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind-brutal murders, cryptic messages, and a nagging feeling that I was missing something important. No matter how hard I tried to piece it all together, the answers remained just out of reach.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice someone approaching my table until a familiar voice broke through the fog in my mind.

"Mind if I join you?"

I looked up, startled, and there she was-Ryujin, standing there with that calm, almost playful smile that always seemed to catch me off guard. My heart skipped a beat, a mix of surprise and something else I couldn't quite place.

"Sure," I replied, trying to sound casual as I gestured to the seat across from me.

She slid into the chair with an effortless grace, her eyes briefly scanning my face before they settled on my drink. "You look like you could use some company," she said, her tone light but with a hint of curiosity that made me feel like she could see right through me.

I forced a small smile, trying to push aside the thoughts swirling in my mind. "I was just...thinking."

"About work?" she guessed, leaning back in her chair with that same ease she always carried.

I nodded, feeling the weight of her gaze on me. "Yeah, something like that. It's been a tough few weeks."

Her expression softened, and for a moment, it felt like she truly understood. "Sometimes, a break is exactly what you need to clear your mind."

There was something comforting about her presence, even though I knew I should be cautious. It was strange-I barely knew her, but something about Ryujin felt both familiar and mysterious, like she was a piece of the puzzle I was trying to solve.

"So," she said, shifting the conversation, "what brings you here tonight, all alone?"

"Just needed some time to think," I replied, meeting her gaze. There was something in her eyes that made me feel like she knew more than she was letting on. "What about you?"

Her smile widened slightly, and there was a twinkle in her eyes that made my heart race. "Maybe I was looking for you."

Her words hung in the air, and I felt a sudden warmth spread across my chest. "Looking for me?" I echoed, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fluttering in my stomach.

Ryujin shrugged, her smile never fading. "Well, we seem to keep running into each other. Maybe it's fate."

I couldn't help but chuckle softly, though a part of me was trying to figure out what she really meant. "Or maybe Seoul's just a small city."

"Maybe," she conceded, but the way she looked at me made it clear she didn't fully agree. There was something almost playful in her eyes, like she enjoyed keeping me guessing.

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a small sigh as I looked down at my drink. "It's just...everything feels so tangled right now. Like I'm missing something crucial, but I can't figure out what it is."

Ryujin's expression grew thoughtful, and for a moment, I thought she might say something comforting or offer advice. But instead, she simply said, "Sometimes, the answers come when you least expect them."

There was a strange intensity in her voice, as if she knew something I didn't. My instincts were telling me to dig deeper, to ask her what she meant by that, but the warmth in her gaze held me back. It was like she was inviting me into a game, one where the rules were unclear but the stakes were high.