Love Beyond The Clouded Memories

Chapter 2: First Glimpses Of Us

Hangyeom stared at his cellphone, his thumb swiping across the screen out of habit, though he already knew what he'd find. His frustration building as the screen displayed no signal for the second day in a row. He'd been hoping that maybe today, things would be different. The anxiety gnawing at him grew with each failed attempt to connect. He had no idea what was happening back home, and worse, he couldn't check in with anyone. His thoughts immediately went to his cousin Jaehan—if anyone were to worry about him disappearing, it would be Jaehan. He'd probably called a dozen times by now, maybe more.

Hangyeom sighed deeply and stepped outside, the crisp morning air offering little comfort. Raising the phone high above his head, he wandered across the yard, hoping that maybe, just maybe, some signal would reach him if he found the right spot. But it was hopeless. The screen remained blank, mocking him with its emptiness. Not even a single bar of reception.

After a few more futile attempts, Hangyeom lowered his phone and gave up. He had no other choice. There was no use in trying to connect with the outside world from here. This place was too secluded, too quiet, almost like it existed in a time of its own. Letting out a frustrated sigh, he pocketed his phone and headed back inside the house, its stillness greeting him. The old wooden floor creaked softly beneath his feet as he wandered through the narrow hallway, his eyes scanning for Jungha—maybe he had another phone or knew a place where he could make a call. Walking down the hallway, he knocked softly on what he assumed was Jungha's room. To his surprise, the door next to it creaked open instead, revealing a dusty and seemingly untouched room. Inside, Jungha was busy cleaning what looked like his parents' old bedroom, his back turned to Hangyeom as he wiped the dust from the furniture.

The room looked as though it hadn't been lived in for years, with a thick layer of dust coating everything from the dresser to the picture frames. Hangyeom stood awkwardly in the doorway, hesitant to interrupt.

"Yes?" Jungha asked without looking up, his voice neutral, as always.

"Sorry for bothering you," Hangyeom said, shifting his weight awkwardly. "I was wondering if you had a phone I could use? Mine's got no signal, and I really need to make a call."

Jungha paused for a moment, then straightened up and turned to face him. He gave Hangyeom a brief look, one that was hard to read, before silently nodding and walking past him toward his own room. Curiosity gnawed at Hangyeom as he followed. He hadn't expected Jungha to be the type to keep much of anything, let alone a phone.

Entering Jungha's room, Hangyeom found it just as neat and sparse as the rest of the house. There was no clutter, no excess. It was all essentials—clothes, books, and a few personal items tucked away in the corners. Jungha opened a drawer and rummaged through it before handing Hangyeom an old flip phone, the kind that probably hadn't been popular for over a decade.

"I don't use it much," he explained. "This one doesn't always get good signal either, but sometimes it works if you stand in the right spot. If not, there's a public phone near the grocery store up the hill. You could try that."

Hangyeom took the phone gratefully, though he could see it wasn't exactly high-tech. It would do for now. "Thanks. I'll try it out." Hangyeom muttered, flipping the phone open to check its signal, but his mind was already elsewhere.

As he fiddled with the phone, Jungha continued, his voice even. "By the way, I cleaned the room and changed the bedsheets. You can rest whenever you're ready." He motioned toward the bed, the fresh sheets neatly tucked in.

Surprised by the gesture, Hangyeom felt a sudden pang of guilt. Hangyeom blinked in surprise, taking in the effort Jungha had clearly put into tidying up. "Thank you," he said, his voice filled with genuine gratitude. "Really, I appreciate it."