His Enigma

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ xɪɪ : ᴄʀʏᴘᴛɪᴄ ᴄʟᴜᴇs

Heeyoung walked back to her house, her mind swirling with thoughts about the dinner with Sunghoon. It had been pleasant, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more beneath his charming exterior. As she reached her door, her phone buzzed with a new message.

Sunghoon: I hope you enjoyed tonight. Here's something to ponder: "The key to the past lies in the present. Seek the hidden truth."

Heeyoung stared at the message, puzzled. What could Sunghoon mean by "the key to the past lies in the present"? She felt a mix of excitement and unease as she tried to decipher the cryptic message.

Her mom greets her with a smirk, "Any progress between the two of you?", she asks.

"Mom, This wasn't a date, just a friendly dinner", Heeyoung responds to her mom's uncontrollable sense of curiousness.

~

Later that night, as she lay in bed, the weight of her secret began to press down on her. She had always been honest with Danielle, but now she was hiding something significant. The nightmare she had about Danielle cutting off their friendship replayed in her mind, making her feel even more guilty. She looked at the photo on her desk where a photo of Danielle and she was framed and kept. She just couldn't bear the guilt of lying to her best friend. She sighed.

Determined to figure out Sunghoon's message, Heeyoung decided to start by looking at the necklace he had given her. She examined the key-shaped pendant closely, wondering if it held any clues. As she turned it over in her hands, she noticed a tiny inscription on the back: "Find the lock that fits."

The next morning, Heeyoung couldn't shake the feeling that the key was more than just a piece of jewelry. She decided to visit the café where she first met Sunghoon, hoping to find some answers. As she entered, the barista greeted her with a knowing smile.

"Back so soon?" the barista asked. "Looking for something?"

Heeyoung hesitated, then showed the barista the key. "Do you know anything about this?"

The barista's eyes widened slightly. "Ah, the key. Sunghoon mentioned someone might come looking for answers. He said to tell you to look where it all began."

Heeyoung's mind raced. 

Where it all began? 

She thought back to their first encounter, the spilled coffee, the dress... and then it hit her. The boutique where Sunghoon had bought her the dress. She thanked the barista and hurried out, her heart pounding with anticipation.

At the boutique, Heeyoung approached the owner, a kind elderly woman who remembered her immediately. "Ah, the young lady with the beautiful dress! How can I help you today?"

Heeyoung showed her the key and explained the situation. The owner smiled warmly. "Sunghoon is quite the mysterious one, isn't he? Follow me."

She led Heeyoung to a small, hidden door at the back of the boutique. "This door has been here for years, but no one ever notices it. Try your key."

With trembling hands, Heeyoung inserted the key into the lock. It fit perfectly. As she turned it, the door creaked open to reveal a small, dimly lit room filled with old photographs, every one with young Sunghoon in it.

"Gosh, he was so cute back then, he still is..."

She stopped in her tracks as her gaze fell upon one particular photo, where Sunghoon was standing with a girl, both of them posing with the peace sign ✌️.

But as she examined closer, she realized that the girl in the photo was 

Lee Heeyoung?

"Why am I in the picture?"