ECHOES IN SILENCE | Yoon Jaehyuk FF |✅

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"Mr. Yoon," Zumi said softly, her voice trembling with fatigue, "I want to go home. I’ll take a proper tour of the university tomorrow. I just... need to rest for now."

Jae-hyuk turned to her, his expression gentle. "Alright, Zumi. As you say."

They both stood up from the library's quiet sanctuary and made their way down the long staircase. The halls echoed softly with their footsteps, but something heavier was weighing on Zumi—her memories. The flashbacks, especially the one in the library, were still vivid and unsettling. Each step felt like it was pulling her deeper into a fog of recollection.

When they reached the car, she slipped into the passenger seat, her movements slow, her mind racing. She closed her eyes for a moment and rubbed her temples, trying to ease the pounding in her head, but the tension wouldn’t go away.

As Jae-hyuk started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot, he glanced at her from the corner of his eye. Zumi was staring blankly out the window, trying to distract herself with the passing scenery, but it wasn’t working. Her mind kept circling back to the fragmented memories—the library, the people, the faintly familiar figure. And now, another flashback was creeping into the forefront of her thoughts: the car accident.

The sound of music filled her mind, the feeling of being in a new, sleek car. There was a conversation—she could almost hear the voices, feel the excitement. And then, the crash. The terrifying moment when everything shattered.

She groaned softly, her hands pressing against her forehead. The pain was unbearable, like her head was splitting open from the pressure of it all.

"Zumi?" Jae-hyuk’s concerned voice broke through the haze as he glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "Are you okay?"

She blinked rapidly, trying to ground herself. "Yeah, I’m fine, Mr. Yoon," she replied weakly, forcing a small smile. "Just... a headache."

But the smile didn’t reach her eyes, and Jae-hyuk knew better than to push her. Instead, he stayed quiet, focusing on the road ahead. They drove through the bustling streets, the sounds of the city filling the silence between them.

When they finally arrived at Zumi's house, Jae-hyuk stopped the car and turned off the engine. He stepped out first and opened the door for her. She carefully got out, her steps slow, and turned to face him.

"Thank you, Mr. Yoon," she said softly, managing a small but genuine smile as she bowed slightly.

Jae-hyuk nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face. "So... tomorrow morning. University at sharp eight. I’ll pick you up. And don’t worry about anything. Your dress code, your backpack—everything will be ready for you by five this evening."

"Thank you again, Mr. Yoon," Zumi repeated, her voice softer this time. She bowed once more and turned toward the door of her house, walking inside without looking back.

As she disappeared into the house, Jae-hyuk exhaled deeply and returned to his car. He leaned back into the driver’s seat, exhausted but unable to relax. His phone buzzed, pulling his attention. The familiar name "Dr. Park" flashed on the screen.

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Yes, Dr. Park?" he said, bringing the phone to his ear.

"Ah, Mr. Yoon! How’s everything going? How is Zumi doing?" Dr. Park’s voice sounded curious, but with a hint of concern.

"She’s... alright. Getting better, I think. She’s planning to go back to university tomorrow."

"What? Really? Are you sure about that, Mr. Yoon?"

Jae-hyuk hesitated. "Yes, Dr. Park. She told her granny about it, and I agreed to help her get admitted again."

There was a pause on the other end before Dr. Park spoke again, this time with a more serious tone. "Mr. Yoon, this is a big step. Zumi going back to university... it could be her way of trying to return to normal life, to reclaim something of her old self. This might be exactly what she needs to help her recover. But..."