FATE REWRITTEN.....

1.Returning to seoul

Soobin stepped out of the cab, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar yet oddly comforting sight of the Seoul apartment complex. It was strange to be back. The streets felt narrower, the people somehow less familiar. After spending years in the United States for middle school, his world had shifted dramatically. But now, Seoul was home again-or at least it had to be.

It had only been a few months since his grandparents' funeral, and the emotional weight still clung to him. He took a deep breath, tightening his grip on the handle of his suitcase. His grandmother had always been his source of warmth, and his grandfather, the guiding light that kept him grounded. Their sudden death in a car accident had shattered the stability of his life, and now, the thought of returning to the U.S. felt unbearable. He couldn't go back to that empty apartment near his uncle's place, where the silence screamed louder than any memory. No. Seoul was where he belonged now.

His new apartment wasn't anything extravagant, just enough space for one person. He had chosen it deliberately, needing the solitude to process everything. The quiet, introverted boy he was, Soobin wasn't looking for companionship. He liked to read, listen to music, and lose himself in thought. His headphones were often glued to his ears, a barrier to the outside world.

He dragged his suitcase toward the elevator and stepped inside. On the way up, he stared at his reflection in the mirrored walls. Tall, composed, and cold as ever. His classmates had often labeled him as "unapproachable" due to his aloof personality, but it wasn't like he minded. He had always been more comfortable in his own company, never one to seek out others.

The elevator dinged, and Soobin stepped out onto his floor. As he made his way to his new apartment, he noticed the door front to his. Boxes were piled up outside, and the door was slightly ajar. Someone was moving in.

He didn't think much of it and quietly entered his own place. Unpacking could wait until later. He needed to get ready for tomorrow-his first day at Seoul High School. A new school, new people. None of them mattered, though. All he cared about was getting through each day, staying as invisible as possible, and graduating.

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The next morning came quicker than he had expected. The uniform felt strange after years of wearing casual clothes in America. Adjusting the tie in front of the mirror, Soobin sighed. "Just survive," he muttered to himself.

He left the apartment, locking the door behind him. As he walked down the hall, he heard footsteps behind him and turned slightly. His new neighbor had emerged from the apartment next door.

The boy was shorter than him, with a bright and almost innocent energy radiating off him, despite the tired look on his face. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he was juggling a schoolbag, a coffee cup, and some papers all at once.

"Ah, excuse me!" the boy said, almost tripping over his own feet as he rushed toward the elevator.

Soobin gave a slight nod, not wanting to engage. He wasn't in the mood for small talk. The elevator arrived, and they both stepped in, standing in awkward silence. The boy kept fidgeting with his things, clearly nervous or clumsy, or both.

When the elevator doors opened on the ground floor, the boy let out a relieved sigh. "Thank god," he muttered under his breath before rushing out.

Soobin followed at his own pace, not giving the encounter another thought. However, the boy's face seemed oddly familiar, but Soobin couldn't place where from. Shaking off the thought, he made his way toward the school.

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Seoul High School was a bustling place. The students were loud and full of energy-everything Soobin was not. He kept his head down as he made his way to his new classroom, ignoring the curious looks thrown his way.

When he entered, the teacher was already introducing him. "Class, we have a new transfer student today. This is Choi Soobin. He's recently returned from the U.S., so please help him settle in."

Soobin stood in front of the class, feeling the weight of dozens of eyes on him. He offered a small bow before moving to the back of the class, the spot he always preferred. It was quiet and isolated-just the way he liked it.

As the teacher continued with the lesson, Soobin scanned the room, feeling indifferent to his new classmates. But when his eyes landed on one student, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him. It was the boy from the apartment-his new neighbor.

The boy had the same tired eyes, though he was doing his best to pay attention. He looked exhausted, his head occasionally dipping as if he was struggling to stay awake.The teacher called on him. "Choi Yeonjun, please answer the next question." Soobin's breath caught. Choi Yeonjun? He stared, the name triggering an avalanche of memories.

Suddenly, the classroom around him seemed to blur, and he was taken back to a time long ago-when he was just a kid in play school. There was a boy, a boy with the same bright energy and clumsy tendencies. The boy he had called his best friend. His name had been Yeonjun too.But that was impossible, right? That Yeonjun had been his childhood friend before he left for the U.S. Soobin hadn't heard from him in years, and they had lost all contact.

Yeonjun's voice snapped Soobin out of his thoughts. "Uh... sorry, I didn't catch that," he said to the teacher, his face flushed in embarrassment as he fumbled with his notebook.Soobin watched, a strange sense of déjà vu settling in. Could this really be the same Yeonjun from all those years ago?

End of Chapter 1

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07/10/2024

to be continued....

I am really hoping that you like it!!! Will post new chapters every week :)

have a good day❤️