FATE REWRITTEN.....

2. A Glimpse into the Past

Soobin couldn't shake the thoughts of Yeonjun from his mind. All day, his mind had been stuck in a loop, replaying memories of his childhood. Every time he saw Yeonjun in class, that familiar face tugged at something deep inside him, pulling at buried memories he hadn't thought of in years.

The rest of the school day passed in a blur. He hadn't interacted with anyone other than responding with a few short sentences when the teacher called on him. At lunch, he stayed in his seat, not particularly eager to join the noisy crowd in the cafeteria.

On his way home, he kept thinking about Yeonjun. Could it really be him? The odds seemed astronomical, but the longer he thought about it, the more convinced he became. Same name. Same energy. Same eyes.

As he turned the corner to his apartment complex, he spotted Yeonjun ahead of him. His neighbor was walking a little slower, his head down as if deep in thought. Soobin found himself unconsciously speeding up his pace, as if he wanted to confirm something.

"Hey," Soobin called out as they neared the building's entrance.

Yeonjun turned around, blinking in surprise. "Oh, you're the guy from the elevator this morning," he said with a small smile. "You're in my class too, right?"

Soobin nodded. "Yeah, Choi Soobin."

"Choi Yeonjun," Yeonjun replied, though Soobin was already well aware of that. There was an awkward pause before Yeonjun chuckled softly. "Well, I guess you already know my name."

There was something so familiar in the way Yeonjun smiled, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners. Soobin's chest tightened as the memories of their childhood friendship resurfaced. Could he really be the same Yeonjun?

"So... are you new to Seoul?" Yeonjun asked, pulling Soobin out of his thoughts.

"I've been here before," Soobin said vaguely. "But I spent the last few years in the U.S. I just moved back."

Yeonjun nodded. "That must be tough. Seoul must feel really different after living in the U.S. for so long."

"Yeah, it is," Soobin replied, not quite sure how to steer the conversation toward what he really wanted to ask. He didn't want to blurt out, 'Hey, were we best friends when we were kids?' That would be way too forward.

The two walked in silence for a moment until they reached the apartment building. As they got on the elevator together, Soobin's mind was racing. Should he ask? Maybe Yeonjun didn't even remember him.

But then, Yeonjun spoke again. "You know... it's kinda funny. I had a friend when I was younger-his name was Soobin too," he said, almost absentmindedly, as if the thought had just crossed his mind.

Soobin froze. His heart skipped a beat. So he remembers?

"We were really close," Yeonjun continued, a wistful smile tugging at his lips. "We used to do everything together. We even shared the same birthday."

Soobin swallowed hard. Same birthday... this is definitely him.

"I haven't seen him in years though," Yeonjun said, his voice quieter now. "He left for the U.S. when we were seven, and we lost touch."

The elevator doors opened, and they both stepped out onto their floor. Soobin felt his throat tighten as he tried to find the right words. This is my chance.

"Yeonjun," Soobin began, his voice more serious than he intended. "What if I told you... that the Soobin you're talking about... might be me?"

Yeonjun stopped in his tracks, turning to face Soobin with wide eyes. For a moment, neither of them said anything. The air felt thick with tension and disbelief.

"What...?" Yeonjun whispered, his voice barely audible.

Soobin nodded slowly, his heart pounding in his chest. "I'm the Soobin you used to be friends with. I left for the U.S. right before our seventh birthday. I didn't think I'd ever see you again, but..."

Yeonjun stared at him, his mouth slightly open in shock. For a moment, it seemed like he was trying to process everything. Then, without warning, his eyes began to well up with tears."Soobin..." Yeonjun's voice cracked, and he quickly wiped at his eyes, trying to hide the tears that had started to spill over. "I thought you were gone for good. You never called, you never wrote... I thought I'd never see you again."

Guilt surged through Soobin's chest. He hadn't realized how much his sudden departure had affected Yeonjun. Back then, he had been too young to understand the gravity of leaving his best friend behind. And when his life in the U.S. became busy, the distance between them had only grown wider.

"I'm sorry," Soobin said, his voice low. "I didn't mean to leave you like that. A lot happened after I moved to the U.S. with my uncle. I wasn't thinking clearly back then."

Yeonjun took a shaky breath, trying to regain his composure. "I missed you, Soobin. I thought about you every day for years. I waited for a call or a letter... something."

Soobin felt a lump in his throat. He had never been good with emotions, never the type to open up easily. But seeing the raw pain in Yeonjun's eyes, he realized how much he had hurt him by disappearing.

"I'm here now," Soobin said quietly. "And I want to make up for lost time. If you'll let me."Yeonjun looked at him, his eyes still glistening with tears. After a long pause, he gave a small nod, a tearful smile forming on his lips. "Yeah... I'd like that."

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That night, Soobin lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling. His mind was racing with everything that had happened. He had never expected to find Yeonjun again, let alone reconnect with him in such an emotional way. But now that they had found each other again, Soobin felt a strange sense of relief. Like a piece of his past had finally fallen into place.

But at the same time, there was something else stirring inside him. Seeing Yeonjun after all these years had reignited something deep within him. The memories of their childhood friendship were vivid, but there was also a new, unfamiliar feeling that was starting to grow.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it yet, but one thing was clear: Yeonjun wasn't just the boy from his past anymore. He was something more. And Soobin was determined to stay by his side this time, no matter what.

End of Chapter 2

08/10/2024

to be continued...