Chapter 7

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by _jaywish

by _jaywish

(A/N: This song is basically the national anthem of this fanfic)

29 January 2023

Days have passed since I've met Namjoon hyung and Yoongi hyung, and it feels like the world is spinning in slow motion. I'm stuck in this weird limbo, trying to find my footing. I feel like I'm running on empty. What do I even write about?

The thought of Minseo keeps invading my mind, like an uninvited guest that won't leave. She's got this way of making everything feel lighter, even if I barely know her. I shake my head as I sit in my studio, surrounded by unfinished tracks and random melodies that don't connect. It's frustrating.

So, I decide to head back to the café where I first met her, hoping maybe the familiar vibe will spark something inside me. I pull into the parking lot, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness. What if she's here? What if I run into her again?

As I step inside, the smell of coffee hits me like a warm hug. I scan the room, searching for her familiar silhouette, but she's nowhere to be found. I let out a small sigh of disappointment as I order my caramel macchiato. I walk to my seat, pulling out my notebook, trying to focus on jotting down whatever comes to mind.

Just then, I feel a sudden collision- thud! I stumble back a little, looking up to see none other than Minseo, eyes wide, hands gripping her notebook tightly.

"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she exclaims, her cheeks slightly flushed. "I wasn't looking where I was going."

I can't help but smile, feeling that familiar warmth rush through me. "No worries. I guess we were both lost in our thoughts."

She laughs softly, and I can feel my heart doing somersaults. "Seems like it. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good. Just... trying to figure things out." I gesture to my notebook, but I don't really want to dive into specifics. "How about you? Still busy with your writing?"

"Always," she replies, her eyes sparkling. "But I've been trying to find a balance between work and personal time. It's tough sometimes."

I nod, feeling a connection to her words. "Yeah, I get that. I'm currently in a bit of a creative rut, to be honest. I have no idea what to write about."

"Creative rut?" she repeats, tilting her head slightly. "What do you usually write about?"

I lean forward, feeling a little flirty. "Well, I usually pull from my experiences, but lately, nothing seems to resonate. Everything feels... bland."

Minseo purses her lips thoughtfully. "Maybe you should write about your everyday life. Find inspiration in the little moments. Sometimes the simplest things can spark the biggest ideas."

Her words hit home. I hadn't thought about it like that. "That's a good idea, actually. I guess I've been too focused on big concepts instead of just... being present."

She nods, a smile spreading across her face. "Exactly! Just observe the world around you. It might surprise you."

I can't help but feel encouraged by her. "You're pretty wise, you know that? Are you sure you're not secretly a therapist or something?"

She laughs again, and it feels like music to my ears. "Nope, just a freelance writer trying to make sense of her own life."

There's a moment of comfortable silence as we both sip our drinks. Then, feeling a bit bold, I lean back and ask, "So... since we keep running into each other, what do you say I get your number this time?"

Her expression shifts, and I can see her weighing the options. "I appreciate the sentiment, but... I still don't think I can give it to you."

I blink, momentarily caught off guard. "Oh. Right." I chuckle, trying to play it cool, but inside, I'm feeling that familiar mixture of disappointment and acceptance. Here we go again. "Fair enough. I mean, I'm still glad to see you. That's something, right?"

"Of course," she replies, her voice calm and steady. "I'm always happy to chat, but I think it's best if we keep it like this for now."

"Yeah, I get it," I say, a hint of a smile creeping back onto my face. "I'll just have to keep coming back here to run into you, then."

Minseo's eyes twinkle, and I can't help but feel a little giddy. "Sounds like a plan. Just make sure to bring your creativity with you next time."

"Deal!" I laugh, feeling lighthearted by the encounter. Even though I didn't get her number again, I leave the café with a lighter heart. I'm not sad about it; if anything, I'm happy I got to see her again, and she gave me a little spark of inspiration.

As I drive home, I can't shake the feeling that this isn't the last time I'll bump into Han Minseo. I mean, the universe has a funny way of bringing people together, right?