Hush, It's Love

P01

Taeyang Lee awoke to the soft glow of morning light filtering through his curtains. Yesterday had been his birthday, and he had spent the evening on his balcony, making a wistful wish upon the moon. He couldn't shake the strange sense of anticipation that lingered as he got ready for work.

As he made his way through the bustling city streets, a sudden flurry of thoughts that weren't his own bombarded his mind. He paused, bewildered, thinking it must be some leftover dream fragment. But the thoughts persisted, clear and distinct, from the people around him.

"Did I remember to lock the door?" thought a woman rushing past him. "Ugh, I can't stand another day in that office," groaned a man waiting at the crosswalk.

Taeyang's heart raced. It was as if a door had opened, allowing him to eavesdrop on the innermost thoughts of strangers. He shook his head, trying to dismiss the odd phenomenon, but the thoughts continued to flood in whenever he looked at someone directly.

Arriving at his office building, the usual buzz of morning activity was now accompanied by a symphony of mental chatter. Colleagues mingled around the coffee machine, their casual banter masking a myriad of personal reflections.

"Morning, Taeyang," a cheerful voice called out. He turned to see his colleague, Sangwoo Park, flashing him a bright smile. Sangwoo's infectious energy and frequent promotions had always been a source of quiet envy for Taeyang, who felt stuck in his position despite his hard work.

"Morning, Sangwoo," Taeyang replied, trying to mask the strange new sensation that had accompanied him since dawn. It was as if the barrier between his mind and those around him had thinned, allowing him to glimpse fragments of their thoughts whenever he looked at them.

As they settled into their respective tasks, Taeyang found it increasingly difficult to ignore the influx of emotions and fleeting thoughts that seemed to swirl around him. He glanced at Sangwoo, who was immersed in his work, and suddenly heard, "Taeyang looks cute today. Oh, not only today, every day."

Taeyang nearly dropped his coffee. Did he just hear Sangwoo's thoughts? He quickly looked away, his heart pounding. This was definitely going to be a long day.

Just then, a group of co-workers approached Taeyang's desk. "Hey, Taeyang, you coming to the team lunch today?" asked Jisoo, the ever-enthusiastic project manager.

Before Taeyang could respond, he inadvertently made eye contact with Jisoo and heard her thoughts, clear as day. "I hope he says yes. We need to bond more as a team, especially with all the upcoming projects."

"Uh, yeah, sure. I'll be there," Taeyang replied, trying to keep his composure. The mental noise was overwhelming, yet he couldn't help but feel a pang of curiosity about his colleagues' true feelings.

"Great! It'll be good to have everyone together," added Minseok, another colleague. As Taeyang glanced at Minseok, he caught a fleeting thought. "I hope they don't notice I'm feeling out of place."

Taeyang nodded, realizing this newfound ability gave him unprecedented insights into his colleagues' minds. But it also made him acutely aware of his own insecurities and the unspoken dynamics within the team.

Throughout the morning, Taeyang's mind-reading abilities led to several awkward moments. In one instance, he accidentally read the thoughts of his boss, Mr. Han, during a routine check-in. "I need to cut back on those donuts," Mr. Han thought, as he patted his stomach.

Trying to suppress a grin, Taeyang struggled to maintain a straight face. "Yes, sir. I'll get those reports to you by the end of the day."

"Focus," Taeyang muttered to himself, trying to concentrate on the spreadsheets before him. But as the day progressed, the mental noise only grew louder, punctuated by moments of clarity that left him questioning his own sanity.

During a particularly mundane meeting, Taeyang couldn't help but glance around the room, catching snippets of his colleagues' thoughts.

"Can't wait for lunch, I'm starving," from Jisoo. "Hope my presentation goes well," from Minseok.

Then he looked at Sangwoo again, hearing, "I wonder if Taeyang noticed my new shirt. I picked it just for him today."

Taeyang stifled a laugh, covering it with a cough. This was too much. He needed a break.

By lunchtime, Taeyang was desperate for a moment of solitude. He retreated to a quiet corner of the office, hoping to regain his composure. It was there, amid the hum of distant conversation, that he realized the true nature of his newfound ability. He could sense the thoughts of those around him, their inner emotions laid bare whenever he looked directly at them.

The team lunch was a comedy of errors for Taeyang. As they sat down at their favorite restaurant, he couldn't help but pick up on everyone's thoughts. When the waiter approached, Taeyang accidentally heard his thoughts too. "These guys better leave a good tip today."

Taeyang tried to focus on his meal, but the mental noise was relentless. At one point, Sangwoo accidentally knocked over a glass of water, spilling it all over the table. "Smooth, Sangwoo, real smooth," he thought, mortified.

Taeyang chuckled, unable to contain his amusement. "It's okay, happens to the best of us," he said, grabbing some napkins.

As the lunch went on, the playful banter and hidden thoughts kept Taeyang entertained. Despite the chaos in his mind, there was something endearing about seeing his colleagues' true selves. When Sangwoo joked about their workload, Taeyang caught a thought from Jisoo. "He's always so positive. Wish I could be like that."

The realization left him both exhilarated and terrified. How was he to navigate this new reality, especially with his unspoken feelings for Sangwoo lingering in the background? As he grappled with his thoughts, Taeyang couldn't help but wonder if his wish upon the moon had been the catalyst for this extraordinary change.

The afternoon brought another round of meetings, and Taeyang found it increasingly difficult to maintain his focus. During a particularly long presentation, he caught sight of Sangwoo across the room. Sangwoo's thoughts drifted towards him, filled with a mixture of admiration and hidden affection. "Taeyang looks cute today. Oh, not only today, every day."

Taeyang's heart skipped a beat. The revelation was both thrilling and disconcerting. How could he address Sangwoo's feelings without revealing his own abilities? The weight of the knowledge pressed heavily on him, making it harder to concentrate on the mundane details of the meeting.

After the meeting, Sangwoo approached Taeyang with a friendly smile. "Hey, you seemed a bit out of it today. Everything okay?"

Taeyang forced a smile, struggling to hide his inner turmoil. "Yeah, just a lot on my mind. Thanks for checking in."

Sangwoo's concern was genuine, and Taeyang could sense the depth of his feelings. It was a bittersweet comfort, knowing that Sangwoo cared, yet unsure of how to proceed. As they walked back to their desks, the unspoken connection between them seemed to grow stronger, filled with both potential and uncertainty.

Later that day, as Taeyang was grabbing a coffee in the break room, he overheard some playful thoughts from Jisoo and Minseok, who were chatting nearby.

Jisoo: "Minseok, if you spill coffee on your shirt one more time, I'm going to start a betting pool." Minseok: "Hey, it's a talent! You should appreciate my unique skills."

Taeyang chuckled at their banter. It was moments like these that made him appreciate his colleagues, despite the whirlwind of thoughts he had to navigate.

Just as Taeyang turned to leave, Minseok bumped into him, causing a near disaster with their coffee cups. "Whoa, careful there, Taeyang!" Minseok laughed.

Taeyang couldn't help but smile. "Guess I should be the one watching where I'm going."

The humorous exchange lightened the mood, reminding Taeyang that despite his new ability, some things about human interaction remained delightfully unpredictable and endearing.

As the day came to an end, Taeyang reflected on the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts he had encountered. It was a lot to process, but he was determined to find a way to balance his new gift with his daily life.

Walking home, he glanced up at the moon once more, grateful for the unexpected journey it had started. Little did he know, this was just the beginning of an adventure filled with love, laughter, and discovery.