Whispers of Destiny

Chapter 3: The Girl at the Café

The café buzzed with its usual morning crowd. Students packed around small tables, sipping caffeine fixes and sneaking in last-minute homework. Dahyun and Kotone squeezed into their usual spot by the window, settling in with their drinks. Dahyun absentmindedly stirred his coffee, still processing the strange events of the bus ride.

Noticing Dahyun's far-off look, Kotone nudged him. "Still thinking about her, aren't you?"

Dahyun blinked, coming back to the present. "Maybe... yeah. She was actually there. Not a dream or weird déjà vu—just there. I keep wondering if I'll run into her again. I barely remember what I said to you after we got off the bus."

Kotone chuckled, leaning back with a smirk. "You? Meet her again? I doubt it. You'd actually have to, you know, talk to her for that to count."

"Not everyone approaches people with zero hesitation like you do," Dahyun replied, giving him a look.

"Hey, it's called confidence, man." Kotone pointed at himself with pride. "I'd be more than happy to give you a lesson or two. First rule? No more chickening out."

Dahyun was about to fire back when Kotone's gaze shifted to the entrance, his smirk replaced by a look of surprise. Dahyun followed his line of sight, his heart leaping into his throat. There, stepping into the café with a friend, was her—the girl from his dreams.

She looked as striking as ever, though in real life, her features were clearer. Her short, black hair framed her face, stopping just shy of her shoulders, and her bright eyes scanned the café. She laughed at something her friend said, lighting up in a way that seemed to make everything around her fade.

Kotone leaned over, practically vibrating with excitement. "Well, would you look at that! Looks like fate's giving you another shot."

Dahyun swallowed hard, nerves twisting in his stomach. "What do I even say? 'Hi, I'm Dahyun. I've been dreaming about you'?"

Kotone snorted. "Yeah, sure, that'll go over well. How about something normal, like, 'Hey, I think we go to the same college'?"

Dahyun glanced at her, his heart pounding as she sat at a nearby table. She hadn't noticed him yet, engrossed in her conversation. He turned back to Kotone, searching for an excuse to back out. "What if she thinks I'm weird? Or creepy?"

Kotone raised an eyebrow. "So what if she does? It's not like you'll ever see her again... except, you know, apparently in your dreams."

Dahyun sighed, knowing Kotone wouldn't let him off the hook. Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself out of his chair and approached her table, his heart racing with each step. She was sitting by the window, facing slightly away from him, her friend focused on a book.

Summoning his courage, Dahyun cleared his throat softly. "Excuse me?"

She looked up, her eyes meeting his with gentle curiosity. Dahyun's breath caught as he realized how beautiful she was up close. Her bright eyes sparkled, and her smile was warm and genuine, as if he'd known her forever.