eclipse ➵ kim sunoo

chapter 2

Chapter 2: "The Man with Secrets"

Hyeona's POV

After that night, I couldn't shake him from my mind. Kim Sunoo. His words echoed, his eyes haunted me, and no matter how hard I tried to tell myself I'd imagined it, my brain had other plans. I kept replaying our conversation, that last look he'd given me before he walked out. Who says things like that to a stranger? And why did it feel so real?

But, of course, the rational side of me brushed it off. Maybe he was just a guy with a weird sense of humor, I told myself. Maybe he knew I was curious and decided to play along. I laughed, trying to push away the memory, but each time I did, his face popped back into my mind.

By Friday, I found myself back at the café, tucked into my usual corner. I was supposed to be reading for my sociology class, but all I did was glance around, hoping to see him walk in again. It was ridiculous-I didn't even know him. What was I expecting? A mysterious, vampire-ish guy to swoop in and give my life meaning? I laughed at myself, tapping my pencil on my notebook.

But then, as if my thoughts had summoned him, I saw him.

He was standing across the street, leaning against a lamppost, just... watching. I froze, heart skipping a beat, and tried to act casual, though my hands were gripping my notebook way too tightly. It took every ounce of willpower to keep my gaze down, even as my curiosity practically screamed at me to look up. Was he just... staring? At me?

After what felt like ages, I glanced back up. He was gone. I blinked, rubbed my eyes, but no-he'd vanished, as if he'd never been there.

---

That night, my sleep was a disaster. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him, standing just out of reach. I'd be walking in my dreams, and he'd be following, never getting closer, always just a shadow in the corner of my vision. By the time morning rolled around, I was thoroughly freaked out. And yet, I had this overwhelming urge to find him again.

---

By Saturday evening, I caved. I threw on a sweater, slipped into some jeans, and made my way to the café, trying to convince myself I was just going for a snack. When I stepped in, I scanned the room-no sign of him. I exhaled, a mixture of relief and disappointment settling in.

I ordered my usual coffee, took a seat, and focused on calming my racing thoughts. Hyeona, this is nuts. You barely know this guy. I took a sip, tried to clear my mind... and then I felt it. That familiar chill.

I looked up, and there he was, sitting across from me as if he'd been there the whole time.

"You're not very subtle," he said with a hint of a smile, one eyebrow raised. His voice was light, but there was something behind it, something dark and knowing.

"Me?" I laughed, forcing myself to play it cool. "You're the one who's been doing the whole mysterious stranger act. Not exactly what I'd call subtle."

He shrugged, glancing out the window as if it was no big deal. "You seemed... curious."

I rolled my eyes. "Curious? You dropped some line about fairytales being real and then disappeared like a ghost. What am I supposed to think?"

"Maybe," he said, his gaze meeting mine again, "you should stop trying to make sense of things. Some truths don't fit neatly into logic."

I blinked. Okay, so he definitely had a flair for the dramatic. But beneath his words, there was something else. An invitation. A challenge, maybe?

I leaned forward, matching his intensity. "So, what's the truth then? Are you some kind of supernatural creature? Are you gonna tell me you're a vampire?" I meant it as a joke, but part of me wanted him to take it seriously.

He didn't laugh. Instead, he held my gaze, eyes darkening ever so slightly. "Would it scare you if I said yes?"

I laughed, though the sound felt a little hollow. "I'd say you watch too many movies. Or you're really committed to this whole mysterious act."

"Think what you want," he replied, and for a second, I swore I saw the faintest hint of fangs in his smile. But when I blinked, they were gone, and he was just Sunoo again, the guy who was somehow always one step ahead.

"You know," I said, trying to break the tension, "if you're going to keep showing up like this, you could at least tell me your real story. Something tells me you're not just some random guy who likes to wander into cafés."

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Maybe one day."

We sat in silence for a moment, and I couldn't help feeling like I was missing something. Like he was showing me only a tiny piece of himself, and the rest was hidden in shadows. I'd never been so drawn to someone, but at the same time, I was starting to wonder if I was in over my head.

Before he left, he turned to me one last time. "Some advice, Hyeona," he said softly. "Don't dig too deep. You might not like what you find."

And then he was gone, slipping out the door before I could respond. As I watched him disappear into the night, I felt a strange mix of excitement and fear. I knew I should listen, let this go. But that warning only made me want to know more.

What was he hiding? And why did I feel like I was on the edge of discovering something that could change everything?