Love Through Online

Chapter 4

The room was a chaotic blend of scattered books and papers, the remnants of a long night's work. Everything seemed to be in disarray, yet there was an odd sense of familiarity to the mess-like a reflection of the life that unfolded within these walls. The cool air seeped through the open window, lending a tranquil, almost surreal stillness to the space, as if the night itself held everything in a quiet embrace.

A young man sat at his desk, shoulders slightly slouched, his gaze fixed on a computer monitor that flickered with a disorganized jumble of symbols and error messages. It was clear the project he had been tirelessly working on had taken an unexpected turn. Despite the chaos on screen, he wore an expression of quiet resignation, as if setbacks had become as much a part of his routine as the work itself.

In his hand, his phone buzzed lightly, its glow casting a soft light over his face. The message he had written to Luna an hour ago-a simple check-in-sat unseen on the screen. He had intended it to be nothing more than a casual greeting, a brief acknowledgment of her presence. But now, in the stillness of the night, doubts crept in. Him being hesitant only when it's come to her sometimes make him feel uneasy as well. But he can't ignore his doughts though. He knows Luna had a long, exhausting day as she mentioned him before about her preparation phase for her upcoming exams. She was probably asleep, needing rest she rarely allowed herself.

A sigh escaped him as he stared at the message, his thumb hovering over the screen. After a moment of hesitation, he unsent it. The words disappeared as if they had never existed. It wasn't just about the timing-it was about the constant battle within him. Was he being a nuisance? Did she really need to hear from him so often? He didn't consider himself important enough to deserve her attention on a regular basis, and the last thing he wanted was to be an annoyance. Still, in the quiet of his room, he couldn't escape the feeling that he was always second-guessing himself when it came to her.

"Get back to work, Taehyung," he whispered to himself, the words barely audible in the heavy stillness of the room.

Taehyung sat up straighter, trying to shake off the unsettling thoughts that clung to him. His face, though youthful, was marked by the exhaustion of a life lived in constant motion-full of late nights and early mornings, deadlines and distractions. His eyes, dark and slightly bloodshot from lack of sleep, scanned the lines of code on his computer screen. There was a quiet intensity to his focus, as if the rhythm of his keystrokes was the only thing that could push back the weight pressing against his chest. He didn't look like the kind of person to give up, even though everything in him sometimes screamed for a break.

The glow of the screen reflected off his glasses, casting sharp shadows on his face. His fingers, nimble and precise, flew across the keyboard, typing lines of code for the decentralized app he was developing. It was a project still in its infancy, and every error felt like a personal failure. He had always been good at problem-solving, but this was different. This was new, uncharted territory. DApp design, as complicated as it was, called on him to learn in ways that felt both thrilling and frustrating. Each setback seemed to take a piece of him, but he kept pushing forward, unable to let go.

The room around him, cluttered with textbooks and half-empty coffee cups, seemed to mirror his mind-an unorganized mess of thoughts, responsibilities, and aspirations. He had never been the type to sit idle, but tonight, everything seemed heavier. The tasks piled up, a never-ending cycle of university work, part-time job obligations, and his duties at his father's bakery. Time was a luxury he could rarely afford. Yet, he pushed forward, constantly on the move, as if one more hour of work would bring him closer to something better.

His posture slumped slightly as fatigue settled in again. He had been working for hours without pause, but there was no room to rest. Not tonight. Not when there were deadlines, not when he could feel the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him. He glanced at the time, knowing that it was late, that his body begged for sleep, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't give in. The fear of falling behind, of failing to meet expectations, kept him glued to his desk.