VINTAGE MELODIES

Uncovering Connections

The next Saturday, Hanni's excitement was barely containable as she made her way back to *Rewind Records*. She had spent the whole week replaying her last visit in her mind, imagining what she'd say to the "mystery employee" if he were there again. Every time she thought about him, her cheeks turned a little pink, her heart beating a bit faster. It was silly, she knew, but there was something thrilling about liking someone so... different.

Stepping through the door, Hanni immediately spotted him at the back counter, reorganizing a stack of CDs. The warm scent of vinyl and the store's soft, dim lighting made her feel at ease. She took a deep breath, steadying herself before casually walking over to him.

"Hey!" she said, flashing her brightest smile as she leaned against the counter.

The "mystery employee"—who was actually Minji, though Hanni still had no idea—looked up and gave her a polite nod. "Hi. Back again?"

Hanni grinned. "Yeah, I couldn't stay away. That CD you recommended last time was amazing. Do you have any more suggestions?"

Minji's heart raced, but she maintained her usual, quiet demeanor. She gestured to a shelf behind her. "There's a blues album that just came in. It's got that same vintage sound. You might like it."

She handed Hanni the CD, carefully avoiding direct eye contact. Seeing Hanni this close, looking at her with that spark of interest, was oddly intense. Minji could almost feel the warmth of Hanni's energy, bright and vibrant, contrasting with her own quiet nature.

"Oh, thanks!" Hanni said, glancing at the CD cover. "I really appreciate it... You seem to know exactly
what I like."

Minji tried to keep her expression neutral, hiding the small smile threatening to emerge. "Just good guesses," she replied softly.

They talked for a few more minutes, and for the first time, Minji found herself enjoying the conversation, letting herself get drawn into Hanni's warmth. She could tell Hanni was genuinely interested in the music, and there was something sweet in the way she listened with such focused excitement. But eventually, another customer walked in, and Minji had to excuse herself, leaving Hanni to browse on her own.

---

Back at school on Monday, Hanni was still floating from her visit to *Rewind Records*. She barely noticed anyone else as she made her way to her desk, where Minji was already sitting, a quiet presence as usual. Hanni dropped into her seat with a sigh and absentmindedly looked over at Minji.

"I had the best weekend," she said, mostly to herself, though Minji was right next to her.

Minji tensed ever so slightly, pretending to read a book, but her ears perked up, ready to listen.

"Oh?" Minji replied softly, keeping her eyes on the page.

Hanni's eyes lit up, and she turned to Minji, not yet aware of the secret connection between them. "I went back to that CD store I told you about—*Rewind Records*. The guy working there recommended this amazing blues album. I swear he has, like, the best music taste ever. And he's so cool. You'd like him, Minji, he's totally your type. Mysterious, quiet, kind of... reserved."

Minji fought the urge to laugh. If only Hanni knew how accurate she was being. But instead, she managed a small smile. "Sounds... interesting."

"Interesting? He's like a whole character out of some indie film," Hanni laughed, resting her chin on her hands. "And he's got that whole 'mysterious vibe' down. Maybe I'll go back this week. Who knows? I might finally get him to tell me his name!"

For a moment, Minji's heart stopped. She hadn't thought about that—the fact that Hanni could eventually figure out who she was. The thought of her carefully built facade slipping terrified her. And yet, there was another part of her, quiet but insistent, that wondered what it would be like if she could actually talk to Hanni without hiding anything.

---

The days passed, and Minji found herself increasingly distracted. Hanni's stories about "the mysterious guy" were becoming a regular part of her school life, and Minji found herself smiling more often than she'd care to admit. She felt like she was leading two separate lives—quiet, unnoticed Minji at school and the "mysterious employee" at *Rewind Records*.

On Friday, she prepared herself mentally for her weekend shift, knowing there was a good chance Hanni would show up. She told herself to stay calm, to keep things professional. But deep down, she could already feel herself softening toward Hanni's presence.

Sure enough, on Saturday afternoon, Hanni walked in with her usual bright smile and easy energy, glancing around the store until her eyes landed on Minji. She walked over, already chattering excitedly.

"I was hoping you'd be here!" Hanni said, leaning over the counter with a grin. "So, got any new picks for me?"

Minji reached for a stack of recently added CDs and selected one. "This just came in yesterday. It's a little more upbeat, something different from what you've been listening to."

Hanni looked at the cover, clearly impressed. "You know, I don't know how you do it, but you're always spot-on. I've never met anyone with taste as good as yours."

She paused, looking up at Minji with curiosity in her eyes. "Can I ask... what's your name?"

Minji hesitated, her heart pounding. She had been dreading this moment, but she couldn't exactly avoid the question forever. After a brief pause, she gave her answer, trying to keep her voice steady. "It's... Min."

"Min, huh?" Hanni repeated, testing the name with a smile. "Well, Min, you're officially my favorite person at this store. You know, you should tell me more about your own taste in music sometime."

Minji felt a slight blush creep up her cheeks, and she quickly glanced away. "Maybe," she said quietly, feeling strangely flustered. She had never let anyone get this close to her, let alone someone like Hanni, whose openness seemed to dissolve every wall Minji had built around herself.

---

That night, Minji lay awake, staring at the ceiling. It was becoming harder and harder to keep up her disguise, especially as she grew closer to Hanni. She wondered how much longer she could keep this going. There was a part of her that wanted to reveal everything, to stop pretending and let Hanni see the real her. But then fear would creep in, reminding her of the possibility that Hanni would be disappointed, or worse, would feel betrayed by her deception.

But for now, she decided to let things stay as they were. She wasn't ready to break the illusion just yet. After all, she reasoned, Hanni didn't need to know. They could continue just as they were, keeping their worlds separate.

What Minji didn't know was that she was already beginning to slip. Each small moment, each laugh, each shared music recommendation was slowly unraveling the disguise she had worked so hard to create. And as much as she tried to ignore it, she was falling for Hanni's warm, open-hearted charm—whether she was ready to admit it or not.