VINTAGE MELODIES

A Suspicious Clue

As Hanni spent more time at *Rewind Records*, her fascination with Min only grew. Each visit felt like an exciting game of discovery, a new chance to learn something she hadn't known before. Min still held a quiet mystery, but the more they talked, the more Hanni felt she was inching closer to understanding him.

One rainy Friday afternoon, Hanni entered the store, dripping wet from her dash across the street. Minji, looking up from her usual spot behind the counter, couldn't help but smirk at Hanni's soaked state. 

"Forgot an umbrella?" Minji asked, barely hiding a hint of amusement. 

Hanni shrugged, shaking the water from her hair. "Guess I didn't want to waste time finding one. Coming here was more important." 

Minji's heart skipped a beat, and she looked down quickly, hoping her face didn't betray how much that small confession meant to her. 

"Let me grab you a towel," she muttered, disappearing into the back room. 

---

As Minji rummaged for a towel, Hanni's eyes wandered around the store. She scanned the shelves and displays, her eyes settling on a bulletin board behind the counter. It was filled with notes, concert tickets, and other odds and ends that Min had collected. But one photo caught her attention: a small, candid snapshot pinned to the corner of the board. 

In the photo was a girl wearing a silver bracelet, laughing with friends. Hanni squinted, feeling an odd sense of recognition. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something about the girl felt familiar. Then it hit her—the silver bracelet was the same one Min always wore. 

Before she could think too much about it, Minji returned with a small towel. "Here," she said, handing it over. 

Hanni took the towel, but her gaze drifted back to the photo. "Who's that?" she asked, pointing at it. 

Minji's eyes widened for a split second, but she quickly composed herself. "Just... someone I knew from a while ago," she said, brushing it off with a shrug. 

Hanni looked at Minji, an eyebrow raised. "She's wearing the same bracelet as you." 

Minji hesitated, her pulse quickening. "Yeah, it was a... friend's gift," she said carefully. "It reminds me of them." 

For a moment, Hanni stared at Minji, piecing things together. She was almost certain she'd seen the girl in the picture before—but where? She brushed the thought aside, deciding she'd figure it out later. 

---

Later that weekend, Hanni sat in her room, scrolling through her social media, half-distracted. The picture of the girl on the bulletin board was still nagging at her. Something about it felt so... close. 

Then it clicked. She remembered Minji, her quiet seatmate at school, wearing a similar bracelet. Hanni hadn't paid much attention at first, but now, with her thoughts focused on it, the resemblance was uncanny. Could it be the same bracelet? 

Hanni's mind raced as she replayed her interactions with Minji. Their personalities were different, sure, but their calm demeanor, the similar music tastes—it was as if she'd been noticing pieces of Min in Minji all along without realizing it. 

The next Monday at school, Hanni watched Minji more closely, noting her quiet focus, the little ways she would push a strand of hair behind her ear, the faint traces of doodles in her notebooks. Minji caught her looking a few times, raising a confused eyebrow but saying nothing. 

When the lunch bell rang, Hanni leaned over, mustering her courage. "Hey, Minji, do you want to grab lunch with me?" 

Minji blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, sure," she replied, gathering her things as they walked to the cafeteria together. 

As they sat down, Hanni decided to go for it. "So, I went to "Rewind Records" again this weekend. Min gave me a playlist—so good, by the way." 

Minji's posture stiffened slightly, but she forced herself to look casual. "Yeah? What kind of stuff did he put on there?" 

Hanni grinned, leaning in. "A mix of everything, really. You know... Min has a lot in common with you." 

Minji froze for just a moment, her eyes widening before she caught herself. "What do you mean?" she asked, feigning nonchalance. 

"Well, you both like the same kind of music, for one," Hanni said, trying to sound casual as she searched Minji's face. "And you both wear a similar bracelet." 

Minji's heart raced. She knew she was on thin ice. "Maybe it's a coincidence?" she offered, glancing down at her food. 

"Maybe," Hanni said, not convinced. "Or maybe... you're hiding something?" 

Minji felt the air tighten around her. She couldn't tell if Hanni was serious or just teasing, but she knew it was only a matter of time before the truth came out. Still, she wasn't ready to admit it. Not yet. 

"Why would I hide anything?" Minji said, keeping her tone light. 

Hanni studied her for a moment, then leaned back with a grin. "Fine, keep your secrets, Minji. But just so you know, I'm good at figuring things out." 

Minji managed a faint smile, relief washing over her—Hanni was intrigued but hadn't connected all the dots. Yet. 

But as the week went on, Hanni's curiosity continued to build, and Minji found herself struggling to keep up the act. It was thrilling yet terrifying, like standing on the edge of a cliff. 

For now, Minji held onto her secret. But with every passing day, Hanni was getting closer to uncovering the truth—and Minji wasn't sure how much longer she could keep her two worlds separate.