When the stars align

A chance encounter

San sat quietly in the corner of a cozy little café, her hands wrapped around a warm cup of hot chocolate. The sweet aroma mingled with the faint hum of conversations around her, offering a momentary escape from the chaos of her thoughts. She often came here to think, to breathe, or sometimes just to enjoy the simplicity of life
.
Her eyes wandered to the window, where the street outside was alive with movement-people walking briskly, bundled in scarves, laughter spilling from their lips as they passed by. She took a slow sip of her drink, savoring the warmth spreading through her chest when her gaze froze.

A figure moved past the glass, tall and distinct, with features that seemed familiar even in passing. Her breath hitched. Was that Taehyung? The thought startled her, and she blinked rapidly, half-expecting the figure to dissolve into a figment of her imagination. But no-the silhouette lingered just a moment longer before disappearing down the street.

She furrowed her brows, her heart beating faster. It can't be. How could he be here? In Michigan, in this area?, on this street? She shrugged it off with a small laugh, shaking her head. I'm imagining things.
________________________________________

Later that evening, curled up on her couch with her phone in hand, she couldn't resist sharing the strange encounter.

"Tae, you won't believe this. I thought I saw you today."

His reply came faster than she expected.

"Where? When?"

She hesitated, feeling a little silly for even bringing it up.
"At this café I go to. It's near downtown. Just for a second, I saw someone who looked like you walking by. He was adjusting his scarf, and I just thought it was you."

There was a pause before his next message arrived.
"San, where are you now?"

Her heart skipped a beat at the sudden intensity of his question.
"At home. Why?"

The next message came instantly.
"San, place?"

She stared at the screen, confused. Then her phone buzzed again.
"Can I call you?"

Her breath hitched. He had never asked to call her before. She hesitated for a moment, her thumb hovering over the screen, before typing back:
"Mm yeah. Everything okay?"

Not even ten seconds later, her phone vibrated with his call. She answered quickly, bringing it to her ear.
"Hello?" she said softly.

"Hey," his deep voice came through, quieter than usual but carrying an edge of urgency. "You really saw someone who looked like me?"

San blinked, taken aback by the question. "Yeah... I mean, I thought so. It was just for a second. Why?"

Taehyung sighed on the other end, the sound heavy with something she couldn't quite place. "It's nothing. I just... I've been thinking about you a lot lately."

Her heart skipped a beat, her grip on the phone tightening. "You have, what?"

"Yeah." He paused, as though debating how much to say. "I've been meaning to ask... how are you? Really?"

San frowned slightly, his sudden concern catching her off guard. "I'm okay. Why?"

"Just... wondering," he replied, his voice quieter now. "You're getting married soon, and I guess I wanted to check in before everything changes."

San's chest tightened. She didn't know how to respond at first, her thoughts spinning. "Tae... is everything okay? You sound... different."

"I'm fine," he said quickly, though the crack in his voice betrayed him. "I just-forget it. I shouldn't have called. Sorry if I bothered you."

"Wait," San interrupted before he could hang up. "Don't do that. Don't brush it off. If there's something you want to say, just... say it."

The line went silent for a moment, and she thought for a second that he had hung up. Then, softly, almost too softly to hear, he said:
"I miss you."

Her breath caught, the words hitting her harder than she expected. "Taehyung..."

"I know I shouldn't say that," he continued, his voice breaking slightly. "But I can't help it. I saw your message, and it just reminded me of everything. I didn't mean to ruin your night. I just... needed to hear your voice."

San's mind raced, torn between the weight of his words and the reality of her life now. "Taehyung... I..."

"You really don't have to say it back, San," he said quickly, cutting her off. "It's just something I needed to say." There was a beat of silence before he added, almost hesitantly, "You didn't tell me-where exactly are you?"

"Ann Arbor, Michigan," she replied softly.

"San, I'm here too. Can we meet?" he blurted out, desperation laced in his voice. He must have realized the way it sounded because, almost immediately, he added in a quieter tone, "I mean, only if you're okay with it."

Her mind reeled. "You're... here? Why?"

"For concert," he said, his voice faltering slightly. "So can we? I mean... We're friends, right? Just one meeting."

She hesitated, her fingers trembling over her phone. "Where?"

"The bridge near downtown," he said quickly. "It's quiet, and I'm close by. I promise-it won't be weird or anything."

San bit her lip, torn between apprehension and a strange pull she couldn't ignore. Meeting him felt overwhelming, but part of her-perhaps the part that had always wanted this-knew she couldn't say no.

"Okay," she typed. "Give me fifteen minutes."
________________________________________
San stood frozen in front of her mirror, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. Meeting Taehyung-her Taehyung-for the first time felt surreal, and the weight of it was almost too much. Her heart raced as she glanced at her reflection, her mind riddled with doubts.

Was her outfit, okay? Did her hair look too messy? What if he thought she was boring in person?

"Stop overthinking," she muttered to herself, exhaling shakily. But meeting her crush, someone who had unknowingly held a special place in her heart for so long, was overwhelming.

With one final check in the mirror, she grabbed her coat and stepped out into the chilly evening air, her nerves buzzing like static electricity. The walk to the bridge felt both too long and too short, each step accompanied by a constant loop of What do I say? How do I act?

When she finally arrived, she spotted him immediately. Taehyung stood near the railing, looking effortlessly perfect in a black turtleneck and long coat. His hands were tucked into his pockets, his gaze fixed on the river below. He looked exactly like she remembered from all his pictures-but seeing him in person was a different kind of breathtaking.

Her heart nearly stopped when he turned and saw her. His face lit up with a soft smile, his features warm and inviting.

"San," he called out, his voice carrying over the cool air, sending a shiver down her spine.