When the stars align

A Step Closer to You

Days passed since San returned to Michigan. She tried—really tried—to move on, telling herself that it was for her own sake and for her family, who worried about her. Yet, no matter how much she tried to distract herself, memories crept in, unraveling every bit of determination she had painstakingly built.

Her family called her regularly, their voices warm, urging her to live, to breathe. Life doesn’t stop, San, they reminded her. People come and go. Rumors fade. The world keeps spinning, whether we like it or not. But even as she nodded along, offering small reassurances, a part of her felt stuck—like she was running in place, unable to break free from the weight of everything.

Then, one day, a message appeared on her phone.

Taehyung: Hey, are you free?
She blinked at the screen, her heart skipping a beat. It had been a while since she had seen his name light up her phone like this.

Unknown to her, Taehyung had been planning a trip with his friends when a sudden thought crossed his mind—why not meet San too? He had reached out on impulse, but now, as he waited for her reply, he wondered if she would even respond.

San hesitated. She had ignored his messages before—because of him. Because of an unworthy man who had made her feel small. But now, looking at Taehyung’s message, something inside her shifted. He still cares, even when she hadn’t replied to his messages she thought. And I pushed him away for what?

Maybe this was a sign. Maybe God was showing her that she needed to stop running, to cherish the people who truly cared instead of retreating into a shell of hurt and silence.

San’s fingers hovered over the keyboard before she finally typed her response.
San: Are you free?
It didn’t take long. His reply came almost instantly.
Taehyung: Yeah.
Without thinking too much, San pressed the call button.

It rang once. Twice. Then—
“Hello?” His voice was smooth, familiar, laced with warmth.
“Hey,” she said softly.
A small pause. Then, “How are you?” he said.

“I’m good,” she replied. “Am I disturbing you?”
“Ah, no, no, no…” He chuckled. “I was actually going to call you, but I thought you might be in class or something.”
“There's no classes today,” she said.
“Hmm…” He paused. “So? Did something happen, or did you just call me randomly?”

“Well… maybe a bit of both.”
Another pause. She could hear the subtle rustle of movement from his side.

“Okay,” he said, dragging out the word playfully. “Then tell me—why weren’t you replying to my messages?”

San hesitated before sighing. “Uh… about that. Well, you know—assignments and all. I was so busy I even forgot meals just to finish them.”

“San,” he said, voice turning firm. “Don’t skip meals.”

She smiled faintly. “It wasn’t intentional. I only skipped a few times. Otherwise, I eat… now and then.”

He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “Yeah, I can tell from your physique.”

San gasped. “Wait—are you calling me fat?”

Taehyung panicked. “No! No, I didn’t mean it like that—”

“I know what you meant, Tae,” she teased.

He groaned. “You’re so cruel. I really thought you were angry for a second.”

San laughed. “I would never. Even if you did call me fat, I won’t mind. I love the way I am. ”

A small, shy smile played on Taehyung’s lips—one that, thankfully, San couldn’t see.