Our New Fate

Chapter 3: Reencounter

Song used in the chapter: "Fix You" - Coldplay

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"When you try your best, but you don't succeed"

When you get what you want, but not what you need"

This should probably be the coldest winter since years, Nam Soon thought as he walked down the street wearing a heavy coat and a wool cap, his arms around his chest and his nose red from the cold. It was already seven in the morning, but the street was still empty - people used cars and trains more than necessary on this cold days. But Nam Soon still went on walking. He needed some exercises to keep his body warmer anyway.

It was his first day of work today - he had found a full time job at a coffee shop not so far from home. Fifteen minutes walking, the most. He didn't have many expectations, but he needed the money. It was a cozy place, and he was almost the first to arrive. It was located in the center of a commercial building, what meant that it was usually full of customers, since most workers would buy their coffee before starting their workday, specially in the winter.

Nam Soon wore his work uniform, and cleaned up the balcony where he would receive the coffee requests. Cappuccino, espresso macchiato... He was still learning the names.

It was around eight in the morning when the movement on the streets in front of the shop got heavier. Lots of businessmen wearing the same suit were walking fast holding onto their suitcase, probably running late for work. Nam Soon just sighed deeply - that would never be a life for him. He got bored just by imagining it. Not that working at a coffee shop was much better, but at least he didn't need to use much of his brain.

He had just opened the cafeteria and turned around heading to his place behind the balcony when he heard it. The first thing he recognized was that voice - it came from the outside, mixed with the other voices along the street. But, for some reason, it stood out. It took his breath away and made his heart race. After so much time... He might not even remember it if he thought about it, but his body did. His heart did.

He turned around, his head staring back at the street. Through the crowd of people walking fast on the streets, he looked for him. He opened the door, his skin brushing against the cold wind, his eyes tracing every face.

But he was nowhere to be seen. Was his mind playing tricks with him? Was this because he had been thinking a lot about him recently? But he was sure... Part of him was sure that among the heavy crowd walking down the street he heard the voice of Park Heung Soo.

"When you love someone, but it goes to waste

Could it be worse?"

Nam Soon walked slowly home on the end of that day. He was already convinced that he was hearing things this morning. It might be someone with a similar voice, but as he was thinking so much of him because of the pictures he had seen, he was probably mistaken. He has been dreaming of him and remembering things he thought he had already forgotten. Trivial things, like the day they rescued a puppy from the cold streets, and Heung Soo brought it home, hiding him from his mom in his room for what might be about five hours. After that, the two boys insisted  so much that she ended up accepting Heung Soo to keep it. That was around fifteen years ago... Today, he might have already passed away.

Nam Soon sighed slightly, opening his apartment door and breathing in relief at the warmth of the place. He was tired. It was still early but all he wanted to do right now was to get himself a hot bath and go straight to bed.