Angel of the Morning || 백현

.two.

.two.

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"It just felt like everything was a dream."

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During her therapy session at the gym, a million thoughts raced through Minji's mind and she considered not going out with Jung. But she also didn't want to hurt his feelings when she knew him to be a good person, at least in her other life. Still, she had planned an escape route out of the gym, so that she would not be seen by her former lover. She felt childish, trying to hide from a boy she had known in her past life when he didn't remember her at all. But he had taken an interest in her and if she could avoid him any heart break by nipping the problem in the bud, she was going to do it.

Their therapy session was about an hour long, and she and Hajin got in the showers and changed into their regular clothes before heading back home for the night. Since it was summer time in Korea, they got dressed in something fresh--a pair of jean shorts and a flowy tank top. Minji tried to keep her head low as they tried to leave the gym in a hurry. Hajin told her in a scolding tone that they shouldn't do that to Jung. This was another life and there was no guarantee that he would fall in love with her. Perhaps he would only want to be friends after their outing. Perhaps he would realize that she wasn't interested and he would move on. There was also no guarantee that Eun would fall for her in this life. And if he were to fall in love with someone else, Minji would have to accept her defeat and move on with a heavy heart.

But Minji could not and would not be convinced. Her priority was her husband Eun, who seemed to find her strange more than anything. 

As they left the gym together, they happened to pass the training room where Jung was practicing with his coach for the upcoming tournament he would be participating in. His back was to the door, but in one maneuver he turned and spotted the two girls passing right by them, his eyes locking with Minji's for merely a second before she quickly looked away in shame. His expression dropped to one of pure disappointment as he saw them trying to leave. But he quickly recovered and sprinted out of the room to catch up to them. 

He was panting tiredly, sweaty and breathless from his training as he called out to stop them. "I'm almost done with my training for today. Just give me a moment--I'll go shower and change really quick."

"Maybe its better if we try this some other time." Minji started awkwardly. They were standing out in the open where anyone could easily see them and she did not want to make a scene. She also didn't want to risk anyone recognizing them. She was a journalist who wasn't very famous yet, but he was an athlete. He was young and handsome and she knew boys like that had their own following. No doubt there might be a bunch of girls watching them in that very moment. 

Minji didn't want to be mean to him, but the last thing she wanted was the same love triangle all over again. Except this time it didn't seem like Eun and Jung were brothers. They didn't even know each other in this life time. She wondered if it would be the same for the other brothers, or for Yeon Hwa. But that didn't make it hurt any less because she knew how some of them had ended up. Especially her Eun, who had met his demise when he had been innocent. 

"Right now I just have a lot of things on my mind." She said to him, hoping with all of her heart that he would understand.

He frowned again and she thought her attempts at letting him down easy were probably not very good. As an idea came into his mind, he felt himself smiling once more. "Well, you could give me your phone number and maybe we can plan something out for next time. I normally train Monday through Friday and have the weekends free." Now Minji felt like this was probably worse because he would have a way to contact her. A part of her told it it couldn't be that bad, Jung having her phone number. But another part of her just didn't want the same two boys fighting over her love in the present time as well. It was emotionally draining enough and even painful to see them fight like that.