countdown... | Ateez Yunho

5 days remaining...

"Aera?" the voice sang. I looked around the empty street to see who the voice belonged to.

"Who's there?" I called out.

"Come find me!" they provoked.

"Is that you, Yunho?" I asked, cautiously. I carefully walked around and finally saw him hiding behind a bush.

"How do you know my name?"

My eyes shot open and I was suddenly back in my room. This was the second time in a row that I saw Yunho in my dreams. Was this all some kind of sick joke? Was the universe humoring me with the thought that maybe, just maybe, I actually did have a soulmate? I was scared to let myself be so hopeful again.

I quickly got dressed to go back to the dog park. Maybe Yunho would be there again and we could finally go on our date.

As I strolled along, there were no signs of the boy anywhere. How did he expect me to find him? What kind of person in this day and age goes around without a phone either? I was getting frustrated by the thought of me having to go all over town just to see him again. But, what else did I have left to do? I started walking around, peaking my head into random windows. I was in such a rush I didn't even notice the brunette boy sitting inside the library at first. Excitedly, I ran in and made myself comfortable in the seat in front of him.

"You found me," he said, not taking his eyes off the book.

"And you're reading a children's book," I commented.

"I don't really like reading," he admitted, shutting the book loudly.

"So, why are you in a library?"

"For inspiration."

"Inspiration for what?"

"For our date. Let's find a book together and base our date off of it," he suggested.

"Why can't this just be our date?"

"Because, it's not the right time yet."

I didn't know if I had the heart to tell him that I only had a few days left to live.

"Okay, let's find a book then!" I smiled. We spent hours looking through shelves. Every time we picked something up, we immediately got bored of it. I wasn't much of a reader either.

"You know, the more we plan out our date, the more disappointing it might be," I brought up.

"I just want it to be perfect." He sighed before putting back another book.

"Why does it have to be perfect?" I asked.

"I think you should be the one to answer that."

I looked at him with confusion but decided to brush past it.

"Hey, Yunho, don't you think you should be looking for your soulmate? Better sooner than later, right?"

"Well, have you found yours yet?"

"No, I haven't." I weakly smiled. I didn't want to tell him that I was born without a soulmate.

"Maybe we're soulmates then!"

"Maybe." I swallowed the thick lump in my throat.

"You don't sound too excited." He pouted.

"I'd love to be your soulmate, Yunho."

"Then, we're soulmates!" he yelled. The people around us gave us dirty looks but we just giggled. Afterwards, he quickly grabbed my hand and walked me outside.

"I didn't know it was supposed to rain today," I complained.

"It's okay! Rain is romantic, right?" He slipped his coat off his body to place it on my shoulders.

"Won't you be cold?" I questioned.

"Why would I be cold?"

Yunho was much weirder than I thought.

"Come on, let's dance!" he suggested before gently pulling me out into an empty area. My body automatically responded by swaying along with him.

"Who are you?" I asked, my head buried deep into his chest.

"I'm whoever you want me to be," he replied.

"I'm being serious. I don't know anything about you." I looked up at him.

"Is that so bad?"

"Well, I'd like to know more about you."

"But, you'll be gone soon."

"What? How did you know that?"

"I have to go now, Aera."

"Where are you going?"

He didn't reply. All he did was look at me with sad eyes.

"Will I see you again?" I asked.

"Yes, if you find me."

"Just don't go, please." I desperately grabbed onto his arms but he yanked them away.

"Until next time, Aera." He turned around to walk away.

"And don't follow me," he said with his back still faced towards me. I followed his orders and watched him disappear. Why was he acting so weird?

I called for a cab to drive me home since it began to rain even harder now. Somehow the coat Yunho had lended to me disappeared as well.

When I got to my room, I quickly dialed Nari's number.

"I think I'm in love!" I shouted into the phone without warning.

"What are you talking about?"

"I finally met a boy, Nari! Isn't this exciting?"

"Aera, is this really a good idea? You only have a few days left."

"So? I thought you'd be happy for me."

"I don't know, Aera. It sounds like the both of you will get hurt."

"Am I not allowed to be happy for my last few days?"

"That's not what I'm saying. I'm just worried. You of all people should know that love without a soulmate isn't love at all."

"I just want to feel loved for once." Suddenly tears began to trickle down my face.

"I'm sorry. I should at least try and be more supportive. Who is he?" she finally asked.

"Jeong Yunho."

"Hm, I've never heard of him. What's he like?"

"He's amazing! He's so funny and romantic and he's handsome as well!"

"Really? He sounds a little too good to be true," she said while giggling.

"He's also very mysterious. He doesn't even have a phone."

"That's a little weird. Do you have any pictures with him?"

"Not yet. We just met but, I can try and get one the next time I see him."

"Yeah, just be careful, okay? I have to go but update me on the situation!"

"Yeah, you stay safe too!"

We both hung up the phone.

Too good to be true...?