The clock read 10:45. I had arrived earlier at the agreed-upon address and had even settled myself on the lush green grass, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin. Jaesung was right; being surrounded by nature felt entirely different. I had buried my gaze in my textbook, occasionally glancing around for him. However, thirst overcame me, and I reluctantly had to leave my spot to dash over to the nearby vending machine for some water. I had time before meeting the other boy, so I sprinted toward it, fished out some coins, and bought a bottle of water. 

As I turned on my heel to race back to my chosen spot, disaster struck—I collided with someone. Apparently, it had become our habit to bump into each other.

“Jaesung? Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you!” I exclaimed, helping him up as he chuckled.

“We have a magnetic attraction. This is the third time we’ve bumped into each other; should I be preparing for the next encounter? Maybe buy a helmet and knee pads?” He laughed, and I momentarily froze, the déjà vu hitting me like a ton of bricks. This was becoming too frequent in the past week.

The situation was humorously tragic. I couldn't help but chuckle once I processed his words, slowly returning to my previously claimed spot on the grass.

“Very funny. Let’s make sure to leave some padding on our heads next time,” I tried to stifle my laughter while Jaesung settled down next to me.

“If your fetish is such, I have no objections,” he teased, and I laughed, casting a glance at my textbook.

“That’s definitely not my fetish,” I replied, sensing a familiar gaze fixed on me.

“I know the right answer here,” he began, but then he interrupted himself, glancing down at his notebook.

“Uh, not about your fetishes but about the material we’ll cover today. That was a bit awkward!” He chuckled, showing me his notes.

I took the notebook from him, opening it up and examining his neat handwriting. It was beautiful and somehow familiar, but after reading so many letters, all the different handwriting styles blurred in my mind. I couldn’t distinguish them anymore.

“Thanks for the help,” I said, returning it to him.

“No problem at all,” he waved it off, lying back on the grass. “Read the last few pages. If you don’t understand something, just let me know. I’ll wait until you’re done.”

Those were the last words I heard before I felt the other boy’s presence slowly drifting me into the realm of dreams.

“Great help, Jaesung, no doubt,” I laughed, looking at the now-sleeping figure beside me and studying his face.

It was so familiar yet utterly foreign at the same time. His eyelashes curled naturally, and his cheekbones were defined. His consciousness appeared tranquil, and I dared not make a sound, not wanting to wake him. I knew we were supposed to be here to study, but at that moment, I didn’t want to. I wanted to think about something other than the letters that awaited me. I wanted to share with someone else besides Sana; it felt insufficient, as if the incident with Ji still haunted me, but it was hard to explain. With Sana, it was different.

Some time passed, and soon I felt the foreign body next to me, jump in panic.

“How late is it?! Why didn’t you wake me?” He shot upright, panic washing over him.

“Everything is fine; what you’ve written in your notebook is more than enough for the test. You’ve really prepared well; I appreciate that. Did you perhaps not sleep to take these notes? They look too good to be old,” I reassured him.

“I promised to help you,” he scratched his neck nervously, and I shook my head.

“Do you want to take a walk?” I smiled after making the suggestion, and to my relief, he didn’t say “no.”

“What do you think about their current teaching method?” Jaesung asked as we strolled through the park, discussing the university and the subjects we were studying.

I was getting to know him more and more.

“I’m not too fond of it. It’s not that they aren’t competent enough; quite the opposite. They are educated people, focused on the right field for them, but they seem to have a wrong impression of how to convey information effectively to today’s generation,” I replied while Jaesung listened, occasionally kicking small pebbles along our path.

“Off-topic. What do you think about fantasy? Sana and I recently had a conversation about genres and what most actors lean towards when it comes to movies,” I asked, and Jaesung stopped at a point, seemingly deep in thought.

“To be honest, I rarely watch movies, but I suppose science fiction and fantasy literature are my favorites. Watching something that isn’t identical to reality makes you develop your imagination. It allows you to enter different worlds, while movies based on reality… the viewer can come to conclusions on their own. They don’t need to watch the film to the end; they can just gather brief information and create their own ending, which might turn out to be correct.”

“I agree with you. We should go to the movies together sometime. Watching fantasy with someone I know would be fun. Sana doesn’t really like that genre much. She prefers romance, so it’s hard to convince her to come with me, and even when I do, it’s not the same. There’s no one to discuss what’s happening with.” I chuckled, and he smiled before he spoke again.

“I’d love to come, but under one condition.”

“Condition?”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t run me over again because I don’t have enough money for full protective gear right now.” He laughed, and I was momentarily at a loss for how to react.

“I promise you, you won’t have to make that expense!” I playfully punched his shoulder, and a momentary spark coursed through my body as he reciprocated.

My body reacted again to his touch.

I felt different around him. It wasn’t like with Sana. I exhibited a different interest in him and his way of thinking. Perhaps I felt this way because he was a man, as if there were things he would understand better.

“If you found yourself in a situation that leaned more towards the fantasy genre, what would you do? Would you tell anyone?” I asked.

“I wouldn’t panic; I’d probably first try to find a rational explanation. That would be everyone’s first reaction, in my opinion. After that, I’d just accept that I’m different and that there must be a reason for going through this. As for whether I’d share it with someone, I wouldn’t. Simply because there wouldn’t be anyone to believe me,” he replied.

“I’m in a similar situation, but there is someone who actually believes me,” I blurted out, realizing too late that this wasn’t what I intended to say, but in the end, it was the necessary start for me to share.

“What do you mean?” he asked, confused, and I sighed, sitting on a nearby bench.

“I didn’t intend to share this with anyone else because I didn’t know how to begin, but maybe this is the opportunity I needed. Sit.” I gestured for him to join me, and he complied.

“I had an accident a few months ago. Because of it, I don’t remember the last 18 years of my life. It’s as if I was reborn, burying everything else. For the first few months, I was learning how to talk, feed myself, and walk again. After so long, not a single memory returned to me. The moment I recovered, my parents moved me to Seoul. I felt fear until I met Sana. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t know what I know today. With her help, I got the idea to return to my hometown in Daegu. That’s where I found them. Six letters, tucked away in the darkest part of the attic.” I recounted, trying not to miss a single detail.

My gaze occasionally met Jaesung’s, encouraging me to continue. He didn’t judge me; on the contrary, he studied me as if I were the last painting of Michelangelo.

“Whenever I open a letter, I awaken in a semi-reality that tries to remind me of a certain person from my past.” I rolled up my sleeve, revealing the silver bracelet.

“In each envelope are these silver charms with the initials of the people writing the letter. I found the bracelet in my parents’ room; it was hidden under their mattress. If you follow my logic, it was in a place where I wouldn’t just randomly find it.” I paused for a moment to catch my breath before continuing.

“Sana is the one who believes in me. With her help, I got three names. People who were once important to me. When I open the last letter, I believe I will uncover the truth that my parents are hiding from me.” I smiled, bowing my head and staring at my feet.

“I know it sounds crazy.” I laughed awkwardly, already anticipating criticism, but instead, I felt the warmth of his knee brushing against mine, the heat washing over my entire body.

“It definitely sounds insane, but I don’t think you would make up such a story. Thank you for sharing with me; it means you trust me, which I feel flattered by. If you need help, you can count on me,” Jaesung smiled, and I retracted my knee, wiping my palms on my jeans.

He opened his mouth, making me feel as if I wasn’t in reality. Maybe the idea that I was in love was more absurd than the letters I received.

“I fell in love with him the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” I remember seoho saying that but now i understand what he meant

He paused, his eyes locked onto mine. I wondered if he felt it too. 

“What if you find a letter about me?” he asked, his expression serious, breaking the trance.

“What would you want me to know?” I questioned back, eager to see what he would say.

“Just that I’m not as cool as you think,” he admitted, and I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head.

“I think you’re pretty cool, Jaesung .” I smiled, and we shared a moment of comfortable silence.

“So, do you want to write your own letter?” he suddenly suggested, and my heart raced. The idea was both thrilling and terrifying.

“What would I even say?” I pondered aloud.

“Write about what you’re feeling right now. Write about this moment, how it makes you feel, and everything you’ve shared with me. It could help you process it,” he encouraged.

I took a deep breath. “You might be right. It’s worth a try.” I grabbed my notebook from my backpack, feeling the weight of the moment, and began to write. But u know, i never did gave him the letter.