Four years later, nestled in a narrow alley off one of Starfall City's busiest food streets, was a humble little pho shop. Inside, a man named Tuan worked the wok with the mastery of a seasoned chef, stir-frying beef and pickled greens for his signature rice dish. The shop was always packed—despite the alley being barely two meters wide, luxury cars lined the street outside, all for a taste of Tuan's legendary pho.

Inside, it was a blistering 100 degrees, even though the summer sun outside was already a scorching 40. But no one seemed to care. Gourmets from all corners of the city braved the heat just to get a bowl.

"Duyen!" Tuan yelled, face dripping with sweat as he quickly blanched slices of rare beef in the boiling broth, then smacked a bowl onto the counter.

"Two special bowls—extra rare beef, extra brisket, extra scallions—table 19! A poached egg in soup for table 5! And grab a small bowl for the kid next door!"

"Yes, coming!" a bright voice rang out.

A striking girl stepped out from behind a bamboo curtain. She wore a simple white tank top and jeans. Her short hair framed a face so radiant it seemed to glow. Tall, lean, confident—the entire restaurant fell silent for a moment just looking at her.

Duyen slipped on her apron and got to work without missing a beat, every movement smooth and precise. But it wasn't her efficiency that drew all the stares.

It was the fact that she looked... way too handsome.

"Here are your two special bowls. I'm so sorry for the wait—there was a baby at the next table who needed their noodles cut smaller, so I had to help out," she said politely, placing the bowls down.

"O-oh… no problem at all…" the man blinked, dazed, then suddenly reached for her hand.

"Uh… do you have a boyfriend?"

"Hey! You new punk!" Tuan slammed his spatula on the wok like thunder. "This is a pho shop for working people to have their breakfast! Not a damn dating agency! Eat your noodles and move, there's a line outside! Get your hand off my daughter!"

Startled, the man pulled back. Duyen blushed furiously and turned to her dad. "Dad!"

"Enough! Let Thanh handle customer service. You go deliver these—some lady at the Functional Hospital over on West Street wants two bowls with less fat. Diabetes or whatever."

"Yes, sir..." Duyen grumbled, peeling off her apron and grabbing the insulated containers.

"One minute I'm the waitress, the next I'm a delivery girl," she muttered, hopping on her motorbike and speeding off.

Back at the shop, the same man from earlier leaned in toward Tuan and whispered, "Uh, sir? Was that really your daughter? She's gorgeous... just curious, does she have a boyfriend?"

Tuan didn't answer. Instead, he glanced at a dusty photo on the glass wall—him and little Duyen at Cua Lo Beach. He smirked, then turned back to the guy.

"Keep dreaming, son. Even if she was single, you wouldn't stand a chance."

"Wait, what—"

"Cash or card!?" Tuan barked.

"Card! Card, sir!"

"Then get your ass over there and swipe it! Kids these days—can't even carry cash, just chasing girls all day!"

---

After dropping off the order at the hospital, Duyen parked herself beside a street drink stand and grabbed a bottle of Pocari Sweat. The sky had gone dark. Rain started falling in light, cold pinpricks, soaking through her thin white tank. She quickly threw on her leather jacket and wheeled her motorbike under a bus stop shelter.

"Wait a sec... It wasn't supposed to rain today?"

She checked her phone.

Forecast: Rain all day.

"Great. No raincoat, of course." She sighed and plopped down on the bench, watching people scramble for cover.

An old man with a cane arrived shortly after, taking a seat beside her. Duyen scooted away slightly to give him space. The rain intensified until the world outside the shelter faded into a wall of white.

Time slipped by. Her mind wandered—back to a certain rainy afternoon just like this.

She smiled to herself, remembering how childish she'd been. But maybe that moment had to happen. She hoped Nayeon didn't hold a grudge. She must've worried back then. But Duyen knew—Nayeon had to return to Korea right after graduation.

Still… to disappear without even a goodbye message? That was cruel. She blamed herself.

A different image crept into her mind. Someone else. The girl who first made her heart race… and then shattered it.

It had been four years. She was probably married to Valko by now. Maybe they even had kids. Probably living a perfect little life.

Duyen shut her eyes. The pounding rain drowned out all sound. It was... peaceful, somehow.

When she opened them again, the old man was asleep beside her. The rain still poured.

Weird. She could've sworn it all went silent just now...

"What time is it?" she muttered, checking her phone.

"Ten a.m.? And it's still raining?"

How was she supposed to get home?

Just then, footsteps echoed through the rain. Light. Slow. A figure emerged.

A girl.

Soaked to the bone, long black hair clinging to her face. A white shirt—only a white shirt—clung to her curves like a second skin.

Duyen's eyes widened. Wait. Is she… naked?!

Blushing, she stiffened as the girl approached.

"Excuse me... mind if I wait out the rain here?"

Duyen blinked. This had to be a prank. It was 10 in the morning and this chick looked like she'd walked out of a shampoo ad and into a softcore music video.

Still, she nodded and scooted over. "Uh… sure, go ahead."

The girl sat down. Right next to her. Way too close, considering the bench was massive.

Duyen wanted to say something—hey, there's room—but held her tongue.

Then she noticed something.

She's staring at me.

Like, intensely staring.

Her eyes were deep ocean blue. Almost glowing. Duyen shivered.

Should she call the cops? But somehow... she felt like she'd be the one getting questioned.

Achoo!

God, what was that perfume?! It was so strong.

The girl frowned and tilted her head, mumbling to herself. "Huh… it usually works."

What?

And then—just as Duyen turned her head—

Soft lips pressed against hers.

Warm. Supple. Wet.

That same cloying scent filled her nose, dizzying, intoxicating. The girl was so close now Duyen could see the slope of her nose, the shimmer of her skin—

She's kissing me?!

Duyen gasped and tried to pull away, but the girl held her in place, deepening the kiss. Her tongue—

Nope. Nope nope nope—

Duyen's mind spiraled. Her body shook. Her knees gave out.

The girl finally pulled away. A string of saliva lingered between their lips.

"Not quite right..." the girl murmured, licking her lips. She looked dazed, too.

"Why hasn't he succumbed yet…?"

Duyen, face beet-red, clutched her mouth and wobbled to her feet—then immediately collapsed back onto the bench.

Everything was spinning. Even the girl in front of her looked distorted, like a shifting shadow.

"...Mina," she whispered—and passed out cold.

"..?"

The girl blinked. Then burst into laughter—dark and amused.

"I kiss him, and he calls out another girl's name? What a jerk!"

Her voice was loud enough to jolt the old man awake. She turned to glare at him—and her eyes flashed that strange blue again.

"Sleep."

"Yes ma'am..." he mumbled, then faceplanted onto the wet ground, ass up.

The girl sighed and looked back at Duyen, now unconscious and slumped against her.

"Well, whatever. I could use some cash."

She reached into Duyen's jacket, searching.

Nothing but some small change and a ten-year-old flip phone.

"...Seriously? You look like that and you don't even have a smartphone?"

Then her hand froze.

Something's off...

She pressed. Felt again.

Her eyes went wide.

She yanked open the jacket—and gasped.

"She's... a girl?!"

Meanwhile, Duyen, lost in some happy dream, giggled softly in her sleep.

"It tickles..."