Chapter 1 – The Encounter That Changed Everything
The rain fell thin and steady over the city, scattering tiny glimmers on the wet sidewalks. Laien walked quickly, the hood of his coat pulled tight against his face, trying to ignore the cold that seemed to crawl into his bones. The sound of the rain mingled with the noise of passing cars, yet there was a certain silence in that late afternoon, as if the world had decided to pause for a few minutes.
He wasn't expecting anything, nor anyone. His life was always measured, controlled. But there, standing under the awning of a small bookstore, something felt different something he couldn't quite identify, and it had nothing to do with the rain.
And then, he saw her.
Yuna was a little ahead, hunched inside an oversized coat, her brown eyes shining under the warm light of the display window. She held a book close to her chest as if it were armor, and for a moment, Laien had the strange feeling that this moment wasn't just a coincidence.
She didn't notice him watching. Or perhaps she did, but her eyes revealed nothing beyond quiet curiosity. Something in the way she breathed, hesitant yet attentive to every detail around her, made Laien feel a spark of interest he rarely experienced.
He took a step without realizing it.
The snap of an umbrella opening behind her made both of them turn. A man rushed past, unaware of their presence, and Yuna let out a small, nervous laugh, glancing at the ground.
"Do you… want to take shelter?" Laien asked without thinking much. His own voice sounded distant, yet firm.
She lifted her eyes, surprised. Her brown eyes met his green ones, and for an instant, time seemed to stop.
"Ah… yes, thank you," Yuna said, her voice barely a whisper. She approached hesitantly, and Laien noticed every detail: the slight tremor in her hands, the way her hair stuck to her wet forehead, the shyness that seemed to envelop her entire presence.
The sound of the rain seemed less important when they were so close.
They entered the bookstore together, and the scent of old paper and warm coffee surrounded them. Laien had always been serious, distant, but in that moment, he found himself relaxing without realizing it. She smiled shyly, looking at the books on the shelves as if each one told a story meant just for her.
"Do you like romance?" he asked, a little awkwardly, trying to start a conversation.
Yuna looked up from the book she was holding and smiled a small, almost invisible smile that made Laien feel something warm in his chest.
"Yes… but… I prefer stories that feel real. With people who truly feel."
He nodded slowly, absorbing every word. Inside, he wondered how someone could notice so much just from their presence. She didn't just seem to observe the world she seemed to feel it, every tiny detail, every shadow and glimmer.
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. On the contrary, it was as if they were discovering a silent rhythm together, shared without speaking. Laien realized how much he wanted to stay there, watching her, listening to her breath, trying to understand every nuance of that moment.
Then, without realizing it, she reached out to grab a book from the shelf next to him. Their fingers brushed briefly, and something inexplicable passed between them a soft tension, a shiver that seemed to signal that nothing would ever be the same again.
"Sorry…" Yuna murmured, slightly flushed, but she didn't pull away.
"No… it's fine," Laien said, his voice softer than he expected. He didn't pull away either.
For a few minutes, they stayed side by side, each absorbing the simple act of being there. The rain continued outside, but inside the bookstore, there was a sense of calm, almost magical. And Laien realized, with a strange certainty, that he wanted that moment to last forever.
She closed the book, holding it to her chest, and then looked at him again. "My name is Yuna," she said, with a shy smile.
"Laien," he replied. And for some reason he couldn't explain, saying his name alongside hers felt… right.
They left the bookstore together a few minutes later, sharing an umbrella far too small, but neither of them minded. The rain still fell, but now it had a different glow, reflecting something new in their hearts.
On that ordinary afternoon, under ordinary rain, Laien realized that something inside him had changed. And Yuna, without knowing it, also felt that she would never be the same.
The world outside kept turning, but for a few minutes, it felt like everything had stopped just for them.
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The rain still fell over the city, but now it felt less cold, almost gentle, as if the world were adjusting to their pace. Laien held the umbrella firmly, though his hand trembled slightly something he wouldn't admit to anyone. Yuna walked beside him, each step careful, almost as if she feared breaking something invisible between them.
"Do you come here often?" he asked, trying to sound casual, though his voice betrayed the curiosity burning inside him.
Yuna lifted her eyes, thoughtful. "No… only when I need to escape the routine. Books… they make things feel lighter, you know?" She smiled shyly, and Laien realized that smile had the power to slow any rational thought he had.
They walked side by side, sharing the too-small umbrella. Every gesture seemed loaded with meaning. When Yuna stumbled slightly on the wet sidewalk, he didn't hesitate: he placed a hand lightly on her waist to steady her. She blushed, looking down, and something tightened in Laien's chest not just concern, but something he had never felt before.
The walk to the nearby café was short, yet it felt endless. Laien observed Yuna with almost obsessive attention: the way she touched her wet hair, the delicacy with which she held her bag, the expression shifting between curiosity, shyness, and a faint enchantment with the world around her. He, who always kept an almost impenetrable distance, felt the need to get closer, to become part of that small universe she carried with her.
They entered the café, and the smell of fresh coffee and warm bread enveloped them like a silent hug. Laien left the umbrella dripping in the corner, and Yuna noticed, without a word, that he didn't mind getting the tips of his sleeves wet to avoid splashing the floor. Small details, small gestures, yet he impressed her without even realizing it.
They sat at a table near the window, where raindrops slid slowly down the glass, forming tiny paths that seemed to mirror Yuna's heartbeat. She looked at Laien, hesitant, trying to understand what this strange feeling meant.
"Do you like silence?" he asked suddenly, breaking the small hesitation between them.
She blinked, surprised, but smiled. "Depends… on the silence that isn't lonely."
Laien almost let a smile slip. Almost. He was trying not to give in, but it was impossible to ignore the delicacy with which she spoke, as if every word carried weight, every syllable an invitation to open up.
The waiter came, and they ordered two hot drinks. The scent of hot chocolate mingled with coffee, filling the space between them, making the atmosphere even cozier. Laien watched Yuna stir her drink carefully, focused, and caught himself imagining every little detail about her, as if she were a living painting.
For a moment, the world outside ceased to exist. There was no rain, no cars, no rushing people. There was only them, sharing a small, intimate space, and a feeling neither could name, yet both felt deeply.
"I… like observing people," Yuna said softly, almost confessing a secret. "Sometimes you notice things no one else does."
Laien raised an eyebrow, curious. "Things like what?"
She hesitated, biting her lower lip slightly. "Like… when someone tries to appear strong, but inside is just trying not to break. Small things that say a lot about a person."
Silence returned, but now it was comfortable, full of meaning. Laien felt something open inside him, a door he didn't know existed. He had never let anyone get that close, but with Yuna… it felt different. It was as if she could see through his facade, without judgment, without rush, only with attention and care.
Time passed without them noticing. The rain outside seemed to lessen, but inside, something grew a spark, a beginning, a silent feeling promising irreversible changes.
Yuna finally leaned in, fiddling absentmindedly with her cup, and spoke softly: "You… seem serious, but I feel like you feel more than you let show."
Laien swallowed, surprised that someone could notice that so quickly. "Maybe I just… don't know how to show it." His voice was low, almost shy, something he'd never admit at another time, but there, beside her, it felt natural.
She smiled, small, almost imperceptible, yet full of warmth. "You don't have to show everything… just being present says a lot."
His heart beat faster. It wasn't just her shyness, or the way she looked at him attentively; it was the feeling that finally someone truly saw Laien. And he didn't want it to end.
The afternoon slowly faded, and they were still sitting there, whispering, laughing quietly at little things, sharing childhood stories, timid dreams, and hidden fears. Every gesture, every glance, every accidental touch created a connection neither could explain, yet both felt deeply.
When they finally decided to leave, the rain had stopped completely. Laien draped his coat over her shoulders, unaware that the gesture was both protective and delicate. She looked at him, surprised, and smiled.
"Thank you… for today," Yuna said, her voice carrying something she couldn't name, but he felt clearly.
"No… thank you," Laien replied simply, yet full of emotion. He realized he wanted to repeat these moments, hear these words again, be near her without needing any explanation.
And then, as they said goodbye, both knew, without needing to speak, that this encounter wasn't just chance. It was the beginning of something that would change everything. Something that would make them feel, grow, and above all, love in a way they had never imagined possible.