"Ouch, Lexi," I muttered, pushing her leg away from mine.

"Morning," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes and stretching lazily. "How's your leg?"

"Better, but it still hurts," I replied, wincing slightly as I shifted my position.

"So, what will we do today?" she asked, her voice still groggy from sleep.

"I'm planning to go to the library. I need to buy some books," I answered, already thinking about the titles I wanted to pick up.

"You're such a nerd," Lexi teased with a yawn, a playful grin spreading across her face.

"Shut up," I said with a giggle, playfully nudging her as we both started to wake up fully.

One hour later, we were both dressed and ready for the day. Halmoenim had prepared my favourite seaweed soup with mandu dumplings. The comforting aroma filled the kitchen, making my mouth water.

"This soup will nourish you," she said with a warm smile as she placed the bowls in front of us.

"You always know how to make me fall in love with you," I replied with a grin, munching on a dumpling.

"Enough, enough. Keep those sweet words for that mysterious man of yours," she teased with a smirk.

"Halmoenimmm!" I exclaimed, feeling my face flush with embarrassment.

Both Lexi and Halmoenim Kang burst into laughter, their joy contagious as we all shared a lighthearted moment together.

''Halmeonim, mianhaeyo. Sijange gati mot gayo. Gakkai inneun doseogwan-e galgeyo'' I said while apologizing 

"Gwaenchanha, aegi. Lexi-ga nareul gati galgeoya," she said with a reassuring smile

"I'll join you later, Lexi. Once you're done buying your books, we can visit Jogyesa Temple together," Lexi suggested.

"Yeah, that's a good idea," I agreed.

Halmoenim, who had been listening in, chimed in, "It's currently 8:00 AM. Come back at 13:00 for lunch. I'll invite some friends too."

"Make it for dinner instead," both Lexi and I added in unison. "We want to buy some snacks too."

Halmoenim chuckled, "Alright, dinner it is. Enjoy your day, girls."

Both Lexi and Halmoenim Kang set off to the market, likely preparing for a feast tonight. Before leaving the house, I washed the dishes and decorated the room with fresh roses from the garden, their delicate fragrance filling the air. I grabbed my bag and stepped outside, greeted by the beautiful sky and the fresh morning air. The warm sun gently kissed my skin as I walked, feeling a sense of calm.

Last night, I finished the latest book by Kim Ryu, and his words still echoed in my head: "Leave the rest, do your best. Giving is the essence of living." Those words had a way of lingering, sparking deep thoughts.

For years, I've wondered about Kim Ryu—how he looks, what inspires him to write such profound philosophy. Ever since I was a college student, I've been writing too, crafting poems and quotes that seem to resonate with the same emotions he conveys. In many ways, it feels like we are two peas in the same pod, connected by our shared love for words and the emotions they carry.

"Sian!" I heard my name called as I was walking towards the library. I looked around, expecting to see someone I knew, but instead, I saw a little girl running towards me with a cute smile.

"Annyeong," I greeted her with a smile.

"Joesonghae, geunyeo-neun naji ya," the woman said with a bow, apologizing for the interruption.

"Geureonikka, eonni," I replied, handing the little girl two hotteok that I just brought for myself. "It's okay, eonni."

The girl's eyes lit up as she took the hotteok, her smile growing even wider. It was a sweet, unexpected moment that brightened my day even more.

"Neoneun chakae, eonni-ga joahae. Annyeong." she said with a little wave

It was still early, and the library looked nearly empty. As I walked through the aisles of books, the silence was soothing, broken only by the soft rustle of pages and the distant hum of the air conditioning. The smell of paper and leather filled the air, mingling with the faint scent of freshly brewed coffee from a nearby café.

I wandered among the shelves, each row lined with neatly organized books, their spines offering a world of stories and knowledge. The soft, warm light from the reading lamps cast a gentle glow on the wooden tables and chairs, creating cosy nooks perfect for diving into a good book.

The library had a unique kind of comfort—a sense of security and tranquillity. The quiet ambience, the orderly rows of books, and the cushioned armchairs scattered throughout all contributed to a feeling of being wrapped in a cocoon of calm. It was a place where time seemed to slow down, allowing me to escape into the worlds contained within those books and lose myself in the pleasure of reading.

As I walked through the space, I felt a profound sense of peace, as though the library was a sanctuary where I could find solace and inspiration. The familiarity of it all brought a smile to my face, reinforcing why I had always loved this place.

It was still early, and I had about half an hour before meeting Lexi. Immersed in one of Kim Ryu's books, I barely noticed the quiet hum of the library around me.

"Hey there, can I sit here?" a man's voice broke through my concentration. Without shifting my gaze from the page, I simply nodded, assuming he would mind his own business.

But as he sat down across from me, I could feel his eyes on me, a persistent gaze that made my skin prickle with awareness. Trying to ignore it, I focused on the words in front of me, but the intensity of his stare was impossible to dismiss.

"Are you done observing me, or do you need my picture?" I snapped, the annoyance clear in my voice as I finally looked up from the book.

"My apologies," he stammered, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "I didn't intend to look creepy. It's just that... your eyes are really beautiful."

His words caught me off guard, and as our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat. It's him—the man from before. The same cap, the same jacket. The realization hit me like a wave.

"It's you! I finally found you!" I nearly screamed, my excitement drawing the attention of others in the library. Giggles and curious glances were sent our way, but I couldn't care less. It was as if the world around us had faded, leaving just the two of us in that moment of recognition.

He chuckled softly, the sound warm and amused. "So you've been looking for me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow in playful curiosity.

I felt a flush of embarrassment rise to my cheeks. "I apologize for my lunatic behaviour yesterday," I said quickly, trying to regain my composure. "But are you stalking me? How did we end up meeting again?"

His smile deepened a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Stalking you? No, that's not my style. But maybe fate has a funny way of bringing people together."

"Your eyes are godly, they're beautiful," I blurted out, letting my intrusive thoughts slip past my filter. The words left my lips before I could stop them.

He looked momentarily surprised but then smiled, a faint blush creeping onto his ears. "Thanks," he replied softly, clearly flattered.

"Thank you for always saving me," I continued, feeling more at ease. "And your little notes... they made me smile."

"You're welcome," he said, his voice warm. "Let me formally introduce myself. I am Ryu." He extended his hand, his eyes steady on mine.

"Wow, you have the same name as my favourite author," I said without thinking, before quickly adding, "I'm Sian. Nice to meet you."

As I shook his hand, a strange realization began to form in the back of my mind. Could it really be him?

"How's your leg now?" Ryu asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

"Better, thank you," I replied. Then, curiosity got the better of me. "Do you often come here?"

"Not often, but sometimes," he said with a thoughtful nod. "I come here for inspiration."

"Inspiration?" I echoed, intrigued.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

We both spoke at the same time, our words overlapping: "Books are your safest place where you can gather your thoughts."

Our eyes met, and I couldn't help but smile at the shared sentiment. "You're a fan of Kim Ryu too?" I asked, still unable to believe the coincidence.

"He's a nice guy," Ryu said with a modest smile, his response making me pause. Something about the way he said it made me wonder if there was more to his words than he was letting on.

"Have you met him?" I asked, leaning in slightly, eager for his answer. But before he could respond, my phone started ringing. I sighed, a bit frustrated by the interruption.

"My apologies, I need to take this," I said, stepping away from the table.

"Where are you?" Lexi's voice came through the phone, buzzing with energy.

"I met the man I was telling you about," I whispered, trying to keep my voice down.

Lexi nearly screamed in excitement, "Meet me right now!"

She was just a few meters away from the library, and her enthusiasm was contagious. But before meeting her, I decided to say goodbye to Ryu. I turned back to where we had been sitting, only to find that he was gone.

Instead, a small note lay on the table where he had been. I picked it up and read the words: "Nice to meet you, Sian. Until we meet again."

A mix of emotions washed over me—curiosity, excitement, and a little bit of disappointment. He was gone, but the mystery deepened, leaving me with more questions than before.