"In the quiet corners of life, where shadows meet the light, some encounters are written not by chance, but by fate.”

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Within an hour, Eun Ji and Lisa were back at their hostel, feeling relieved to find out they still had an hour and a half left before the special course.

The tension of their interrupted day still hung in the air.Lisa hurled her bag onto the bed and flopped down beside it, letting out a frustrated groan.

"I can't believe this! A single peaceful day, that's all I ask for!" Her voice was tinged with annoyance as she threw her hands over her face in exasperation.

Eun Ji couldn't help but sympathize.She understood that kind of frustration, the feeling of having a day stolen from you.

"I know, Lisa," she said with a tired sigh, leaning back on the cushion near her table. "But we don’t have much of a choice. If we want good placements, we have to keep our scores up. We can't slack off now, not this close."

Lisa peeked out from behind her arms, her face scrunched in irritation. "Still, does it have to be today? We barely had time to relax." She pouted, clearly unwilling to let go of the day’s potential.Eun Ji nodded quietly, staring at the books on her desk.

"Yeah, I get it... I wanted a break too. But it's not worth risking our future over. We'll make time for a proper day off later." She knew she was trying to convince herself as much as Lisa.

Eun Ji scrolled through her mobile wanting to know more details about the special course they were to attend sacrificing their peaceful holiday.

"Art students are going to visit the Studio of Alchemy?" Eun Ji exclaimed, staring at the message in disbelief. "Alchemy? Like, the one from chemistry?" Lisa chuckled from across the room, her amusement at the absurdity evident in her tone.

"I've literally never heard anything about it," Eun Ji continued, shaking her head in frustration. "Are they seriously expecting us to learn something about alchemy? What does that even mean for art students?" She let out a deep sigh, her patience wearing thin. "They are literally trying to break my last bit of sanity.”

Lisa laughed softly. "Relax, Eun Ji. Maybe we'll turn metal into masterpieces or something." Her teasing was light-hearted, but even she seemed puzzled by the odd topic.

Eun Ji groaned. "I signed up to paint, not to become some medieval potion maker." She flopped down onto the cushion, rubbing her temples in exasperation.

Lisa's phone buzzed, upon seeing the ID she groaned “Now what's with him?”, she picked up her mobile “WHAT?” she screamed, she was still laying on her bed.

“Who is it?” Eun ji asked with concern all over face, not for Lisa but for the well being of the person on the other side of the mobile.

“Jungkook, I knowingly didn't let you know about the trip to Gangnam” Lisa Exclaimed, she rose up and sat straight, completely avoiding Eun ji.

“He is so dead now.” Eun Ji whispered knowing the temper of Lisa.

"I’ve heard enough. Let’s meet in the afternoon," Lisa said flatly before hanging up, her frustration palpable. She quickly headed to the washroom, needing to change out of her clothes before heading to college.

Eun Ji remained still, her mind wandering back to the book. The moment Lisa stepped out of the room for a quick walk, Eun Ji found herself unable to resist. She approached Lisa's bag, hesitating for a brief second before pulling out the book.

Eun Ji sat near her desk , running her fingers over the spine before slowly opening to the second chapter. The title read, Our Love. The connection grew stronger, tugging at her heart.

Lisa suddenly broke in “I am going to get lunch as I go for a walk, what do you want to eat?”. “Jajangmyeon” Eun ji, Lisa nodded and went out.

The cover sent another chill down her spine. It was as though the book had a life of its own, calling to her. She could still feel the pull from the first chapter—like the words had been written for her.

Each word carried weight, pulling her deeper and deeper. Time slipped away unnoticed. Her world narrowed to the pages in front of her.

A lone tear slipped down her cheek, catching her off guard. The emotions within the story felt raw, real, as if the book was somehow narrating her own life.

Just then, Lisa burst back into the room, cheerfully holding up the bags of food. "Here’s our lunch! Jajangmyeon, as requested!”

Startled, Eun Ji quickly wiped her eyes again, trying to compose herself before Lisa noticed. "What are you up to?" Lisa asked casually, tossing the food onto the desk.

"Just… reading that book from the library," Eun Ji replied softly, her voice barely steady.

Lisa didn't notice the trembling in her voice or the tear stains on her face. She was too busy unpacking the food, oblivious to the storm of emotions swirling inside her friend.

“I will freshen up” Eun ji said and hurried to the washroom. Lisa nodded. Soon minutes passed, Eun ji came back and both the girls had their lunch.

Eun Ji was smiling hearing Lisa speak but deep down she still didn't lose the connection she felt earlier, doesn't it feel too obvious for something to happen like this just at the beginning?

Soon it was time for them to go to the collage, both of them adjusted their look and hurried down.

Within minutes, they arrived at the college entrance. After bidding farewell to Lisa, as their departments were on opposite ends of the campus.

Eun Ji broke into a run. She was running late. Her heart pounded as she remembered her professor—Mr. Lee, the most feared and respected figure in the entire college, notorious for his strictness and unmatched talent.

She dashed into the classroom, relieved to find only a few students gathered. More importantly, Mr. Lee was nowhere in sight. Eun Ji let out a deep breath and hurried to her usual spot.

Right on time, at 1:00 p.m. sharp, the door swung open, and in walked Professor Lee. The students quickly rose and greeted him in unison. With a curt nod, he motioned for them to follow him.

His presence commanded absolute silence, and without a word, they did as instructed.

Soon, they reached the back gate of the college where a bus awaited them. Eun Ji noticed other department students lined up not far away, preparing for their own courses.

The bus doors opened with a soft hiss, and one by one, they stepped inside, heading toward their next destination. Eun ji sat next to the window, beside her no one sat, she sighed.

“Yah Oh Eun ji, what do you feel about the so-called studio “Studio of Alchemy”?” asked Min Jun, one of her annoyingly nice friends . “I am in no mood to answer you Jun, don't disturb me” said Eun ji as she crossed her arms and went to relax.

Jun sighed and said “Always the cold shoulder”, then he went back to his seat. Unexpectedly it was more than a thirty minute drive for them to reach the studio.

Throughout the trip, Eun ji closed her eyes, trying to get her relaxed but it seemed that her mind had no idea of giving her one. She kept thinking about the book, her heart was captivated by the author’s words.

In one of his chapters, he told ;

"Love is never as simple as the world paints it to be. It’s raw, flawed, and sometimes—more than we wish—devastating.”

“I got a scar deeper than I loved you, even if it fades it can not be forgotten”.

The words were deep and intense, filled with betrayal, echoing in Eun Ji’s heart. Each word felt like a scar, a reminder of shattered trust. They twisted her memories into shadows, leaving behind a raw ache.

Eun Ji's eyes fluttered shut, the cool, crisp air wrapped around her. Thoughts of the writer lingered in her mind, mingling with the gentle rustle of wind and the distant call of birds. She surrendered to the embrace of sleep.

‘Eun Ji, Eun Ji... run, child, run...’ The words pulsed urgently in her dreams, weaving through her mind like threads of a forgotten memory.

A sudden, sharp voice broke through the haze: “Everyone, get up, we have reached.” The dream splintered, and reality came rushing back like a gust of wind.

It was Professor Lee, his voice rang out, firm and authoritative ,silencing the entire bus. The loud noises turned into whispers. The students slowly started moving out of the bus. Jun waited for Eun ji, behind her.

Everyone got out, they were faced with the studio, huge words telling “Studio of Alchemy”. The font was soft and appealing. The white background added a soft touch to the pastel color text. The glass door covered in wooden frames was eye-catching.

Eun ji was still standing there, admiring the architectural craftsmanship of the studio. Students pushed her aside in a hurry, not knowing why they were all excited. Eun ji heard the gossip of the girls in front of her.

“Did you hear? The owner of the studio is very handsome and also he looks like an actor” one of them said being excited. “You are right, also I heard that he doesn't have a girlfriend” the other near her said. Both giggled like excited kids who saw candy.

The professor told everyone to follow him. All of them went inside the studio. The studio was big, the artwork aligned neat and clean. Every piece had a touch of personal feelings.

Eun ji stopped on her way, staring at an unfinished piece of work. Her look filled with confusion as well as frustration of why the person wouldn't complete it.

“It represents a story still unfolding, a vision not fully realized…” A voice whispered behind her ears.

A chill went down her spine and she suddenly moved aside. She was met with a pair of dark hazel eyes. It was sharp and beautiful.

Eun Ji tripped over her shoes, her body pitching forward as she stumbled. Just as she was about to fall, a hand reached out and caught her, pulling her into the safety of someone’s arms. Her breath came in heavy gasps as she processed what had happened.

Instinctively, she wriggled free from the grip of the unknown figure. “Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling with nervousness.

“Are you alright?” The voice asked, his voice was warm as sunlight. “I am fine…..thank…y-you sir”. Eun ji as she said the words which seemed to have stuck in her throat.

The man chuckled “I am Soo-hyun , Jung Soo Hyun, the owner of this studio”, he let out his hands. Eun ji’s eye widened , she nervously shook his hand. “I am Oh Eun Ji”. A smile crept on Soo Hyun face.

“Eunjissi, why do you think I have left this piece unfinished?” Soo Hyun asked facing the painting.

Eun ji squinted her eyes, checking in more detail. A self satisfied smirk formed on her lips “Mysterious one, it holds some sort of truth hiden. It stands as an enigma, inviting viewers to ponder what lies beyond the visible, blurring the line between reality and imagination.”

Soo Hyun faced Eun Ji's back, and as he heard her, a smirk curled at the corners of his lips. His gaze drifted between the painting and her, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes.

He whispered under his breath, intrigued by the moment. “It embodies secrets yet to be revealed and whispers of a story left untold. It desperately waits for a person to complete it”.

"Feeling waiting to blend, pages waiting to get torn apart. Let's wait."

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Hey!

I am happy for the support so far! I hope you guys are liking it. Sorry if you guys feel like I am dragging the story, let me know about it.

Always suggestions are welcomed and the word count is 2000, I can't believe it! Comment and vote if you like it!

Thank you!! ❤️

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