Chapter 8: The Unexpected Ally
The tension in the air was thick as I walked into the classroom the next morning. Kang Mirae's piercing gaze met mine for a fleeting moment before she quickly looked away, as if the very sight of me was a disruption to her carefully composed world.
"Still on your crusade to break the ice, lover boy?" Su Yong quipped, dropping into the seat beside me with his usual nonchalant grin.
"Not helping," I muttered, burying my face in my hands.
"Come on, Jiho, it's not like you to give up. She's just one person. You're usually better at winning people over."
"Yeah, well, she's different," I replied, leaning back in my chair.
Su Yong raised an eyebrow, his usual air of casual indifference momentarily replaced by genuine curiosity. "Different how?"
"She's... complicated. And it's not just her. There's something about her that feels... bigger. Like she's carrying something I can't see," I said, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.
"Sounds like you're overthinking it," Su Yong said, leaning back and putting his feet up on the desk. "But hey, if you need a distraction, there's a new arcade opening up this weekend. Maybe you should loosen up a bit."
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but crack a small smile. Su Yong had a way of grounding me when my thoughts ran wild.
---
Lunchtime came faster than I expected, and I found myself wandering aimlessly through the school grounds. Mirae wasn't in her usual spot under the tree, and for some reason, her absence felt heavier than it should have.
"Looking for someone?" Su Yong appeared out of nowhere, balancing a tray of food precariously in one hand.
"No," I lied.
"Sure, and I'm the school principal," he replied, smirking as he shoved a carton of milk into my hand. "You've got to eat, Jiho. You're starting to look like one of those zombies from that old movie we watched last week."
I took the milk grudgingly, my thoughts still on Mirae. Why was she always so distant? And why did it feel like the universe was pulling me toward her?
---
The final bell rang, and I made my way to the library. It was the only place I could think to go where I wouldn't be bombarded by the noise of the school. To my surprise, Mirae was there, sitting at a corner table with her ever-present notebook.
"Hey," I said, approaching cautiously.
She looked up, her expression unreadable. "Hey."
For a moment, we just stood there, the silence stretching between us like a chasm. Finally, I cleared my throat and gestured toward the empty chair across from her. "Mind if I sit?"
She hesitated, then nodded.
I sat down, feeling uncharacteristically nervous. "So, uh, what are you working on?"
"Nothing that concerns you," she said, her tone clipped but not entirely dismissive.
"Right," I muttered, staring at the table. "Look, I know I've been... intrusive. But I just want to understand. You seem like you're carrying something heavy, and I guess... I want to help."
Mirae's eyes softened, but only for a moment. "Sometimes, Jiho, it's better not to understand. Some things are meant to stay in the dark."
"Why do I feel like you're talking about more than just schoolwork?" I asked, trying to meet her gaze.
She didn't answer. Instead, she closed her notebook and stood up. "I've got to go."
"Mirae—"
But she was already walking away, leaving me alone with more questions than answers.
---
That night, as I lay in bed, the Fate Rewrite app buzzed on my phone.
"Progress increased: 10%
The first thread has been pulled. Keep unraveling."
The message was followed by an image—a series of interconnected circles, each one glowing faintly. At the center was a single word: "Mirae."
"What does this mean?" I whispered, staring at the screen.
The app didn't respond, but deep down, I knew this was only the beginning.
---
The next morning, Su Yong caught up with me in the hallway.
"You look like you didn't sleep," he said, studying me closely.
"I didn't," I admitted.
"Still thinking about her?"
"Yeah."
He sighed, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "You've got to stop obsessing, man. Let her come to you if she wants to. Otherwise, you'll just drive yourself crazy."
"Maybe you're right," I said, though the words felt hollow.
As we walked to class, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched. Glancing over my shoulder, I caught a glimpse of someone disappearing around the corner—a man in a dark suit.
"Did you see that?" I asked, stopping in my tracks.
"See what?" Su Yong asked, looking around.
"There was a guy... never mind," I said, shaking my head.
But the uneasy feeling lingered, and I couldn't help but wonder if Mirae's secrets were starting to spill into my life in ways I hadn't anticipated.
---
For the rest of the day, I tried to focus on anything other than Mirae. But no matter how hard I tried, her words echoed in my mind: Some things are meant to stay in the dark.
What was she hiding? And why did I feel like I was the only one who could uncover it?
As the sun set, I made a decision. If Mirae wasn't going to let me in, I'd have to find another way to get the answers I needed. Even if it meant stepping into the dark myself.