Became an Observer in Love Company

It was raining.

Thin, transparent droplets swirled lightly in the air before growing heavier.

The raindrops that fell onto the road spread out in round circles.

The damp air brushed against my skin.

Through the rain, a girl with golden hair and pink eyes appeared. She looked just like me.

I soon realized. This was a dream.

I was dreaming.

And in this dream, I was looking at myself.

As if watching my parallel world self.

The me in the dream.

Though we looked the same, I couldn’t feel her emotions – she seemed like a separate entity.

It was like gazing into a mirror.

We had the same face, same movements, same eyes… but something felt subtly off.

The me in the dream – to avoid confusion, I’ll just call her Jihan2.

Jihan2 was getting soaked in the rain without an umbrella.

Her hair clung wetly to her forehead, and her damp clothes stuck to her body.

Still, she didn’t move.

Where her gaze was fixed…

There stood another person.

A man.

A familiar-looking man – none other than Yoon Jihoo.

Yoon Jihoo was nodding his head in response to something the woman beside him was saying.

That woman was also familiar – it was Senior Nayul.

There was a warm vibe as they faced each other.

Pleasant, gentle…

As if being together came naturally.

Unlike Jihan2, both of them had umbrellas.

Jihan2 quietly lowered her hand.

Her gaze was directed at Yoon Jihoo. Rather, specifically at Yoon Jihoo’s hand.

His hand holding the umbrella. And beneath that hand, Senior Nayul smiling gently.

The tips of Jihan2’s fingers twitched ever so slightly before going limp.

Her lips parted slightly then closed again, without uttering a word.

Watching this scene, I suddenly let out a bitter laugh.

This was like having a one-sided crush on Yoon Jihoo, wasn’t it?

I definitely thought it was just a dream.

“Me having feelings for Yoon Jihoo?!”

The very thought made me feel sick.

What kind of ridiculous dream was this?

However, contrary to my thoughts, Jihan2 remained still.

Her fingertips trembled slightly. Cold rainwater trickled down the palm of her hand.

What was she thinking, watching them? What emotions was she feeling?

I couldn’t tell. After all, she and I were the same yet different beings.

Looking down at the puddles reflecting the similar scene…

On a rainy day, Kim Dohyun had given me an umbrella to stand under.

The umbrella handle clutched in my hand.

The unfamiliar warmth shielding me from the rain reminded me of that day.

If Kim Dohyun hadn’t been there…

Would I have stood in the rain like the Jihan2 in this dream?

The scene in the dream shifted.

Now I saw a practice room.

The mirrors reflected brightly.

Inside those mirrors, two people were dancing in perfect rhythm, step by step.

And Jihan2…

was quietly watching them from a corner of the practice room.

The mirror reflected the two dancers and Jihan2 watching them.

Jihan2 remained motionless.

Quietly, silently…

following their movements with her eyes.

Senior Nayul took Yoon Jihoo’s hand.

Gently, naturally…

And without hesitation, Yoon Jihoo guided Senior Nayul.

Jihan2 looked down at her own hands.

The tips of her fingers twitched slightly.

It looked as if her hands were searching for someone to hold them.

Then, Jihan2 raised her hand to wipe her face, not knowing if it was tears or sweat.

Her fingertips were trembling.

Drip…

Something slid down her cheek. A missed, uncaught emotion.

That droplet hanging from her chin.

Drip…

And again…

Drip…

The sound of breaking glass echoed as a large crack appeared in the mirror.

The cracked mirror split into two.

One side reflected Jihan2.

The other side reflected me.

When the practice ended, a single can of drink was left by the door.

Evidence that someone had been there.

Holding the cold can, I looked around the empty practice room.

I stood there blankly with the can in hand.

Though the space was empty, it felt suffocatingly full.

I looked up and smiled.

If there hadn’t been Kim Dohyun…

Would I have been standing there like Jihan2?

Would I have been letting something built up inside drip like small droplets?

Jihan2 looked empty. Lonely.

The scene shifted again.

It was night.

In the distance, fireworks exploded.

Vivid lights filled the sky, blooming spectacularly then disappearing.

Beneath it were two people standing side by side, gazing at the sky.

Their shoulders touched as they spoke and laughed together.

Jihan2 stopped again.

She didn’t look up at the shining sky.

Jihan2 was watching them.

Her shadow was swaying.

With each fireworks explosion lighting up the sky, Jihan2 swayed.

Every time the fireworks burst, her shadow grew longer, swayed… as if it might disappear any moment.

Jihan2 smiled. Though her lips curled up, her eyes didn’t.

Her damp eyes reflected the fireworks like a watercolor painting.

The main characters in that watercolor painting weren’t her – they were Yoon Jihoo and Senior Nayul. Their upward curved lips, gently bent eyes showed their natural smiles.

And then I realized. Though Jihan2 was smiling now, her shadow was crying.

Though her lips were curled up in a smile, her shadow was rippling.

Phwah!

The fireworks burst splendidly.

Jihan2 let out a quiet sigh. It smelled of gunpowder.

Jihan2 slowly turned away from them.

Our eyes seemed to meet.

At that moment, Jihan2’s lips parted. In the dream, I spoke.

The moment I heard those words…

I sucked in my breath.

“Are you happy?”

A quiet question.

And I replied nonchalantly.

“Kind of.”

Jihan2 in the dream nodded slightly.

Very slowly, very quietly.

“Do you like that person a lot?”

I didn’t hesitate.

Didn’t even need to think.

I smiled brightly.

“Yes.”

At my answer, Jihan2 looked at me.

When that gaze started to feel strange,

Her lips parted lowly.

“Really?”

A soft but distant voice.

And a mutter as if to herself.

“I’m envious.”

The night sky lit up with fireworks again.

Its light shone on me.

And Jihan2 spoke softly.

“Try your best. Unlike me, you seem to have potential.”

In that instant, the air stopped.

Was I even breathing?

Though the night sky was dyed with fireworks, everything was quiet.

Jihan2 turned her gaze to the darkness.

When the fireworks disappeared,

only a calm darkness remained.

“Don’t run away. If you keep chasing stubbornly, regrets are always one step behind.”

Jihan2 in the dream looked at me one last time.

That gaze grew distant, faded.

Then…

A familiar sensation passed by.

A familiar voice whispered.

“Would you find me again next time?”

The moment that voice disappeared…

I opened my eyes.

The room was quiet.

Pale morning sunlight was streaming in through the window.

The sound of rain was gone.

The fireworks’ light had disappeared.

But…

I still felt damp.

I still felt myself swaying.

My head felt heavy.

Though I had woken up from the dream, it felt like I was still dreaming.

With half-closed eyes, I looked at the window.

The outside was turning pale with dawn.

Morning.

My body slowly responded.

I threw off the blanket and got out of bed.

The moment my bare feet touched the floor, a cold sensation seeped in.

Still half-asleep, I opened the door and stepped out into the hallway.

My body felt heavy, my head still blurry.

The afterimage of the dream seemed to linger.

In that state, I descended the stairs.

With each step, a dull sound echoed.

First, I needed to drink water.

I pushed open the living room door.

I felt the cold air.

I went straight to the fridge, opened it, and pulled out a bottle of water. After twisting off the cap, I took a sip, then absentmindedly looked around the living room.

There was something on the sofa.

A pile of blankets.

And someone was lying underneath.

I tilted my head.

No matter how I looked, it was definitely a person.

“Looks like someone drank again last night and came home late.”

I tsked to myself.

It must be my sister, definitely.

No one else would sleep on the sofa covered in blankets like this.

Though she said she’d come home early today, she ended up drinking again last night.

I put the cup down in the sink and went toward the curtains.

The living room was dim.

If I draw the curtains, she’ll definitely wake up.

“Hey, wake up.”

I roughly ran my hand through my hair and pulled the curtains wide open.

Morning sunlight streamed in.

The bright light filled the living room.

“Come on, wake up.”

I strode over and stood next to the sofa.

The blankets twitched.

But still didn’t move.

I sighed and grabbed the cover.

“Sister, how much did you drink last night—”

At that moment, a strange presence was felt.

A familiar yet unfamiliar scent.

That instant.

Who came out from under the blanket was…

Kim Dohyun.

Messy hair.

Quivering, closed eyelids.

A face still half-asleep.

…Kim Dohyun?

I froze.

My mind went blank.

I blinked several times at the person in front of me.

But he didn’t disappear.

It was really Kim Dohyun.

…Why?

Why are you here?

This isn’t your house?

It’s my house?

I looked down at Kim Dohyun, unable to continue speaking.

He was still asleep.

However, as the sunlight hit him, he furrowed his brow and slowly opened his eyes.

“…”

Our gazes met.

Once again, my mind went completely blank.

“…”

Is this…still a dream?

I remained frozen, staring at Kim Dohyun.

But he was looking at me with his usual nonchalant expression.

Slightly messy hair, still half-asleep look.

He was looking up at me with the blanket half-pulled away.

What…is this?

I instinctively turned my head.

And saw my reflection in the mirror, stunned even more.

…What? What’s this?

First, my clothes.

A loose top casually thrown on.

Straps that had fallen off my shoulder, slightly visible underwear.

I adjusted the straps quickly.

A familiar gym uniform top was on me.

When I moved my arm, the wide sleeve slid down.

It was too big and loose for me.

Ah, this…is Kim Dohyun’s gym uniform, right? Now he knows I wear it at home too.

Then, my hair.

Not just messy, but completely tangled and uneven.

And without any makeup, my face looked disheveled.

This…is it a dream?

I desperately tried to deny reality.

No, it can’t be.

Why is Kim Dohyun in my house?

And sleeping on the sofa?

And seeing me like this?

No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

…It has to be a dream.

Yeah, it must still be a dream.

Otherwise, how could this make any sense?

I tightly closed my eyes then opened them again.

But Kim Dohyun was still there.

And spoke indifferently.

“…What’s wrong?”

That moment.

I finally realized.

This…isn’t a dream.

Kim Dohyun’s voice was husky and lethargic.

Probably still half-asleep, it was low and soft. Because of that, it felt much closer than usual.

Like air settling on my skin.

A strangely alluring voice.

A type of charm my limited imagination couldn’t produce.

The moment I realized that,

Whoosh.

My face heated up instantly.

My cheeks were burning.

My mind went blank.

My hands and feet felt like they were shrinking.

And my heart started pounding abnormally loud.

This…what is this?

Why is he so close?

Why does it feel so real?

Why is it, why is it…

“Kyaaaaaaahh!!”

I couldn’t hold back and screamed.

---