Timeless Loves

Chapter 13: Unveiling Fate

Min-jun always thought love was something that grew over time—a slow, steady process. But with Eun-ji, it felt different. Inevitable. As if every fiber of his

Yet, every time he tried to piece together fragments of his past life, a searing pain tore through his skull. It was as if something—or someone—was blocking him from remembering. But one thing was clear: Eun-ji had been his once, and he'd lost her.

This time, he wouldn't let it happen.

The problem?

In this

A new presence had entered their world—Rey, a transfer student. Unlike Min-jun, who was cautious and reserved, Rey was charming, effortlessly captivating. Eun-ji laughed at his jokes, leaned into his conversations, and seemed at ease in a way Min-jun couldn't replicate. It hurt to watch.

Whenever Min-jun tried to approach her, the visions struck—sharp, blinding pain that left him gasping. Flashes of a past he couldn't fully grasp: a wedding ring on his finger, Eun-ji's tear-streaked face, ambulance sirens screaming through the night.

But he wouldn't let the agony stop him. If Rey was a variable that didn't exist in their first life, maybe he was the key to unraveling the truth.

One night, as Min-jun lingered outside the university library, he spotted Eun-ji and Rey studying together. She looked comfortable—too comfortable. His chest tightened. When he turned to leave, his eyes locked onto Rey's. There was something unsettling in his gaze—something knowing .

Rey knew .

And suddenly, the game changed.

Chapter 14: Fragmented Memories

The days after Rey's arrival felt like a test of Min-jun's patience. Eun-ji spent more time with Rey, and no matter how hard Min-jun tried to focus on classes, family, or even his own emotions, his mind kept drifting back to her.

The déjà vu worsened.

The pain morphed into a dull, constant throb at the back of his head, flaring whenever he got too close to the truth. Every attempt to reclaim his past felt like chasing smoke—intangible, slipping through his fingers just as he thought he'd grasped it.

But he knew one thing for certain: Rey wasn't ordinary.

One afternoon, Min-jun found himself wandering the campus grounds alone. He needed air, space to think. His mind was a storm of fragmented memories and emotions he couldn't process.

That's when he saw them.

Eun-ji and Rey stood near the fountain, bathed in golden sunset light. She laughed—a genuine, carefree sound Min-jun hadn't heard in years. It twisted his heart. But worse was the way Rey looked at her, the way he leaned in slightly, as if sharing a secret Min-jun wasn't privy to.

For the first time, doubt crept in.

Did Eun-ji truly love him in their past life? Or had he forced that belief onto her?

Before he could stop it, another wave of pain crashed over him—sharp, unbearable. He stumbled, gripping his head as the world blurred. This time, the vision was fleeting but vivid:

A hospital room.

Eun-ji's hand in his.

A whispered promise.

Then—

A voice. Soft but firm, cutting through the fog.

"You shouldn't remember, Min-jun."

Min-jun's eyes snapped open. Rey stood in front of him, his expression unreadable.

For a moment, neither spoke. The air between them crackled with unspoken words. Then Rey smiled—a knowing, haunting grin that had plagued Min-jun since their first meeting.

Min-jun's blood ran cold.

Rey knew .

And just like that, the rules of the game shifted.

Chapter 15: Threads of Fate

Min-jun once believed that if he clung tightly enough, if he wanted it fiercely enough, the memories would flood back. But now, he realized fate wasn't that simple.

The harder he tried to remember, the more elusive it became.

The pain was relentless, an invisible force keeping the truth just out of reach. It felt like the universe itself was warning him—some things weren't meant to be remembered.

But the worst part wasn't the pain.

It was Eun-ji.

She was slipping away. Every moment she spent with Rey—every laugh, every stolen glance—felt like watching her being rewritten before his eyes. The Eun-ji he knew, the one he'd loved, was fading.

Or maybe… she'd never truly been his to begin with.

One night, Min-jun found himself outside the university's music building. He hadn't planned to come here, but his feet had carried him, as if they knew something his mind didn't.

Through the open door, he saw Eun-ji sitting at a grand piano, her fingers dancing effortlessly across the keys. The melody was hauntingly familiar—a song from his past life.

His breath caught.

How could she remember?

Before he could step inside, Rey appeared beside her. He leaned in, whispering something that made her smile—a soft, secret smile. Min-jun's chest tightened, déjà vu slamming into him like a tidal wave.

It wasn't just Eun-ji.

Rey was there too.

His head throbbed as another vision surfaced, clearer than before:

A stormy night.

A desperate chase.

Eun-ji's tear-streaked face.

And Rey—watching from the shadows.

The realization hit Min-jun like lightning.

Rey wasn't just a new face in this life.

He'd been there before.

And he'd played a role in Eun-ji's fate.

The question was—had he come to change it?

Or repeat it?

Chapter 16: Echoes of the Past

Eun-ji had always believed in living in the present, but lately, she felt haunted by a past she couldn't recall. Moments—brief and fragmented—would surge with emotions she couldn't explain, waves of longing that clung to her like a bittersweet melody.

And more often than not, those feelings arose when she was with Min-jun.

She couldn't explain it, but there was something about him that made her heart ache. He looked at her with an intensity that unnerved her, as if he held answers to questions she'd never dared to ask. Yet, she barely knew him—or so she told herself.

Then there was Rey.

Warm. Uncomplicated.

Rey made her laugh, made her feel understood. With him, there were no tangled emotions, no unspoken burdens pressing down. Everything was easy. For the first time, Eun-ji wanted easy.

But fate isn't kind.

Lately, Min-jun had been acting strange. His presence lingered in every corner of her life—watching, waiting. His gaze carried a silent desperation, as if he were fighting a battle only he could see. It frightened her.

Then, one night, everything changed.

Eun-ji was walking home from a late study session when she saw him. Min-jun stood under a flickering streetlamp, his expression unreadable. Shadows stretched around him, making him look almost ethereal—unreal.

"Eun-ji," he called, his voice rough yet fragile.

She hesitated, then approached. "Min-jun? What are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you," he admitted. "To make sure you're safe."

"Safe from what?"

For a moment, he didn't answer. Then, with a heavy sigh, he reached into his pocket and pulled out something small—a simple, elegant band.

Eun-ji's breath hitched.

That ring.

The world shifted. Suddenly, she wasn't standing under the dim streetlight anymore. She was elsewhere. A flash of white fabric. A whispered promise in the dark. A hand slipping from hers.

She gasped, stumbling back as reality crashed down.

"You remember, don't you?" Min-jun's voice was barely a whisper, but it held the weight of a thousand unspoken words.

Eun-ji stared at him, her heart racing. "Who… who are you to me?"

Min-jun swallowed hard. "Someone who once vowed to protect you. Even if it meant losing you."

And in that moment, Eun-ji knew—

Their story hadn't begun.

It had continued .

And Rey… he was part of it too.