✓ IF YOU STAY | HEESEUNG

21 - A New World For Us

In the hazy recollections of my past life, I often found myself longing for something I couldn't quite grasp. 

I yearned for a world where our love could flourish without the burden of societal expectations or the haunting shadows of missed chances.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the chance I had asked for, the opportunity to know you better and love you more deeply than ever before.

Beads of sweat dripped down Y/N's forehead before her eyes flickered open and she let out a gasp that sounded almost like a sob. She didn't understand why a mere dream managed to make her cry and tremble like this. These vivid recollections of a life that wasn't hers haunted her night after night. They felt so real as if she had lived those moments herself.

She lay back on her bed, trying to steady her racing heart while wiping her tears with the back of her hand. Fragments of the dream still danced in her mind and she felt as though she was transported to a world, living and breathing as the girl in her dream, feeling the love, the pain, and the bittersweet memories of her lover. 

"Were you surprised?" She whispered to Danbi, her dog, and he nuzzled her hand in response. "I'm sorry. human is just going through some strange dreams." He only responded with a gentle wag of his tail, as if he understood more than she could express.

It was six in the morning. She brushed her hair off her face and slipped on her slippers before she walked to the kitchen and chugged in a cup of cold water. She filled Danbi's water bowl and watched as he lapped up the water contentedly.

"I read too much," Y/N murmured to Danbi, who tilted his head as if in agreement. "Maybe it's all those historical novels and documentaries I've been devouring before bed. They say your dreams are influenced by what you consume, right?" She tried to rationalize her dreams, hoping that a logical explanation would ease her anxiety. It at least brought some comfort to her as she poured the hot coffee into her favorite mug, one that had been a gift from her grandmother.

She sat there, watching the steam rise from the coffee, lost in thought when the sound of a loud thud startled her. She frowned, silently walking to the door before she carefully opened it, only to find a little kid along with a ton of boxes in front of the door across from hers. He looked no older than five or six, with wide, curious eyes and a little frog bag hanging from his tiny shoulder.

"Hey there," Y/N said gently, crouching down to be at the child's eye level. "Are you okay? Where's your mommy or daddy?" She watched as he pointed at the door across from hers and it seemed the neighbors were indeed moving. Then he opened his mouth again, and this time, his words were more coherent.

"Mommy is busy and daddy is busy," He explained, his voice soft and innocent. "I wanted to see what's inside these boxes, but then they fell."

Y/N couldn't help but smile and before she knew it, Danbi had joined her at the door, sniffing the air curiously as if he, too, wanted to understand what was happening. He started sniffing curiously at his little frog bag before Y/N gently picked up the bag and handed it to the child. "Let's wait for your mommy and daddy, okay?" She ruffled his hair and watched him as he tried to hide a smile behind his small hand.

Minutes later, the sound of hurried footsteps approached Y/N's door, and she turned to see a worried-looking man rush in, clearly the child's father. But when she stared at him, really stared, she felt her heart skip a beat. It was the same man she had seen in her dream and it made her lose her breath for a moment. The recognition was undeniable, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

"Thank you so much for looking after him," He panted, carefully carrying his son in his arms while smiling at Danbi who wagged his tail happily. "I apologize for the trouble. I know it's too early for moving in, but we needed to finish as quickly as possible." Y/N didn't know what to say or do. 

She was in her pajamas, standing in front of the man in her dream as if he literally walked out of it, and it appeared he was going to be her neighbor. And he was married, with a son at that. What was the right thing to say in a situation like this?

"It's no trouble at all." She managed to say before she carried Danbi inside her apartment and closed the door on the chaos of moving boxes and a situation that felt eerily surreal. As she set Danbi down, she leaned against the door, trying to collect her thoughts and make sense of whatever was happening. Was it just the universe playing tricks on her? She had never believed in fate or destiny, but this encounter felt like more than just a coincidence.

It was time to get ready for work so she pushed those thoughts and feelings aside and focused on her daily routine. She showered, dressed, and put on her favorite perfume but as she stepped out of her apartment and locked the door, she couldn't help but cast a glance in the direction of the neighboring unit. 

So, with a small bag of freshly made rice cakes in hand, Y/N approached their door. She hesitated for a moment before she raised her hand to knock, yet the door opened and he stood there, surprised and curious, just as he had on that fateful morning when they first met. The two of them bowed politely at each other and when they raised their heads, their eyes locked for a second or two before he looked away and chuckled nervously, running a hand through his hair. 

"I apologize for this morning, I was quite surprised so I just... I'm sorry." She bowed again before she handed him the bag with the freshly made rice cakes. "Rice... rice cakes."

His eyes softened and a warm smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Thank you. That's very kind of y-" Before they knew it, his son ran to them, giggling and curious about the newcomer. "Minjae, say hi to the lady." Y/N didn't know why but she felt her heart skip. That wasn't good, that man was married and had a child.

Minjae, still full of excitement, greeted Y/N with a cheerful "Hi!" and a wave.

"Hello, Minjae!" Y/N replied, crouching down to his level. "I brought you some rice cakes. Do you like them?" When his eyes sparkled with joy and he nodded, she couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart. "Is your wife home? I'd like to say hello to her as well."

"Oh," The man put his hand on the back of his neck and it made Y/N gulp. There's no way. "I'm actually a single father." The way he whispered the words caught Y/N off guard. She didn't know why she expected otherwise, but now, everything made sense—the absent mention of a wife, the way he had introduced himself as Minjae's father.

"I'm so sorry," She looked away, fingering with her fingers while trying to find the right thing to say. "Have a good evening." But she didn't know what to do so she just bowed and rushed to her apartment and quickly closed the door behind her. 

She slightly hit her head and let out a sigh, watching Danbi curiously as he tilted his head inquisitively. "I don't know what's gotten into me, Danbi. I must have gone mad. He's just a neighbor, a single father, and I need to get a grip on my emotions. Right? I can't let my imagination run wild like this."