40

                                    

                                          
The air buzzed with the energy of a fresh semester, the university campus alive with the shuffle of students bundled in thick coats and scarves, their breath visible in the crisp January air. The low sun cast a pale glow over the buildings, and the occasional crunch of frost underfoot mixed with the hum of conversations about courses, clubs, and catching up after the break.
It was the start of something new, but the season's stillness seemed to echo the quiet anticipation in the air. Students hurried along, their laughter and chatter occasionally punctuated by the clang of lockers or the dull thud of heavy boots against the tiled floor. Winter might have frozen the world outside, but within these halls, life moved forward, full of promise.
Jinhee sat in the quiet music room, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of a wooden desk as sunlight filtered softly through tall windows. The piano in the corner drew her gaze, standing silently like an old companion. It all felt oddly familiar, like the start of the previous semester. But there was a difference she couldn't quite put into words — something intangible yet undeniable.  
Last semester, she had been a little lost, unsure of her place in her world of music, friends, and aspirations. But now, her chest felt lighter, her thoughts less scattered. Memories of Busan and Jihoon lingered, like a melody that wouldn't leave her mind. As she stared at the piano, she wondered how much things had changed, how much she had changed.  
She sighed faintly and closed her eyes for a moment, letting the faint noises from the hallway fill her mind.  
That's when she felt it — warm hands covering her eyes gently but firmly, blocking her view. A familiar scent enveloped her, sparking recognition before the playful voice even spoke.
"Guess who?" came the tender, teasing whisper.
Jinhee froze for the briefest moment before a smile tugged at her lips. She reached up instinctively, her fingers brushing over his hands.
"Jihoon," she said, her voice barely above a whisper but filled with certainty.  
His laugh was soft and warm, like sunlight breaking through clouds. He let his hands fall, stepping around the piano to sit beside her. His presence filled the room effortlessly, as if he belonged there with her.  
"You're too good at this game," he teased, leaning his elbows on his knees as he glanced at her. "Next time, I'll have to be sneakier."  
Jinhee chuckled, turning her body slightly to face him. "It's hard to miss you, Jihoon. You have a way of... standing out."  
He grinned at her comment, his gaze flickering to the piano. "What were you thinking about?"  
She hesitated, looking down at her hands. "Just... how different everything feels now. This room, this semester — it's the same, but it's not, you know?"  
Jihoon nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I get it. Sometimes, change sneaks up on you, and you only realize it when you stop to look back."  
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the music room felt like its own little world, separated from the bustling campus outside.  
Jihoon tilted his head slightly, his playful side surfacing again. "You know, since we're here, I think you owe me a song."  
Jinhee raised an eyebrow. "Oh, do I?"  
"Yeap," he declared, his grin widening. "Call it my welcome-back gift."  
Jinhee laughed, rolling her eyes, but she moved toward the piano nonetheless. As her fingers brushed over the keys, she glanced at Jihoon, who was watching her with an easy, relaxed smile. The moment felt light, yet underneath it was the unspoken weight of everything they had shared and everything yet to come.