The next day, Aiden carried the mysterious book in his bag, though he hadn't yet dared to open it fully. Every time he touched its cover, his chest tightened, as if something inside him was warning—no, preparing—him for what was to come.
Classes ended quickly, but instead of going home, he wandered toward the town park. The rain from yesterday had left the grass fresh and the air crisp. At the center of the park stood a lone cherry blossom tree, already budding though spring had barely begun.
Aiden paused. His dream flashed again—the girl standing under a tree just like this. His footsteps grew hesitant, yet unstoppable, carrying him closer.
And then he saw her.
A girl stood beneath the tree, her hair swaying in the breeze, her uniform neat yet glowing under the fading light of dusk. She wasn't reading, she wasn't even moving—just gazing up at the sky as petals drifted around her.
Aiden's breath caught. It was her. The girl from his dreams.
As if sensing his presence, she turned. Their eyes met. In that instant, time itself seemed to shatter.
Her lips parted slightly, a look of recognition flashing in her gaze. "You…" she whispered, as though the word had been waiting centuries to escape.
Aiden's heart thundered. He wanted to speak, to ask, to demand answers, but all he managed was a trembling, "Do… do I know you?"
The girl smiled gently, though her eyes shimmered with something deeper—sorrow, relief, longing. "We've met before… many times."
Before Aiden could reply, the wind picked up, scattering petals between them. For a moment, it felt like the world had disappeared, leaving only the two of them suspended in eternity.
But just as quickly as the connection sparked, the girl stepped back. "It's not time yet," she said softly. "But soon… you'll remember everything."
And then, without another word, she walked away, her figure disappearing among the trees.
Aiden stood frozen, his chest aching with questions he couldn't voice. All he knew was this: the girl wasn't just a dream. She was real. And somehow, their fates were already bound together—across lifetimes.