Nari blinked against the soft morning light filtering through the blinds. The room smelled faintly of laundry detergent and coffee, mixed with something slightly fruity—body spray, maybe. Her legs were tangled in a blanket covered in stars and planets.
And something felt… weirdly familiar, yet utterly foreign. She stretched and glanced around the small dorm room. A laptop sat on a desk cluttered with notebooks and sticky notes, posters of indie bands lined the walls, and clothes were strewn across a chair in a way that screamed "college chaos."
Then she noticed the half-eaten sandwich on the desk—and the faint, unmistakable scent of someone else: a man's cologne.
Her eyes widened. Oh no… wait… boyfriend? She has a boyfriend?
Before she could process further, the bed shifted beside her. A pair of eyes blinked open, dark and amused.
"Morning," said a familiar-yet-unfamiliar voice. "You hogged the blanket again."
Nari froze, heart hammering. She had no memory of him, no idea of what the relationship was supposed to feel like—but she nodded quickly, giving him a polite smile. Okay… calm. Observe. Adapt.
She swung her legs off the bed, cautiously stepping onto the cold dorm floor. Her wrist tingled—the charm bracelet—heart, star, white flower. Always there. A comforting anchor in a life she was only just waking into.
After a rushed breakfast of cereal and toast, she grabbed a backpack she didn't remember packing. Outside, the campus was alive: students walking in pairs, laughing, carrying backpacks overflowing with books. The faint hum of scooters and distant construction mixed with chatter.
Nari's steps faltered as she approached the lecture hall. Inside, students filed in, laughing and settling in. She picked a seat near a group of girls chatting animatedly. One glanced at her with a bright smile.
"Hey, you okay?" she asked. "You look… a little lost."
Nari hesitated. "Yeah… I'm fine. Just… finding my bearings."
They laughed gently. "You're new to this class, huh? Don't worry—we've got your back."
The professor arrived and launched into the lecture on media studies. Nari followed along, scribbling notes she didn't fully understand. Then came the first participation check:
"Alright, Hana—what's the main difference between synchronous and asynchronous media?"
Nari froze. Hana? Wait… that's… my name? She blinked at the professor, the room now buzzing with expectant eyes.
"I… uh…" she stammered. Her notebook went blank in her head. Okay, Nari, play it cool. Ask for help.
One of her friends nudged her lightly. "You got this. Just… remember what we said last night in the study chat."
Nari swallowed and whispered a hesitant answer, just enough to avoid embarrassment. The professor moved on, nodding. Nari scribbled frantically in her notes: Hana. Her new identity, solidified by someone else's voice.
Class ended, and Nari followed her friends across campus. They introduced her to lunchtime spots, explained dorm rules she didn't remember, and guided her gently through conversations she couldn't quite follow alone.
"Hey, Hana, come sit with us!" one friend called. Nari smiled and joined, listening carefully to the names of the others, storing them like precious data in her mind.
The boyfriend appeared later, catching up with her after class. He waved casually. "You coming to the library later, Hana?"
Nari froze again but nodded, trusting the cues from her friends. Yes. I'm Hana here. Got it.
Afternoon passed in a mix of study sessions, minor cafeteria disasters—Nari accidentally poured sugar instead of salt into a friend's coffee—and small giggles over dorm room antics. She laughed at herself, at her clumsiness, letting the brightness of Nari shine through despite the confusion.
The campus felt alive around her: leaves rustling, students playing frisbee, distant music from an outdoor stage. Even small, mundane things—like struggling with a locker combination or learning a class shortcut—felt vivid, grounding.
Evening came quickly. Nari returned to her dorm, exhausted but exhilarated. She and her friends had walked back, chatting about classes, professors, and weekend plans. The boyfriend lingered outside the door, waving before retreating. Nari exhaled, brushing hair from her face, feeling the bracelet's warmth pulsing gently. Heart, star, white flower. Always there.
She noticed the white flower again, peeking out from a small patch of grass near the dorm building, swaying softly in the cool night air. Kneeling, Nari brushed her fingers against the petals, smiling softly.
Another life. Another chance.
She reflected on the day: the chaos, the laughter, the confusion of names, the comfort of friends, and the strange, sudden presence of a boyfriend she didn't remember. No glimpse of Hanbin this time. No spark. Just another lesson in navigating a life she had no memory of.
Nari tucked the flower into her thoughts and stood, taking a deep breath. The dorm smelled faintly of snacks, laundry, and the city beyond. Lights twinkled across the campus, students laughing in the distance, cars passing softly on the road.
Next life, she whispered, brushing her fingers across the bracelet. Next life… maybe closer. Maybe a step forward.