Nari woke with a soft groan, the sun filtering through the blinds of a small dorm room. Her body felt lighter this time, more familiar, though the surroundings were completely new. Posters of K-pop bands and travel destinations covered the walls, a desk piled with textbooks and a half-empty cup of instant coffee sat by the window. She stretched, feeling the slight ache of sleeping on a dorm bed, and noticed the bracelet wasn't on her wrist this time. Right. Not this life.
She swung her legs off the bed and padded over to the desk, scanning the sticky notes scattered there. One caught her eye: "Don't forget the study group at 10, Mina."
Mina, she murmured. That would be her name here. It felt odd, but the internal "Nari" was quietly amused. Mina, okay… got it.
She threw on comfortable clothes, grabbed her backpack, and headed toward the campus cafeteria. The air outside was crisp, alive with the bustle of students. The dorm smelled faintly of coffee and toast, and she breathed in deeply, savoring the sensory anchors that grounded her in this life.
Entering the cafeteria, she spotted a small group gathered near the back, laughing over coffee cups and notebooks. And there he was. Hanbin.
Nari froze for a split second, heart lurching, before forcing herself to walk naturally. Act normal. Chat normal. Don't rush it.
"Hey, Mina!" called one of the friends, waving her over. "We saved you a seat!"
Mina—I mean, Nari—smiled and joined them, noting Hanbin's presence nearby but keeping her posture casual. Hanbin's eyes flickered toward her once, a brief acknowledgment, before returning to the conversation he was having with another friend.
They chatted lightly—assignments, weekend plans, professors' quirks. Nari let herself enjoy the small, easy moments, slipping seamlessly into the role of Mina while internally cataloging every detail about Hanbin: the way he laughed, the tilt of his head when he smiled, the rhythm of his gestures.
After breakfast, the group headed to the lecture hall together. Hanbin sat near the middle, and Nari strategically took a seat nearby—not too close, not too far. The lecture was long, a tangle of notes and discussions, but Nari followed along, scribbling diligently while also keeping an eye on him in fleeting glimpses.
During a break, she joined him at the campus coffee stand.
"Hey, Hanbin," she said casually. "Did you manage to finish that assignment?"
He glanced at her, eyebrows raised in mild surprise. "Oh… hey, Mina. Uh… yeah, finally. Took me forever."
Nari laughed softly, stirring her coffee. "I hear you. I stayed up until midnight too. I swear, some of these professors live to torture us."
Hanbin chuckled, leaning slightly closer. "Right? At least we're not alone in this suffering, I guess."
A simple exchange, light, playful—but internally, Nari felt a thrill. This is different from the other lives. I can talk to him, see him in real life… but still not give the bracelet. She glanced down at her wrist, feeling its absence strangely grounding. She wasn't ready. Not yet.
Classes ended, and the study group reconvened in the library. Nari followed quietly, listening as Hanbin and the others debated their project topics. She offered input, laughed at jokes, and felt herself slowly adapting to the role of Mina.
In one quiet moment, she leaned over a textbook next to Hanbin.
"Hey… do you think this research paper could use more sources?" she asked, keeping her tone light.
Hanbin looked up, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah, probably. You're usually right about these things, Mina."
Nari's heart fluttered at the use of her new name, at the familiarity of his tone. She nodded casually, returning to the textbook, all the while cataloging the subtle expressions he made, the way his eyes lit up when he solved a problem.
After the library, the friends decided to grab dinner together at a small café near campus. Nari helped reserve a table and order drinks, feeling the easy rhythm of social interactions. Hanbin sat across from her, his presence warm and natural, the tension of previous lives eased by the casual setting.
The conversation flowed—plans for the weekend, a funny incident with a professor, complaints about campus Wi-Fi. Nari felt bright and at ease, allowing herself to enjoy the moment while still holding onto the secret of her mission: finding him across lifetimes, with the charm bracelet always close to her heart.
At one point, Hanbin's hand brushed against the edge of her notebook. A spark of recognition—subtle, unspoken, unacknowledged. Nari's pulse quickened, but she kept her composure, sipping her tea and laughing at a joke another friend made.
Not yet, she reminded herself. It's not the right time to give it back. This life is for observing, learning, and connecting without pushing.
Evening settled softly over campus. Nari returned to the dorm, tired but content, the sounds of city life humming outside the window. She passed a small patch of grass near the dorm entrance, and there it was: a single white flower swaying gently in the night breeze.
She crouched, brushing her fingers lightly over the petals. A smile tugged at her lips. Another life. Another chance.
Her heart felt full, not with despair or longing, but with quiet anticipation. She had touched this life gently, seen him in a new light, shared laughter and conversation, and still had a chance to move closer in the lives to come.
Standing, she brushed her hands together and walked toward the dorm, feeling the warmth of the day lingering in her chest. The flower swayed in the breeze, resilient and small, marking the subtle passage of another life—this one bright, familiar, and full of promise.