Aanya wasn’t planning on falling in love.
She wasn’t even planning on leaving home.
But there she was—sitting cross-legged on her bedroom floor, surrounded by half-packed suitcases and clothes she didn’t even remember owning, holding a letter that wasn’t meant for her.
It had slipped out of an old book while she was cleaning. Just one thin envelope, slightly yellowed, her mom’s handwriting soft and familiar on the front.
Except the name written wasn’t hers.
It was someone else’s.
Someone in Seoul
Anaya had stared at it for a long time, her fingers hovering over the seal like it might burn her. Her mom had passed away two years ago. There were still so many things she didn’t understand about her—little pieces of her life that never quite made sense.
And now, this.
A letter. A secret. A whole part of her mom’s life hidden across the world.
That was how it started.
Not because Aanya believed in love stories.
But because she needed answers.
The airport felt unreal.
Too bright, too loud, too final.
As the plane lifted into the sky, Aanya pressed her forehead against the window, watching the city shrink beneath her. Her heart felt heavy, but not in a sad way—more like something was about to change, and she couldn’t stop it.
Seoul was waiting.
And so were the answers.
The school was bigger than she expected.
Way bigger.
Modern glass buildings, students speaking in a mix of languages, laughter echoing across the courtyard—it felt like stepping into a completely different world.
Aanya adjusted the strap of her bag, trying not to look as lost as she felt.
“New student?”
The voice came from beside her.
She turned—and for a second, everything else kind of… paused.
He had soft black hair that fell slightly into his eyes, and when he smiled, it was the kind that felt warm without trying too hard.
“I’m Hyunwoo,” he said, holding out his hand
Anaya blinked, then quickly shook it. “Aanya.”
“First day?”
“Is it that obvious?”
He laughed softly. “A little.”
There was something about him—calm, easy, like she didn’t have to overthink every word.
And for the first time since she arrived, Aanya felt like maybe she’d be okay.
But then—
“Careful. You’ll get lost following him.”
A new voice cut in.
Different.
Sharper.
Anaya turned again.
This time, her breath caught for a completely different reason.
He was leaning against the wall like he owned the place—dark hair, intense eyes, expression unreadable. There was something about him that felt… dangerous. Not in a bad way. Just—
Complicated.
“Taeyang,” he said, like that explained everything.
It didn’t.
But somehow, it still felt like it did.
That night, Aanya sat on the rooftop of her dorm, the city lights glowing beneath her.
The letter rested in her lap.
She hadn’t opened it yet.
Her phone buzzed in her hand—a new message.
From an unknown number.
“If you found the letter… you’re already too late.”
Aanya’s heart dropped.
Suddenly, this wasn’t just about her mom anymore.
And whatever story she thought she was chasing—
It was about to chase her back.
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