Chapter 2 – One year Before
1567 Words
Morning sunlight slipped quietly through the curtains of Elira Velmon’s bedroom, painting soft golden lines across the walls. The room was neat but cozy, decorated with books, small plants, and photographs of her family.
Elira shifted under her blanket, groaning softly as the sunlight reached her face.
Then suddenly—
“Elira! Wake up! Come downstairs for breakfast!”
Her mother’s voice echoed from downstairs.
Elira slowly opened her blue eyes and stared at the ceiling for a moment.
“Already morning…?” she mumbled sleepily.
She sat up, pushing her blonde hair away from her face. Her alarm clock read 7:12 AM.
Today wasn’t a normal day.
Today… she was leaving Germany.
“Right… the flight to South Korea,” she whispered.
She sighed, dragging herself out of bed.
Downstairs.
The smell of pancakes and coffee filled the kitchen.
Her little brother Leon was already sitting at the table, swinging his legs while eating cereal.
The moment he saw Elira, he grinned.
“Finally! The sleepy princess wakes up!”
Elira rolled her eyes.
“Oh please, Leon. You woke up at six like a grandma.”
Their mother laughed while placing a plate of pancakes in front of Elira.
“Stop teasing your sister,” she said gently.
Elira smiled and started eating.
Her father folded his newspaper and looked at her.
“So… today’s the big day.”
Elira nodded slowly.
“Yeah. One year in South Korea… it still feels unreal.”
Leon frowned suddenly.
“So you’re really leaving?”
Elira leaned over and ruffled his hair.
“I’m not disappearing forever, dummy. I’ll come back.
“But what if you find cooler siblings there?” he said dramatically.
Elira gasped.
“Impossible. No one is more annoying than you.”
Everyone laughed.
But beneath the laughter, there was a quiet sadness.
After breakfast, Elira picked up her suitcase near the door.
Her mother hugged her tightly.
“Take care of yourself.”
Elira“I will.”
Her father placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Call us when you land.”
Leon crossed his arms.
“You better bring me Korean snacks.”
Elira smiled.
“Deal.”
She waved goodbye and stepped into the car.
None of them knew…
that this trip would change everything.
Meanwhile – Somewhere Above the Pacific.
A private jet moved silently through the clouds.
Inside, a tall man sat by the window, flipping through documents.
His name was Kang Jae-Min.
Cold, sharp, and powerful — the kind of man people whispered about in business circles.
Some called him a genius.
Others called him dangerous.
Jae-Min closed the file and leaned back.
His assistant spoke from the seat across from him.
“Sir, the meeting in Tokyo went very well. The investors agreed.”
“Good,” Jae-Min said calmly.
“We will land in Seoul in three hours.”
Jae-Min looked out the window.
Clouds stretched endlessly beneath them.
But for some reason…
a strange feeling passed through his chest.
Like something important was waiting for him.
He closed his eyes.
Incheon Airport – South Korea
Crowds moved through the huge airport like flowing rivers.
Elira stepped out of the arrival gate, dragging her suitcase.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Wow… Korea.”
She looked around in awe.
At the same moment—
Another gate opened.
Incheon Airport – South Korea
Crowds moved through the huge airport like flowing rivers.
Elira stepped out of the arrival gate, dragging her suitcase.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Wow… Korea.”
She looked around in awe.
At the same moment—
Another gate opened.
Kang Jae-Min walked out, surrounded by two bodyguards.
People stepped aside instinctively.
His aura alone made others nervous.
Elira was checking her phone while walking.
Jae-Min walked straight ahead.
For a brief moment—
They passed right by each other.
Only a few steps apart.
But neither of them looked up.
Fate had placed them in the same place…
yet they remained strangers. walked out, surrounded by two bodyguards.
People stepped aside instinctively.
His aura alone made others nervous.
Elira was checking her phone while walking.
Jae-Min walked straight ahead.
For a brief moment—
They passed right by each other.
Only a few steps apart.
But neither of them looked up.
Fate had placed them in the same place…
yet they remained strangers.
Outside the Airport
“Elira!!!”
A girl ran toward her waving excitedly.
Elira gasped.
“Yuna!!”
The two girls hugged tightly.
Yuna laughed.
“You finally came!”
“Of course! I promised.”
Yuna grabbed her suitcase.
“Come on, my apartment is nearby.”
They left the airport together.
Behind them, black luxury cars arrived.
Jae-Min stepped inside one silently.
“Home,” he told the driver.
Jae-Min’s House
The mansion gates opened slowly.
The car stopped.
Jae-Min stepped out and walked inside.
His mother stood in the hallway waiting.
“Jae-Min, you’re back.”
He nodded slightly.
“Yes.”
She smiled warmly and hugged him.
“You should rest. You must be tired.”
Jae-min“I’m fine.”
But he still walked upstairs to his room.
The moment he entered, he loosened his tie and lay on the bed.
He closed his eyes.
And suddenly—
A girl appeared in his mind.
She was laughing softly.
Her hair moved in the wind.
Jae-Min opened his eyes again.
The room was silent.
He stared at the ceiling.
I'll find you no matter what!! Jae-Min said this while there is a small smile in his face but it was not the soft smile but some strange smile.
The Next Morning – University
Sunlight filled the campus.
Students walked everywhere.
Elira stepped through the university gates with Yuna.
“This place is huge!” Elira said.
Yuna laughed.
“Of course! It's one of the best universities in Seoul.”
Inside the classroom, Elira sat beside her.
Students chatted excitedly.
“This is going to be fun,” Elira said.
Yuna smiled.
But suddenly her phone rang.
She answered.
“Yes, Mom?”
Pause.
“Oh! Tonight?”
She laughed.
“Okay, okay, I’ll come!”
She hung up.
Elira raised an eyebrow.
“What happened?”
Yuna grinned.
“My brother’s birthday party tonight.”
“Oh.”
“You’re coming with me.”
Elira shook her head quickly.
“No way.”
“Why not??”
“I don’t know anyone!”
Yuna crossed her arms.
“You know me.”
Elira sighed.
“…Fine.”
Yuna cheered.
“Yesss!”
Meanwhile – Same University
A black car stopped near the business building.
Kang Jae-Min stepped out.
Students whispered immediately.
“Who is that?”
“He looks scary but handsome…”
Inside the conference hall, professors greeted him respectfully.
“Mr. Kang, thank you for coming.”
“I’m here to discuss the funding program,” he replied.
Later That Evening – Preparing for the Party
Yuna opened her closet dramatically.
“Pick a dress!”
Elira blinked.
“Why do you have so many??”
“Because fashion matters.”
After searching, Elira chose a deep reddish dress.
It hugged her body perfectly.
One side had a high slit revealing her leg.
Yuna stared.
“…Okay wow.”
“Later That Evening – Preparing for the Party
Yuna opened her closet dramatically.
“Pick a dress!”
Elira blinked.
“Why do you have so many??”
“Because fashion matters.”
After searching, Elira chose a deep reddish dress.
It hugged her body perfectly.
One side had a high slit revealing her leg.
Yuna stared.
“…Okay wow.”
“What?”
“You look dangerous.”
Elira laughed nervously.
“You look dangerous.”
Elira laughed nervously.
Night – Birthday Party
Music filled the luxurious hall.
People laughed and chatted.
At a corner table, Kang Jae-Min sat calmly with a glass of wine.
Beside him was Yuna’s brother — Han Jisoo.
“Thanks for coming,” Jisoo said.
“Of course,” Jae-Min replied.
Then suddenly—
The door opened.
Everyone glanced toward the entrance.
Elira stepped inside.
The red dress shimmered under the lights.
Her Blonde hair framed her face beautifully.
For a moment…
the room seemed quieter.
Jae-Min lifted his eyes toward the door.
His gaze landed on her.
He watched her silently.
But his expression barely changed.
Meanwhile, Yuna grabbed Elira’s hand.
“Come on!”
She dragged her toward their table.
“Oppa!” Yuna said to her brother.
“This is my best friend, Elira.”
Elira bowed slightly.
“Nice to meet you.”
Jisoo smiled.
“Welcome.”
Then Yuna turned to Jae-Min.
“And this is my cousin—”
Elira looked up nervously.
Their eyes met.
For a moment…
Jae-Min’s heartbeat slowed.
He studied her face.
The same laughter.
The same presence.
The girl he wants,the girl he's been looking for so many years.
Inside his mind, he says
So… you finally I found you, now I'll never ever lose you.
But outwardly he only smirked slightly.
Very quietly, under his breath, he murmured—
“Cute.”
- Writer
