CHAPTER 12
“……”
After a moment of thought, I shook my head.
“No. I haven’t lost anything like that.”
I answered as calmly as possible.
“And thank you for the praise, but I think it’s still more than I deserve.”
Jeong Tae-sung studied me for a moment, then let out a light laugh.
“Is that so? Hmm, maybe I was too quick to assume. I might have made you uncomfortable. My apologies.”
He retrieved the photo and added,
“I care about my students quite a bit. If you say no, I won’t push any further.”
From that alone, I understood.
‘He’s certain it’s me.’
But since I clearly didn’t want to meet Jung Do-hyun, he would pretend not to know.
‘It’s still too soon.’
Even in my past life, Jung Do-hyun was someone I could never quite read.
If possible, I wanted to meet him after things were more settled.
Just seeing his photo made me react like this. If I met him in person, I would surely do something suspicious out of shock.
‘It’s not time to reconnect with people from my previous life yet.’
With that thought, my decision became firm.
“Then rest well during the break. I’ll see you next semester.”
“Yes. Thank you for the tea.”
I bowed and left the office.
Click.
The moment the door closed, I leaned back against the wall and exhaled deeply.
Only then did my tension fade and my thoughts clear.
‘The preparations are complete.’
Now I would be taking the same classes as Moon Arin.
I could observe her up close.
Just thinking about facing that face again—the one that once made my blood boil—made my heart pound heavily.
But soon, I clenched my teeth and smiled.
I had promised myself I wouldn’t run away anymore.
I would face her.
I tightened my fist.
‘This is where it begins, Moon Arin.’
****
“Oh my.”
The shelter worker looked pleased.
“You’ll take this one?”
“Yes.”
“How wonderful. No one was asking about her, and the announcement period was almost over.”
I knew.
In my previous life, she had been adopted miraculously on the last day.
I was lucky I remembered the timing. I searched nearby shelters until I found her.
“Come this way.”
The worker walked ahead cheerfully.
“Have you raised a cat before?”
“…Yes.”
“So this would be your second?”
“No. I’m alone now.”
“Oh, I see.”
After a short conversation, we stopped in front of a cage.
“This is her.”
The worker opened the door.
Inside, a yellow tabby cat was curled up tightly and flinched.
“She’s a bit timid. It might take time for her to adjust.”
“That’s fine.”
It didn’t matter.
The moment I saw her, my throat tightened painfully.
Something hot lodged in my chest.
“…Nuri.”
At the sound of her name, the small cat slowly lifted her head.
It was her.
The young version of the cat I knew.
—They said she might die tomorrow. I felt bad, so I brought her home.
Moon Arin’s casual voice echoed in my memory.
It had been such a sudden adoption. I was so surprised back then.
—Look at her. Isn’t she adorable?
Moon Arin had smiled brightly.
But once Nuri grew out of her kitten phase, Moon Arin gradually lost interest.
By then, I had taken a leave of absence and was practically living with her.
Caring for Nuri became entirely my responsibility.
Ten years.
‘Maybe… in my past life, you were trying to tell me something.’
You suddenly ran into Moon Arin’s studio that day.
No matter how much I called, you refused to come out.
Maybe you were trying to free me from her.
It might sound foolish.
But I couldn’t help thinking that.
I called her name again.
“Nuri.”
She cautiously stepped forward.
She sniffed my outstretched hand—
Then gently bumped her head against it.
“Oh!”
The worker gasped.
“She’s not usually like this. She’s very shy…”
Nyaa—
Nuri let out a soft cry.
I gently stroked her and whispered inwardly,
‘We’ve met again. The one who protected me.’
Thank you, Nuri.
This time, I’ll save you.
***
Nyaa—
“Okay, we’re almost there.”
Nuri shifted inside the carrier.
She had been quiet the whole time, but now, in front of my apartment door, she was restless.
I entered the password and opened the door.
And then—
I froze.
Someone was standing right inside.
“…Moon Arin.”
Her name slipped out of my mouth.
Moon Arin stood there with her arms crossed in the darkened room, staring at me.
Her usual gentle smile was gone.
Her expression was cold.
For a moment, memories from my past life overlapped with reality.
“Why are you here…?”
I stepped back instinctively.
Moon Arin smiled.
The chill vanished, replaced by her usual cute expression.
“What do you mean why? You’re the one who gave me the password and told me to come by anytime, Seol.”
“Oh, right. I just didn’t expect you without notice. You surprised me.”
“What? That’s hurtful. Do we need to make appointments to see each other?”
She laughed and grabbed my arm.
Hissss!
At that exact moment, Nuri hissed loudly from inside the carrier.
Moon Arin’s eyes flicked toward it.
“Wait… why do you have a cat?”
“…I’m going to raise one.”
“Huh? Suddenly?”
“Yes. Suddenly.”
Without further explanation, I placed the carrier in the corner.
Moon Arin burst out laughing.
“You’re doing things you never used to do. I’ve been saying I wanted a cat forever, and you always stopped me.”
“I did. But now I want one.”
“Seol.”
She grabbed my hand tightly.
My entire body stiffened.
“Why are you really acting like this? Did something happen?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been avoiding me all break. Making excuses. You didn’t visit my part-time job once. I got worried and came over, and now suddenly you’re adopting a cat.”
Her big eyes filled with concern.
If this were before, I would have been moved.
Now, only one thought came to mind.
‘Is she being sincere?’
I stared at her face and realized I had missed the moment to respond.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Nothing happened.”
“You always say that. You always try to carry everything alone. You think I wouldn’t notice?”
She bit her lip, looking close to tears.
She wasn’t going to let it go easily.
‘Was I acting too differently?’
But I couldn’t laugh and chat with her like before.
Just standing here alone with her, I had to swallow down the anger rising inside me.
‘Is this version of Moon Arin really the same one I knew? When did you start to change?’
The question still consumed me.
Nyaa—
Nuri wrapped her tail around my leg.
I steadied myself.
“There is… a reason.”
“I knew it.”
Moon Arin nodded as if she had expected that.
“Is it your original composition? The one you said you’d show me? Creative blocks aren’t easy. Piano is one thing—you just play what’s written. But composing means creating something from nothing.”
“No. It’s not that.”
“Then what?”
I answered casually,
“I was busy preparing for the transfer exam.”
“…What?”
Her eyes widened.
For some reason, that expression pleased me.
I smiled slightly.
“The transfer exam. I took it recently.”
“….”
“I tried to cram for it, so I was swamped. I wasn’t avoiding you on purpose.”
Moon Arin looked momentarily speechless.
“I wanted to surprise you after I passed. But I guess it’s out now.”
“…Oh. I see.”
She smiled a beat too late.
“Wow. It’d be so nice if we took the same classes!”
“Right?”
“But are you sure? Our school’s transfer exam is notoriously hard. And there aren’t many spots in composition.”
Her tone was soft.
But I could sense the subtle belittling.
“Of course I’d love to be in the same department as you~. But I’m happy as we are now too. Don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”
“I won’t.”
I smiled back.
Just then—
Bzzz.
My phone vibrated.
A message appeared on the screen.
[ Hankuk University Composition Department Transfer Exam Results Noti… (More) ]
