CHAPTER 2: FLASHES OF LAST NIGHT

Evelyn quietly followed the stranger to the pharmacy store which wasn't too far from Han river. They bought some bandaid and ointment from there and sat on a bench near the river. 

She poured some medicine on cotton and gently placed her one hand on his chin to stabilize his head and used the other to apply the medicine. 

The cut wasn't too deep but it was unsettling because of its position which was placed just a few centimetres below the eye. 

She was softly moving her hands on the injured part so that it doesn't hurt him. Her eyes were fully concentrated on his wound but..

.. Evelyn could feel his eyes on her which were constantly analysing her careful movements.. with a little smile on his face. As she looked up.. their eyes met for a brief moment. 

''Have we met before?'', He asked her with curious eyes. 

''I.. I don't think so'', she briskly replied

Evelyn noticed that he had emerald green eyes which were as deep as an ocean but cold and lonely at the same time. Those eyes reminded her of someone from her initial high school days..

.. it was like, having a feeling of deja vu. 

She didn't had any idea why he asked her such a question which forced her to think about the possibilities.She got lost in her thoughts and accidentally pressed a little hard on the wounded area which triggered the sore impulse. He gasped lightly and pulled his head back as a reaction to painful stimulus. 

EVELYN: ''Ohh.. i.. I'm really sorry''.. (her eyes got teary again) ''i.. i got spaced out.. i made a mistake again. I must have been careful with my actions.. no.. if I have been careful from the start and.. have taken care of my bag.. you wouldn't have been injured because of me.. it's all my fault. I'm a useless person.. i don't.. deserve anyone's company''(my voice was shaking)

STRANGER: Hey, don't blame yourself. It was just an accident. Besides, I've had worse injuries from my own actions. And you're not a useless person, got it! you're just too kind for your own good. That's what I like about you. But.. it doesn't seem that your reason to be upset is just my injury.. if you're okay with it then I'm all ears.. maybe, it can help to relieve your stress. 

He looked at her with pitiful eyes. Nothing good came off for Evelyn that night.. firstly, a heartbroken breakup with her lover and then she bawled her eyes out in front of a stranger whom she had met just a few minutes ago. They say, Murphy's law-anything that can go wrong, will go wrong. 

She was dying out of embarrassment and her heart was aching badly. It would have been a lie if she says that she doesn't need to have anyone by her side. 

On that night.. even a stranger's company had that warmth which her 5 years of love.. failed to give. 

After finishing up the remaining beer, she had with her, Evelyn gathered up the courage to continue the conversation with him.. and spilled out everything that she had been through. 

She was crying and complaining about her situation.. like he was someone closer to her. And on the other side, he was also showing complete empathy towards her. 

STRANGER: I'm sorry to hear that. But don't let someone who doesn't deserve you control your emotions. You're giving him too much power over you. You're better than that. I can see how much you cared for him. But maybe it's time to let go and move on. There are better things waiting for you in life

EVELYN:(in her tipsy voice) ''yeahh.. you're absolutelyyy right.. but.. the fact.. that jerk, living his life happily.. without any regrets.. hurts me. I want to tell him that what kind of b*stard he is. 

STRANGER: Happiness is temporary, but karma is forever. Trust me, he will get what he deserves in the end. And you'll be free from his toxic hold. You'll find someone who truly appreciates you. Don't waste your energy on him. And regarding of saying this to him, you should tell people that what kind of person he is. Maybe.. your voice reaches him and makes him regret his actions. 

Evelyn looked at him with a glimpse of shine in her eyes as if he was thinking the same thing which she had in my mind.. she could notice a faint smirk on his face.

As she stood up from her place.. the people around them began the countdown to welcome the new year. It felt like she just had 10 seconds to pour out whatever she had in her heart for her ex lover.. 

..so she yelled and cursed him with all her might in her tipsy voice and beer in her hand. But her voice was dampened by the loud screaming of the excited crowd. 

She doesn't care whether her voice reached her ex or not.. but her heart was at ease after doing so.

As the clock struck 12, the whole city got filled with the echo of ''HAPPY NEW YEAR'' and the sky got lit with the gleaming fireworks. 

Everyone was longing for the upcoming year to be a better one for the ones they cherish. People were wishing each other with hugs and handshakes.

The sky seemed to be so beautiful.. like a scene right out of a movie.. it was the moment one would like to enjoy with their loved ones.. but it was so pathetic for her to celebrate it.. with a stranger. 

As the celebrations continued, Evelyn found herself being pulled into a warm embrace. She was shocked by such a sudden act of a stranger.. but the warmth of that hug was so comforting.. that she was afraid to pull herself away from him.

Despite his cold demeanor, he showed a surprising amount of compassion and comfort towards her. In that moment, she felt all her anxiety melting away. 

After a few seconds, he pulled her away from his embrace but she wanted to feel his warmth a little more.

EVELYN: ( looks him with drowsy eyes) Can we stay like this.. for a little longer?

With a mischievous grin on his face.. he looked straight in her eyes and pulled her closer to his chest. She closed her eyes and stayed peacefully in his arms.

''So this is how you wanna play...by pretending to not know me? '' he whispered in her ears but Evelyn was so wasted that she hardly listened to his words. 

STRANGER: You can stay as long as you want.. Let's make this moment last forever. You need a fresh start. A clean slate. You deserve happiness and I'll do anything to give it to you.

Evelyn wanted the time to freeze in that moment.. she might have gone crazy that night.. or have done that under the influence of alcohol, but she liked being cared by.. that stranger. 

As the night went on, she found herself growing closer to him, sharing stories and experiences. 

Although he was a stranger, she felt a sense of familiarity and comfort with him. He was the only one who had shown kindness towards her in her time of need. 

The next morning, Eve found herself in her bed. As she opened her eyes, the hazy flashes of last night started popping up inside her head. 

Her face turned red out of embarrassment as the memories of last night.. came on flooding inside her head. She was having hangover effects. My head was spinning too badly. 

She went to the kitchen and poured some water in a glass. While drinking it, she tried to remember the face of the stranger whose company made her new year's Eve so special. 

But she was wasted to such an extent that she didn't even bother to exchange names with him. 

She remembered being drunk and talking to him.. and then, he insisted on dropping her to her apartment. So, she told him the address. 

The celebrations were almost dead and they were heading to her apartment but on their way back.. she got blacked out...and now, she couldn't remember what happened after that and when he left after dropping her. 

After searching frantically for any clues or memories of that stranger, Eve came across a small note and a business card on her bedside table. 

It read, ''Thank you for spending night with me. I had a great time.. and sorry for leaving without saying goodbye. But..maybe our paths will cross again someday. By the way.. your apartment smells nice, just like you:)'' The last part made her blush but anxious at the same time. She took a look at the business card. 

The business card mentioned the name 'DAYUN SHIN ART GALLERY'.. It felt like it wasn't the first time, she came across that name.. it sounded quite familiar.. but her mind couldn't recall the person having that same name.

After seeing the card, she concluded that he might be an Artist and 'Dayun Shin' might be his name. 

That note put her in a state of dilemma.. what exactly happened after she got blacked out.. she wanted to know. She searched the whole apartment but everything was at its place and nothing seemed to be suspicious. She was getting late for work. 

So, she organised her thoughts and got ready to go to work. Eve had already got demoted last month and now.. she didn't want to get late on the first day of new year.