Seoulful Connections

The next day, Jisoo was determined to distract herself from the lingering pain of her visit to her relatives. She decided to explore a quieter part of Seoul, taking in the streets lined with quaint cafés and local boutiques. It was her way of reclaiming a bit of joy.

Her friends had offered to come along, but Jisoo insisted on going alone. She needed some time to process everything. As she strolled past a flower shop, a sudden, unwelcome voice shattered her moment of peace.

"Well, if it isn't our dear cousin Jisoo," said a sharp, mocking tone behind her.

Jisoo turned, her stomach sinking as she came face-to-face with her older cousins, Jiho and Minji. They were standing just a few feet away, arms crossed and smirks plastered on their faces.

"What a surprise," Jiho added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jisoo forced a small smile. "Hi, Jiho. Hi, Minji."

Minji's eyes raked over Jisoo's outfit, her expression a mixture of disdain and amusement. "Still dressing like an American, I see. Don't you own any proper clothes?"

Jisoo flushed, glancing down at her simple jeans and sweater. "I didn't realize there was a dress code for walking around Seoul."

Jiho chuckled. "That's the problem, isn't it? You never realize anything. Always clueless, always out of place."

"I'm not out of place," Jisoo said, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Really?" Minji said, stepping closer. "Because you look like a foreigner pretending to be Korean. You don't belong here, Jisoo. You never have."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut. Jisoo clenched her fists, her mind racing for a response, but the familiar mix of anger and hurt rendered her speechless.

"What's the matter?" Jiho taunted. "Nothing to say? That's new."

Before Jisoo could muster a reply, a deep voice cut through the tension.

"Is there a problem here?"

Everyone turned to see a tall man with sharp features and a confident presence. He was dressed simply in dark jeans and a black coat, but something about him commanded attention.

Jiho's smirk faltered. "This isn't your business."

The man took a step closer, his eyes narrowing. "It became my business when I saw you harassing her."

Jisoo's breath caught in her throat. Who was this man?

Minji scoffed. "We're not harassing her. She's our cousin. This is a family matter."

"Family matter or not, you're out of line," the man said firmly. "You're embarrassing yourselves and her."

Jiho bristled. "Who do you think you are, talking to us like that?"

The man's gaze hardened. "Someone who doesn't tolerate bullies."

Jiho opened his mouth to argue but seemed to think better of it. Instead, he muttered something under his breath and motioned for Minji to follow him.

"This isn't over," Minji hissed at Jisoo before stalking off.

As her cousins disappeared into the crowd, Jisoo turned to her unexpected savior. "Thank you. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't stepped in."

The man glanced at her, his expression softening slightly. "You don't need to thank me. They were out of line."

Jisoo managed a small smile. "Still, I appreciate it. I'm Jisoo, by the way."

He hesitated for a moment, as if deciding whether to say more. Then, with a faint smile, he said, "Take care of yourself, Jisoo."

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Jisoo stood there, her heart pounding. Who was he? And why did it feel like there was more to him than met the eye?

As she made her way back to the loft, her mind replayed the encounter over and over. She couldn't shake the feeling that their paths would cross again.

"Whoever you are," she thought to herself, "thank you."