Strange Beginnings
Chapter One: Strange Beginn
Priya stepped out of the cab with her suitcase trailing behind, eyes wide as she stared up at the towering building that was now her new home. A student apartment in the quiet district of Mapo-gu, Seoul. The early morning breeze was sharp, and the air carried that fresh, clean scent she wasnโt used to back in Kolkata.
She wasnโt nervous. Not exactly. But the silence in this new city echoed louder than she expected.
She had made it.
A full scholarship to one of the best art universities in South Korea. Her dream. Her escape. Her second chance.
As she struggled with the buildingโs door, suddenly-
โOmo! Wait wait, let me help!โ came a cheerful voice from behind.
Priya turned and saw a girl rushing over. Hoodie half-on, socks mismatched, hair in the messiest bun she'd ever seen. Her grin was too wide for someone this early in the morning.
โHi! You must be new here. I'm Sinthiya. From Bangladesh. Flat 4B,โ the girl said in one breath as she grabbed Priyaโs suitcase and pulled it in like they were lifelong friends.
Priya blinked. โI-Iโm Priya. From India. Flat 4C.โ
โOoh! Neighbours! Thatโs it. You're mine now,โ Sinthiya said, throwing an arm over Priyaโs shoulder like theyโd known each other for years.
Priya didnโt know whether to laugh or escape.
But somehow, she didnโt mind.
---
The apartment was modest but clean. Sinthiya buzzed around, helping Priya unpack, gossiping about their buildingโs weird elevator, and showing her where the best ramen place was. โDonโt eat the one across the street, they microwave the damn thing.โ
Priya, who normally avoided small talk, found herself listening. Smiling, even.
โIโm actually here on scholarship too,โ Sinthiya said, flopping on Priyaโs bed. โPsychology student. You?โ
โFine arts,โ Priya said softly, still folding her sketchbooks.
โOh. You're one of those tortured artist types. Cute.โ
Priya rolled her eyes. โAnd you're one of those caffeine-fueled chaos demons?โ
โExactly,โ Sinthiya winked.
---
The Next Morning
Ding.
The elevator opened.
Priya walked in with her bag clutched tightly and again, there was Sinthiya, stuffing a sandwich in her mouth.
โYou too? Off to campus?โ Sinthiya mumbled.
Priya nodded. โFirst day.โ
โNo way! Same here. What department again?โ
โFine arts.โ
โPsych! Letโs see if itโs the same universityโ
And as they walked through the main gates twenty minutes later, both froze.
Same logo. Same building. Same university.
They turned to each other, eyes wide.
โDestiny,โ Sinthiya whispered dramatically.
Priya laughed for real this time.
And just like that, strangers became friends.Across Townโฆ
Inside a darkened lounge of a glass tower, a man sat on a velvet couch, sipping wine far too early in the day.
Kim Taehyung.
The name alone turned heads. Heir to the Taehyung conglomerate. Model. Art patron. Enigma. Dangerous.
He stared at a canvas in front of him. Not painted yet. Just blank.
โYou always look at things like they owe you answers,โ came a voice.
Taehyung didnโt turn. โMaybe they do.โ
Park Jimin strolled in, brighter and louder than the room could contain. His blond hair flopped perfectly over one eye as he flopped beside Taehyung.
โYouโre in a mood.โ
โWhen am I not?โ
Jimin tossed him a file. Something their people had prepared.
โHere. New scholarship list. One of them is under your foundationโs grant. Thought youโd want to check.โ
Taehyung casually flipped it open until his fingers froze over a name.
Priya Agarwal.
His eyes narrowed.
A pause.
โโฆInteresting,โ he murmured.
Jimin leaned in. โWhat? Cute girl?โ
Taehyung didnโt answer. He stared at the passport photo beside the name. Her eyes. Something about them.
Like he had seen them before.
Or dreamed of them.
And far across the city, at that exact moment, Priya paused too. Feeling something cold brush her spine.
The kind of chill that meant something had started.
Something that couldnโt be undone.
---
End of Chapter One
