Love in the Time of Lapses — Chapter 2: The Weight of Ghost Colors
All chapters of Love in the Time of Lapses
Staggering away from the hallway collision, Riyu and Syeon scramble to the secluded rooftop to escape the prying eyes of their peers. Riyu frantically checks her phone, realizing she can no longer identify the name of her best childhood friend, while Syeon experiences a sudden, painful flashback of Riyu's mother singing a song he has never heard. They attempt to establish a 'no-touch' protocol, but when Rin catches them huddled together near the roof door, they are forced to act normal to avoid suspicion. Under the pressure of Rin's scrutiny, Riyu accidentally brushes Syeon's arm, causing her to lose the memory of her own signature scent. Syeon realizes the cost of their connection is not just information, but the foundational pillars of their identities, and he chooses to physically distance himself to protect her remaining self.