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A Second Chance at Forever

Summary:

Park Jihoon fell in love with Choi Hyunwook while filming Weak Hero. He thinks that Hyunwook will never love him. Jihoon thinks all the flirting and tension is for fan service and fun. After a dinner party with the rest of cast, Jihoon gets into a car accident and wakes up as Yeon Sieun?!

or an isekai/transmigration/reincarnation story :D I don't know how to do summaries...

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Chapter Text

The late afternoon light hung heavy over the hospital garden. A faint breeze moved the leaves, brushing against the dull hum of city life beyond the gates. On a wheelchair near the fountain sat Ahn Suho, thin, pale, wearing hospital scrubs and Yeon Sieun’s gray jacket draped over his shoulders. His gaze was distant, lost somewhere in the light beyond the trees.

From a few meters away, Sieun stood frozen. His classmates, Go Hyuntak, Seo Jun-tae, and Park Hu-min, hovered behind him in their Eunjang uniforms, still catching their breath from running across town. They said nothing. The air was still, filled with something fragile and unfamiliar.

Hu-min’s hand came to rest gently on Sieun’s shoulder. “Go on,” he murmured.

Sieun’s throat tightened. He inhaled once, twice, and Hu-min’s hand fell away. His shoes scraped lightly against the pavement as he took a step forward, then another. Each one felt easier than the last, as if the weight that had lived in his chest for two years finally began to lift.

When he stopped, he was standing only a few feet from Suho. Neither spoke. The faint rustling of the trees filled the silence until Suho slowly turned his head.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, Sieun forgot how to breathe.

Suho studied him, expression unreadable, before his lips parted into a small, familiar half-smile. “How’s it going?” he asked, voice hoarse but steady.

Sieun blinked hard, the world around him blurring at the edges. His chest ached. “Good,” he managed, nodding. His voice cracked on the word.

Suho’s smile twitched faintly, barely there, but real. He looked past Sieun at the three boys standing behind him. “Who are those guys?”

The others straightened, unsure if they should speak. Hu-min smiled quietly, pride glinting in his eyes. Sieun swallowed, forcing a small smile of his own. “My friends.”

Suho’s gaze softened, and he looked back at him. “That’s good to hear,” he said.

They didn’t move. The space between them felt suspended, alive with the simple fact that Suho was awake, breathing, speaking, here. Tears gathered in Sieun’s eyes before he could stop them. He bit down on a shaky laugh and smiled, the kind of smile he hadn’t worn in two years lopsided, raw, and full of relief.

Suho’s lips curved again, and for a fleeting second, everything was whole.

Then

“...And, CUT!”

The sound split through the air like a snap of thunder.

The illusion dissolved. The hospital garden vanished, replaced by the hum of cameras powering down and the glare of studio lights reflecting off green screens. Crew members began moving props, murmuring to each other. Someone laughed near the monitors.

“Good work, everyone! That’s a wrap for season two!” the director called out.

Applause erupted. Staff and actors broke into cheers and hugs, the heavy air replaced by bright chatter.

Choi Hyunwook stood up from the wheelchair, shaking off the fake IV line. His scrubs rustled as he walked toward Jihoon, who was still wiping his face. “Are you really crying?” Hyunwook teased, reaching out to gently swipe at the tears still clinging to Jihoon’s lashes. “That never ceases to amaze me.”

Jihoon’s heart jumped. He ducked his head, smiling through the warmth rising in his cheeks. “I’m just... good at my job,” he said, voice soft but playful.

Hyunwook chuckled and patted his shoulder before heading off to thank the crew.

After changing out of his school uniform costume and removing his makeup, Jihoon went around the set, bowing and thanking the staff, exchanging small jokes and high-fives. His manager appeared at his side, reminding him they needed to go soon.

As Jihoon grabbed his bag, a familiar voice called out behind him. “Hey, Jihoon!” Hyunwook jogged up, a grin tugging at his lips. “You free tomorrow night? Let’s get dinner.”

Jihoon blinked, surprised, then smiled. “Yeah, I’m free.”

“Good. I’ll text you the place,” Hyunwook said, giving a casual wave before being pulled away by his stylist.

Jihoon watched him go, a quiet warmth in his chest he didn’t dare name.
His manager gestured toward the exit, and Jihoon followed, slipping into the van where his driver was waiting. The studio lights faded behind him as they pulled out into the night.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

Park Jihoon stood in front of the mirror for the third time that evening, tugging at the hem of his sweater. The clock on his dresser blinked 6:47 p.m. He still had time, but his heart wouldn’t calm down.

He exhaled slowly, trying to tell himself it was just dinner. Just two co-stars hanging out after finishing a long project. Nothing more. Still, the thought didn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling up every time he looked at his reflection.

His mind kept whispering that it felt like a date. That Hyunwook had looked a little too softly at him when he’d asked. That maybe, just maybe, there was something there.

Then the other part of him spoke louder. Don’t be stupid. He doesn’t like you like that. You’re his friend, his coworker. Nothing more.

Jihoon rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Right,” he murmured to his reflection. “Coworkers.”

But even so, he chose his best outfit anyway, a dark blue sweater layered over a white shirt, the collar just peeking out, paired with fitted black pants. Comfortable but thoughtful. He spritzed a little cologne, ran his fingers through his hair, and checked his phone again.

A new message from Hyunwook popped up.

Hyunwookie: I’m in the car park. Take your time, princess 😏

Jihoon blinked, his heart flipping once before his lips broke into a grin. “Princess, huh?” he muttered, biting back a laugh as he grabbed his bag.

He half-jogged down the stairs of his apartment, the sound of his shoes echoing in the corridor. When he pushed through the lobby doors, the cool evening air hit him, along with the sight of Hyunwook leaning against his black car, scrolling through his phone.

He looked up at the sound of Jihoon’s hurried steps. His face lit up instantly. “Hey,” Hyunwook said, tucking his phone into his jacket pocket. “You’re fast.”

“You called me princess,” Jihoon shot back, mock-offended. “Of course I ran.”

Hyunwook laughed, a low sound that seemed to fill the quiet parking lot. “You didn’t deny it, though.” He circled around the car and opened the passenger door for him. “Your carriage awaits.”

Jihoon felt his face warm, but he played along, slipping into the seat. “Thanks, chauffeur.”

Hyunwook grinned as he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. “You’re welcome, Your Highness.”

The restaurant Hyunwook picked was quiet and tucked away, soft jazz playing, warm lighting reflected in wine glasses. They talked easily, laughter spilling between bites of pasta and teasing remarks.

Jihoon tried not to stare too long whenever Hyunwook smiled, the kind of smile that reached his eyes, the kind that made the noise of the world fade out.

They shared stories about filming, embarrassing moments, inside jokes from the set, how Jihoon always nailed emotional scenes in one take. Hyunwook teased him about crying too easily; Jihoon teased him about breaking character when he laughed at the wrong time.

The conversation was natural, effortless. Like breathing.

When they finally left, the city was washed in gold from the streetlights. Hyunwook drove with one hand on the wheel, the other resting loosely on the console. The air between them felt lighter than before, warm, full of the kind of silence that didn’t need to be filled.

“Want to come by for a bit?” Jihoon asked quietly as they stopped near his apartment. “We could just... hang out.”

Hyunwook smiled without hesitation. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

Back at Jihoon’s place, they ended up sitting on the couch, scrolling through memes, sharing snacks, and laughing until their stomachs hurt. The kind of laughter that makes your face ache but you don’t want to stop.

There were moments, small, flickering ones, when their hands brushed while reaching for chips, or when Hyunwook’s head fell back in laughter and Jihoon caught himself staring.

The night passed too quickly.

When Hyunwook finally stood to leave, Jihoon followed him to the door. “Thanks for tonight,” Hyunwook said, slipping on his jacket. “It’s been a while since I laughed this much.”

“Same here,” Jihoon replied softly, tucking his hands into his sleeves to hide the nervous fidget. “Drive safe, okay?”

Hyunwook smiled, a little tired, a little gentle. “I will. Text me when you’re free next time, yeah?”

Jihoon nodded, his throat tight. “Yeah. Sure.”

They lingered a second too long in the doorway, neither quite knowing what to say next. Finally, Hyunwook gave a small wave and turned away, the sound of his footsteps fading down the hall.

Jihoon stood there for a moment, staring at the closed door. The room felt quiet again, too quiet.

He exhaled, the air trembling in his chest, and smiled faintly to himself. Even if it meant nothing more to Hyunwook, tonight had been enough. For now.

 

Chapter Text

The morning began too early. Ji-hoon had fallen asleep only a few hours before, the adrenaline of the previous night still fizzing through his veins. When his phone alarm finally buzzed, he groaned, burying his face in the pillow before dragging himself upright. His apartment was filled with half-empty coffee cups, crumpled scripts, and sunlight cutting in through the blinds.

He reached for his phone first, a reflex now. The screen was chaos. Mentions, tags, trending hashtags: #WeakHero2Finale, #ParkJihoonPerformance, #YeonSiEunLives. Clips of last night’s broadcast were already circulating, fans posting side-by-side comparisons of his tears in the hospital scene and the real ones from behind the camera.

He scrolled for a minute, smiling without meaning to. Then his manager texted: 

Manager-nim: Car’s waiting. Don’t be late, superstar.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

By nine, he was at the broadcasting station. The lobby was crowded with press, banners, flowers from fan clubs. Staff hurried everywhere, headsets and clipboards in hand. Ji-hoon adjusted his mask and cap, following his manager through the back entrance to the green room.

“Busy day,” she said, checking her clipboard. “Talk show first, magazine shoot tomorrow, radio next week. Try not to faint.”

“I’ll try,” he muttered, laughing quietly.

Inside, his co-stars were already there, Lee Min-jae, Choi Min-young, and Ryeo Un, all wearing coordinated casual outfits for the show. Someone handed Ji-hoon a bottle of water. Someone else touched up his hair. The makeup artist murmured something about “just enough tired eyes to look sincere.”

When the producer called five minutes to air, Ji-hoon inhaled deeply, centering himself the way he always did before a live appearance: shoulders back, smile ready, heartbeat steady.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

The stage lights were blinding. The host’s voice bounced through the studio as the audience erupted in cheers. Ji-hoon bowed, smiled, waved, automatic movements now, but still genuine. He sat beside Min-jae, hands folded neatly on his lap, and waited for the first question.

They talked about the new season: the fight choreography, the late-night shoots, the hospital scene that had fans crying. The crowd laughed when Min-jae teased Ji-hoon about breaking props from over-acting. Ji-hoon rolled his eyes good-naturedly, his charm effortless.

Then, midway through a question, the host grinned mysteriously. “And now, we have some guests joining us!”

The doors at the side of the set opened, and the audience screamed as Choi Hyun-wook, Hong Kyung, Lee Yeon, and Shin Seung-ho walked out.

Ji-hoon’s breath caught. He hadn’t expected them, especially not him. Hyun-wook looked casual in a white shirt and black jacket, hair swept back, the same confident stride he had on set. When their eyes met across the stage, Hyun-wook gave a small nod and that faint, familiar grin. Ji-hoon smiled back before quickly focusing on the host again, pretending to adjust his mic.

The rest of the talk blurred by in laughter. Old memories, shared hardships, inside jokes about freezing night shoots. Ji-hoon felt both the weight and the comfort of the moment, years of work, laughter, exhaustion compressed into one bright hour.

When it ended, everyone stood, bowing as the audience applauded. The cameras powered down. Ji-hoon exhaled, tension leaving his shoulders like air from a balloon.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

Backstage smelled of coffee and hairspray. Crew members congratulated the cast, handing them bottled water and snacks. Ji-hoon slipped between people until he spotted Hyun-wook leaning against a wall, chatting with a staff member.

You didn’t tell me you were coming!” Ji-hoon called out, mock-offended. He crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes.

Hyun-wook looked up, laughing. “It was supposed to be a surprise. You should’ve seen your face, priceless.”

“I could’ve ruined the whole segment.”

“You wouldn’t dare. You love me too much.”

Ji-hoon’s mouth opened, then closed again, heat crawling up his neck. “I love good television,” he shot back.

Hyun-wook smirked. “Sure.”

Before Ji-hoon could respond, Min-jae appeared and clapped his hands together. “Dinner, anyone? Cast reunion, my treat!”

Cheers followed. Even the managers didn’t protest. Within minutes, a small convoy of cars was heading downtown.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

The restaurant was crowded but cozy, the kind of place where the smell of grilled meat clung to your clothes no matter how careful you were. They pushed two tables together, laughter spilling out before the menus even hit the wood.

“Ji-hoon, you still eat like a rabbit?” Hyun-wook asked, handing him a lettuce wrap piled with pork belly.

Ji-hoon accepted it, grinning. “Only when you feed me.”

The table erupted in teasing noises. Ji-hoon tried to laugh it off, cheeks burning. Hyun-wook just smiled and poured him a drink, eyes glinting mischievously.

The conversation jumped from topic to topic, filming disasters, school memories, their first impressions of each other. Someone brought up a karaoke night gone wrong; Ji-hoon nearly choked on his food laughing. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this light.

Between the noise and the smoke and the endless refills, he caught Hyun-wook watching him once or twice, quick glances, nothing more. It made his chest feel unsteady.

When the bill came, it was already close to midnight. They lingered outside under the restaurant’s red awning, saying their goodbyes one by one. The city air was cool and damp. Neon lights smeared across the wet pavement.

Hyun-wook shoved his hands into his jacket pockets. “Long day tomorrow?”

“Yeah. But today was good,” Ji-hoon said softly.

Hyun-wook smiled. “It was. Text me when you get home.”

Ji-hoon nodded. “I will.”

For a moment, neither moved. The world around them buzzed with passing cars and distant chatter, but it felt like standing in the eye of a quiet storm. Hyun-wook finally stepped back with a wave. “See you soon, princess.”

Ji-hoon laughed under his breath, watching him disappear into the night.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

The van was waiting by the curb, headlights glowing. Ji-hoon’s manager was already inside, scrolling through tomorrow’s schedule.

“Busy week,” she said as he climbed in. “Radio in the morning, magazine shoot at four, production dinner Friday. You’ll get two rest days next week if we’re lucky.”

Ji-hoon buckled his seatbelt, nodding. “Got it.”

The city rolled by outside the window, glass towers, convenience stores, the occasional late-night pedestrian. He rested his head against the cool glass, listening to the steady rhythm of the tires on the road.

His phone buzzed once: a message from Hyun-wook.

Hyunwookie: You home yet?

He smiled faintly and typed back:

Hyunwookie: On my way. I’ll text when I get there.

Another buzz.

Hyunwookie: Good. Don’t fall asleep in the car again.

Ji-hoon chuckled quietly. “He knows me too well,” he murmured.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

The highway stretched ahead, nearly empty. The driver hummed along to a soft ballad playing on the radio. Ji-hoon closed his eyes, exhaustion finally creeping in. The night outside looked peaceful, distant city lights flickering like fireflies.

Then there was a flash.

Too bright. Too close.

A blaring horn. The scream of tires.

The world jerked sideways.

Metal folded with a deafening roar. Glass shattered, a storm of shards and screams and weightlessness. Ji-hoon’s body slammed against the side door; the seatbelt dug into his chest. The van spun, tumbling across asphalt before crashing down with a sound that didn’t seem real.

For a moment, there was only silence. Then the hiss of leaking fuel, the soft ping of cooling metal.

Ji-hoon tried to move. Pain exploded through his ribs and shoulder. The air was thick with smoke and the scent of burnt rubber. His ears rang. Somewhere ahead, his manager was groaning faintly, calling his name.

He tried to answer, but his voice came out as a weak gasp. He looked down, blood streaked across his sweater, warm and wet. The door beside him was crushed inward, metal twisted like paper. His legs wouldn’t move.

His vision blurred. Everything felt slow, far away.

No... not yet.

He could still hear the song on the radio, the melody warped and broken through static. It felt wrong, too calm, too normal. His heart pounded against the weight pressing on his chest.

Tears stung his eyes. Images flickered through his mind, his parents’ kitchen, his friends laughing at rehearsal, Hyun-wook’s grin under restaurant lights.

I didn’t say it. I didn’t tell him.

His breathing turned ragged. Every inhale was fire; every exhale came out thinner than the last. The cold crept in fast. He wanted to fight it, but his body wouldn’t listen.

He thought of his mother’s voice, of his father telling him to eat well. He thought of his fans, the endless faces behind the camera lights. He thought of Hyun-wook again, the way he’d looked at him during dinner, the easy warmth of it.

“I’m sorry,” Ji-hoon whispered, though no one could hear.

His fingers twitched once, reaching for his phone that had fallen to the floor, screen cracked and glowing faintly. A new message notification blinked, Hyun-wook’s name.

Home yet?

The light faded as his vision darkened. Sirens wailed in the distance, distant and slow.

Ji-hoon closed his eyes, the sound fading until there was nothing left but quiet.

Then even that disappeared.

 

Chapter Text

It was pitch black.

No sound. No warmth. Just the endless weight of nothing pressing in from every direction.

Jihoon floated somewhere between thought and silence, unsure if he still had a body. His chest didn’t rise or fall. The air, if there even was air, was heavy, thick, unmoving.

Where am I? His voice didn’t echo. It didn’t even sound like a voice. Just a question floating into the void.

He tried to remember what had happened.

Flashes came back in pieces, bright headlights, the scream of tires, his body jerking sideways, the glass breaking like ice. The smell of smoke. The blood. The cold.

Right. The car accident.

So this was it, then? Is this what dying feels like? he thought weakly. No pain. Just... empty.

He wanted to move, to see something, anything, but there was nothing to see. Only blackness stretching forever. He thought of his parents, of his friends, of Hyunwook. His chest ached with the memory of that last text he never answered.

Maybe he’s still waiting for my message, Jihoon thought, the idea hitting him like a slow, quiet heartbreak.

Then, a sound.

Faint at first. Like a whisper through water.

He strained to listen, focusing hard, until the sound grew louder. A voice. Someone calling.

“…wake up.”

Jihoon froze. The voice wasn’t echoing in his mind, it was real, close.

“...Si-eun, wake up!”

The name hit him like a shock.

His eyes flew open.

Light flooded in, too bright after the darkness. He squinted, blinking rapidly. The ceiling above him was white and slightly cracked, with sunlight filtering through faded curtains.

Then a woman’s face appeared in front of him, worried, kind, and strangely familiar.

“Si-eun?” she said, her voice trembling with concern. “You fainted again. Are you okay, sweetheart?”

Jihoon blinked, confusion spreading like ice through his chest. Si-eun?

He pushed himself upright, his head spinning. “Wait, I—”

But the word caught in his throat. His voice sounded smaller, thinner. He looked around, the room was unfamiliar, neat but old-fashioned. Books stacked near a desk. A half-open wardrobe. A poster with faded colors on the wall.

None of this was his.

The woman stepped back a little, watching him closely. “You scared me. You were tossing around. Did you have a nightmare?”

Jihoon stared at her. His mind scrambled for something to hold onto. He knew her face. He knew her.

She was the actress who had played Si-eun’s mother in Weak Hero Class 2. Except she looked different, younger. Softer. Not from set makeup, but real.

Jihoon’s stomach dropped.

“Wait… did you just call me—” He stopped himself, glancing down at his hands. They were small. His fingers looked like a child’s.

No rings, no calluses, no trace of the adult he was just hours ago.

Heart hammering, he threw off the blanket and stumbled to his feet. The floorboards creaked under his bare feet. There was a mirror on the other side of the room, leaning slightly against the wall.

He ran to it, almost tripping over the rug.

And froze.

Staring back at him wasn’t Park Jihoon. No it was Park Jihoon, but his ten-year-old self instead of his older body. Pale skin, dark hair, wide eyes that mirrored fear and disbelief.

His breath caught in his throat. “No,” he whispered. “No, this can’t—”

The woman, his mother, apparently, approached slowly, confusion written all over her face. “Si-eun? What’s wrong?”

Jihoon turned toward her, his chest heaving, but words refused to come. His head spun, flashes of memory overlapping, the set, the cameras, Hyunwook’s voice, the crash, the dark.

It was too much.

“Si-eun?” she said again, her voice breaking slightly this time.

The edges of Jihoon’s vision blurred. His knees went weak.

And before he could make sense of anything, the room, the name, the reflection that wasn’t his, everything tilted sideways.

The floor came up fast.

Then darkness swallowed him again.

 

・┆✦ʚ♡ɞ✦ ┆・

 

When Jihoon woke again, the light outside was dim and gold.

For a few seconds, he lay still, half expecting the ceiling above him to vanish, replaced by hospital lights and the sound of beeping monitors. He waited for someone to say his name, Park Jihoon, not Yeon Si-eun.

But no one did. The silence pressed down, heavy and unbroken.

He turned his head slowly. The same unfamiliar room came into focus: old wallpaper, a simple desk, a half-open closet. Everything looked too real to be a dream. The blanket was scratchy under his fingers. His breath fogged faintly in the cool air.

He sat up and stared down at his small hands. The skin was smooth, unscarred, the fingers short. It wasn’t a dream.

A strange laugh escaped him, sharp, breathless, half-choked. “Reincarnated? Transmigrated? Is that… is that what this is?” he muttered to no one.

The words sounded absurd even as they left his mouth. He pressed a hand to his forehead and laughed again, quieter this time, shaking his head.

“This can’t be real. I—I must still be unconscious somewhere. Maybe in the hospital.”

He pinched his arm hard. Pain flared immediately. The skin reddened.

He did it again, harder. Then once more. When that didn’t work, he slapped his own cheek, once, twice, until his skin stung and his eyes watered from the sharp sting.

Nothing changed. The room stayed the same. The air was still cold. His reflection in the mirror was still ten years old.

His laughter cracked halfway through, splintering into something smaller, something broken.

He pressed his hands against his face. His breathing came uneven. His shoulders shook before the first sob escaped, quiet at first, then louder, uncontrollable.

The sound filled the room.

He cried for the life that was gone, the one he hadn’t realized he loved so much until it was taken. For his parents, who would wake up tomorrow to headlines about their son’s accident. For the friends and coworkers who would send messages to a phone that would never answer. For his fans, the thousands of strangers who loved him from a distance, who would replay his old performances like a ghost on loop.

And for Hyunwook. The thought hit hardest of all.

Hyunwook, who had told him to text when he got home. Hyunwook, who was probably still waiting for that message.

Jihoon’s crying turned messier, almost childlike. He gasped between sobs, wiping at his face with small, clumsy hands that didn’t feel like his own. His chest ached. His throat burned. He tried to stop, but every time he did, another wave of grief rolled through him, heavier than before.

When it finally slowed, he was left sitting on the edge of the bed, drained and trembling. His face was blotchy, his eyes swollen. The quiet after the storm felt strange, almost fragile.

He rubbed at his nose with the back of his sleeve and gave a shaky laugh. “I must look pathetic,” he whispered. His voice cracked in the middle of the sentence, too high, too young.

He wiped the last of the tears away and looked around again. The air in the room was stuffy. His throat felt dry and rough. “Water,” he mumbled to himself. “I need water.”

When he tried to stand, his legs wobbled slightly. He looked down again, still not used to the shortness of them, or the way the floor felt bigger somehow. Everything was wrong, scaled differently, like walking through a version of the world built for someone else.

He stepped out of the room cautiously. The hallway was narrow and dim, lit only by a weak bulb near the kitchen. The air smelled faintly of dust and detergent, with that underlying cold stillness of a house long left unfilled.

“Hello?” he called softly.

No answer.

He walked a little farther. The kitchen was empty, a half-empty cup of water on the counter, a cold rice cooker, two unwashed dishes in the sink. No sign of movement.

The living room light flickered weakly, casting pale yellow against the floor.

He swallowed hard.

That woman, Si-eun’s mother, she wasn’t here.

Jihoon remembered her worried face from before, but now the house was silent, like she had vanished completely. He moved to the window and peered outside, the street was quiet, the occasional car passing under a flickering streetlight.

He turned back, exhaling slowly.

“So this is my life now, huh?” he said to the empty room. His voice sounded too small, even to his own ears.

He sat on the couch and stared at his hands again, tracing the faint lines of his palms.

Yeon Si-eun. A boy whose parents barely noticed him. A boy who grew up alone.

The irony wasn’t lost on him. Park Jihoon, loved by millions, surrounded by people every day, now stuck inside the body of a child who had no one.

He leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. His chest still ached from crying, but his eyes were dry now.

Maybe this was punishment. Or mercy. Or some strange mix of both.

He didn’t know which was worse, dying completely, or being reborn into someone else’s loneliness.

Outside, the night deepened. The refrigerator hummed softly. The sound inside the apartment filled with loud silence.

Jihoon sat there for a long time, his small fingers curling into fists, his heart too big for his ten-year-old chest.



Notes:

Thank You for reading! <3