Her breath came in gasps when someone bumped into her shoulder. It wasn't hard, but it was enough to make her flinch. Her consciousness seemed to be pulled back, as if she'd just woken from a long sleep. She looked around. The city street was crowded, packed with people hurrying past. Honking horns, footsteps, and the hum of traffic all blended into one overwhelming din.
Confusion. That was the feeling that overwhelmed her most.
She turned in place, looking in every direction. This place felt so familiar. But... hadn't she fallen disastrously from her bedroom window the last time she remembered? She should have been dead. Even if she were still alive, shouldn't she be in a hospital—not here?
Her chest suddenly tightened. Bitter memories spun wildly through her mind. It hurt. Her head throbbed, her stomach churned, and her knees went weak. She crouched down in the middle of the crowd.
“Are you okay?” someone asked. The man who had bumped into her crouched in front of her too, having initially meant only to apologize.
Rami stared into those unfamiliar eyes. Strangely, the longer she looked at them, the more her chest hurt. As if she had seen that gaze thousands of times before. Even though most of the man's face was hidden beneath his hat and mask, his eyes felt incredibly familiar.
“Can you walk?” The man offered to take her to the hospital. She didn't know whether the collision had been hard enough to cause this or whether something else was going on.
Rami simply followed along. Confusion still held her captive. It was only after she got into the car that she realized her clothes were neat and that she was even carrying a shoulder bag. Her hand gripped a brown folder—her résumé and job application letter.
She hurriedly reached into her pants pocket. Her phone lit up.
— February 9, 2025 —
Her hands trembled. Her breathing quickened. Her eyes widened. Impossible... hadn't I already died? Then... why am I here?
The man beside her didn't miss any of it.
“It's 2029 now, right?” Rami asked haltingly.
The man was silent for a moment before answering calmly, “It's 2025.”
Rami let out a harsh breath and slumped against the seatback. All of this was too insane to process.
The doctor who examined her said there was nothing seriously wrong, only exhaustion. The man stayed with her until the examination was over, even putting her in a VIP room because he was afraid she might have to be hospitalized.
“Are you sure I'm okay, Doctor?” Rami asked.
“You can rest here for now while you regain your strength,” the doctor replied.
“I think you need to check my head, Doctor.” Rami tousled her hair. “I just fell from the second floor. Are you sure my brain isn't damaged?”
The doctor could only stare blankly before excusing himself. Now it was just the two of them. Rami sank into her thoughts while the man busied himself with his phone.
An idea flashed through Rami's mind. She looked at the man hesitantly. “Um... could you pinch my cheek?”
The man looked up. “Me?”
Rami nodded quickly. “I just want to make sure of something.”
“...Are you sure that's okay?”
“Yeah, just pinch me.”
“Sorry if it hurts.” The man finally gave her cheek a gentle pinch.
“Ow!” Rami grimaced, clutching her cheek. The pain was real.
The man chuckled. The sound left Rami frozen. It was too familiar...
Click!
The door swung open with considerable force. Another man entered, his face worried. He looked older than the man who had come before.
“I told you not to go off on your own like that. What if that girl did it on purpose?”
The man in the hat said nothing. He took the fruit basket the newcomer was carrying. He had asked him to bring it.
“Eat some of the fruit,” he said briefly.
“Thank you,” Rami said sincerely.
“Hello, I'm Edgar, his manager. I hope you won't cause him any trouble from now on. Besides, he's already taken responsibility.” Edgar handed her his business card.
Stellar Entertainment.
Rami caught her breath. Why did everything feel so familiar?
“Well then, we'll be going, Miss.”
“You said I did it on purpose?” Rami's voice rose as the two of them were about to leave.
Edgar turned, confused. “Yes?”
“Why would I do this on purpose? Who is he, anyway? Is he important? Is he famous in this country?”
Rami would never let people look down on her again. She would fight back, for her own sake.
The man in the hat gave her a faint smile. “You're right. Not everyone has to know who I am.” Slowly, he removed his mask and glasses.
Rami stared at him in shock. Her breath caught. Her eyes immediately filled with tears. Could she take back what she'd just said?
“...Wooan?” she murmured.
Memories came rushing in. Wooan crying after losing Binero. His warm smile slowly fading away. But now—now she had returned to a time when none of it had happened yet.
Rami realized one thing.
If I've been given this chance... can I prevent everything? So that smile can stay alive. Forever.