Chapter 9: An Unforeseen Encounter

‘Han Jung-woo, an accident?’

No matter how I scoured my memories, Han Jung-woo’s accident was something not featured in the drama. The persistent antagonist had vanished, leaving only happiness for the protagonists.

‘Did I change the plot?’

I swiftly pushed away the faint unease before it could consume my thoughts. Taking a short breath, I flipped my phone over and turned away.

‘It’s best not to care anymore.’

Since I had decided to sever ties with Han Jung-woo, it was right not to concern myself further. Fortunately, his life wasn’t in danger; the best medical team would surely save him.

‘It has nothing to do with me.’

Han Jung-woo wasn’t even ‘that’ person.

****

[Jae-hyun: You’re really not going????] 5:29 PM

The sheer uproar emanating from the text made me frown instinctively. Since morning, I had been receiving messages asking if I was going to see Han Jung-woo, and it was utterly preposterous.

I was certain I had explained thoroughly last time that we were nothing to each other, but it seemed my words had fallen on deaf ears.

That’s why he would say such things.

[Why would I go there?] 5:30 PM

[Jae-hyun: You and Han Jung-woo—] 5:30 PM

[I told you, we’re nothing.] 5:31 PM

[Jae-hyun: But until recently—] 5:33 PM

[Let’s stop talking. I need to go now.] 5:33 PM

Suppressing the surge of irritation, I abruptly ended the conversation with Jae-hyun. My phone vibrated a few more times afterward, but I ignored it.

By the time I finished getting ready to leave, my phone had fallen silent. I tucked the quieted phone deep into my pocket, along with my wallet, and exited the room.

“Where are you going?”

As soon as I opened my door, I encountered my mother, who was just coming up from downstairs. When I replied, “To the hospital,” she clapped her hands lightly, remembering something she had forgotten.

“Ah, that’s right. It’s today.”

The fact that my mother also knew about the hospital appointment made my suspicion grow into certainty: Yoo Seo-jin must have an illness I was unaware of.

‘Well, he was the type to treat his body recklessly.’

I wanted to ask her if there was any problem, but I didn’t want to prolong the conversation. I would find out once I got to the hospital, anyway.

Putting my curiosity aside, I exchanged a brief greeting with my mother and left the house. A taxi I had called in advance was waiting at the gate.

“Please take me to Daejin Hospital.”

“Yes.”

I leaned back deeply into the seat, my gaze fixed on the rapidly changing scenery outside. As I let everything simply flow past without absorbing anything, I soon arrived at the hospital.

‘So many people.’

For some reason, the hospital entrance was crowded with people. Each of them seemed to be holding something, but I wasn’t interested enough to pay close attention.

*Click.*

As I passed through the automatic doors and headed towards the reception desk, a familiar sound reached my ears. I whipped my head around, only to find a camera lens pointed directly at me.

‘Why is that…’

I quickly ducked, but my breathing began to quicken. Even if the lens was aimed at me, it might not have been taking my picture, yet I couldn’t calm down.

“Are you alright?”

A nurse, noticing me standing precariously as if about to collapse, inquired. I gently lifted my pale face and nodded instead of speaking.

“Please let me know if you need any help.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Forcing a smile, I hastened my steps towards the reception. Only when the distance grew, and the camera’s shutter clicks completely faded, did my heart, which had been pounding as if to burst, gradually begin to calm.

‘Even as Yoo Seo-jin, this doesn’t get better.’

My camera phobia had been the primary reason I gave up on life. For an actor, whose job was to perform, to become afraid of cameras—what else could that be but a death sentence?

If I hadn’t died in that accident, if I hadn’t miraculously become Yoo Seo-jin, I would have been trapped in a house like a prison, slowly wasting away.

It wouldn’t have been living, not really.

“Yoo Seo-jin.”

Responding to the nurse’s call, I approached the reception desk. After receiving the registration slip with Yoo Seo-jin’s name on it, I turned around, only to realize I had no idea where I was supposed to go.

‘The ninth floor, perhaps?’

I quickly scanned the floor guide, then confidently pressed the button as soon as I entered the elevator. After a brief wait, the elevator doors opened onto the designated floor.

‘Is this… right?’

I stepped out and looked around, finding the hallway eerily quiet. It was then that I realized this wasn’t the Pheromone Ward I expected, but a regular patient room floor.

‘Let’s go back down.’

As I turned to re-enter the elevator, I sensed a presence behind me. Thinking it might be a nurse, I looked back, but the hallway was empty.

‘What was that?’

I was sure someone had been there, and it felt strange. I furrowed my brow slightly, gazing down the dim hallway, despite it being daytime.

After watching for a long moment, I spotted something shimmering. It felt ominous, yet it pulled me in.

I knew I should turn back, but my feet moved on their own. Everything felt natural, as if going there was predetermined.

‘This is…’

Led by an unknown force, I arrived in front of someone’s hospital room. Standing isolated, it clearly looked like a VIP suite.

Slowly, my gaze shifted until I found the name of the room’s occupant. The moment I saw the three characters, [Han Jung-woo], my eyes wavered.

Only then did the facts of Han Jung-woo’s hospitalization and that this was Daejin Hospital sequentially surface in my mind. Why had I foolishly forgotten it?

‘Let’s go back.’

Though an incredible coincidence had brought me here, opening the door or not was my choice. Frankly, what did Han Jung-woo’s condition have to do with me?

Through the slightly ajar door, a familiar voice drifted out. It was a faint whisper, almost fading, yet it was enough to halt my steps.

Even though I knew it was wrong.

‘…I’ll just take a quick look and leave.’

After a moment of deliberation, I turned and pushed open the small crack in the door. I knew I shouldn’t go in, but I rationalized it all away with the excuse of ‘just one last time.’

I cautiously stepped into the hospital room, guiding my way by the gentle glow of the dim lighting. The damned spacious room was suffocatingly quiet.

I stood beside the sleeping Han Jung-woo. Ordinarily, he would have stirred and opened his eyes at the unfamiliar presence, but he remained still, even with me right next to him.

Seeing his peaceful face, devoid of even the slightest tremor, I let out a sigh of relief. It was better this way. I hadn’t intended to converse with him, anyway.

‘So, he really was in an accident.’

I carefully lifted the blanket, revealing an arm wrapped in bandages. While I couldn’t pull back his hospital gown to examine further, it was clear he was more seriously injured than I had imagined.

“He’s definitely a different person…”

I reached out and gently poked the sleeping Han Jung-woo’s cheek. His skin, usually so lustrous, was slightly parched, likely from lying still for so long.

Even in this state, Han Jung-woo still shone.

‘No, the shell is Seon Woo-jung.’

Since Seon Woo-jung was the one who had played Han Jung-woo, it was natural that their outward appearance would be the same. Yet, there was a subtle difference. Perhaps it was due to the different emotions I felt when looking at Seon Woo-jung versus Han Jung-woo.

‘It’s truly strange. His appearance is identical, but Han Jung-woo feels like a mere stranger.’

If it were him lying here instead of Han Jung-woo, I wouldn’t be this composed. Nor would I have been able to come here so easily.

Indeed, what right did I have to be here?

‘Shall I leave now?’

Having confirmed that Han Jung-woo was more or less fine, my business here was concluded. Now, if I simply stood up and left, I would never encounter Han Jung-woo again, just as I had declared with such affected confidence.

In a few days, I would be out of this country, and Han Jung-woo, having overcome his accident, would meet Jung Hee-soo as planned and live happily.

Yes, if only I disappeared from this place, everyone would be happy.

Even myself.

“Take care, Mr. Han Jung-woo.”

Just as I was about to turn away, having left a crisp farewell, someone seized my arm. Startled, I spun around. Han Jung-woo, who had been asleep moments before, was holding onto me.

“Mr. Han Jung-woo…?”

I cautiously called his name, but no reply came. Thinking he might have simply grabbed me in his sleep, I tried to push his hand away, only to find Han Jung-woo’s eyes now open and fixed on me.

“Are you conscious?”

“……”

“Mr. Han Jung-woo?”

I called out to Han Jung-woo several times, but still, there was no response. Looking closely, his eyes were open, but his gaze was unfocused. He didn’t seem to be fully lucid yet.

‘Should I call a doctor?’

I even forgot that I had snuck in here and was about to go summon a doctor. However, Han Jung-woo wouldn’t release my arm, preventing me from moving even a single step.

“I’ll go get a doctor, so please just let go of my hand—”

“—”

“What?”

“—”

His lips were moving, forming words, but nothing was audible. I leaned in close to hear him clearly, but only the sound of his ragged breathing filled the quiet room.

Upon checking, I realized Han Jung-woo had fallen back asleep in the interim.

‘He only woke for a moment.’

I gently pushed Han Jung-woo’s hand away, and it fell limply onto the bed. As I was about to tuck it neatly under the blanket, I paused, noticing our hands still touching.

‘He’s a completely different person.’

Calming my wavering heart, I released Han Jung-woo’s hand.

Our coincidental encounter ended here.