FALLEN WONDERLAND 「LEE SOO HYUK & SEO YEA JI FICTION」

8: Confronting Chaos: Dealing with a Troubled Sister

Author's Note: In this work of fiction, Lee Soo Hyuk has a younger sister who remains unnamed. For the purposes of the story, she is referred to as Su-Ah. Additionally, the relationship between Lee and his close friend Park Seo-Joon is a fictional creation and not based on any known real-life friendship.

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Lee Soo Hyuk gazed intently at his reflection in the enormous mirror that dominated one wall of the gym situated within his apartment. Beads of perspiration clung to his forehead and trickled down his face, evidence of the exertion from his rigorous workout. His breath was heavy and labored as he tried to catch it.

As the sweat accumulated, a few droplets detached themselves from his skin, tumbling through the air towards the floor. Time seemed to slow down as Lee Soo Hyuk's eyes followed their descent, captivated by the simple yet mesmerizing display. Each droplet made a soft but distinct sound as it struck the polished gym floor, creating tiny, transient craters on the surface.

With every successive drop, the growing pool of sweat near his feet gradually expanded, its shape constantly changing as more droplets joined the formation. The puddle reflected the dim overhead lights, shimmering and rippling as if it were a miniature, fluid mirror of its own.

As Lee Soo Hyuk gazed into the distance, his mind meandered through an array of random thoughts, momentarily losing himself in the fleeting beauty of the ephemeral phenomenon that unfolded before him. It had been just about a week since he had returned to the bustling metropolis of Seoul, and he had slipped back into the familiar rhythm of his daily routine.

Much to his relief, the past week had been relatively undemanding, providing him with ample opportunities to rest and recharge. He could feel the subtle undercurrent of rejuvenation coursing through his veins, a gentle reminder that it was time to refocus his energies and tackle the tasks ahead.

Soo Hyuk couldn't help but acknowledge that his brief respite was well-timed and much-needed. Now, with renewed vigour and a clear mind, he knew it was time to consult his schedule and determine the next steps on his journey. As he prepared to dive back into the whirlwind of activity that awaited him, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose and excitement for what the future held.

As he was lost in his distant thoughts and memories, the sharp ring of his iPhone shattered the momentary peace and brought him back to reality. Disoriented, he turned around and began to walk towards the bench where his belongings lay scattered. There, amidst a bottle of water and a towel, lay his ringing iPhone. He picked up the towel with his left hand, intending to wipe away the beads of sweat on his forehead. With his right hand, he grabbed his phone and glanced at the caller ID, only to see that it was his younger sister on the line.

As Lee picked up the phone, he sighed. He asked impolitely, "What do you want?" He adored his sister, but recently it seemed like she was always in some sort of difficulty, and he was the one who had to deal with the fallout.

Although he was financially supporting his parents and sister since he became a model, he was fully aware of his responsibility for spoiling his family, especially his sister. He could always remember his family having financial problems when he was growing up because they were from a middle-class household in Gwacheon-si, South Korea. In the hopes that it would help Lee in his life, his mother urged that Lee join a variety of extracurricular classes, including swimming and piano lessons. And he had to acknowledge that the majority of those classes had helped.

When Lee Soo-hyuk was 20 years old, he began his modeling career. He was being scouted by an agency while roaming the streets of Seoul at the time, while he was a student at Konkuk University and desired to become an actor. The agent was drawn to his tall, thin frame and distinctive appearance, and urged him to pursue modeling.