after a scandal, wooyoung, a defunct k-pop idol, runs away to his sister's hometown. he craves anonymity, yet his quiet routine is disrupted by a chance encounter- a local with a warm presence, who offers him a glimpse of a life beyond the spotlight...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
wooyoung had a few guesses as to which old classmate he'd run into next, because really, it was unavoidable given how things had turned out so far.
what surprised him was that the person he'd met, who was now sitting opposite him at a table in jongho's chicken shop, was not from this town.
a name he hadn't heard in a while, but a person he'd thought of frequently. the sudden appearance of the person, whose life had diverged so dramatically from his own, triggered a flood of old memories and unspoken emotions. it was a stark reminder of the years that had passed and the changes they had all experienced.
"hongjoong?!" jongho exclaimed, standing by the table like a fool, holding a plate of fried chicken.
the surprise in jongho's voice was palpable, and for a moment, the lively ambiance of the chicken shop seemed to blur around them. it was as if time itself had paused to allow this reunion, and wooyoung couldn't help but be swept up in the nostalgia of it all.
hongjoong, who had been discussing his whereabouts with wooyoung, was taken aback by jongho's surprised expression and immediately stood up to hug his old friend.
"jongho!" he chuckled, gently slapping his back. "how have you been? it's been way too long!"
wooyoung smiled at the sight, feeling as if he had travelled back in time. a part of him longed for those simpler days, while another felt the weight of the time that had passed between them.
hongjoong had been a prominent figure in their group, exuding confidence, charisma, and creative energy. back then, he was the one who brought a sense of adventure and spontaneity to their group, constantly dreaming big and pushing the limits of their mundane routines. his love of art and design was evident even in his early years.
as wooyoung reflected on their high school days, he could almost see hongjoong's infectious enthusiasm and hear their laughter, which stood in sharp contrast to the complexities and distance that now defined their lives.
during this brief conversation, he learned that hongjoong had left korea after graduating high school to pursue his degree abroad, and had returned a few weeks ago. he apparently worked as an interior designer and had decided to come back to korea to continue his work.
the revelation of hongjoong's life journey added another layer to wooyoung's reflection—he had a friend who had travelled far and accomplished much, all while he himself was still caught up in the complexities of his own life.
"it has!" jongho exclaimed, still surprised, one hand on hongjoong's back and the other balancing the plate of chicken. the surprise on his face persisted, becoming more intense as the seconds passed. his lips were parted as if he had something else to say, but he couldn't bring himself to.
"feels like i'm back in 2016 again," wooyoung chuckled, turning in his chair to face the duo. "what are you doing in this town, anyway? do you live here now?"
