In a parallel universe, Woo Do Hwan is not a South Korean actor but a young man born in North Korea. Do Hwan's life has been a series of escape attempts, survival strategies, and small victories over hardship. Together with his mother, he fled North...
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Do Hwan pulled his coat tighter around himself, trying to hold back the shiver running through him. The narrow, cobblestone street leading to the laundromat was empty at this hour. His fingers were still cold, even though he'd shoved them deep into his pockets. Belgian autumns weren't kind, especially not to someone whose only warmth was a thin jacket and a threadbare scarf he'd picked up from a lost-and-found bin weeks ago.
The laundromat was illuminated with harsh fluorescent lights, and from the window, he could see only a single customer, a middle-aged man folding towels. But what caught Do Hwan's attention wasn't the man—it was the small handwritten note taped to the glass door. "Roommate wanted," it read in careful, slanted writing, along with an address and a name: Elise.
Do Hwan's heart raced, a mixture of nerves and cautious hope. He had been surviving on the edge for months now, scraping together money from odd jobs or picking up bottles from the alleys of Brussels. Each day was a battle against hunger and cold, each night haunted by memories and fear. But tonight, he could no longer stay at the hostel. He couldn't afford it, not with what little he had left. And, more than that, he couldn't risk running into him.
Taking a deep breath, Do Hwan stepped inside, his movements silent, almost invisible. He approached the door, hesitating. He'd tried to stay out of sight and out of trouble ever since he arrived in Belgium. The last thing he needed was anyone looking too closely at him or asking questions he couldn't answer. But... maybe this was his chance to finally settle somewhere, to have a door he could lock at night, a place to call his own.
The laundromat attendant looked up as he walked in. The man gave him a long look, his eyes lingering on Do Hwan's thin frame and tired face, but said nothing, returning to his towels. Do Hwan swallowed and took down the address from the note, memorizing it carefully before slipping back out into the night.
The apartment building wasn't far, a short walk in the chilly night air. It was an older building, worn around the edges but sturdy, with ivy climbing up one side. Do Hwan made his way up to the second floor, his heart pounding as he stood outside the door marked with the same name: Elise Dubois.
His knuckles hovered over the door for a moment before he finally knocked. He half-expected silence, maybe even an annoyed voice telling him to go away. Instead, a young woman opened the door, her gaze open and curious. She was about his age, with dark hair pulled back loosely, strands of it framing her face. There was a certain kindness in her eyes, though she looked as weary as he felt.
"Yes?" she asked in English, looking him up and down.
Do Hwan took a shaky breath. English wasn't his strongest language, but he'd learned enough over the past few months to get by.
"Are you... are you Elise? I saw your ad. For the roommate," he managed, stumbling slightly over the words.
Her eyebrows lifted slightly, and her expression softened. "Oh, yes! Come in, please."
