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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The late afternoon sun cast an amber glow over Brussels, glinting off the edges of the buildings and illuminating every cobblestone on the narrow streets. Do Hwan once again sat at the windowsill of the small, shared apartment he now called home, looking out over the street with a cigarette pinched between his fingers. His reflection, slightly gaunt and pale, stared back at him from the glass, a reminder of the weight he now carried—one he could neither ignore nor share.
He took a slow drag, feeling the burn in his lungs. Since arriving in Belgium, survival had become his sole purpose. The city was a beautiful, foreign world that had greeted him with indifference and a hardness he was still learning to navigate.
On his first night in Belgium, he had been attacked by a man—a drunken, violent stranger—who had left him bruised and broken in more ways than one. Weeks had passed since then, but his body still bore the memory. The nausea, the exhaustion, and the relentless fever that had wracked him in the following days... It had been only recently that he could put a name to the sickness.
Pregnant. The word still sounded foreign, impossible. And yet, as he held the small test he had managed to purchase with his last few euros, he knew the truth was undeniable. Now, sitting here, he could feel the weight of that truth pressing down on him, an invisible burden that grew with each passing day.
The door to the small apartment creaked open, and Elise entered, carrying a bag of art supplies along with bread and vegetables. She paused, looking at him as he stared out the window, lost in thought.
"You know," she said softly, breaking the silence, "sitting there smoking isn't going to help you feel any better."
Do Hwan looked up, startled, and quickly stashed the cigarette into an ashtray. Elise gave him a knowing look as she set the groceries down.
"You don't have to hide anything from me," she added, unpacking vegetables and a loaf of bread. "We're in this together now, aren't we?"
Do Hwan's lips curled into a small, grateful smile. Elise was the closest thing he had to family here. A stranger, yes, but one who had somehow offered him a place to stay. He wasn't sure why she'd agreed to share her apartment, though he suspected it was partly out of kindness, and partly out of practicality—rent in Brussels was not cheap.
He leaned back, watching her. "I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. But I don't want to be a burden."
Elise turned, her face softening. "You're not a burden, Do Hwan. You're just... stuck in a situation you didn't ask for." She hesitated, as if weighing her next words. "You know, I've been thinking about this. About... everything. You need to get your papers sorted. Proper documentation. Without it, you'll never get a job, and... you'll be running forever."
Do Hwan sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. "I've tried, Elise. Believe me, I have. Every office, every official I spoke to, they just..." he trailed off, frustration tightening his voice. "They don't trust me. They think I'm here for... I don't even know what."
"I know," she replied softly. "But you can't give up now. We'll go back tomorrow, and I'll help you."
His gaze shifted to her, meeting her eyes. "Why are you helping me?"
She shrugged, looking out the window herself now. "Maybe because I know what it feels like to have nowhere to go."
They lapsed into silence, each lost in thought as the sounds of the city floated up from below. Eventually, Do Hwan rose from the windowsill and took the bread she had set out. They ate in a comfortable silence, and for a fleeting moment, he felt almost normal, almost at peace. But that peace shattered when his hand brushed against his stomach, the swell there unmistakable.
~
The next morning, Elise nudged him awake just as the first light of dawn crept into the room.
"Get up," she whispered. "We've got a busy day ahead. The earlier we get there, the better chance we have at speaking to someone who can help."
Do Hwan rubbed the sleep from his eyes, feeling his stomach twist, though he wasn't sure if it was morning sickness or nerves. He dressed quietly, trying to mask the shape his body was taking on beneath his oversized coat. When he looked in the mirror, he barely recognized himself.
The walk to the immigration office was tense. Do Hwan kept his head down, his hands shoved into his pockets, trying to make himself invisible in the flow of pedestrians. When they arrived, the waiting room was nearly empty, and Elise took his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"Just be honest with them," she murmured. "Tell them everything. I'll help translate if you need."
He nodded, trying to steady himself as they were called into an office. The official who sat behind the desk was a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and an air of impatience. Do Hwan's mouth went dry.
"Name?" the woman asked, barely glancing up from her computer.
"Woo Do Hwan," he answered, his voice shaking slightly. Elise glanced at him, giving him an encouraging nod.
"And what are you here for today?"
He took a deep breath. "I... I need asylum. I'm... I'm a refugee, from North Korea."
The woman finally looked up, eyeing him with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. "And you have no documentation?"
He shook his head. "Nothing official, no. My mother... she was the one who made all the arrangements for us to leave. But after we crossed into China, she..." his voice caught, and he swallowed hard. "She died."
Elise placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, and he felt a swell of gratitude. The woman's face softened, though only slightly.
"Without proper paperwork, it's nearly impossible to verify your story. Do you have any witnesses? Anyone who can confirm your identity?"
Do Hwan shook his head. "No. I'm alone."
The woman sighed, typing something into her computer. "This isn't going to be easy. But... we can submit a provisional request. It may take months, even years, for a final decision."
He nodded, feeling both relief and dread wash over him. It was a small step, but at least it was a step forward.
As they walked out of the office, Elise squeezed his shoulder. "See? You did it. One step closer."
He managed a small smile, but the weight of his reality hung over him, pressing down with every step. "Thank you." he whispered, his voice thick.
Back at the apartment that evening, Do Hwan lay awake, his hand resting protectively over his stomach. There was a long road ahead, filled with challenges he couldn't yet see. But for the first time, he felt a sliver of hope. And as he drifted into a restless sleep, he promised himself—and the life he carried—that he would do whatever it took to survive.
