An Unexpected Farewell

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Farewell

The story begins with a tense atmosphere inside a car amidst heavy rain. Hyun and his wife, Yuna, are having a heated argument. They blame each other as their relationship has grown cold due to their busy lives.

"Can we ever go back to how we used to be?" Yuna's voice trembles, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Hyun grips the steering wheel tightly, frustration evident in his sharp breathing. The rain pounds against the windshield, mirroring the storm brewing between them. His jaw clenches as he tries to keep his focus on the road, but the pain in Yuna's voice tugs at something deep within him.

"Do you even care anymore?" Yuna whispers, barely audible over the downpour.

He exhales harshly. "Of course, I care! But what do you want me to do, Yuna? Drop everything? Just to prove a point?" His voice rises, the weight of unspoken emotions pressing heavily on both of them.

A brief silence fills the car, tension suffocating. Then, Yuna's breath hitches. "I never wanted you to drop everything, Hyun. I just wanted to feel like I still matter."

Hyun, still furious, takes his eyes off the road for a second, turning to look at her—

BLINDING LIGHTS. A loud crash follows. The sound of metal twisting, glass shattering. A piercing scream that is abruptly cut off. The world fades to black.

When Hyun opens his eyes, he finds himself in a hospital room, but something feels off. His limbs feel lighter, his body free from the exhaustion that had plagued him for years. Panic sets in as he forces himself up, his breathing ragged.

He has returned to his 22-year-old self.

His heart pounds wildly as he stares at the unfamiliar yet familiar surroundings. Memories of his life with Yuna flood his mind—moments of laughter, quiet nights, their first apartment together—yet something is missing. A dull ache blooms in his chest as he realizes he can't recall certain details. The memories feel distant, slipping away like grains of sand through his fingers.

Is this a second chance, or a cruel trick of fate?

Chapter 2: A Familiar Awakening

Hyun's breathing was erratic as he sat up in the hospital bed, his mind racing. His fingers trembled slightly as he reached for the IV line attached to his arm. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled his nostrils, grounding him in the present.

"What... happened?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.

Memories of the accident flashed through his mind—the argument, the rain, Yuna's tearful face, the blinding headlights. But as he looked around, confusion gripped him tighter. This wasn't the same hospital room. The walls were a dull beige, not the pristine white he had seen before. His reflection on the glass window revealed a younger version of himself—22 years old.

His heart pounded as he pushed himself off the bed, staggering toward the small mirror by the cabinet. He ran his fingers through his hair, realizing how much fuller and unlined his face looked. The weight of years of stress and exhaustion was gone. It was as if time had rewound itself.

"No... this can't be real."

The door creaked open, and a nurse entered, surprised to see him awake. "You shouldn't be moving yet, Hyun. You were unconscious for two days after the accident."

"Accident?"

The nurse gave him a sympathetic smile. "You were hit by a car while trying to save a cat in front of your campus. You were lucky—only a mild concussion and some bruises."

Hyun's stomach twisted. A cat? Not a car crash with Yuna? His breath hitched as he clutched his head. The memories were there, but they were slipping, fading at the edges like a dream dissolving upon waking.

If I saved a cat... does that mean Yuna is still alive?

Hope and dread tangled inside him. If he was truly in the past, then maybe—just maybe—he had a chance to fix everything.

But what if the memories of his future slowly faded away, slipping beyond his grasp before he could make sense of them?

Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past

Hyun sat in the hospital bed, staring at his trembling hands. The weight of his reality pressed against his chest, suffocating yet electrifying. The sterile hospital room felt unfamiliar, yet his body remembered the pain from the accident. A cat. That was what had brought him here, not the crash with Yuna.

"This is real... isn't it?"

His voice cracked as he whispered to himself, afraid to disrupt the fragile illusion. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms. If this was truly his past—if fate had given him a second chance—then he had to act. He had to find Yuna.

Just as his resolve hardened, the door swung open, and a familiar figure rushed in. His best friend, Jisoo, panting as if he had sprinted the entire way.

"Hyun! Damn it, you scared me half to death!" Jisoo's voice was laced with both relief and frustration. "Why the hell would you jump in front of a moving car for a stray cat?!"

Hyun blinked, processing the raw emotion on his friend's face. He hadn't seen Jisoo in years—not like this, not before time had hardened him. The realization made Hyun's throat tighten.

"I just... I couldn't let it die," Hyun murmured, his voice barely audible.

Jisoo scoffed, shaking his head. "Still as reckless as ever. You better be grateful that cat ran off safely, or I'd be even more pissed at you."

A dry chuckle escaped Hyun's lips. It was odd, the familiarity of it all. But beneath Jisoo's nagging, there was warmth—a warmth he hadn't felt in years. His friend had always been there, looking out for him in ways Hyun never truly appreciated before.

"Jisoo… what day is it today?"

Jisoo frowned at the odd question but answered anyway. "March 15th, 2014. Why?"

Hyun's blood ran cold. One year. He had exactly one year before he lost Yuna. Before their love turned into bitter regrets. His fingers curled tighter into the bedsheet.

"Nothing… just needed to make sure."

Jisoo eyed him warily. "You sure you didn't hit your head too hard?"

Hyun forced a smile, shaking his head. "No. I just… I need to fix things."

Jisoo scoffed. "Fix what?"

Hyun didn't answer. He was already lost in thought. He needed to see Yuna. He needed to remember everything before it was too late.

And more than anything—he needed to save their love before it slipped through his fingers again.