Joon Woo's Past

Sijun grasped Joon Woo's arm, his grip firm but gentle. "Joon Woo, stop. You can't keep going down this path."

Joon Woo's eyes flashed with anger, his gaze piercing through the darkness. "You don't understand, Sijun. You don't know what it's like to be trapped in this endless cycle."

Sijun's voice remained calm and soothing. "I may not have experienced regression like you, but I've read your story, Joon Woo. I know your pain, your struggles. And I know you're not a monster."

Joon Woo's expression twisted, a mixture of frustration and desperation. "You think you know me? You think you can fix me?"

Sijun held his gaze steady. "I'm not here to fix you, Joon Woo. I'm here to remind you of who you once were. Of the humanity you've lost sight of."

For a moment, Joon Woo's mask slipped, and Sijun saw a glimmer of the man he used to be. The man Sijun had fallen in love with while reading the novel.

With a gentle tug, Sijun pulled Joon Woo back from the brink. "Come back to me, Joon Woo. Come back to yourself."

Joon Woo's eyes searched Sijun's face, as if seeking validation, seeking hope. Slowly, his tension eased, replaced by a hint of vulnerability.

"Tell me, Sijun," Joon Woo whispered, his voice barely audible. "What do you see when you look at me?"

Sijun's heart swelled with emotion. "I see the protagonist of my favorite novel. I see a man who's strong, brave, and kind. And I see a friend who needs my help."

Joon Woo's gaze lingered on Sijun's face before he nodded, a small, almost imperceptible movement.

Together, they stood there, the darkness around them receding, replaced by the faintest glimmer of hope.

---

As they stood there, the silence between them thickened, heavy with unspoken emotions. Sijun's words had struck a chord, and Joon Woo's expression softened.

"Let's get out of here," Joon Woo said finally, his voice low and rough.

Sijun nodded, and together they walked away from the darkness, into the flickering torchlight of the city.

Their footsteps echoed through the deserted streets as they navigated the winding alleys. Sijun glanced at Joon Woo, noticing the tension in his shoulders easing.

"Where are we going?" Sijun asked.

Joon Woo's gaze drifted ahead. "Somewhere I can think."

They arrived at a small, secluded teahouse on the outskirts of the city. Joon Woo pushed open the door, revealing a cozy interior filled with the soothing scent of herbal tea.

As they sat down, Sijun noticed the proprietor, an elderly woman with kind eyes, watching them with interest.

"Leave us," Joon Woo said curtly, and she nodded, disappearing into the back.

Sijun leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's going on, Joon Woo? What's driving you to this point?"

Joon Woo's eyes dropped, his voice laced with self-loathing. "I've lost count of how many times I've regressed. Each time, I lose a piece of myself. My memories fragment, and I'm left with...this."

He gestured to his masked face.

Sijun's heart ached. "You're still in there, Joon Woo. I've seen glimpses."

Joon Woo's gaze snapped up, his eyes burning with intensity. "You believe that?"

Sijun nodded. "I do. And I'll help you find your way back."

The air thickened as Joon Woo's eyes locked onto Sijun's. For a moment, Sijun felt the weight of Joon Woo's emotions, the depth of his desperation.

Then, like a shutter closing, Joon Woo's expression sealed off, and he looked away.

"I'll try," Joon Woo whispered, the words barely audible.

Sijun smiled softly. "That's all anyone can ask for."

---

Sijun leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Tell me about your regressions, Joon Woo. What's it like?" Even though he had read about it in the novel, he wanted to hear about it from Joon Woo.

Joon Woo's gaze drifted into the distance, his voice taking on a detached tone. "It starts with memories. Fragments of my past life, of people I've loved and lost. They fade with each regression, leaving me with...gaps."

He paused, collecting his thoughts.

"Sometimes, I remember faces but not names. Other times, I recall events but not the emotions attached to them. It's like trying to grasp sand – the harder I cling, the more it slips away."

Sijun's heart ached, imagining Joon Woo's struggle. "And the pain?" he asked gently.

Joon Woo's eyes flashed with anguish. "The pain stays. It's the one constant, a reminder of what I've lost. With each regression, it grows, a weight crushing me."

Sijun reached out, covering Joon Woo's hand with his own. "I'm here, Joon Woo. I'll help you hold on."

Joon Woo's gaze dropped to their intertwined hands, his expression softening.

"Sijun, you don't understand. I've seen the end. I've seen myself become...a monster. That's what I'm trying to prevent."

Sijun's grip tightened. "You won't become a monster, Joon Woo. Not while I'm here."

Their eyes met, and for an instant, Sijun saw the man Joon Woo once was, the man he could be again.

---

As Sijun's words hung in the air, Joon Woo's gaze drifted back to their intertwined hands. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he jerked his hand away.

"What's wrong?" Sijun asked, concern etched on his face.

Joon Woo's brow furrowed. "I...remember something."

Sijun leaned forward, his voice barely above a whisper. "What is it?"

Joon Woo's eyes searched the air, as if grasping for fleeting memories. "A name. Lee Haneul."

Sijun's eyes widened. "Your childhood friend?"

Joon Woo's gaze snapped back to Sijun. "How did you know?"

Sijun smiled softly "your story, remember?"

Joon Woo's expression softened, and he nodded. "Lee Haneul...I haven't thought of him in ages."

As Joon Woo spoke, his eyes seemed to glaze over, lost in the past.

"Sijun," Joon Woo whispered, his voice trembling. "I think I'm starting to remember."

Sijun's heart swelled with hope. "Hold on to it, Joon Woo. Hold on to yourself."

Joon Woo's gaze locked onto Sijun's, and for an instant, Sijun saw a glimmer of the man Joon Woo once was, the man he could be again.

---