ch-5

Chapter 5: A Familiar Connection

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The spring air carried the scent of blooming flowers as children laughed and ran across the playground of Daechang Kindergarten, located in the quiet neighborhood of Cheonghwa-dong, in southern Seoul. Jihoon, now six years old, sat on the edge of a wooden bench, observing the other kids play. He was usually content with watching from a distance, his mind wandering between reality and the worlds he had created in his head. But today felt different.

"Hi, can I sit here?" a cheerful voice interrupted his thoughts.

Jihoon looked up and saw a boy around his age, with a bright smile and expressive eyes. The boy's chubby cheeks were flushed pink from running around, and there was a trace of mud on his uniform pants, indicating he'd been involved in some playful mischief.

"Sure," Jihoon replied quietly, shifting to the side to make space.

The boy plopped down beside him, his smile never fading. "I'm Song Joong-ki. What's your name?"

"Kim Jihoon," he answered, but something tugged at the back of his mind when he heard the boy's name. Song Joong-ki… The name felt oddly familiar, like an echo from a dream he couldn't quite remember.

"Jihoon-ah, why are you sitting here alone? Don't you want to play?" Joong-ki asked, his head tilting slightly as he looked at Jihoon curiously.

Jihoon hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm just… thinking."

"Thinking?" Joong-ki repeated, furrowing his brows as if trying to comprehend why someone would choose thinking over playing. "What's so fun about thinking?"

A small smile tugged at Jihoon's lips. "It helps me see things that aren't there. Things I want to make real someday."

Joong-ki blinked, considering Jihoon's words before breaking into a grin. "That's cool! But you know, if you play with me, you can make those things real now. We can pretend anything we want—like being superheroes, or warriors, or—"

"Storytellers?" Jihoon interjected softly.

Joong-ki's eyes lit up. "Yes! Storytellers who create amazing worlds!" He jumped up, grabbing Jihoon's hand. "Come on! Let's go create our own story!"

For the first time since he was reborn in this world, Jihoon felt a spark of excitement. He allowed Joong-ki to pull him to his feet, the two boys running towards the open field where the other children were playing. As they joined in, something clicked in Jihoon's mind. Song Joong-ki… could it be? Was this the same name as the famous actor from his past life's world? The one who had starred in Descendants of the Sun and countless other dramas?

Jihoon glanced at the boy beside him, who was now crouched low, pretending to be a warrior defending their imaginary castle. He couldn't be sure. This world was different in so many ways. Maybe the Song Joong-ki he knew didn't exist here, or maybe this boy would grow up to be someone completely different.

But it didn't matter. There was a strange sense of comfort in knowing him, as if they were destined to cross paths, regardless of the world they were in.

"Jihoon-ah, watch out!" Joong-ki shouted, breaking Jihoon's train of thought.

He ducked just in time to avoid a soft rubber ball flying towards him. The other kids laughed, and Jihoon found himself laughing along with them. It was a genuine, unrestrained laugh—something he hadn't experienced in a long time. Joong-ki's presence was warm and infectious, his playful energy drawing Jihoon out of his shell bit by bit.

They spent the rest of the afternoon chasing each other around the playground, pretending to be knights and storytellers battling invisible foes and creating adventures that existed only in their minds. By the time the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Jihoon realized he hadn't thought about his past life even once during those few hours.

"Joong-ki, let's be friends," Jihoon said impulsively as they both sat on the ground, catching their breath.

Joong-ki looked at him, eyes wide with surprise before a huge smile spread across his face. "Friends? Of course! We're best friends now, Jihoon-ah!" He held out his pinky finger, the universal symbol of a promise.

Jihoon chuckled and linked his pinky with Joong-ki's. "Best friends."

After that day, Jihoon's life took on a new rhythm. Every morning, he would wait eagerly for kindergarten, knowing that Joong-ki would be there. They played, shared stories, and even tried to write their own little scripts with childish handwriting and stick-figure drawings.

Their friendship was easy and effortless, bringing a sense of normalcy and joy to Jihoon's otherwise complex existence. As days turned into weeks, Jihoon found himself opening up more. Joong-ki's companionship became a bright spot in his life, a reminder that even in a world so different from the one he once knew, genuine connections could still be made.

One evening, as Jihoon sat in his small bedroom at home, staring at the stars outside his window, he felt a quiet sense of gratitude. His house, located in Cheonghwa-dong, wasn't large or extravagant. It was a modest two-bedroom apartment on the third floor of an old brick building. The neighborhood was typical of a middle-class area, with small local shops lining the streets and children's laughter filling the air.

From his window, Jihoon could see the glow of neon signs from nearby stores and hear the faint hum of traffic. It was a peaceful place, one that felt more like home every day.

"I'll change this world," Jihoon murmured to himself, his voice filled with quiet determination. "But I don't have to do it alone. I have a friend now."

With that thought, he lay back on his bed, staring up at the ceiling as sleep slowly overtook him. His journey had only just begun, but for the first time, Jihoon felt a glimmer of hope that perhaps, in this world, things would be different. He had a chance to start anew, with a friend by his side and a vision in his heart. Together, they would create stories that would leave a lasting impact on the world.