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Born between a Korean conductor father and an Austrian pianist mother, Geum Ji-okyeop.

Captivating ears with a melodious voice, attracting attention with unique hair and pupils, gripping hearts with a lovely, angelic smile.

As if gathering all the positive energy of the world.

She could have been called a shining beauty with clear eyes.

My first love.

Min Chaewon.

She is in the mirror.

“This doesn’t make any sense.”

Seeing my still furrowed brow, it’s definitely not a dream.

The phone clock shows today as April 9, 2023, just past mid-spring when the cherry blossoms have fallen.

Surprisingly, the bus I boarded crashed into a river on April 9, 2026. It was exactly three years from now.

I clearly time-traveled.

And it had to be an erroneous landing in Chaewon’s body.

God must have made a big mistake.

It’s true that I wanted to see Chaewon before I died, but inserting myself into the wrong timeline like this is troublesome.

“On that day… So I went home quietly….”

Even though I’ve experienced it once, suddenly going back three years. And in a completely different body.

My mind is a blank slate, and the confusing emotions just won’t calm down, making it hard to figure out where to start.

I did manage to get my phone back from my doppelganger to contact the professor.

Now what should I do?

“Let’s think about it one step at a time.”

Since the broken rib can’t be treated, I had decided to just monitor its progress during outpatient visits.

Chaewon helped me home today.

I remember her coming to accompany me for outpatient treatment next week.

Out of gratitude, I accepted help just once. I declined further assistance by saying I would be fine.

I even deliberately gave her the wrong time to go to the hospital.

“Oh.”

Yes, I remembered.

What kind of relationship I and Chaewon had at that time.

“It was awkward. Yeah.”

We were good friends who played together in the same neighborhood when we were young, but we grew apart as she went to school abroad from elementary to high school.

As time passed, about a month ago from now.

I happened to discover her playing the piano in a cafe I often visited.

The girl who had grown from a cute child into a mature lady still had the same warm emerald eyes reminiscent of a grassy field.

Her gentle yet neat and warm performance captivated me completely.

I followed her as she left the cafe amidst the applause of the guests.

We stopped at the bus stop.

Min Chaewon.

It’s me, Jung Siwoo.

Her response is probably something I will never forget.

“Who… was it?”

Of course, Chaewon, being so friendly, came looking for me at school after that day and apologized.

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you! Wow. I never knew it was you, Jung Siwoo, even in my dreams.”

But we had shared nothing since childhood.

Our conversation didn’t progress easily, and although we met a few times at the cafe afterward, it only led to awkward greetings.

Then, the bus we coincidentally took together got involved in a multiple collision accident, leading us to end up in the same hospital emergency room today.

“I remember everything roughly.”

We were already in an awkward situation.

Being oblivious, I even showed off unnecessarily.

As it’s my first time truly liking someone in my life, I didn’t want to show weakness in front of Chaewon.

Why did I refuse her offer to help with outpatient care?

The arrogance of a fool experiencing love for the first time is truly terrifying.

“…Shivers.”

By the way, that target of love has now become me.

I know best how intense Jung Siwoo’s current feelings are.

Thinking that they are directed towards me gives me goosebumps all over.

“Still….”

If I just follow what Chaewon told me, we will naturally go our separate ways.

That’s right.

Tears were shed, a sad tale unfolded, but Na and Chaewon could never be together.

It might have been my fault.

Or maybe it was because Chaewon never saw me as a man from the start.

“Yeah. Let’s meet again. Around cherry blossom season.”

She said she would come back someday, but Min Chaewon never returned to my side for nearly 2 years.

It felt like an unbelievable miracle to unexpectedly meet again after three years had passed.

I wanted to keep Chaewon by my side with all my heart.

But what if my future self dies, and I can’t go back to my original timeline?

What if the Chaewon who left never returns to this body?

I hear it. My voice.

The proposal of the awakened Jung Siwoo from three years later.

I felt like I might inadvertently take off the ring in a grand gesture.

I can’t let that happen, never.

“Even if things turned out this way by chance….”

Let’s not harbor ill intentions.

Chaewon has her own life.

Caught up in strange events, all I need to do is stick to what I remember.

Be faithful to Min Chaewon’s role.

…But.

Since I’ve come back to the past anyway.

Wouldn’t it be okay to prevent my death three years later?

Maybe that’s why heaven gave me this last chance.

“Can you hear me now?”

When the bus was submerged in water, and people were slowly dying.

The voice whispering to me undoubtedly belonged to Min Chaewon.

“The concert in three years….”

The concert prepared just for Chaewon.

It seems like this time it’s a plea to survive and listen.

Am I the only one who thinks that way?

Why did it have to be me?

My ears may have been easily swayed, but amidst all that, the weight of the story remained.

Min Chaewon’s first love had a strong influence on me.

If only Chaewon is here three years later, avoiding death might not be so difficult.

If I can just prevent myself from getting on the bus before the accident, that should be enough.

“Since I can’t actively appeal to Chaewon. It should be fine if I don’t give her any openings.”

As I say this, my heart twinges and aches.

It’s all true.

From Siwoo’s perspective at the time, Min Chaewon was a stunning woman. In contrast, Siwoo was a man with many shortcomings.

A man with low self-esteem can’t help it.

When faced with a perfect woman, he shuts down his infinite potential, thinking, “She wouldn’t even look at someone like me!”

Surprisingly, despite spending quite some time with Chaewon after today, I have no memory of actively taking the lead or guiding anything.

If it weren’t for the bright-eyed, positively energetic Min Chaewon, there would have always been silence between us.

That’s how passive I was back then.

In stark contrast, Min Chaewon shone brightly.

“Well… I should contact the professor first.”

I need to inform the old-fashioned professor who loves alcohol that Siwoo’s ribs were injured in an accident.

Upon hearing about lesson cancellation, he will surely storm out of the campus.

Drip, drip.

As soon as the continuous signal sound stopped.

— Siwoo! What time is it now! Until what time did I tell you to come for the lesson! Do you have to watch the professor drink while teaching the lesson!

An imitation of a professor imitating a vocal music professor.

“Hello!”

I break away from the listless voice of Siwoo.

I tried my best to portray Chaewon.

Bright, cheerful, full of energy.

Because that’s Min Chaewon.

— Who is this lovely lady with such a melodious voice?

“My name is Min Chaewon.”

— Is she Siwoo’s girlfriend?

I hope so.

…No, that’s not it.

“No, we’re just friends from the neighborhood.”

— Siwoo had such a lovely female friend with this beautiful voice. I’ve never heard of her.

“We’re not extremely close… Just acquaintances!”

— Hmm. Is that so? Of course, that makes sense.

Usually playful and sometimes teasing, it seemed accurate.

Feeling particularly irritable today.

Is it because I’m hearing my own story from someone else’s perspective?

“It’s not that, but have you seen the news? I coincidentally took the same bus as Siu, and there was a multiple collision accident…”

— An accident?! No way, did that jerk Jung Siu die?!

Despite knowing it’s just out of concern, I couldn’t help but react.

Our professor, with words differing from thoughts, an angel in human form when criticizing people, was unavoidable.

“Professor!!”

— Oh, you startled me. Why are you shouting like that?

“… I’m sorry! Anyway, he didn’t die. He injured his ribs, so he said today’s lesson might be tough. He’s taking painkillers and lying down now.”

The professor muttered slightly away from the phone.

— My child should’ve called earlier. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have canceled our plans.

I hear you, Professor.

— Oh, thank you for letting me know, Min Chaewon. Could you please tell Siu to call me directly tomorrow?

“Yes.”

— Thank you so much for relaying the message, Chaewon. If Siu pretends to be sick and does something strange, let me know. My number is—.

Our conversation with the usually gentle voice of our professor ends here.

Not one to reveal personal matters, but whenever it involves me, he turns into a strange old man.

The gossip just now was because Jung Siu had an accident, not because Chaewon contacted on his behalf.

Message delivered. Today’s tasks are done.

“Was our next meeting in a week?”

How did she know our house?

That day, Chaewon coincidentally appeared at the bus stop in front of our house and accompanied me to the hospital.

Nothing eventful happened; we quietly went to the hospital together and that was it.

I remember having lunch together.

“Let’s refrain from unnecessary actions.”

It would be awkward to provide opportunities for misunderstandings by appearing overly interested.

Next spring, we must naturally part ways, and in three years, prevent the accident.

That’s my mission. Let’s not forget.

“Still, nothing out of the ordinary yet.”

With a slightly lighter heart, I walked back to the emergency room where I lay.

As soon as I opened the door, I saw my tense self as if waiting.

“I-I’m sorry, Chaewon… Ouch.”

I trembled from the rib pain, as if trying to apologize after waiting.

Seeing myself like that, I put on a bright expression and mimicked Chaewon’s usual tone.

“What are you sorry for?”

Upon hearing those words, darkness quickly clouded my face.

“Uh…. I mean….”

Having lived as Jung Siu for 24 years, I knew without deep thought what excuse I was preparing right now.

Three years ago, I was trying to make a pathetic apology to Chaewon.

Trying to apologize without even knowing what I did wrong.

Hastily, I picked up the words I just said.

“Oh, no! There’s no need to apologize! Why are you apologizing?!”