Students took turns going up on the podium to perform their pieces. Since each performance was so brief, one student would follow another very quickly. Just now, the final student’s performance ended.
“Great job, everyone. I could really feel how hard you all prepared.”
Lee Hye-yoon stood where the students had just performed, addressing the class and complimenting their efforts on the monologue assignments.
By chance, her eyes fell on Han Sung-tae. Their eyes met and exchanged a brief glance before she looked away. For a moment, he noticed her lingering look.
[“The One Who Defined His Era admires the unwavering intensity in your gaze.”]
“Not a gaze battle,” Han Sung-tae thought as he shook his head at the message.
He was grateful to Lee Hye-yoon—someone like her wasn’t worth competing with over glances.
In his mind, he silently argued back, “Why do these messages keep popping up?”
Then he suddenly realized he was experiencing his past—but even that realization couldn’t explain why the messages kept appearing. They only showed up for him and kept changing their content.
They bore familiar names—the Founder of Jeolkwon-do, The Thousand Faces—titles that every actor would recognize, like legendary figures who once reigned over an era as if they were gods. It was as if these exalted beings had come to speak to him.
“This is all so confusing.”
With the voices and stares of the classroom around him, Han Sung-tae collected his things and stood up. He decided he needed to get to a quiet place to clear his thoughts.
“Are you heading home?”
A familiar voice reached his ears just as he was about to leave. He paused when he saw Park Chang-sik blocking his path.
“Uh, yeah, I’m about to head home.”
“If you’re going home, you don’t have any plans later today, do you?”
Park Chang-sik stepped in front of him again. As Han Sung-tae looked over, a group of Park Chang-sik’s friends approached.
“I’m meeting someone later—I’m just going home to change.”
“Oh, really? That’s a shame. I was thinking of grabbing a drink together.”
“If only I didn’t already have plans, I’d join you. Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. I know you had another commitment. It sucks, but we’ll have to go without you.”
Their friends nodded and smiled at Park Chang-sik’s words. Even though they said they were disappointed, their expressions didn’t really show any true regret. Han Sung-tae knew well that Park Chang-sik had always looked down on him. In the past, Park Chang-sik would dismiss him or even use him to boost his own image.
“He’s always been that way, unlucky then and now.”
Han Sung-tae clicked his tongue softly as he watched Park Chang-sik and his group walk away, not even giving him a backward glance. He never saw the heavy, regretful look in Park Chang-sik’s eyes when he did look back.
“Hey, what are you doing—aren’t you coming along?”
“Who are you giving that look to? Got someone special on your mind?”
“That’s Han Sung-tae.”
“Han Sung-tae? Oh, you mean that guy with that performance earlier?”
As the conversation turned to him, Park Chang-sik glanced away. “Let’s get going.”
“Uh, yeah, alright. Let’s go.”
“We don’t have any more classes today—let’s just go out and blow off some steam tonight.”
Even though his friends tried to shift the conversation as if they’d never cared about Han Sung-tae, he could tell from their expressions that Park Chang-sik’s dismissal was intentional.
[“The One Who Defined His Era observes your living situation with a peculiar expression.”]
[“The Thousand Faces says that real acting isn’t affected by your surroundings.”]
[“The One Who Creates Laughter in Tragedy recalls bittersweet yet familiar memories.”]
No sooner had Han Sung-tae stepped into his shabby apartment that messages began pouring in. As he read them, he scratched his cheek. Despite their differing content, they all agreed on one thing: his house was in terrible shape.
“Time to start cleaning,” he murmured.
Back in his past, Han Sung-tae never cared much for cleaning. He always thought practicing or working was a better use of his time. Perhaps that’s why his place was so cluttered with trash—there wasn’t even room for safe passage. Rolling up his sleeves, he started tidying up.
“I’ve always been living in a mess.”
While cleaning, he couldn’t help but reflect on the irony of his situation. Though he’d unexpectedly returned to the past—a sudden opportunity he never anticipated—one thing was certain: he could act again. That was something he clung to.
He still didn’t understand exactly why he had been sent back, but he couldn’t afford to waste any more time. If he had the chance to act again, nothing else really mattered.
“Yes, it’s time to start over.”
He needn’t think about anything else. His new life, different from his previous one, depended solely on his determination to live it fully.
[“The One Who Defined His Era is horrified by the seemingly endless piles of trash.”]
He had a chance to live a new life now—one enriched by memories of the future and supported by the gods of acting.
Beep, beep, click.
Right in the middle of his cleaning, he heard the front door open.
“I’m here… What are you up to?”
“Cleaning.”
“You… You’re cleaning?”
Kim Min-seok stepped in, looking incredulous. Up until now, Han Sung-tae had never cleaned his place on his own. Though he usually didn’t mind the mess, Kim Min-seok always helped tidy up when he visited.
“What’s gotten into you? You can’t keep living like this forever.”
“You’re right. I just can’t stand this anymore.”
“Well, you’ve never cleaned before. You know, sometimes when I come over, it’s like a pigsty in here.”
“Hey, what’s wrong with a pigsty?”
Kim Min-seok laughed. “I don’t know why, but it’s about time. I’ll help you out.”
“I could do it alone.”
“Isn’t it better to work together? Let’s clean up quickly and then eat—I already ordered some chicken.”
Hearing that, Han Sung-tae smiled. “Some things never change.”
Just as in the past, whenever Kim Min-seok visited, he always brought chicken. Even now, seeing him with the delivery made Han Sung-tae feel grateful. Without a friend like Kim Min-seok, who knows if he could have managed this far.
“Hey, don’t you have any drinks at home?”
“Beverages? Just check the fridge.”
“Alright.”
How could one really remember the state of a fridge after twenty years? Han Sung-tae wondered. As he spoke, Kim Min-seok opened the fridge.
“There’s not even any water. Let’s go to the convenience store.”
“Okay.”
“While we’re there, let’s grab some water and a few drinks.”
Kim Min-seok muttered as he rummaged through the kitchen. Han Sung-tae nodded, then tied up the trash bag securely.
With all the cleaning finished, they planned to drop off the trash and then run by the convenience store.
“Let’s head out.”
Han Sung-tae said, and Kim Min-seok nodded in agreement.
Click.
The two left the house, each carrying a trash bag.
“Hey, what are you doing this Saturday?”
Crunch.
Kim Min-seok asked while munching on his chicken. His question made Han Sung-tae pause. Though he knew he’d returned to the past, he wasn’t sure about the exact date.
“Wait a minute.”
He suddenly remembered that he didn’t have his smartphone with him all this time—the device that was perfect for checking dates and schedules. After rummaging in his bag, he found his smartphone, a model that had long been discontinued in his future.
“It’s been ages,” he thought as he turned on the screen. The phone wasn’t locked; its wallpaper was a poster from the very first drama he’d ever watched.
“Tuesday, September 6, 2022…”
Han Sung-tae muttered softly and then chuckled. The last date he remembered before his death was 2043. Now, having traveled back over twenty years, confirming it himself felt surreal.
“So, there’s no plan for Saturday?”
He checked the calendar—it showed no appointments.
“Right now, I don’t have any plans.”
“Really? Then let’s go somewhere together.”
Kim Min-seok’s voice made Han Sung-tae tilt his head. Suddenly, Kim Min-seok was suggesting they go out together.
“Where?”
“You’ll see. I’m not taking you to some strange place. When your big brother says ‘let’s go,’ you should come along. You have a good face and a great figure—might as well put them to good use.”
Han Sung-tae was puzzled. Why was his appearance suddenly a topic of conversation?
Memories of the past weren’t completely clear; even someone with a great memory wouldn’t recall every detail from twenty years ago, especially when every day was so busy.
“Shouldn’t you at least tell me where we’re going?”
“Well… you know my sister’s shopping mall, right?”
Han Sung-tae nodded. He knew very well that Kim Min-seok’s sister, Kim Mi-so, ran an online shopping store.
“I’m looking for a model right now, and I haven’t found the perfect person yet. Since you’re someone I know, I figured I’d ask you.”
“Um.”
“Frankly, it might be more cost-effective to use you rather than hiring a professional model.”
“That could be true, but I’ve never done any modeling before. Wouldn’t it be better to hire someone with experience?”
Kim Min-seok tried to explain why he wanted to use Han Sung-tae. In his past life, Han Sung-tae had received similar proposals, but he had been too busy or felt it was too overwhelming, and he had turned them down without really listening.
“Actually, I think it would save money to have you do it.”
“That figures.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
Seeing Kim Min-seok’s slightly awkward smile, Han Sung-tae chuckled.
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