"Auntie!"
Hye-won cried out, overjoyed to see her Aunt Mi-sook.
The aunt who always loved and cherished Hye-won more than even her own mother. Even after Hye-won and Yoon Jae-ha fell out, Aunt Mi-sook never blamed Hye-won.
"My sweet Hye-won wouldn't have acted that way without reason. That brat Jae-ha must have done something wrong. Auntie knows," she used to say.
"Auntie! It's me, your Hye-won!"
"Auntie?"
Right. I'm Yoon Jae-ha right now.
"You brat. If you wanted to be erased from the family registry, you should've just said so earlier! Auntie!"
Aunt Mi-sook rushed over and smacked Hye-won's back with surprising force. It stung as if hit with a wooden back scratcher.
She used to laugh herself silly whenever Yoon Jae-ha got smacked like this. But now, she finally understood why he always looked like he was on the verge of tears.
"Auntie— I mean, Mom. Mom!"
"You brat. Didn't I tell you it's Saturday and I'm sleeping in? Why are you screaming at the crack of dawn?!"
"Oh, Mom, I'm sorry. It was a mistake. I had a nightmare. I'll keep my mouth shut now, promise. Please go back to sleep, okay?"
"..."
"I'm really sorry for waking you. Please, go get some rest. I'll stay quiet."
"...Jae-ha?"
Aunt Mi-sook's voice quivered suddenly as she grabbed Hye-won's face.
Her eyes scanned him with growing concern as she spoke.
"My baby, are you sick?"
"Huh? No, I'm fine. Why?"
"Then why are you talking so much? Did you hit your head in the bathroom?"
That's when Hye-won realized her mistake. Yoon Jae-ha was normally the quiet type. If silence were a person, it'd be him.
"Well... I'm turning eighteen soon. I figured it's time for a change. Maybe I should start expressing myself more."
Aunt Mi-sook's nostrils flared with emotion, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Is that really worth crying over? But then Hye-won remembered her aunt's old complaints.
"If only our Jae-ha were half as outspoken as Hye-won, Auntie wouldn't worry so much. He never says when he's hurt. Remember when his appendix burst, and he didn't say a word?"
Looking at her now, Hye-won felt a pang of guilt and scratched her temple awkwardly.
"So, what do you want to eat? I'll make whatever you like," Aunt Mi-sook offered.
"...I'm okay, really."
"Don't be shy. If my boy wants to change, his mom's got to step up too."
Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea after all. Becoming a good son for 49 days—how hard could it be?
"Then… steamed eggs and kimchi stew?"
"Our boy only ever talks about Hye-won. Perfect, let's call her down too. Tell her I made her favorites—she'll come running."
"Uh, yeah, sure."
Hye-won chuckled awkwardly as Aunt Mi-sook left the room, humming happily.
She grabbed the old cellphone on the desk and quickly tapped out a message.
[Wake up—I mean, come to your room… No, my room… Just come downstairs.]
Sighing heavily after hitting send, Hye-won braced herself. It was only the first day, and she already felt drained.
"Ugh, whatever. Let's shower."
Stressing over it wouldn't change a thing. She shook her head and headed to the dresser to grab some clothes.
Then she paused.
Realization dawned, and her eyes widened in horror.
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Hye-won faced a dire crisis: She desperately needed a shower.
She'd woken up drenched in sweat. Maybe from the weather, maybe from tossing and turning—or maybe it was meeting a grim reaper and coming back from the dead.
Swallowing nervously, she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror.
That face—still ridiculously good-looking. Most idols wouldn't dare stand next to Yoon Jae-ha.
She glanced around the empty bathroom, then struck a dramatic pose like a model in a shaving commercial.
Her hand swept from jawline to collarbone. As much as it embarrassed her, even she had to admit—wow.
"Damn, I'd fall for me too."
Admiring herself, her fingers accidentally hooked her shirt collar.
Was this a sign from the universe? She pinched the fabric and tugged it up.
"What the hell? What high schooler has a body like this?"
Solid pecs, defined abs, and obliques—it was unfair. Her cheeks flushed as she fanned her face.
Despite the ridiculous situation, she couldn't deny a flutter of excitement at seeing the younger Yoon Jae-ha.
"Ugh, whatever. It's pointless now. Let's just shower."
Stupidity leads to humiliation, after all. She wasn't a teenager anymore—time to act her age.
She yanked off the shirt, squeezed her eyes shut, and stepped under the water.
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"Jae-ha, breakfast!"
Wobbling around post-shower, drying her hair, Aunt Mi-sook's voice called.
Hye-won's eyes widened at the breakfast spread. She pulled out a chair and exclaimed, "Mom, what's all this? Did you cook rice fresh too?"
"Of course! My boy's got to eat well. Did you contact Hye-won?"
"Yeah, I sent her a message. Whoa, this stew—so good!"
As she devoured the kimchi stew, Hye-won reflected on how distant she'd become from Aunt Mi-sook after falling out with Yoon Jae-ha.
The moms, living alone and relying on each other, had gotten caught in the crossfire of their children's fight. Looking back, Hye-won regretted it.
You better make up for it. I'm embarrassed to face Mi-sook thanks to you two, her mom had said.
Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Auntie. Hye-won had to fix things with Yoon Jae-ha—for their sake.
Sure, the situation was absurd, but how hard could it be?
As she shoveled rice into her mouth with determination, the door's keypad beeped and the front door opened.
Quick, light footsteps approached.
A small, pretty girl appeared—her.
"Why am I… so pretty?"
Dressed in pajamas and a thin cardigan, young Hye-won—her—stood there. Bed hair and all, she looked adorable.
Her skin glowed like a hard-boiled egg, dark circles gone, eyes sparkling.
She used to hate her looks compared to the tall, striking Yoon Jae-ha—never satisfied with her face.
But the old saying was true—youth's fleeting brilliance shines the brightest.
"My face—perfect!"
"Come eat," Hye-won—now Jae-ha—called.
Young Hye-won froze, still processing the situation.
"Come, Hye-won! I made your favorite—kimchi stew and steamed eggs!"
Aunt Mi-sook got up to grab a spoon. Finally, young Hye-won moved, though clearly in shock.
She stumbled over, whispering, "Wona… it's you, right? Are… you okay?"
Seeing the panic on her face, Hye-won knew they couldn't talk here.
"Mom, I'm going to chat with Hye-won real quick."
"Eat first—the stew's getting cold."
"Just a sec."
Dragging her younger self to Jae-ha's room, she shut the door quietly.
And there, sitting on the bed, was her old body—Hye-won's—wearing a stunned expression.