The soft morning sunlight streamed through the hospital window as Ji-ah zipped up the jacket Da-eun brought for her. The hospital stay had ended, but the mystery of this new world still hung in the air like a fog. Ji-ah glanced at her reflection, silently rehearsing the name "Ji-soo" in her head again.
Da-eun's phone buzzed. She quickly answered.
"Yes, Director. She's ready to leave. Can we expect a car soon?"
The director's voice on the other end was calm.
"Don't worry. I'll send someone reliable to pick her up."
Da-eun smiled and gave Ji-ah a thumbs-up.
"They're sending someone. We should be outside in 10 minutes."
---
🏢 At the Production Office…
Kang Hyun Min adjusted the strap of his bag, heading out of the production building with his usual effortless confidence when a familiar voice called out.
"Hyun Min!"
He turned. "Director?"
The director jogged over, slightly winded. "Glad I caught you."
Hyun Min raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
The director gave a hesitant smile. "I need a favor. Just one."
Hyun Min smirked. "That's what you said the last time."
The director chuckled nervously. "This one's easy. Ji-soo is being discharged today. Her van's down, and there's no one else available at the moment. Could you go pick her up from the hospital and drop her at her apartment?"
Hyun Min looked skeptical. "Her own team can't handle that?"
"They're all tied up," the director said quickly. "Besides, your face might calm her down. You know how she can be…"
Hyun Min sighed, running a hand through his hair. After a long pause, he muttered,
"Fine. Just drop-off. Nothing else."
"Exactly," the director said, clapping his shoulder. "Main entrance. She'll be waiting."
As Hyun Min walked away, the director exhaled in relief and quickly pulled out his phone again.
---
đź“ž A few minutes later...
"Jun-ha," the director whispered. "He agreed to pick her up."
"…What's the catch?" Jun-ha asked.
"She doesn't have a place to go," the director replied. "Her apartment's flooded. I need you to convince him to let her and her assistant stay at his place. But be subtle. Make it sound like it was his idea."
Jun-ha sighed deeply.
"This is emotional blackmail."
The director chuckled. "You're good at that, aren't you?"
---
The Conversation in the Car
Hyun Min adjusted his sunglasses and leaned back in the passenger seat, letting out a slow exhale as they pulled out of the company lot.
Jun-ha glanced at him from the driver's side, drumming his fingers on the wheel.
"You good?" he asked casually.
"As good as I can be," Hyun Min replied. "I agreed to chauffeur an actress I barely tolerate."
Jun-ha smirked. "Ah, the noble suffering of a top star."
Hyun Min shot him a sideways look. "Don't start."
A beat of silence passed before Jun-ha spoke again — this time more carefully.
"So… just wondering. After you drop her off, what happens?"
Hyun Min frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I mean," Jun-ha said, eyes still on the road, "her place isn't exactly livable right now."
Hyun Min turned his head fully. "What are you talking about?"
Jun-ha sighed, as if reluctant to reveal more. "Pipe burst. Flooding. Her assistant tried to handle it, but it's a mess. She can't stay there."
Hyun Min groaned. "Then why the hell is no one fixing it?"
"They are. But it'll take a couple days."
Jun-ha added quickly, "The director just didn't want to dump it all on you this morning."
"…And yet somehow, here I am," Hyun Min muttered.
Silence again.
Then Jun-ha said casually, "You have a guest room."
"No."
"Oh, come on."
"Absolutely not. My home is my only peaceful space," Hyun Min said firmly. "I'm already giving her a ride. That's enough."
Jun-ha stayed quiet for a moment, then shifted to a more personal tone.
"Remember when you got into that press scandal two years ago?" he said slowly.
Hyun Min narrowed his eyes. "Where are you going with this?"
"You didn't want to go home. I let you stay at my place for a week. Fed you. Let you take over my sofa and remote. Never once complained."
Hyun Min groaned, rubbing his temple. "Don't emotionally blackmail me, Jun-ha."
Jun-ha grinned. "Too late."
Another long pause. Then finally—
"Fine," Hyun Min said through gritted teeth. "Two days. That's it."
Jun-ha beamed. "That's the spirit."
"And if she even touches my record collection—"
"I'll tackle her myself," Jun-ha promised.
---
While the other side
The hospital corridor echoed softly beneath their steps as Ji-ah and Da-eun made their way toward the main entrance, a single suitcase rolling quietly behind them.
"Hey," Ji-ah asked, breaking the silence, "I've been meaning to ask… whose phone and laptop have you been using?"
Da-eun glanced down at her phone with a grin. "This world's Da-eun, I guess. Same face, same fingerprints, same everything."
She waved the device in her hand. "And she's a complete workaholic. I found an entire year's schedule for Ji-soo. Every event, drama schedule, PR meeting, even notes on how to deal with certain people. It's like she was your personal command center."
Ji-ah blinked. "That's… impressive."
"Terrifying, honestly," Da-eun laughed.
Ji-ah slowed a little, her voice more thoughtful. "Do you think we're in another dimension? Or… did our lives just somehow switch tracks? I mean, we're still us, right?"
Da-eun looked forward, quiet for a beat. "I'm not sure. I feel like me. But the world treats me like someone else. Maybe it's not about where we are, but who we choose to be."
Ji-ah nodded slowly. "I guess… we just have to live it as it comes."
Da-eun's phone buzzed with a call. She quickly answered, "Yes, Director?"
"Da-eun," his voice was calm, "Hyun Min is on his way to pick you both up. Also... you'll need to stay at his place for a few days. Ji-soo's apartment is under repair."
"What?! Director—wait a second—" Da-eun tried to interrupt.
Just then, a sleek black car pulled up in front of the hospital.
The timing made Ji-ah's stomach drop.
The back door opened, and out stepped Jun-ha, dressed in a crisp jacket and sunglasses, walking straight toward them.
Da-eun, still on the call, held a hand over the speaker and whispered, "He's here already?!"
The director's voice buzzed, "Don't argue. Just go with it. You'll be safe there," and then the line disconnected.
Da-eun sighed in disbelief. "That man hung up on me."
Ji-ah, stunned, leaned toward her. "Wait, are they seriously here to pick us up? Isn't this too much?"
Jun-ha approached them with a polite smile. "Good morning, ladies. I'll take your bags."
As he picked up the suitcase, Ji-ah whispered sharply, "Why are they here? Is this really necessary?"
Before Da-eun could respond, a smooth voice called from the driver's seat—
"Are you getting in, or are we spending the day standing here?"
Hyun Min leaned his head slightly out of the window, wearing an expression that was halfway between irritation and boredom.
Ji-ah sighed and muttered, "This world is exhausting already…"
---
[End of chapter 5]