Chapter 3 – Seoul, The City That Never Sleeps
Park Ji Hoon's steps halted right in front of the large bus terminal in central Seoul. The roar of vehicles, the cacophony of horns, and the dazzling glow of neon billboards made his eyes widen.
Towering buildings rose high into the sky, their glass exteriors reflecting the fading afternoon sun. People walked quickly, dressed in fashionable clothes, and the scent of expensive perfume occasionally wafted to his nose. Men in black suits with leather briefcases, women in high heels with perfectly styled hair—everyone looked like they had stepped out of a fashion magazine.
Ji Hoon swallowed hard, his steps stiff.
"So… this is Seoul? The city they say is full of dreams… It feels like I've entered another world. So different from my hometown."
Carrying a small suitcase and a worn-out backpack, he walked along the sidewalk, searching for the address of the boarding house his uncle had given him.
After nearly half an hour, he found a small, two-story house, simple yet comfortable enough to live in. Its walls were painted white, with a black iron fence and a small yard with cactus plants.
"Not bad…" Ji Hoon murmured with relief.
"It's not luxurious, but it's enough for me to live and go to school."
He entered his small room, put down his few belongings, and sat on the bed. Before he could even lie down, a clear "grrrrk~" sound came from his stomach. Ji Hoon rubbed his belly with an embarrassed chuckle.
"Ah, I haven't eaten since this morning… No wonder I feel so weak."
An Evening at a Small Restaurant
His steps led him to a simple roadside restaurant, a wooden sign out front reading "Seoul Gamjatang." From outside, he could already smell the warm aroma of boiled meat broth and spices.
Ji Hoon walked in. A cozy atmosphere welcomed him—long wooden tables, walls covered with menu posters, and the sound of cutlery mixing with the chatter of customers. He ordered kimchi jjigae with a warm bowl of rice.
When the food arrived, his eyes brightened. Hot steam billowed from the red stew, and the spicy, savory aroma tickled his nose. He scooped it up slowly, blew on it, then took a sip.
"Ahhh…" Ji Hoon closed his eyes, feeling the warmth spread through his stomach.
"This is amazing… Eating in Seoul is this good. If every day is like this, maybe my life will change."
For the first time in a long time, his face looked peaceful. For a moment, he felt truly accepted by this big city.
An Unexpected Collision
After finishing his meal, Ji Hoon stood up, straightened his clothes, and stepped out of the restaurant. Right at the door, his body collided with someone.
"Ah—!" Ji Hoon cried out, his body pushed to the floor. The woman in front of him fell as well.
Ji Hoon immediately panicked, his face pale. "I-I'm sorry! It was an accident… I—"
But before he could finish, the woman smiled sweetly, bowed politely, and said, "It's okay, it was my fault too."
She extended a hand, helping Ji Hoon to his feet. Her face was beautiful, her long brown hair flowed down, and her eyes sparkled warmly. Her smile was so genuine.
Ji Hoon froze. His face flushed, his heart pounding fast.
"She's… so beautiful. Seoul truly is the best city, even its people…"
But just as he was about to say something, a deep voice cut in.
The Painful Terror
"HEY!"
A tall man with a sharp gaze approached. His face was handsome, his body was muscular, but his eyes were filled with rage. He immediately grabbed the woman's hand.
"Were you hitting on my girlfriend, huh?! You small-town loser!"
"W-what? No! I didn't—" Ji Hoon stammered, trying to explain.
Suddenly, CRACK! A hard punch landed on his face. Ji Hoon staggered, his body slammed onto the sidewalk.
People around them stopped, but instead of helping, they pulled out their phones, recording the incident as it happened.
The man stepped forward again. His stance was like a boxer's, feet planted firmly, hands in fists. Quick punches hammered Ji Hoon's face and stomach.
CRACK! CRACK! THUD!
Ji Hoon tried to block the blows, but his body was too weak. Blood began to flow from his lip.
"How dare you touch my girlfriend! You pathetic scum!"
"No… I didn't—!" Ji Hoon tried to speak, but another fist slammed into his cheek.
Small cheers could be heard from the crowd. Some were laughing, some were whispering cynically. Everyone recorded, as if Ji Hoon's suffering was free entertainment.
The woman wanted to stop it, but could only scream, "Oppa, stop it!"
But the punches kept landing. Ji Hoon's world spun. Through his blurry vision, he saw the flash of phone cameras, the sound of notifications, and people's satisfied smiles.
A Night of Wounds
Ji Hoon finally returned to his room, his body covered in bruises. He sat in a corner, his phone in his hand vibrating. He opened social media, and a video of himself had already spread widely.
The video title:
"Small-town guy tries to hit on a girl, gets beaten up in Seoul!"
Comments poured in:
"He deserved it! His face already looks like a loser's."
"HAHA this is hilarious, look at his expression."
"People like this don't deserve to live in Seoul."
"Go back to your hometown, loser!"
Ji Hoon stared at his phone screen, tears falling uncontrollably. His chest felt tight, his heart felt like it was being squeezed.
"Why… Why is it always me? Do I really deserve to be treated like this…?"
He cried for a long time, his body trembling. Finally, in despair, he fell asleep with his eyes still wet.
A Strange Morning
The morning sun pierced through his room's thin curtains. Ji Hoon slowly opened his eyes. He felt something strange.
His body felt light. When he stood up, he was shocked—the floor seemed to move away, his body was taller. He rushed to the bathroom, turned on the light, and stared into the mirror.
His eyes widened.
Standing before him was no longer the figure of the Park Ji Hoon from yesterday—overweight, his face covered in bruises, his hair disheveled, and wearing glasses.
What he saw was a tall man with an athletic build, faint six-pack abs visible through his thin shirt, a sharp jawline, flawless skin, and a handsome face that could rival a top idol.
Ji Hoon stood in silence, his mouth agape.
"I-is this… me?!"
He slapped his cheek, pinched his hand, even hit his own face slightly. "It hurts… it's real… it's real!"
His breathing quickened. He paced back and forth in a panic. "Should I go to a doctor? Is this a curse? Or some kind of weird nightmare?"
But suddenly, the memories of yesterday came rushing back. The punches, the looks of contempt, the cruel comments. All the pain resurfaced.
He looked back at the mirror. But this time, his eyes had changed. The look of fear was replaced by a sharp glare he had never possessed before.
"If the world always crushes my old face… then with this new face… I will make them regret it."
So what made Ji Hoon's body change overnight? And where did the overweight Ji Hoon who was just beaten up yesterday go?
To be continued…?