* * *

It was a car accident.

I couldn’t move my legs.

I tried to wipe my eyes, but I couldn’t even twitch a finger.

I didn’t need to check. I already knew it. Blood was all over my body.

“Damn.”

Why today of all days?

I won an award today.

It was the ‘Best Supporting Actor’ award, after a long period of flopped drama.

“Even though the director rushed me to finish my acceptance speech, it was my first award…”

I was over the moon.

My consciousness was fading. My broken bones seemed to be piercing my lungs, making it hard to breathe.

“Ah, I’m really dying.”

I chuckled.

To think I’d die like this.

My acceptance speech today was killer.

I stood on the podium, trembling, and said,

“I want to be handsome for just one day.”

The actors laughed. It was a joke meant to lighten the mood, but those laughs wasn’t that pleasing to me.

If a truly handsome guy had said it, at least a few people would have looked at him with disdain.

I looked at the precious camera and said,

“Because I’m ugly every day.”

The audience burst into laughter. That’s how I left the stage.

“Ah, damn. If I knew I was going to die like this, I would have said something cooler.”

To think my last words would be about being ugly.

My vision grew blurrier. Somewhere, I heard a song.

“~~~You were born to be loved.~~~~”

“Born to be loved? Me?”

I’m way too ugly for that.

I was never used to being loved, nor did I seek it.

With this face, I’d be lucky if people didn’t hate me.

Honestly, it was my acting skills that got me this far, not my looks.

“Of all times, why am I listening to this song as I’m dying? Are you kidding me?”

I heard the sound of a siren.

“Ambulance, you’re late.”

And so, I died.

I lived a decent life, but it was regretful because of my ugliness.

* * *

Everything before my eyes was white. I looked around. Sadly, there was nothing.

“Is this heaven?”

Of course, it was. I smiled broadly.

“If I don’t go to heaven, who will?”

The supporting actor, Lee Han-joo.

I was also known as the angel without wings.

Back when I was alive, I was interested in more than just acting; I was involved in various social issues. Volunteering and donating were like daily routines for me.

If someone like me doesn’t go to heaven, who would?

“I was sincere about my volunteering and donations.”

Of course, it started as image management.

“But I came to enjoy it.”

Because when an ugly actor donates, it somehow seemed more genuine.

“So, I worked hard at it.”

I would’ve given more if I had earned more. The problem was that I didn’t make enough.

“There’s a limit to what a supporting role earns.”

I sighed.

“If I were handsome…”

I could’ve taken on more roles. Damn, why was I born like this?

“But isn’t anyone coming?”

I waited for the angel to come.

Then, suddenly, a subtitle floated in front of me.

[You were born to be loved.]

[State three wishes.]

[There will be a cost for each.]

I crossed my arms.

“What is this song… again?”

Even in death, they’re mocking me.

Are they killing me a second, no, a third time?

“The angel isn’t coming, and they show me this?”

Since when did heaven become a non-contact service? It was absurd.

“Three wishes? Seriously. I told you, I worked hard on volunteering and donations. I can definitely go in heaven.”

I mumbled as I swiped at the subtitles.

“This isn’t enough for all the good I did. There should be a proper reward for good deeds.”

No matter how much I tried to scatter the letters with my hands, they didn’t disappear. Instead, only the bottom part changed slightly.

[Three wishes. This is a reward for your relatively good life.]

I squinted my eyes.

“Relatively?”

This is too much. I think I should be in the top 10% of people who lived a good life!

“Hey, I even went to Africa for volunteer work.”

It was for a TV program, but I did gain deep insights during that month of volunteering. My image improved significantly thanks to it.

I looked back at the subtitles. The letters changed slightly again.

[Three wishes. This is a reward for your moderately good life.]

“Moderately?”

The words seemed to be getting harsher. Is it just my imagination?

“This invisible thing is so cold. How can anyone feel at peace dying like this?”

I complained, but the subtitles didn’t change.

Grumbling, I looked back at the subtitles.

“Wait, what did it say?”

[You were born to be loved.]

I immediately concluded.

“Bullshit.”

If I was really born to be loved, I wouldn’t have this face.

[State three wishes.]

This part wasn’t bad. But you have to read Korean to the end.

[There will be a cost for each.]

I crossed my arms and fell into thought.

“Cost…”

Indeed. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. I looked at the subtitles and asked,

“What kind of cost?”

The letters changed again.

[Can’t tell you.]

Geez, how stingy.

“How can I make a choice if you don’t tell me?”

Still, I kept looking at the letters.

Honestly, I had only one wish.

‘A new face. A handsome one.’

But the mention of a cost bothered me. I read the letters again.

[State your three wishes.]

A smirk crossed my face.

“Three wishes, huh.”

I always had a wish ready for a moment like this.

“My first wish is to be granted trillion of wishes..”

Every time I watched the Genie in the Lamp, I wondered, why didn’t Aladdin just wish for unlimited wishes from the start? If the genie could grant anything, why limit it to just three wishes?

‘Well, if it doesn’t work, so be it.’

Honestly, I expected a rejection. But then the subtitles moved.

[Your wish will be granted.]

Wait, it worked?

* * *