* * *

Not only had he returned to three years ago, but why would he wake up in someone else’s body instead of his own?

‘Could it be that I switched bodies with Joo Seunghyun?’

Even as he dismissed the thought, Seunghyun decided to keep all possibilities open.

‘Let’s observe for now.’

Swallowing the countless questions threatening to spill out, Seunghyun kept his mouth shut.

“Are you feeling okay?”

As Seunghyun silently stared at Yooju, a man behind him leaned in abruptly, brushing aside his bangs and pressing the back of his hand to Seunghyun’s cheek.

The disheveled hair only partially settled back into place.

Seunghyun quickly glanced over the man.

‘Is he a member too?*’

The man’s fitted clothing emphasized a lean, muscular build without an ounce of excess.

His sun-kissed skin, unkempt hair, and bold demeanor gave him an air of wildness—refined within the boundaries of an idol’s image.

“Do you remember me?” the man asked.

Though he acted nonchalantly, his voice was tense, weighed down by hesitation.

It sounded like fear—or worry.

Seunghyun stared at him for a moment, then shook his head.

The man’s gaze wavered.

Despite his best efforts, the unease in his eyes was unmistakable.

Yet he quickly composed himself, clearing his throat and smiling as if to reassure Seunghyun.

“It’s Park Chiyoon. How could you forget a friend’s name?”

“…Sorry.”

“I wasn’t asking for an apology.”

Chiyoon replied with a grin and dragged a chair next to Yooju, sitting down with a plop.

“How are you feeling? Do you need anything?”

“…”

“Seunghyun?”

“Oh, sorry. Could you help me sit up?”

Suppressing his awkwardness, Seunghyun made the request.

Though his strength was gradually returning, his body still felt heavy, like waterlogged cotton—a consequence of being bedridden for two days.

Chiyoon lifted him with ease, his movements practiced.

Yooju also stood to prop a pillow between Seunghyun’s back and the headboard, ensuring he was comfortable.

“Ugh…”

The sudden motion brought a brief bout of dizziness and nausea.

Seunghyun closed his mouth tightly and held onto Chiyoon’s hand, taking slow, deep breaths.

As he steadied himself, he sensed someone at the door.

Seunghyun raised his head to see a tall man with a sharp, solemn face standing with his back to the still-open door.

‘Trouble?’

The man’s piercing gaze made Seunghyun frown slightly.

But just as the tension rose, the man’s eyes widened as if snapping out of a trance.

The frosty expression softened in an instant as he knelt by the bed, his demeanor shifting to one of utter dejection.

“Hyuuung…”

“…?”

Without even a greeting, the man drew out his words, looking up at Seunghyun like a rain-soaked puppy.

The sight was enough to elicit a brief chuckle from Seunghyun, while Yooju sighed beside him.

Eunwoo, Yooju’s friend and a fellow Halo member, had a personality more akin to a playful dog than his sultry looks suggested.

His nature was the polar opposite of Yooju’s prickly, sly demeanor.

Fans often joked that their personalities seemed mismatched with their appearances.

Eyes still wet, Eunwoo clasped Seunghyun’s hand with an expression of pure relief.

“Who are you…?”

Seunghyun didn’t bother hiding his wariness, furrowing his brow.

Judging by the fact that neither Chiyoon nor Yooju stopped him, Eunwoo was probably another member.

But since Seunghyun didn’t even know all their names, introductions were in order.

Unbothered, Eunwoo leaned in close, holding Seunghyun’s hand tighter.

When Seunghyun instinctively pulled back, Eunwoo’s brows knit together in disappointment.

“Hyung, it’s me! Do Eunwoo!”

Unlike the other members, who maintained a composed demeanor in light of Seunghyun’s memory loss, Eunwoo was unapologetically direct.

“God, look how much weight you’ve lost.”

Without hesitation, Eunwoo cupped Seunghyun’s face, running his hands over it.

‘Are idols always this… physically affectionate with each other?’

But judging by how Yooju was actively trying to peel Eunwoo off him, it didn’t seem to be the norm.

Seunghyun stared at Eunwoo, who leaned in close enough that their faces almost touched, whispering incessantly while gently caressing him.

Seunghyun’s gaze was filled with curiosity, though he flinched when Eunwoo’s fingers accidentally grazed his eyelashes.

The fuss Eunwoo was making was borderline exhausting.

It felt like being smothered by a large, overly affectionate dog.

Seunghyun could almost imagine an invisible tail wagging enthusiastically behind Eunwoo.

“I was waiting outside this whole time! If I’d known you’d wake up while I went to grab a bite, I would’ve stayed!”

“Yijeong said he’s almost here, too.”

While Eunwoo clung to and fussed over Seunghyun, Yujoo finished a brief phone call and waved his phone to signal the news.

He then pocketed it and peeled Eunwoo off Seunghyun with such abrupt force that it felt almost overbearing, making Seunghyun feel guilty for having found Eunwoo’s behavior annoying.

Almost immediately, a squabble broke out between Yujoo and Eunwoo.

“Hey, let go!”

“Stop pestering him.”

“I wasn’t pestering him.”

“Oh, sure you weren’t. Hey, doesn’t this guy creep you out? Don’t you just want to throw him away sometimes?”

Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Seunghyun hesitated, but luckily, the door swung open just then.

The last member of their group had arrived.

It seemed to be the ‘Yijeong’ that Yujoo had mentioned earlier.

His disheveled hair and sweat-dappled neck made it clear he had rushed over as soon as he got the news.

The tall man silently approached with long strides, his height immediately commanding attention.

As he drew closer, the face hidden beneath his cap came into full view.

Seunghyun forgot to greet him, staring blankly at the man’s face.

Even in the spacious hospital room, the sheer presence of everyone there made the space feel small.

Seunghyun slowly shifted his gaze, scanning the four men surrounding his bed one by one.

Their looks alone screamed ‘celebrities,’ each striking enough to draw attention effortlessly.

With visuals like theirs, they could probably sing through their noses and still become famous.

It was clear that they didn’t need Seunghyun, their leader, to maintain their spot at the top.

“Why would they…”

Why would they all stop their activities?

The thought trailed off, and as Seunghyun swallowed his words, the others turned their gazes toward him, laden with concern.

“What’s wrong? Are you uncomfortable?”

Chiyoon placed the back of his hand on Seunghyun’s cheek as he spoke.

Though the overly familiar gesture sent shivers down Seunghyun’s spine, he simply shook his head.

“No, it’s not that.”

“Then what?”

Chiyoon’s sharp eyes grew even sharper, though they didn’t feel threatening.

His rough tone and demeanor couldn’t hide the worry etched on his face.

Seunghyun shook his head again.

“It’s just… a bit overwhelming.”

* * *