Chapter 20

Dansol had a restless night. He tried several times to fall back asleep, but he kept dreaming of being chased by faceless people and falling off a cliff.

In these dreams, the strangers always approached him with kind faces before swinging a knife at him. Dansol would try to dodge the knife, only to find himself precariously hanging on the edge of a cliff before falling.

Dansol knew that these were not just dreams but memories of his past life before his regression. And even now, he felt like he was standing on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall at any moment.

Naturally, Dansol removed Jisoo’s arm, which had been wrapped around him, and stepped outside Chunmong Pavilion.

As he walked through the fog-covered island at dawn, trying to shake off the remnants of his nightmare, someone called out to him.

“Joo Dansol.”

The person approaching him from behind on the shore was Yiyeon.

If anyone else had been there, Dansol would have pretended not to notice and walked away, but since they were the only two around, he had no choice but to greet him.

“Were you out for a run?”

Yiyeon, who was known for his strict self-discipline, would exercise every morning and evening and primarily eat chicken breast salads.

Sweat beaded on Yiyeon’s forehead, making him look like a picture of meticulous self-care. To Dansol, however, he only brought back dreadful memories.

“I thought I was seeing things.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ve been wanting to talk to you, but you’re always surrounded by people. I thought I was going crazy because I wanted to be alone with you so badly. But it really is you, Dansol.”

What he said wasn’t entirely incorrect.

Ever since his fight with Doohyun, Jisoo, Daesoo, and even Taeoh had taken turns guarding him like bodyguards. Thanks to them, he hadn’t run into Doohyun, but he also had no time to himself, which was frustrating.

But running into Yiyeon like this made him regret leaving his bed that morning. Maybe he should have stayed put.

“Uh, but I’m a bit cold. I think I’ll go back inside.”

“I’m sorry.”

His unexpected words stopped Dansol in his tracks.

Did he somehow know about his regression?

Dansol, who had no previous connection with him, couldn’t understand why he was suddenly apologizing. He turned back to him hesitantly.

“What are you sorry about?”

Part of him hoped he was also a regressor.

If he confessed and sought forgiveness for past mistakes, maybe he could consider forgiving him, even if it was naive.

Yiyeon ran a large hand over his face at his question.

“I told Doohyun that I liked you. So maybe… that’s why he has more ill feelings towards you. He’s a bit immature sometimes…”

“And?”

Dansol’s response was sharp, feeling like he was trying to make excuses for Doohyun.

“Did you seek me out to defend Yoo Doohyun?”

“Oh, if it sounded that way, I’m sorry. I just felt like what happened was somehow my fault.”

“Ha, I’m a failed idol. Why would it be because of you, Yiyeon? Yoo Doohyun dislikes me… for whatever reason. And I dislike him too, without reason.”

Of course, he hadn’t changed just because he had regressed. Dansol no longer wanted to face him.

Her mind was already a tangled mess of past events, causing him a headache. He turned back towards Chunmong Pavilion.

“Why…”

But Yiyeon’s resentful voice stopped his again.

“Why aren’t you giving me any chance?”

“…”

“Did I do something wrong? We barely know each other. Am I not even worth getting to know?”

Dansol had already given all he had in his previous life. He had nothing left to give to Yiyeon in this one.

While his fear of repeating past mistakes might be an overreaction, Dansol was more afraid of confronting his former self, who had been swayed by his emotions.

“No, I don’t like you. I really dislike people like you.”

Leaving Yiyeon, who looked wounded, standing on the shore, Dansol climbed back up to Chunmong Pavilion.

“Dansol! Where have you been?”

Minhyuk greeted Dansol, who felt like crying. He seemed to have fallen in love with the nature of Chunmong Island, exploring it all day long.

“Ah… just out for a morning walk.”

“As expected… the early bird gets tired. You look exhausted.”

“Uh…”

Despite seeming uninterested in others, Minhyuk was always sharp.

“Since we ran into each other, let me show you something. It will take away all your fatigue.”

Without waiting for his response, Minhyuk grabbed his wrist and led him to a secluded spot in Chunmong Pavilion.

Minhyuk took out a large ramen box from a thicket and carefully placed it on the ground.

“What’s this?”

“Open it.”

Minhyuk squatted down and smiled innocently. Unsure of what to expect, Dansol cautiously opened the top of the box.

“Wow…!”

Inside were three mackerel-colored kittens.

“Don’t touch them. Their mother is around, so we need to look at them quickly and put them back.”

“Their mother is here?”

“Yeah. he leaves them at this time, so I’ve been waking up early to find out when.”

“So, you’ve been going out every day because of this…?”

“That’s right. Cats have routines. I figured out their schedule after a few days, and you’re lucky to see them on your first try.”

Ignoring his teasing, Dansol couldn’t take his eyes off the sleeping kittens. Their mother must have fed them well; they all had round bellies.

“Do they have names? Did you name them?”

“Yeah. Dan-tan-ji, you know. Protein, carbs, fats. But honestly, they all look the same, so I just call them whatever I feel like on the day.”

“Haha, what kind of names are those?”

“Why not? They’re essential in life! Ah! Mom’s coming!”

Dansol and Minhyuk swallowed their disappointment and put the box back in its place.

On the way back to their accommodation, Dansol kept glancing back, as if something was still on his mind.

“Do you want to come back together this afternoon?”

“Can we see them in the afternoon too?”

“If we bring some treats and toys, sometimes they stay still. Worst case, they might scratch us.”

“Great! You have to come with me!”

Dansol, who had looked like he was about to cry, brightened up after seeing the cats. He looked like a little kid as he made Minhyuk promise to come back with him in the afternoon.

Minhyuk wished Dansol would keep smiling like this. Whenever Dansol, with his innocent face, showed a weary expression, Minhyuk’s heart ached with sadness.

If possible, Minhyuk wanted to hug Dansol, hold him close, and share warmth under a blanket until he felt better.

Minhyuk laughed along with Dansol. Their laughter echoed over the fence. Someone in the distance was watching them.