Chapter 1

Hyunwoo held out his hand to Kihno,

"What are you doing?"

"Just stay there. Where you are, hyung and I will come to you." Hyunwoo said. He reached out a hand and wrapped it around the back of Kihno's neck.

Kihno stared into his eyes, searching them. Searching to know if he was dreaming or if it was real.

'Was he really there on that day. Holding Hyunwoo. No, was Hyunwoo really holding him?'

Hyunwoo's lips pressed against Kihno and he let out a happy little sigh as he fell into the softness of their plump pink flesh.

"Hyunwoo, wake up! You are late for work." Hyunwoo's eyes flew open and he immediately lifted his arms and legs to push away the pillow he already knew his sister had thrown full speed through the air.

He sat up and stared at his older sister.

She glared at him. And then after a moment she realised his serious face. Her eyebrows went up and she turned and fled the room as fast as she could.

"Mom! He had the dream!" She shouted as loudly as she could.

Hyunwoo got out of bed slowly, dragging his feet as he made his way to the bathroom in a sort of trance. He grabbed his toothbrush and toothpaste and began brushing his teeth.

“Already… My soulmate is named Kihno? He is cute. Very cute.”

Hyunwoo looked in the mirror after spitting out the toothpaste. Staring at the sullen face that looked back at him. Everything about him was just regular mediocre ‘and he was going to meet and fall in love with Kihno? A beautiful guy like that?’

“Hyunwoo come down for breakfast! You need a good meal before you take that train.” His mom yelled.

Hyunwoo got the outfit from in his dream. A pair of black jeans, a white shirt and a long black trench coat.His sister came into the room.

This is what you are going to wear to meet them?” She asked, looking totally unimpressed.

Hyunwoo nodded. Knowing full well that it wasn’t complete yet. He had seen it in her room before.

“Eww you can’t go just like this it's too boring. One second.” She said and then ran off.

Hyunwoo gulped. “He was going to get on that train today and meet his soulmate… odd.’

She came back in handing him the black beret that he knew she was going to grab. It wasn’t even for him. He would look stupid in it. It would be for Kihno. She tugged it onto his hair and tilted it a little. “There you look good Hyunwoo, now. With my little touch.” She said happily.

“Much more handsome.”

“Liar.” He simply said, then walked out of the room, not taking it off. She tsked but followed him down the narrow staircase of their ondol. He came out into the common room, and walked across the mats to the little table with the chairs on the floor. Little pillows with short backs on them. He sat down cross legged and his trench coat crumpled around him unceremoniously.

His mom came into the room her white socks shuffling against the wooden floor as she brought the pot of stew in from the kitchen.

His grandma nodded at him gently.

“You look nice today dear.” She said, staring at Hyunwoo.

“Just like your grandfather. He was so handsome when I married him. Why… I think I was just about your age?” She launched in. His mom put her hand on her mothers lap.

“We know mom.”

His grandma nodded nicely again, not really listening. “His grandma looked down at the plate his mom had filled with rice and a bit of the stew.

“Ohhh, kimchi jjigae, what is the special occasion?” His grandma said happily, opening her mouth so his mom could feed her. His mom started serving him up instead. His grandma got annoyed, picked up her spoon and dug into the food carefully, and very slowly.

“Today is a special day. Hyunwoo, he had the dream. He is going to take the train today.” His mom said, beaming at him.

“Oh a dream, how nice. Trains, your grandpa liked trains.” She started.

Hyunwoo took the meal from his mom.

“Eat lots okay.” She gave him a sad but happily pained look. “It’s a long train.” She said, tears welling in the corner of her eyes.

His sister took her moms hand and squeezed it.

“Mhhm, it's a long train, make sure you eat enough, sleep enough, and that you stay healthy.”

Hyunwoo laughed. But it was just to cover up his own nerves. “Yah, of course, who do you think I am? I am Lim Hyunwoo, I can sleep anywhere.” he said to cheer them both up.

They finished dinner in relative silence since all the chatter that happened after that point was simple discussions, what the day looked like for both of them, what was for dinner, the weather and how it was going to snow. And all through it all he kept silent and let the three women talk about anything they wanted, while he ate his meal. His last meal with them.

Hyunwoo got up from the table and went back upstairs. He packed his cross body bag with all the stuff he had seen in the dream, a notepad, some pencils, erasers, pens, and his old baseball from the game he went to with his dad before he had passed away. And the most important thing. He held up the rookie card. It wasn’t rare, or special. It was just the catalyst. Everyone had one. He shouldn’t have been surprised he already had his. But his brain had thought it would be something more important. Or that he would have had a sense of its importance. ‘How could such a mediocre item lead to all that was about to come?’ He didn’t know but he packed it anyway. He picked up the little jar of folded stars, he wasn’t done but he packed it, knowing he would have the time. Knowing that he didn’t need the paper.

Finally everything that needed to be in the bag was inside, and he closed it with this heavy feeling of the future settling into place.

He got up from off the floor and put the bag over his shoulder. He took one last look around the room he had been in for eighteen years. It didn’t feel real that this would be the last time he would be closing the door. That after this… his whole world was about to change.

But he shut the door on this chapter with a sigh. ‘I didn’t think it would be this fast.’

Hyunwoo walked down the stairs and his family stood in the living room waiting for him. His eyes fell on the object in her hands and his stomach dropped. It really was happening all too quickly.

He stepped forward and held out his hands.

She swatted them away.

“Silly boy, allow your mother one last bit of fussing over her baby.” She said, holding back tears, and she raised the deep purple scarf over his head and wrapped it around his neck twice.

“Thanks. I love you.” He said, not knowing what else to say.

She nodded, and turned away so he wouldn’t see her cry. He gave her a hug, hsi sister jumped in on it loudly bawling, and his grandma saw everyone was hugging and joined in too.

A few minutes later he pulled himself free knowing he had to go. The next train was only an hour away and it would take almost that long to get to the nearest station.

He turned and walked out of the house only turning back for one final wave before he got on his bicycle and pedalled away.

As he pedalled the snow began to fall gently touching the tip of his fingers as he rode.

“Yah! Hyunwoo!!!!” He heard Seokyung call. Hyunwoo turned to look back at his friend but continued to pedal just slightly slower allowing him to catch up.

He slowed down even more and Seokyung pulled up beside him.

“Your mom called.”

Hyunwoo nodded.

“You really had the dream? Are you really leaving us?” He asked

Hyunwoo nodded his head slowly.

He held out his hand to his friend. Seokyung took it immediately.

“Are you going to the future or the past?”

Hyunwoo shrugged.”My dream didn’t show me that much.” He lied.

“So you haven’t told me the most important thing.” Seokyung said.

Hyunwoo looked at him confused.

“Are they pretty?” He asked.

Hyunwoo stopped pedalling and hit the brakes. Seokyung stopped a little further up and wheeled himself backwards.

Kihno’s face popped into his memory. His long thin nose, his almond shaped eyes with their eyes so dark they almost matched his pupils. His heart shaped face, and long dark brown side swept hair. It was all engrained in every minute detail into his brain.

“Yeah, I guess when you think about it he is.” He said.

Seokyung shook his head and clicked his tongue.

“Yah, this poor sap. Has to fall in love with you. You both are doomed. I guess eighteen years is long enough to live.”

Hyunwoo wrinkled his nose. “Yah that kinda joke is in poor taste right now.” he said with a huff.

Seokyung looked at the ground guiltily. “Sorry , hyung. I really hope everything works out for you. I am going to miss you a lot.” He said instead.

Hyunwoo got lost in his thoughts for a second. And nodded instead.

“Do you want to drop me off at the station?” He asked.

Seokyung nodded. “You have to me Admiral Kim SeoJong if you think I am going to abandon my friend on his last hour before he time travels for the first time in his entire life.”

Hyunwoo smiled.

“I thought you would never have it happen. Like who is going to fall in love with a stick in the mud like you?” Seokyung laughed. “And before me?” He frowned.

Hyunwoo laughed. “I’m sure you will be next out of all of us.” He said.

Seokyung nodded “Right, that will probably happen.”

“Honestly, I thought you would be older.”

Hyunwoo nodded. “Me too,” he responded.

‘I definitely thought I had more time.’

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