Chapter 1: Me and the Stranger in the Mirror

> "Dark circles under my eyes, pimples on my face, and now I see an unfamiliar boy in the mirror. I realize—this ‘me’ is not the Li Haoze I used to be."

The person I once was feels like a story from years ago. Yet, just a year back, I was the school heartthrob—girls would smile when they looked at me, boys wanted to be like me. Every morning, I’d stare into the mirror and feel proud of myself.

But now?

Every morning, I wake up terrified to look in the mirror.

Dark bags under my eyes, chapped lips, exhaustion etched on my face, a kingdom of acne ruling my skin. My body feels like a robot—empty inside, just going through the motions.

I know the reason for this state. And I can’t make excuses anymore.

I’m addicted.

To masturbation.

At first, it was just curiosity. Friends would say, "Every normal guy does it." I thought, "No harm in trying." Once, twice… until one day, I realized it had become a daily habit.

But you know the scariest part?

I don’t even want to do it—yet I still do. Then I hate myself. Then I do it again.

It’s a cycle.

A toxic loop.

At School

The school hallway feels like a battlefield now. I’m just surviving, not living. No one talks to me anymore, no one wants to sit beside me. The girls who used to chase me won’t even look my way.

That day started like any other morning. But everything changed when Su Yuna walked into the classroom.

She entered like a burst of light—jet-black hair, glowing skin, perfectly shadowed eyes—as if she’d stepped straight out of a webtoon or a K-drama.

There was confidence in her walk, serenity in her expression. My heart stopped.

I stared, silent. My breath froze.

She glanced in my direction.

For just a second, our eyes met… then she looked away.

In that gaze, I saw only one thing—disdain.

Not that she insulted me, not that she said anything.

She said nothing—and that hurt the most.

To her, I was ordinary. Irrelevant. Invisible.

Behind her walked Minwoo—smart, fit, confident, perfect.

Su Yuna smiled at him.

A sharp twist clenched my gut.

I knew who I used to be. But who was I now?

A shadow? A fading existence?

---

That Night...

Back home, I locked the door and stood before the mirror. My body felt like a hollow shell. Dark circles, pale skin, messy hair, an aching back.

I trembled. It felt like I wasn’t living—I was just marching toward ruin.

I remembered the dreams I had as a child.

I wanted to be a hero—someone smart, confident, hardworking, someone with purpose.

But who was I now?

A loser.

A broken man.

I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t dream. I just feared.

Then, Yuna’s gaze flashed in my mind—that disdain.

In that moment, I closed my eyes.

Took a deep breath.

And swore to myself—

>"I won’t stay like this anymore."

"I’ll change."

"I’ll be reborn—Reborn!"

The Beginning...

The next morning, I woke up at 5 AM. Eyes heavy, but mind clear.

For the first time, I declared war on myself.

I started the NoFap Challenge—90 days.

I started jogging.

I started face-washing, drinking water, sleeping on time.

I deleted all fake videos, quit social media.

Small victories every day. One step forward.

Every day, I reclaimed a little more of "me."

---

End of Chapter

I know this path is hard.

I know I made myself what I am today.

But I also know—I can rebuild myself.

Three months from now, everyone will look at me again—

the way they once did.

But this time…

>"I won’t just return—I’ll return and conquer."

"And then… I’ll decide who deserves my love."

Coming up in the next chapter:

Chapter 2: "Water, Sweat, and Grit"

>Haoze begins his transformation journey. Every day, his body, mind, and habits change. The first results start showing. But will society accept his comeback so easily?

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