Chapter Text
2030
“Ha…”
Sunoo sighed, leaning his back on the car seat. He put his script down on his lap, choosing to looked out the window instead. His eyes met with the blurry sight of buildings and lights. When the car stopped at a red light, his eyes also stopped at a billboard. It was a billboard with the hottest rising boy group at the moment. His lips formed a light nostalgic smile.
Sunoo’s idol life already felt so far away. Enhypen’s first contract ended three years ago. All of the member did continue the contract, but they were all focused more on their solo careers. Jake and Sunghoon with their modelling gigs, their faces often filled the cover of well-known magazines. Ni-ki with his dancing, he created choreographies for other groups. He even came on a survival show as a trainer. Jungwon with his radio show, he partnered with another senior in the industry. Heeseung with his vocal skills, he produced successful solo albums. Jay helped produce songs here and there, collaborated with lots of amazing singers. Lastly, he himself with acting gigs. He hit the jackpot with starring in a show with good writing, even though he is not a part of the main casts, his character was very well-loved by the audience. He was nominated as the best newcomer at an award show and won. After that, offers kept coming in. (Of course, the fact that he acts very well also part of the reason why. But he never really acknowledged that.)
They were all doing well. As he finished reminiscing, Sunoo looked at his phone.
Jaebeomie-hyung: Congrats on the new drama, Sunoo!
Takitaki: i saw it on the internet, congratulation hyung
phanbin: yoo looking forward to the new drama
hojinie: tell me the location for the first shoot yea? i’ll send a food truck for you!!
His thumb swiped over to the pinned group chat.
EN- 10 YEARS!!!
Jay-hyung: Congratulations, sun. You’ll do great on the role.
wonie: ㅊㅋㅊㅋ
He tried to scroll down more, hoping more chats came in. But, nothing. Sunoo bit his lip. 10 years of knowing each other. Nothing changed. Or to be exact, a lot, has changed. Everything was going well at first. About two or three years into their career, his relationship with the members changed slowly but surely. At some point, he was not the happy vitamin, not the cutest one, not the sunshine of the group anymore. At one point, he lost his position in the group.
Until today, he still didn’t know the exact reason why. Maybe the fact that he was the only extrovert? He was the only F among Ts? That his personality didn’t match well with any of them? Maybe that their interest was completely different? Maybe it was the fact that the members received a lot of hates because of him? Who knows? It didn’t help that the company didn’t do him any justice. His lines that kept getting shorter each comeback, the lack of individual activities and brand deals, and his rare appearance on their social media. These whole things piled up and made the gap between him and the others got bigger and bigger.
SCREECH
His body leaned forward at the sudden brake, “Hyung, what happen?!”
“Sorry, Sunoo-ya. A car suddenly cut us off.” His manager gave him an apologetic looks through the rear-view mirror.
Sunoo gave him a smile, “Ei- It’s okay, Hyung. Why are you apologizing, anyway? It’s that driver’s fault.”
His manager let out a chuckle, “You’re right. By the way, how’s the script reading? You’re liking it?”
“Yep. The characters are so well-written. It’s a realistic one. I could see some people not liking the plot, but other than that. Everything else seems good.”
“That’s great. I heard the writer wrote this character with you in her mind. So—”
While listening to his manager talked, Sunoo looked to his left as a blinding light filled his eyes.
HONK HONK HOONKK
“Hyung—!"
CRASH
Sunoo felt the car rolled a few times then landing on its roof. He let out a grunt before opening his eyes. He saw the script that was on his lap laying on the road somehow.
“Hyung?” He whispered quieter than he expected. He reached out to his throat before calling out again. “Hyung. Are you o—” He stopped when he saw his manager’s condition. Blood and flesh matter were all over the driver’s seat. That was all he could comprehend before closing his eyes.
Sunoo could feel bile running up— down his throat. “H-hyung?” Tears started pooling up on his eyes. “Fuck.” His head started ringing, “Ugh.” He shook his head, trying to shake off some of the deliriousness. “Phone. I need phone.”
Sunoo tried to reach his phone that was thrown away from him, yet it was to no avail as he was stuck upside down buckled up by the seatbelt. clack clack. He pushed the button several times while tugging on the belt. “Why- ugh!” He tugged even harder, “-won’t you get off me!” He struggled for a while before stopping because of the continuous ringing of his head. “Ugh… Being upside down is not helping.” His attempt on taking off the seatbelt got even more frantic.
CLACK
“Ah!” Sunoo let out a happy gasp. “Finally.” He manoeuvred himself to sit upright, then he took his phone in his hand. He held it up and that was when he saw it. His reflection. His condition. A shard of the shattered glass had stuck on his head. The adrenaline on his body had calmed down, therefore a rush of pain hit him.
Sunoo gulped heavily, “119.” He shakily typed in the emergency number.
“Hello 119. What’s your emergency?”
“I just had a car accident.”
“Where is your location right now?”
“Uh…” Sunoo looked around the street. “I think… I’m near the Mapo Bridge.”
“Okay. Are you injured?”
“There is a glass stuck on my head… And…” His speech started to slurred as his consciousness tried to go away.
“Hello? Please stay with me, we’ll get help to you as soon as possible.” The voice of the operator flinched him awake.
“Uh, yeah. I have a glass on my head. But my manager, he… I don’t know.” Sunoo fought the bile on his throat again. “There was a lot of blood and flesh, I think. I’m not sure.”
“Okay. We’ll send medical assistant to you. Are there any other people on the vehicle?”
“No… Just us two.”
“We’re sending help to you right now.”
Relief filled his body, “Great. Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome. What’s your name?”
“Huh?”
“What’s your name?”
Sunoo blinked a couple of times, “Uh… Right. My name. It’s Kim Sunoo.”
“All right. Kim Sunoo-ssi, I need you to stay awake with me. The help will be there soon.”
“I…” His tongue started giving up, “-don’t think... I can.”
“They are just right around the cor—”
THUMP
“Crap. I suspect the victim passed out. Hurry.”
The buzzing sound of the operator and the faraway sirens was blazing in his ear. The sickening smell of blood. The stinging pain on his head. Everything all at once overstimulated Sunoo’s sense. His eyes blinked slowly.
DING DING DING
His eyes fleeted to his flashing phone. Saw few of the notifications.
riki: congratulations, sunoo-hyung
sunghoon-hyung: Congrats, Sunoo. I’ll tune in every week.
3 more notifications on EN- 10 YEARS!!!
An affectionate scoff left his lips. those idiots. Tears were pooling up on his eyes once more, now falling heavier than ever. sorry, I don’t think I’ll be able to be with you guys on the 10th anniversary.
After that, darkness hit him.
—
Sunoo’s eyes twitched, “Ugh…” He opened his eyes, blinked a few times to adjust to the light. The familiar scent of hospital filled his sense of smell. ah, the car accident. He looked around the room and met with a familiar back on the spare bed.
He opened his mouth, yet nothing came out. He coughed to clear his throat but that seemed to do the trick. The woman on the spare bed jolted awake, “Sunoo?”
Sunoo smiled helplessly when his eyes met hers. “Mom…” He whispered. She looked younger, he noted.
“Oh, Sunoo-ya. You’re finally awake.” His mom wrapped him in a warm hug. “Now you’re okay.” Sunoo’s heart clenched softly hearing that. No matter how old he is, he’ll always be okay inside his mother’s embrace.
“Now you can go follow your dream.”
“Hm?”
His mom smiled indulgently and patted his head, “The operation is successful. You can go join I-Land now, sweetie.”
“What?” He squeaked, eyes wide as he held his throat. his voice. so high.
“Are you that happy? You can’t believe it?” His mom chuckled and pressed the nurse call button, “Let’s get the doctor to check up on you first, okay?”
Sunoo furrowed his eyebrows, trying to make sense of what is actually happening right now. A doctor and nurses came in to the room. Sunoo zoned out for almost the whole time the nurses check up on him.
“So far his condition seems great. His lungs are working well. We’ll keep him here for three to five more days. After that we can just do out-patient treatment.”
Sunoo woke up from his trance, “My lungs?”
The doctor seemed confused about the question but answered it anyway, “Yes. We stitched up the leak. Your lungs will function normally now. I heard you want to be an idol? You’ll be able to dance as much as you want now.”
Sunoo furrowed his eyebrows even deeper, “I thought I had a head injury?”
The room fell silent. His mother and the doctor eyed each other. His mother rubbed the top of his head softly, “Are you still out from the surgery?”
“Hm… That maybe it. Let’s wait a while. If he’s still like this an hour from now, please call me again.” Said the doctor to his mother before leaving the room.
Sunoo eyes followed the doctor, after he was sure the doctor left, he turned to his mother. “Mom. What year is it now?”
His mother paused, “It’s… 2019.”
He unconsciously held his breathe. what is going on?
“Sunoo?”
2019? I-Land? that was more than 10 years ago. did I—. He stared at his mother. mom looks younger. is that actually what’s happening? I came back to the past?
“Sunoo!” He flinched. “Sweetheart, why are you like this? Are you okay? Tell me if there is something going on.” Sunoo felt the warmth of his mother’s hands on his cheeks. He looked into his mother’s eyes, they were filled with uneasiness and concern.
He gritted his teeth before grinning, “I’m fine, mom. I’m still not fully awake, I think.”
His mother gave him a suspicious look, “Okay. Tell me if you feel uncomfortable.”
“Yep. I’ll tell you right away.”
Sunoo decided that whatever it was, it was not more important than making his mother didn’t worry about him right now.