I opened my eyes and was greeted by a bright misty light. Thinking it was heaven and almost cursed, but when I stood up, I was dump founded, the flat screen TV reflected my disheveled and unruly appearance. Looking around, I knew I was in my apartment wearing my favorite pajama, not the hospital.
"How can I be here? I'm sure I got into an accident..." I mumbled in confusion. "I should be at the hospital, not my apartment."
Was it a dream? I shivered as I remembered how vivid my dream was. I could recall everything perfectly like it happened, how hard the metal hit me and the intense pain I felt before my eyes closed.
It was like I was being ripped apart. All the parts of my body ached and hurt so much.
'dding.'
A sudden sharp bell sound distracted me from thinking further about my dream.
As I glanced at my nightstand, a notification from my phone caught my eye. I quickly picked it up, my eyes widening in surprise as I saw the time.
I cursed and threw the phone. I had overslept and was now running late for work.
I got out of bed but didn't expect to suddenly collapse. Looking down at my ankle in anger, I saw my sheet tangled on me.
I cursed and struggled to shake it off. As soon as I was free, I kicked the sheet, took my clothes from the closet, and went to the bathroom.
After finishing my bath and getting dressed, I looked at myself in the mirror and began to apply makeup when I noticed a small scar on my forehead that looked like it might have been a result of an accident. Feeling nervous about it, I tried my best to rub it off, thinking it would disappear, but unfortunately, my efforts were unsuccessful.
It was real.
I was positive that I didn't have any scars on my forehead, not even on my body, but now I was confused about how one appeared. Could it be? I began to think about something but immediately dismissed the idea. No, it can't be. How can a scar from a dream manifest in the real world? There is no scientific explanation for such an event.
I laughed.
'I'm going crazy because of that damn dream.'
Scientists would laugh at me if they heard my thoughts. Unless magic and superpowers exist, then these scars are real. Sadly, they were all just a fantasy created by humans.
Forbidding myself to think about such a ridiculous thing, I used high-quality foundation and concealer to hide the scar on my forehead, but as I was mixing the foundation, I noticed another scar on my hand. This time it was a huge scar. As if a large, sharp object had cut through my palm and left a scar to remember.
I couldn't believe it. How did I get such a thing? I didn't get into any accident.
'Accident...'
I laughed and laughed. This is so ridiculous I can't believe it.
'Did I... go back in time?'
I thought to myself.
It may sound absurd but there is no other explanation. From a dream to scars on my forehead and palm, I am sure that these scars were not on my body until now. Plus, the pain I felt before I opened my eyes was so painful that I thought I would die. Was the dream true?
In the process of sorting things out, my phone suddenly rang.
Confused and deep in thought, I still picked up the phone and answered the call.
"Ahn Cho Hyun, my beautiful daughter."
'Ahn Cho Hyun, my beautiful daughter.'
"Today, will you come to the Moon Hotel?"
'Today, will you come to the Moon Hotel?'
The words repeated in my head as I remembered the words in my dream. Those were the words my mother said before I came across a car accident on the way to the party. The words were so precise that I couldn't help but freeze and be taken aback.
'Today is the 50th anniversary of our company. Even though you're not an employee here, the fact that you are our precious daughter is enough for you to come.'
"Today is the 50th anniversary of our company. Even though you're not an employee here—"
"No." Without giving it a thought, I suddenly and unconsciously uttered.
"W-what? Chohyun, did you say something? Sorry, Mom didn't hear it."
Coming back to my senses, I braced myself to say the words I had just said. "No. I'm not coming."
Confirming the truth, I was surprised and couldn't believe it. I could no longer deny it, doubt, and be sarcastic. I felt like collapsing again but fortunately was able to hold my balance by holding onto the edge of the table. A series of memories from the accident flashed through my head, one by one. From getting into the car, calling my friend, and colliding with a vehicle.
Cold sweats began to form as I felt unpleasant when memories of my getting into a car accident were recalling. My breathing became heavy.
I died. Even though I came back to life, I died once.
'I can't believe it. Ha...! It's crazy. I did return to the past! Why? How?'
Flabbergasted, I thought.
"Chohyun… Did something happen? I heard things falling?"
After all the clues I gathered, I can't believe what my mind is concluding. The scar on my forehead was obvious, but where did I get the scar on my palm?
I suddenly remembered that on the night of my accident, I used my hands to protect myself from injury when we crashed into a vehicle.
I felt like laughing. Feeling stupid for using my hands to protect myself when it didn't help at all. "Chohyun?"
I regained my senses when I heard my mother worriedly call my name. I sighed, calming myself.
"Mother, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern. I just don't want to attend today."
"How can that be? This is our company—"
"I had a bad dream." Sounding like a child, I said.
Speechless at what I said, my mother couldn't speak for a minute. "Aigo, Are you okay now?"
"No."
"Alright... If that happened. Don't go to work today and rest."
"Goodbye."
Ending the call, I slammed my phone on the table and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I gathered my thoughts together.
'I can't believe I returned to the past where I was supposed to die.'
Feeling determined, I had only one goal this time. Heaven took pity on me and I would seize this opportunity given to me. I will not repeat the same mistake I did, die in the accident and...
'I'm going to start dating!'