Lee Hyungjin hesitated but decided to dial the number anyways
Then, just like that night from a few days ago when his body gave out from crying alone after Jenny ghosted him, he pressed Call.
One ring.
Two.
And then three
The line clicked.
"Taeyangspeaking."
Hyungjin swallowed the lump in his throat. "Doctor Seo… it's me. Lee Hyungjin . You gave me your number when I came to the hospital after being beaten up."
The other end was silent for a moment, then came a low and composed reply, "I remember. What made you call today? Honestly I want even expecting your call. I thought like most people you would ignore my consent for you."
"I want to change, I really want my baby back," Hyungjin said, his voice firm. "For real this time. No more hesitating. I'll be the one she genuinely wants this time."
"All right," the doctor replied, without surprise. "Come see me this evening. I'll send you the address. Bring nothing but honesty."
Hyungjin nodded, even though the doctor couldn't see him. "Okay."
The next morning, he returned to work like a man walking into a fog. His desk was the same mess. He got more work than every other person as usual and he hadn't even been paid for the past two months.
He barely sat down before his boss, Mr. Huang, stormed over.
"Lee Hyungjin , where's the quote revision from last Friday? The client is furious. You didn't send the document."
Hyungjin opened the shared folder. "It was sent Thursday night. Timestamped and everything."
Mr. Huang clicked his tongue, then sneered. "Excuses again?"
"I'm not making excuses," Hyungjin said, quietly but firmly. "You always pin your own delay on me."
That was the spark.
Huang slammed the desk with an open palm. "Are you talking back to me? You think this place runs on your feelings?"
Heads turned in the office. Hyungjin felt heat rise up his chest but this time, not from shame.
"I'm done being treated like trash, I need my last two months' pay and I'll walk out of here." he said, standing up slowly. "If this is how things are run here, then I don't belong."
Deep down he was expecting the boss to say something to keep him, say something to keep him. After all he did most of the work and expected someone to want him there.
"What are you saying?"
"I quit."
Gasps followed.
"You're not getting any money." What work did you even do.
"What are you saying right now?.No one works better than me in this company and you won't even pay me."
" Sue me if you can." His boss replied with a smirk.
"You sneaky basta—" and Hyungjin saw stars for the next few seconds. A blow was given on his cheek and he couldn't even do anything about it, legally of course .
So he threw a punch back at his boss and there were gasps all around. And that was when he knew it was over, he wouldn't be given a chance to work there again even if he desperately wanted it.
But he didn't stop. He turned, walked straight out of the office, and didn't look back at least, not until the elevator doors closed and his knees finally weakened.
Later that day, Hyungjin sat across from Dr. Taeyang in his office above a compact private gym. He hadn't planned to confess about quitting, but it came out.
"I walked out," he muttered. "No plan and I don't even know what to do."
The doctor squinted his eyes. "Do you regret it?"
"I do," Hyungjin admitted. "But I also don't. That place was draining me."
"Then maybe regret isn't the right word," Taeyang said. "You just weren't prepared. But now you are."
He stood and gestured toward the door to the gym.
"You said you want to change. Start now."
The gym seemed more ready for him.
Dr. Seo wasn't the talkative type. He didn't motivate with cheesy lines. Instead, he corrected form, adjusted routines, and expected consistency.
It suited Hyungjin.
The pain was real. His chest ached. His thighs screamed. Every time he thought he'd improved, the doctor raised the bar again.
But Hyungjin kept coming back.
It became routine: early morning jogs, protein-heavy meals, gym sessions every evening, regular check-ins. Slowly, his body began to obey.
He stopped slouching. His face leaned out. His back held straighter. He spoke less, but with more control.
Weeks turned into months.
Then came the haircut.
"Clean the old image," Dr. Seo said, placing a mirror in front of him.
Hyungjin nodded. His hair had grown wild and unkempt. He had barely cared for it during the worst of his breakdown. He watched as the barber shaved the sides down, trimmed the top, and gave him a clean, modern cut.
He stared into the mirror afterward, surprised.
This wasn't the fragile man who cried alone in the dark.
This was someone else.
Not fixed.
But rebuilt.
By the time Hyungjin looked up one quiet evening and realized he no longer thought of his past with bitterness, something in him settled.
He had changed.
Not for revenge.
Not for approval.
But for himself.
Still, there was one person he hadn't spoken to since everything crumbled.
Jenny.
He hadn't contacted her in months. Not since she'd last seen him slouched, exhausted, unsure of himself.
She used to look at him with concern, but behind her eyes, he always saw disappointment too. Not because she didn't care, but because she knew he had more inside him than he ever showed.
He picked up his phone.
Scrolled to her name.
Paused.
Then typed:
*Jenny... I've been working on my
self. And I've become better. Mentally. Physically. I wanted to see you again. Can we meet?*
He stared at the message.
Then pressed Send.