The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was how unfamiliar the ceiling looked. A luxurious white ceiling with a modern chandelier—not the sight I expected after… well, after getting hit by a truck.
I shot up straight, my heart hammering against my ribs. My eyes darted around the room, taking in the pristine furniture, the large windows with thick curtains, and the high-end décor. Definitely not my tiny apartment.
Wait.
I tried to remember. Last night, I was in the CEO's office. He told me I couldn't debut. My dreams, shattered. I had left in a daze, walking through the cold streets, only for—
I stopped.
Was it a dream? The truck, the void, then meeting with… God?
No.
That wasn't a dream. It was too vivid, too real. I could still remember the sensation of floating in nothingness, the warmth of a voice promising me another chance.
I slowly got out of bed, feeling oddly… different. Taller? Maybe. But something felt off. There was a weight on my chest that shouldn't be there. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach as I glanced down.
Boobs...?
Boobs..
BOOBS.
I clutched my chest in horror, my hands confirming what my eyes were seeing. My fingers trembled as I reached up to my hair—long, silky strands cascading down my back.
No. No, no, no. This can't be right.
I opened my mouth, about to scream, but what came out was—
"What the heck is happening?"
A girl's voice.
I clamped my hands over my mouth. Panic surged through me. I hesitantly spoke again.
"…Hello?"
Soft. Feminine. Not my voice.
"Oh, come on!"
I bolted toward the nearest door, hoping it was a bathroom. It was. I rushed to the mirror, my breathing uneven, and when I saw my reflection—
I collapsed onto the floor.
The person in the mirror wasn't me.
Big, lychee (round) eyes. A high nose bridge. Soft, pink lips. Long, silky hair. The girl was breathtakingly beautiful.
And she was me.
I stared at my shaking hands, my mind spinning.
Then it clicked.
God said they'd give me another chance. And one of my wishes was…
"'To be someone else.'"
Well. Mission accomplished, I guess.
"But isn't this too different?! A whole new face, a whole new gender?!"
I groaned, clutching my head.
~~~
Three hours.
That's how long it took me to calm down. Three hours of pacing, staring at the mirror, and wondering if I should just pass out again and hope this was a weird coma dream. But no, this was real.
I had no choice but to deal with it.
I took a deep breath. Okay, think.
This girl… I needed to know who she was. Judging by the expensive-looking apartment, she had to be someone important.
I searched the room and found a phone in the drawer. Locked. But thankfully, it had fingerprint unlock. I pressed my thumb against it, and the screen lit up.
First thing I checked—contacts. Not many people. One saved as "Manager."
Oh no.
My heart sank.
I quickly opened KakaoTalk and scrolled through the messages. The manager's texts were all business-like, mentioning schedules and rehearsals.
No, no, no, no.
I frantically searched the phone for more clues and found other contacts—Mom, Dad, Oppa, some names I didn't recognize.
Then I saw something.
A familiar name. Choi Hyerin.
I frowned. That name… wasn't that the name of the main character from that novel I read? Weird coincidence. Maybe–
Before I could think further, a message popped up.
"Love <3."
…Oh.
Oh, crap.
"She had a lover?!"
Panic set in again. What if they noticed I was acting weird? What if I had to… INTERACT with them?! I was not ready for THAT kind of responsibility.
I decided to ignore it. But then—
The phone rang.
I froze.
The name "Love <3." flashed on the screen.
I had no choice. With a deep breath, I answered.
I didn't even get to speak before an angry male voice snapped, "I told you to stop bothering me! We broke up three days ago, move on!"
…What?
Then he hung up.
I blinked at the screen. Processing.
And then, relief crashed over me like a tidal wave.
"Oh, thank God."
One less problem to deal with.
Still shaken, I dug through her purse and found an ID.
Seo Soo-Ah.
I stared.
That was my name.
What the hell were the odds of that?
I shook my head. No time to dwell. I needed to figure out what year this was, what world this was.
I opened the browser and searched. The first thing that popped up—
A video.
I clicked on it.
A girl, dazzling under the stage lights, dancing gracefully with a radiant smile.
My heart nearly stopped.
It was her.
No, it was me.
I watched in stunned silence as the crowd cheered. As the girl—Seo Soo-Ah—shined on stage like she was born for it.
A bitter laugh escaped me.
Was this what God wanted?
Was this my second chance?
I looked up at the ceiling, exhaling slowly.
"…Fine."
I'll try again.
But this time, I won't burn myself out chasing a dream that destroys me.
This time, I'll actually enjoy it.