Soho_Dan POV
Oh dammit my first kiss gone with you ahh I screamed..
18hour ago.
(It's our day, let's celebrate with hope. I know no one truly loves me, but I appreciate their acting.)
The room was dimly lit, a cool breeze wafting in through the window. I said this line to myself and remained silent for a few seconds, as if my heart was saying something…
"Oh, dammit… why can't I sing today? I can't practice… I have a show tomorrow… how will I do it… dammit… what will I do… mirror… aaa…where are you ahh shit."
I tried to control my voice, but with each word, my frustration grew. Fatigue and pain were written beneath my eyes.
The door opens—"Hey Soho, oh, I forgot you didn't like this name, anyway, what happened?"
I looked back; there was my friend, Mirror.
"Damn Mirror, it's good you came… you know what!, I can't write today… what should I do… if I haven't written anything till yesterday, I'm gone."
I said, holding my head, as if every note, every word had turned against me.
Mirror laughs, "Haha, Dan, I told you to practice, but you were overconfident, saying, 'I'll take care of everything.'"
His words were sarcastic, but I felt a pang of guilt.
I glanced at the mirror and left without a word.
Empty street... The air was a little cool, but my heart was burning. With every step, only one thought lingered: If today doesn't write a song, you, the director, will kill you baby ahh....
"Ahh..." I slapped my head hard, then kicked a stone across the street.
That stone hit a small child.
The child fell silent and looked at me.
There was something in that look—as if he had only seen pain.
I instantly felt bad, guilt gripped my heart.
I ran to him—he was small, his clothes were old, and his eyes were dry from hunger.
He spoke in a low voice,
"Hey young uncle, can you feed me something?"
His eyes were so innocent that tears welled up in my heart.
I gave a small smile—a smile that hid pain—
and took him with me to a convenience store…
The air was still cold, but it felt warm inside—as if someone had silently shaken me for the first time.
As I entered the convenience store with the child, everyone looked at me with astonishment and amazement.
Judgment was written all over their faces.
One of them said savagely, "What strange child has this guy brought with him? Look at his clothes aww!"
The child silently looked down, his small hand letting go of mine.
Tears welled up in his eyes when he said in a soft voice, "Young uncle... leave it, I don't want to eat anything."
Hearing him say this, something inside me broke.
Anger and pain surged together.
I shouted angrily and called the store owner.
The owner came running in a panic, "Yes, sir?"
I threw my card in front of him and said, "Whatever this boy wants, give it to him —and Oh! yes, respectfully."
The owner nodded.
The boy walked towards the counter with a slight smile—
The smile was small, but it stirred old memories within me.
His smile reminded me of a time long gone by—
when I, like him, was alone on the street…
and a stranger helped me.
---
10 years ago – Seoul City
Everyone was happy, it was raining.
Plumes of water were falling on the road, but I was crying.
My dad had kicked me out of the house…
Why?
Because I had seen him with a woman.
Since then, it feels like everyone hates me.
No one cares about me.
"Everyone hates me... I'm hungry... I need food...
Mom... why did you leave me..."
The rain intensified.
I was running down the road, my clothes wet, my feet cold, my heart broken.
Suddenly... a car came barreling toward me.
I stopped in fear.
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would explode any moment.
Death stood before my eyes—just an inch away.
The car stopped right next to me. The driver quickly came out and shouted angrily,
"Are you crazy! Can't you look in front of you?"
I was staring at him, crying—he looked blurry through my tears.
Just then the car door slowly opened...
The driver lifted the umbrella and placed it on top of the car.
A guy emerged from inside the car—
wearing a black long coat, his face hidden under the umbrella...
and the atmosphere around him cooled down.
The boy had black chains on his wrists, and a strange black locket around his neck—a black rose-like shape inside.
A black ring glistened on his fingers.
His deep voice echoed in my ears, "Who's there? What's wrong? Is that child alright?"
The boy was asking his driver.
The driver said with a slight panic, "Sorry, Young Master... That child suddenly appeared in front of our car, but he's alright."
I was listening to all this.
I don't know why, but my heart was pounding.
I slowly... slowly stepped back.
The umbrella lifted slightly above his face—and for the first time, I saw his half face.
There was something in his eyes… a peace mixed with pain.
The boy came toward me, took some money out of his coat, and gave it to me.
He said in a cold tone,
"Next time, don't get in front of anyone's car."
I was only 13 years old… but his way of speaking was as cold as the wind.
His voice was as heavy as thunder—for a second, I felt the world stop.
I took the clown's hand and said, "I don't want money... I want a companion...
who will sit and eat with me today, just for a few dollars."
Tears welled up in my eyes.
He quietly took my hand and led me to a store.
He bought ramen and sat and ate with me.
It was just for a few dollars, but he made me feel like I wasn't alone.
After a while, he got up. I grabbed his hand, but he said without looking back, "Hey kid, let go of my hand...
And yes, next time, don't get in front of any cars.
And don't show your pain to anyone,
because this world wants you to give them your weakness...
and they will ruin you further."
I didn't understand at the time,
but that guy became my first crush, my first guide, and my savior.
---
Present Time
I still haven't forgotten that man.
"Ah, dammit..." I said softly.
The clock struck 3:00 AM.
I had some time left in the morning,
but I still hadn't written a song.
"What should I do..." I patted my hair, frustrated.
"Ahh Holly My blood pressure..."
I took a shower—completely cold.
Every drop brought old memories to life.
That stranger... who saved my life...
still echoes in my mind.
After the shower, I sat back at my desk.
Opened my notebook... picked up a pen...
started writing a song.
But nothing was coming.
My heart and mind were blank.
"I have a show tomorrow… live…"
I slowly fell asleep while writing.
There was an open notebook on the table… and that same old pain in my heart.
----
The next day —
The alarm's sound echoed in my ears.
"Oh, damn... what time is it?"
I picked up the phone — 12:30 PM.
"Oh, shit... blood pressure... ahhh... how did I forget, I have a show today!"
My heart was pounding, tension tingling through every nerve.
"I have to go quickly... what dress should I wear today? hmm... this black coat is perfect."
I put on the black coat and looked at myself in the mirror — a slight fatigue under my eyes, but that old spark was still there.
----
Black Studio Apartments –
"Oh, run quickly!"
My feet were running, leaving the ground with a force.
Then boom!!—a gust of wind, and all the pages flew from my hands.
I fell to the ground. I kissed the ground. Wow, my first kiss wasn't with a girl, but with the floor. Wow, my fuck! Dammit, my first kiss was gone with floor that's so painful!
"Ahhh!"
I yelled furiously,
"Who is that... blind person, huh, who ruined my first kiss? Who the fucking blind person?"
As I looked up—
a handsome tall figure stood before me.
Gray eyes, long eyelashes, transplant glasses, and a black long coat.
My breathing quickened.
It was as if the wind had stopped for a moment.
Just then a girl came running up to me—
"Neon."
She picked me up, but my eyes were still on that man.
He was reminding me of someone…
His long face, light pink lips… everything seemed familiar.
Neon said with a slight smile,
"Dan, do you even know this is Mr. Vession?"
I was still staring at him.
He glanced at me once—just once—
and walked away without saying a word.
My heart was pounding so hard I was almost listening.
"Dan... Dan... Huh,
tell me what happened?"
Neon says, laughing,
"What happened Dan, you've developed a crush on Mr. Vession, have you?"
She was laughing and telling me,
but beneath her words, I could only see one face—that old stranger.
His eyes, his coat, his gait... everything was the same.
Just then, a voice came from behind—
"Hey, Soho, you're here!"
I looked back and automatically blurted out, "Oh shit... bloody pressure... this is..."
He came closer to me with a hiss—
and the air felt thick with a rush again,
as if something was about to happen.