Chapter 18:
Minho sat at his kitchen table, the script for The Forgotten Melody in his hands. The night outside pressed against the windows, cold and still, as if waiting for his decision. He thumbed through the pages, his eyes catching the opening line:
"Do you believe people deserve second chances?"
He swallowed hard. The story of a once-famous idol turned recluse felt like a cruel twist of fate, a reflection of the life he had lost. A bitter smile curled his lips.
"Life really has a sense of humor."
The system's voice broke the silence.
"You are at a crossroads."
"I've been at a crossroads since I woke up in this body," Minho muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Is this what you call destiny? Putting me in a story I already lived?"
"You misunderstand. This is not a repetition. It is an evolution."
Minho pushed the script aside and leaned back in his chair. "What happens if I take the role and fail?"
"Failure is not final unless you surrender. Every action carries a price. Every choice builds momentum."
"And if the momentum crushes me?"
"It already did once."
Minho felt a chill crawl up his spine. He clenched his fists. "I'm not the same person anymore."
"Prove it."
Jaehyun's manager slid into a private booth at an exclusive lounge, his face calm but his eyes calculating. Across from him sat a reporter known for sensationalist stories. The two exchanged curt pleasantries before the manager produced a sleek folder.
"Hyunjae," he said simply.
The reporter's eyes lit up. "He's trending like wildfire. What's in the folder?"
"Enough to slow his rise."
The reporter flipped through the documents and photos. Some were real, some doctored just enough to spark doubt. He smirked. "Anonymous source?"
"Of course."
The manager's smile was razor-sharp. "Let the story drip slowly. Build suspicion. By the time anyone thinks to deny it, the damage will be done."
Eunwoo arrived at Minho's apartment with two bags of takeout. He knocked until Minho opened the door, looking weary but amused.
"You again?" Minho asked, stepping aside to let him in.
"You look like you haven't eaten all day." Eunwoo set the food on the table. "Come on. I didn't bring this for decoration."
They ate in companionable silence until Eunwoo's gaze fell on the script. He nudged it with his chopsticks. "What's this?"
"A lead role," Minho murmured. "Director Kim called."
Eunwoo's eyes widened. "The Forgotten Melody? That's huge!"
"It's complicated," Minho said, his voice low.
"You always say that. Why?"
Minho stared at the script. "The character… he's an idol who falls from grace and loses everything. It's too close to home."
Eunwoo leaned forward. "And that's bad?"
"It's dangerous."
"Or maybe it's exactly what you need. A chance to confront your past in a way that matters."
Minho didn't answer. He didn't trust himself to.
Yuna sat alone in a practice room, her reflection staring back from the mirror. The headlines about Hyunjae scrolled through her mind, each one louder than the last. She clenched her hands into fists.
Her manager's voice echoed in her memory: "You need to fight."
But fighting Hyunjae felt wrong. She admired him—his talent, his resilience, his mystery. He wasn't her enemy, yet his rise cast a shadow over her own.
Eunwoo's words from their last conversation lingered.
"Maybe it's not about fighting him. Maybe it's about standing beside him in your own light."
The sun rose slowly, painting the city in gold as Minho sat by the window. He had read the script cover to cover three times. Each time, the words hit him differently—like a melody he couldn't escape.
He picked up his phone and dialed.
Director Kim's voice answered on the second ring. "Hyunjae?"
Minho took a deep breath. "I'll do it. I'll take the role."
A beat of silence, then a warm chuckle. "You won't regret it."
Minho hung up, his pulse racing.
"You have chosen," the system whispered.
"I chose for me," Minho said.
"Then you are finally learning."
The road ahead was filled with shadows, but this time, he would walk it with his eyes open.