Projection Novel (Completed) - Chapter 94

Sejin frowned, thinking for a moment, and decided to board the train first, with the thought: “If I meet Cheon Sejoo and I’m still not fully awake, he’ll take care of me.” He was certain that if he asked for help, Cheon Sejoo would never turn his back on him.

Because Cheon Sejoo… liked pretty, cute boys. Hmm.

“Oh dear, why is this little one traveling alone? Isn’t it time for kindergarten?”

This world was much larger and more complex than the one 29-year-old Sejin knew, but it wasn’t overly harsh. A child who looked like they needed an adult escort, wandering alone, made everyone turn their heads and look at him worriedly. Some even struck up a conversation, intending to take Sejin to the police station.

“I’m not in kindergarten. I’m ten years old, in third grade at Gangdong Elementary School.”

“Is that so? Can you go by yourself?”

The adults, seeing Sejin’s small stature, were worried, but when they heard his clear answer, they sighed in relief, their faces a mix of surprise and praise. For some reason, it made him feel like he was embarking on a grand adventure. Sejin bravely nodded.

“Yes, I can. I know the way.”

“Alright, but if anything happens along the way, just ask the adults passing by for help, okay?”

“Yes, thank you.”

A middle-aged woman wearing a gold necklace, after hearing him politely bow and greet her, gave him a 5,000 won bill. Sejin hesitated for a moment, then bowed again in thanks and took the money.

Throughout his life until now, he had learned one thing: the more money, the better. Money was something that could disappear at any time, but having a lot of it right now was still good. Even in a dream.

Recalling the taste of breakfast, Sejin thought he could use this 5,000 won to buy something delicious for Cheon Sejoo. Because even in a dream, Cheon Sejoo must have a mouth to eat with.

Sejin carefully hid the money the stranger gave him in his pocket and began his small journey.

“Elementary school.”

“Oh my? You look like you’re still in kindergarten. Come on, get on, kid.”

“…Thank you.”

When he got off at Korea University Station and transferred to the bus, the driver didn’t even take his money. Although being mistaken for a kindergartner was a bit annoying, saving money was still beneficial. Moreover, in the real world, Sejin was 189cm tall, so being seen as a child here didn’t affect his self-esteem at all.

Even if it was just a dream, Korea 20 years ago was truly full of human warmth. Sejin bowed to the driver and sat down.

A road both strange and familiar. Although it was very different from the bustling neighborhoods now, compared to places left behind in the development process, this university area was not much different from reality. The bus stopped in front of the main gate of Korea University, which had the iconic “Ha” shaped gate.

“Hello, sir.”

“Yes, go carefully.”

Sejin got off the bus, bravely saying goodbye. He just wanted to say a normal greeting, but because his voice was too small, he had to try to speak louder, and so he looked like a strong little boy.

Perhaps that made the driver find him adorable, so he chuckled behind the closing door. Sejin’s cheeks flushed slightly as he stood in front of the main gate, looking around.

All university students. Since he was long past that age, in Sejin’s eyes, those wearing somewhat unfashionable clothes passed him by one after another.

Although he looked too small to be standing alone here, perhaps because of his bold expression, no one asked him what he was doing. People just thought he was visiting the school with his parents, as many families came to Korea University to play.

Sejin walked through the main gate and stopped in front of the campus map. Although he had never been to Korea University before, the map felt familiar. Or… were all universities the same? He thought as he intently looked at the map.

The Faculty of Medicine, where Cheon Sejoo was studying, was deep inside. Was he doing an internship today? But strangely, Sejin had a strong feeling that he would meet Cheon Sejoo. Sejin tried to hide his excitement, smoothed his possibly messy hair, and began walking towards the Faculty of Medicine building.

He didn’t know if Cheon Sejoo used a phone back then, and if so, what his number was. Still, finding him didn’t seem too difficult. There was no way anyone in the school wouldn’t know the name Cheon Sejoo. Everyone probably called him “top student in Medicine” or something like that. It was too obvious.

“Haa…”

Due to his short stature, the path that normally took Sejin 10 minutes to walk now took 20 minutes. Moreover, the campus was a long slope, so the closer he got to the Faculty of Medicine, the more he panted. Ten-year-old Kwon Sejin, a child who knew nothing about sports, gasped with his small body, finally reaching the front of the Faculty of Medicine building.

Standing at the entrance, he looked around but didn’t see Cheon Sejoo. After pondering for a while, Sejin wondered if he should find someone to ask “where the most handsome person in the Faculty of Medicine is,” when he suddenly spotted a small girl walking from the other side, so he walked towards her.

But the closer he got, the more familiar the face became. When he stood right in front of her, he realized it was Ha Yeoreum, who used to be closest to Cheon Sejoo during their university days.

Sejin also knew Ha Yeoreum a little, who ran an orthopedic clinic in their apartment complex’s commercial area. They had eaten together at restaurants a few times, and Sejin had even invited her to his house. At that time, he was lured in just because she said she would tell him stories about Cheon Sejoo’s university days. Later, thanks to silly bets, he even became close enough to bother her by visiting her hospital.

If it was Ha Yeoreum, she would definitely know where Cheon Sejoo was. Sejin walked towards her with a confident gait. He didn’t know if it was due to an old face or a young face, but Ha Yeoreum’s face showed almost no signs of time compared to the present. When their eyes met, Yeoreum, upon spotting Sejin, was startled as if she had seen a walking doll, then pulled up the corners of her mouth and smiled.

Without saying anything, her eyes seemed to say, “So cute, I could die.” It had been a long time since he’d seen that look. When he was little, every time he went out with his mother, people often looked at him like that.

“…”

“Hello, little one?”

Although he intended to ask Ha Yeoreum directly about Cheon Sejoo as soon as he met her, when it came to calling her, he couldn’t utter a word, not knowing what to call her.

Although they had met a few times in real life, Sejin had never called Ha Yeoreum ‘nuna’. If he did, he felt like Cheon Sejoo would make him call him “hyung.” So Sejin gritted his teeth and called her “doctor.”

But now Ha Yeoreum wasn’t a doctor. So the proper address should be…

“…Auntie.”

“Yes! Hello, dear. What are you doing here? Are you lost? Do you want Auntie to help you find your mom?”

If it were in real life and she heard herself called “auntie,” she would have reacted violently, but now Ha Yeoreum just opened her mouth wide and grinned. Her eyes were full of affection as if she couldn’t resist Sejin’s cuteness.

Although his pride was a little hurt, he had to bear it. After all, he was just a 112cm tall kid, and this was just a dream. Sejin swallowed his humiliation and tugged at her sleeve.

“I came to find Cheon Sejoo…”

His small, chubby hands were so plump that it wouldn’t be surprising if someone said they were cat paws. Perhaps because he was slow to develop, the back of Sejin’s hands were still full of baby fat. Ha Yeoreum looked at his hands, clutched her chest as if her heart was aching, then let out a “hiccup,” and then grinned again and asked:

“Cheon Sejoo? Ah, are you Cheon Sejoo’s acquaintance? … Are you the child from the orphanage?”

Although that wasn’t the case, there was no more suitable word to explain his relationship with him. Future lover? If he said that, he would surely be seen as a kid who escaped from a mental hospital, so Sejin just nodded vaguely for now.

If he said he was a child from the orphanage and came all this way, Cheon Sejoo would surely be surprised and come to meet him. That way, he would meet him faster.

“Yes.”

Seeing Sejin answer softly, Ha Yeoreum suddenly looked pitiful. That made him a little uncomfortable. Living in an orphanage was not a reason to be pitied.

“Please let me see Cheon Sejoo.”

“Hahaha, alright. But how old are you?”

Sejin deliberately spoke more firmly to show his determination. At that, the pity in Ha Yeoreum’s eyes disappeared, she burst out laughing and stood up.

“Ten years old.”

“Then shouldn’t you call Cheon Sejoo ‘hyung’?”

“…He said I could call him by his name.”

“Really?”

She muttered, “That’s Cheon Sejoo for you,” then held out her hand as if asking him to take it. Sejin paused for a moment, then shook his head. He couldn’t hold a strange woman’s hand.

“I can walk by myself.”

“Oh my, how brave. Alright, come with Auntie. What’s your name?”

“Kwon Sejin.”

“Sejin, this way. He’s probably in a free period now… Wait a moment.”

Ha Yeoreum led Sejin into the main building and took out her phone from her pocket. It was a popular slide phone at that time. Sejin looked at it with great interest.

“Uh, hey. Where are you?”

Not long after putting the phone to her ear, Ha Yeoreum spoke. Sejin’s heart pounded. Cheon Sejoo was on the other end of the line, he was really here. 22-year-old Cheon Sejoo was right in front of him.

“I’m in the main building, a kid named Sejin came looking for you. Huh? Sejin! He said his name was Kwon Sejin?”

But then, while talking, Ha Yeoreum suddenly looked down at Sejin. She frowned, tilting her head as if the other end had said they didn’t know that name.

Cheon Sejoo, why are you so thoughtless? Sejin pouted, puffing out his cheeks, and tugged at her sleeve.

“I came at Sister Maria’s request.”

That was a name he had only heard from Cheon Sejoo. Although he felt a little guilty, if he wanted to meet him soon, he had to borrow her name.

“Ah, ah, the boy Sister Maria asked about. Yes, student lounge? Got it, I’ll be right there.”

After hanging up, Ha Yeoreum led Sejin to the elevator in the corner of the large building. Perhaps she couldn’t bear to let a child climb the stairs. Anyway, this was a place where the most elite people in Korea gathered, so the building looked very modern. So modern that even twenty years ago, the interior was not much different from the university Sejin had attended. When the elevator stopped on the 5th floor, that feeling became even clearer.

The 1st floor, which used to be a lobby, was separated by transparent glass partitions, which was the student lounge of the Faculty of Medicine.

Inside were modern, neat furniture designs. At the long table against the wall facing the hallway, many students were studying. Behind them were round tables, where a few people were chatting. Everyone had intelligent faces. Among them, two people stood out the most.

“Hey, Ha Yeoreum. The professor is looking for you.”

“Huh? Me? Sejin, do you see Cheon Sejoo sitting over there? Just go straight in. Tell him you came to do what Sister asked.”

“…Thank you, Auntie.”

Ha Yeoreum left in front of the student lounge to meet the professor. Sejin stood among the curious students looking at him, glaring at Cheon Sejoo through the glass.

Cheon Sejoo was sitting at the table facing the hallway. While others wore somewhat unfashionable clothes, he stood out in a simple black T-shirt, looking incredibly attractive. He was eight years younger than when they first met. The Cheon Sejoo in front of him was only 22 years old.

Kwon Sejin at 22 was already mature enough. Although he got into his desired major, he couldn’t keep up with the program, which plunged him into self-doubt. That was the time when he worked hardest to move forward. And at that time, Sejin’s entire world was only Cheon Sejoo.

22-year-old Cheon Sejoo shone brightly. His handsome face, full of confidence, made people’s hearts flutter, yet there was still a hint of immaturity. If 30-year-old Cheon Sejoo, whom Sejin had met, was like a character in a black and white film, then the current Cheon Sejoo was like the male lead on a youth movie poster. Everyone seemed to love him, and everything seemed to revolve around him. For some reason, he always seemed to be illuminated by a spotlight.

And one more thing… In 22-year-old Cheon Sejoo’s world, there was no Kwon Sejin.

“…Player.”

Sejin muttered in an annoyed voice, his eyes blazing. Cheon Sejoo was holding a pen, teaching a small, pretty, cute boy, who anyone could tell was his junior.

Although he tried to hide it because he was in a crowd, Sejin immediately realized that they had once had a physical relationship. Because the other boy’s eyes were fixed on Cheon Sejoo as if hypnotized while listening to him explain. That was the look of someone who knew how Cheon Sejoo’s voice would change at night. It was the look of someone who had felt the warmth of his fingertips in bed. That’s why every time their hands touched, he would flinch like that.

“So annoying…”

He couldn’t even think about this. Unlike Sejin, who only knew one man and one love, Cheon Sejoo, Cheon Sejoo was a very depraved man who didn’t know how to keep himself in check at all.

Sejin glared at him, his eyes wide with resentment. Perhaps his gaze was so strong that it pierced through the glass wall, Cheon Sejoo, who was smiling and explaining something to a young boy, suddenly turned his head and looked at Sejin.

Their eyes met.

His face momentarily became expressionless, then quickly covered with a gentle smile. Cheon Sejoo smiled faintly, his eyes curving as they had when he smiled at the person next to him just now. His radiant face lit up. There wasn’t a single wrinkle on that face. There was no shadow that Sejin had seen on 30-year-old Cheon Sejoo’s face. Cheon Sejoo at 22 was…

His chest ached.

The Cheon Sejoo whom Sejin didn’t know was a person who was inherently as brilliant as the sun. Perhaps that’s why his heart ached even more. Because he knew how that light had faded later, even if it was just a dream, his heart still throbbed, aching so sharply it stung.

Tears suddenly welled up, Sejin bit his lip tightly and turned to walk towards the student lounge door. Cheon Sejoo looked after him, confused, and also stood up from his seat. He patted the shoulder of the person who was looking up at him as if asking, “What’s wrong?”, told him to stay put, and immediately walked towards the exit.

Immediately, everyone in the student lounge followed him with their eyes. Like branches reaching towards the sunlight, it happened completely instinctively. Anyone near Cheon Sejoo couldn’t help but look at him.

“Little one, why are you crying?”

Cheon Sejoo walked out, squatted down in front of Sejin, and asked. His warm hand gently stroked Sejin’s chubby cheek. Tears fell profusely, wetting his hand. Sejin couldn’t hold back anymore and reached out his arms to hug him. His small, thin arms wrapped around Cheon Sejoo’s neck with difficulty. But Cheon Sejoo, like someone accustomed to such hugs, did not refuse the clinginess of a strange child and gently accepted it.

“Hmm? Did you get lost from your mom?”

His gentle voice asked softly and tenderly. He was incredibly kind to the weak. That was also one of countless reasons why Sejin loved Cheon Sejoo.

Cheon Sejoo stood up, wrapped his arms around Sejin’s bottom, and lifted him up. Although his body looked much more slender than Sejin remembered, the way he picked him up felt incredibly stable, as if it was too simple for him.

“Hmm? If you want to cry, just cry. But after you’re done crying, tell hyung why you’re crying, okay?”

His large hand gently patted his back. It seemed he was very used to these situations because he had lived in an orphanage with many younger children.

Cheon Sejoo glanced at his classmates and seniors and juniors around him with a puzzled look, then shrugged slightly as if to say, “I don’t know either,” then carried Sejin towards a nearby lounge. As he walked, he told the handsome boy following him that if anyone came looking for him, to bring them here.

“Yes, hyung…”

“Thanks, Doyoon.”