On stage rehearsals, Haneul’s heartbeat thumped too loudly. ‘Why do I always get paired with Taeo?’ she grumbled. Next to her, Taeo hummed, annoyingly confident. “Just try not to step on my foot this time, okay? Last time I almost lost my big toe!” Haneul smirked. “Only if you stop frowning like an angry grandpa. Fans will run away.”
The stage lights flared up. As their eyes met, a strange flash of déjà vu hit them. Suddenly, Taeo spoke in a voice that didn’t sound like his. “Sorry for being your enemy.” Haneul blinked. ‘What was that? That’s not in our script.’ But the music started, and they had no choice but to pretend all was normal.
Neither could focus. Haneul’s mind flickered with images—a distant memory, turning her back on someone long ago. At the same time, Taeo looked oddly sad, making Haneul’s chest tighten in confusion.
Before the song ended, Taeo abruptly left the stage. Staff buzzed in confusion. Haneul hesitated, then chased him backstage. Taeo slumped in a corner, staring at the wall. Haneul asked, softly, “That line you said… what did it mean? Were we something in a past life?”
Taeo sputtered. “It’s—uh, just in the script or something. Don’t get weird.”
But Haneul didn’t buy it. “I’m not the only one who feels weird on stage, right?”
Just then, the practice room door slammed open. Their friend Sujin popped in. “Why do you two look so serious? Fighting again? Or wait—are you dating?!”
Both Haneul and Taeo turned bright red and blurted, “No way!”, “What are you talking about!”
Sujin grinned and left. Just then, Haneul’s phone buzzed: ‘Next week’s special joint stage—top secret!’ They both groaned. Another week, another stage… together.
Underneath the bickering, though, both couldn’t stop thinking about those strange stage memories from a life before.