When Kang Si An opens his eyes, he finds himself kissing a stranger in a strange alley. He pulls himself right away and stares at her with disbelief. He doesn't remember how he got here. He is sure that he was drinking beer while watching the promotions of his recent movie on the television. He must have fallen asleep at the couch.
But, how did he end up here? To get into this position with a strange woman in a dark alley, he couldn't be that drunk. He has never been this drunk ever.
"Kang Si An." The girl also looks shocked. "Why... I don't understand at all."
It's dark, but he can see her pale face clearly. She's short and slim. She has dark long hair, a small oval face, and pink lips. She is pretty, but she's not prettier than his girlfriend.
He curses out loud. What if she goes ahead and says something to the tabloid news? If his manager and his girlfriend find out, he is dead.
"I am not Kang Si An," He tells her with a leveled voice. He needs to lie to save his life. "I look like him. So, I fooled you. I was going to hook up with you, but I have lost interest. Bye."
"You are Kang Si An." She stares down at the dagger near her foot. Kang Si An wonders if it belongs to her. She picks it up. The dagger is rusty and old. He steps back. What if she's a crazy fan?
"Alright, I am Kang Si An." He puts his palms up, feeling uneasy. She's still carrying the dagger. Her expression is empty. He can't guess what she is thinking. "Put down that dagger first and we can have a talk. Do you want an autograph? Do you want a selfie with me? Want my T-shirt?"
The girl doesn't put it down. Instead, she's observing it with a complicated gaze. "That man... I don't understand at all. Why would he kiss me like that?"
Is she talking about him? Was it him who kissed her first? He can't recall at all. The dagger in her hand is unnerving. He doesn't want to die in a dark alley. There is no telling what a crazy female fan would do.
"Look, I didn't mean to kiss you. I was drunk. I don't remember how I got here." He walks sideways slowly, not trying to startle her. "I already have a girlfriend"
She looks at him, perplexed. "You have a girlfriend?"
"Yes, I already proposed to her." Kang Si An babbles and walks like a crab toward the road to escape. "We might get married soon."
He bites his tongue. Why did he tell her that? People do silly things when they are facing death.
"So, you would get married whether I am there or not." She looks at him with disinterest. "Only the partner changed."
What that supposed to mean? Did she fantasize about marrying him? Crap! Kang Si An wonders if this crazy fan would kill him now.
His body freezes when he sees her walking toward her with the dagger in her hand. He's dead. He's dead. He's definitely dead. He can't even fight back. His stupid body is not obeying his command.
When she gets near, he squeezes his eyes shut in fear. She doesn't stop walking. She passes right by him without another glance. He places his hand on his chest and lets out a breath of relief. He's not dead. The crazy fan has spared his life.
Kang Si An doesn't wait for her to come back and finish her job. He hails a taxi and returns to his apartment before he is noticed by the crowd.
***
He already has a girlfriend. He is even going to marry her. So, if I didn't meet him back then, he would still meet someone and fall for her. Is she already pregnant? In the original timeline, I got pregnant with his child and he proposed to get married after the movie release.
Is not this the same for Li Jun? He married someone else after I changed the past. He also had a child with someone else.
Love. It's strange. I don't know what to feel. I have lost too much. It seems like I am going to get hurt again if I chase Kang Si An. He's too far away from me. I don't want to make his life miserable like Li Jun's life. Li Jun might have married the princesses because he was obligated to.
It is not the same case with Kang Si An. He might really love that girl.
Am I doomed again?
I look at the dagger. The timekeeper and I have a special relationship. The timekeeper spared my life and left Kang Si An's body. Does it mean whatever connected me and his soul is broken? Kang Si An and I don't have any connection anymore because he isn't carrying the timekeeper in hm.
That kiss though... it was a goodbye.
"Thank you," I whisper to the dagger before throwing it in the river. "I will cherish this life and live."