🌸 WON HAEJIN'S POV 🌸

💮 Flashback 💮

The light transformed before my eyes, taking the shape of a woman with an ethereal glow.

“Hello, Haejin,” she said, her voice soft and melodic. “I'm Yara. Follow me and I'll make your one fantasy come true.”

I hesitated, wondering if trusting a stranger was a good idea. But then I reminded myself that this was just a dream—nothing here could truly harm me.

My mind, did you do this to make things easy for me because I was confused with ideas?

“Alright,” I said, curiosity and excitement getting the better of me. “Lead the way.”

Yara smiled, and as she turned, the path ahead seemed to shimmer with an ethereal glow. Each step felt light, as if I was floating. 

The enchantment of the place was undeniable, making it hard not to believe in Yara’s promises.

We entered the grand building that radiated magical energy. The interior was breathtaking, with walls adorned with intricate, glowing sigils and soft, ambient lighting that made everything seem surreal.

“This is the Fate Changing Agency,” Yara explained. “It’s where destinies are rewritten.”

Destinies are rewritten? This is an excellent premise for changing the plot of Moon Lovers! 

The thought sent a thrill through me, filling me with a sense of excitement and possibility.

As we continued, I saw a woman in traditional attire who looked exactly like me. The resemblance was uncanny, and for a moment, I felt a surge of frustration. 

“Seriously? Even here I have a doppelganger,” I muttered under my breath. 

Ever since I was young, people mistook me for Kim So Hyun, the renowned actress. 

At first, it was flattering, but it quickly became tiresome.

I had to constantly prove I wasn't her by flashing my ID to skeptical fans who couldn't believe their luck bumping into their idol on the street. Some were so obsessed that they followed me around, hoping for a glimpse of their beloved actress. That's when I started wearing masks whenever I ventured out, just to avoid the hassle and unwanted attention.

Can't this actress just leave me alone? As if real life wasn't enough, she's appearing in my dreams too!

Dream! It's a dream. I smirked. Time to vent out all my frustrations on you, my doppelganger.

“Why do you look like me?” I demanded, my voice sharp with frustration. “Do you have any idea how difficult it is to live looking identical to someone else?! Your fans constantly mistake me for you, and it's heartbreaking to see their disappointment when they realize I'm not who they hoped for. But, it doesn't stop there.”

“Once, obsessed fans even followed me around. Can you imagine how scared I was?! Since then, I've resorted to wearing masks whenever I go out. It's infuriating, but it's the only way I can maintain some semblance of privacy, because to everyone else, I'm either Kim So Hyun or just another look-alike. As if... as if I don't have an identity of my own!”

After my rant, I felt a strange sense of relief.

“I feel so light now,” I murmured to myself, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Venting out all my frustrations had actually made me feel better.

The woman who looked like me remained silent, her expression calm and understanding. It was almost as if she was absorbing all my negative energy.

Yara, who had been watching the whole exchange with an amused smile, stepped forward. “Now that you've gotten that off your chest, we can move on. There's much to discuss and time is of the essence.”

I nodded, feeling a newfound resolve. “Alright. What's next?”

“Haejin, meet Hae Jina,” Yara said, gesturing towards my doppelganger. 

“Greetings to you, Haejin-ssi.” My doppelganger—no, Jina—bowed a little. “I’m an awakened character from the novel Shadows of Regrets.”

“Awakened... what?” I questioned, my confusion growing.

Yara stepped in to clarify. “An awakened character is someone who has realized that they are a character in a story. They understand that their life is narrated, and they've been following the narration, thinking of it as their own choices.”

Jina nodded, adding, “My story, my life, is meant to follow a specific path. But as an awakened character, I seek to change my fate.”

“Like Eun Dan Oh from Extraordinary You?” I asked, referencing the character who had also awakened to the reality of being in a story.

“Exactly,” Jina replied, her eyes reflecting a determination I recognized in myself. “Shadows of Regrets will no longer loom over my life.”

“And for that, she needs your help,” Yara interjected, her tone firm yet encouraging.

“The agency has selected you to be Jina's Fate Changing Agent. Your mission is to help Jina overcome the predetermined path of her story. In return, I will fulfill your one fantasy.”

Now we're getting to business, aren't we? I felt a surge of excitement.

“Sure, I'm willing to become her Fate Changing Agent, but you'll have to give me a chance to change the plot of Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo,” I demanded, my voice steady and assertive.

Time to give my ships a happy ending! SooSo, BaekHee, EunDeok fighting!

My mind was already racing with possibilities for my favourite drama.

Helping Jina? Well, that can wait.

Yara smiled, a glint of approval in her eyes.

“Very well,” she said, producing a file that seemed to shimmer with a golden light. “This is the Fate Changing Agent's Contract. Read the terms and conditions, sign it, and your journey will begin.”

I took the file, opening it to reveal the elegant, flowing script.

Reading T&C? People barely read it in real life. Why should I bother in my dream?

Before signing, a thought crossed my mind.

“Wait,” I said, looking up at Yara. “Will I be able to change the plot of Moon Lovers right after signing this?”

Yara shook her head gently. “First, you must help Jina change her fate. After successfully completing this task, you can change the plot of your favourite drama.”

I frowned, not entirely satisfied with this arrangement. Great, now I have to play the hero for someone else first.

“What if we merge both stories? That way, I can help Jina while simultaneously working on changing the plot of Moon Lovers.”

Yara considered my suggestion, her expression thoughtful. “Merging the stories could create unpredictable outcomes,” she warned. “But it might also provide unique solutions to your and Jina's challenges.”

I met Jina's eyes, seeing a glimmer of hope and determination in them.

Fine, if it gets me what I want, I'll deal with it.

“Let's do it,” I said, my resolve hardening. “I'll help Jina and change the plot of Moon Lovers at the same time.”

Yara nodded, her smile returning.

She took the contract from me and, as if in response to our decision, the golden file shimmered brightly, transforming into a rose gold hue that pulsed gently with a warm glow.

It was a subtle yet significant change, signalling the merging of the stories.

I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling slightly as I held the pen. The contract's pages seemed to pulse with rose gold light now, adding to the surreal atmosphere of this entire experience.

With one signature, I can change everything!

I signed my name at the bottom of the contract.

The ink glowed briefly before fading into the parchment, sealing my agreement.

“Excellent,” Yara said, taking the contract from me. “Now, the bond is formed.”

As soon as she spoke, a warm, tingling sensation spread through my body, starting from the hand that held the pen and coursing through my veins. It was both exhilarating and slightly unsettling.

“What happens now?” I asked, my voice a bit shaky.

“You’ll wake up inside Jina’s body in the merged story. Try to adjust to the narrative to avoid raising suspicion. If things become overwhelming, snap your fingers once and you'll return while Jina will take over,” she explained, her tone both reassuring and cautionary.

The room around me began to shimmer, the walls of the Fate Changing Agency blurring into an ethereal haze. I felt a tingling sensation in my fingertips, spreading through my entire body. It was like being pulled through a vortex of light and colour.

Then, everything went dark.

💮 Flashback Ends 💮

“It wasn't a dream. I actually signed the contract and the historical setting I woke up in was part of the merged story!” I muttered to myself, my mind racing to catch up with the bizarre turn of events.