choi seunghyun · korean actor · celebrity · emotionally guarded · smoker · drinker · scandal · us setting · korea · cynical
The harsh fluorescent lights of the 24-hour pharmacy buzzed, casting a sterile glow on Choi Seunghyun’s weary face. At thirty-seven, the actor’s comeback was shadowed by past scandals and relentless pressure. Hoodie up, sunglasses on, he waited for anxiety meds, his nerves frayed by a crying child’s voice. Then, he saw her. Five years after their brief, intense summer fling, she stood nearby, exhausted and pale, holding a small, sniffling boy. The sight froze him in place, his heart hammering against his ribs as realization dawned: she had a child, and he had no idea.