《tw-2》0 Rebirth

*The story continues from "tw-".

*Lee Jangjun X Son Youngtaek X You (Ness).

*All character settings are OOC.

*The narrative perspective changes with each chapter.

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People judge others by their appearance. Outward looks and demeanor reflect one's status, while inner qualities and eloquence indicate one's character. To say that no one judges by appearances is untrue; it is merely a choice of whether to treat everyone equally.

From the moment of the first meeting, all information about the other person comes from what we see.

The crumbling, moss-covered walls, the rusted sign, the dull door panel, the dust particles floating in the intersecting beams of light, the indoor space covered in a layer of dust, and the two people before me. Their appearance betrayed a sense of unease at my arrival. Although they quickly regained composure, I couldn’t help but scrutinize them.

Simple but wrinkled white shirts, well-worn suit trousers, and shabby leather shoes—these two men seemed to have been living in this orphanage for a long time. Were they vagabonds? Squatters? They claimed they grew up in this orphanage, which seemed utterly unbelievable.

Why were they the only ones left in the orphanage? Why did they look like common petty thieves—guilty yet brazen after being caught in a lie?

Their demeanor was particularly puzzling. Why were they so... unlike adults? Was it nervousness about encountering a stranger? But they were facing a child like me. Their conversation and way of speaking seemed as though they had never stepped outside, never negotiated or interacted with others. It was utterly unbelievable—

And equally hard to accept. They said they would take care of me. Yet, could I truly entrust myself to these two individuals? It felt utterly beneath me. But honestly, as a young orphan, what choice did I have? None. I could only rely on the orphanage, even a dilapidated one.

Despite my initial disdain for them, they treated me kindly throughout—from poverty to wealth—their attitude toward me never wavered.

Do you believe people can be reborn? That people can change entirely?

Back to my story. From the moment I met them, I chose to abandon my original name. Yet, they did not judge me for being nameless or make unnecessary suggestions. Instead, they took the matter of naming me more seriously than I did. Why? Why did they value someone as insignificant and unrelated as me?

During the time I was nameless, they called me "child." If I did something to upset them, it occasionally became "kid" or "brat." Back then, I was surprisingly indifferent to this—so indifferent that even now, the thought shocks me. Perhaps it was because survival outweighed everything else. I depended on them entirely, so I let them do as they pleased, as long as I had food to eat.

After leaving the orphanage, we reached the nearest village. They left me in a small alley, saying they would look for work, and disappeared. By evening, as I began to believe I had been abandoned and wallowed in self-mockery, they reappeared before me. Their faces were filled with concern but also smiles as they handed me bread and milk.

Where had they been? How did they get the food? But hunger overpowered my curiosity. While I devoured the food, they explained that they had worked as restaurant waiters. Though clumsy on their first day, things went well. They smiled at me as if to assure me that tomorrow's sunrise would be bright.

With no place to stay, we huddled in a corner of the alley, wrapped in blankets. Like puppies seeking warmth from one another, they held me gently, enveloping me in warmth I had never experienced before. To this day, the memory still brings me to tears.

We stayed in the village for about a year. Following their deliberate decision, we moved to a nearby city. There, they purposefully approached a publishing house, seemingly to meet someone. This unexpectedly led to an opportunity to write songs for artists.

What’s more, they eventually took to the stage themselves, singing the lyrics they had written. They received thunderous applause, media attention, overwhelming support, and an endless stream of wealth. The once-unattainable now seemed drawn to their talent and potential, turning into stepping stones for their success.

From socially inept to eloquent, from naïve to shrewd, they learned how to survive in society, carefully navigating every decision to showcase their efforts. There’s a saying, "Fate is in your own hands," and these two proved it true.

The two useless individuals from a dilapidated orphanage now shine brilliantly on stage, flawless yet deeply human.

As for my name—the name they gave me—it became the title of their first song: Drought. My name is Gamum (가뭄).

Perhaps you've heard of it? It's the song by Jangjun and Youngtaek.

──TBC.