Jungwon and MaiMai were an unusual pair.

The fluffy dog walked alongside him as they patrolled the streets of South Korea.

The night had rolled in, casting darkness across the otherwise starlit sky of downtown Seoul.

"I hope they allow dogs inside.", Jungwon said.

He arrived at the door of a local bar.

He frequented this place recently, so much so that they know him by name.

"Ah, Jungwon, here again?", the security asked.

"I'm going for a seven-day streak. Think I'll make it this week?"

"If you keep up like this you will. You know, drinking isn't a healthy way to cope?"

"And what is? I lost everyone near and dear to my heart. Every single one of them. All I have left is MaiMai."

The dog sniffed the security guard, deeming him safe.

"She's a pretty one. Alright, go on in."

Jungwon and MaiMai entered the bar.

It wasn't crowded. It never was.

He say down at the bar, a familiar spot for him. MaiMai climbed in his lap.

"Mr. Yang, you're back. The usual?", the bartender asked.

"You know it."

"Going for a buzz or completely wasted tonight?"

"Absolutely...trashed."

"I hear ya."

The bartender started making Jungwon's usual selection.

"So, how are you doing lately?", she asked.

"As you can see, not good. I...went to my parents house."

"Did they see you?"

"No."

"Hmm...have you ever...visited?"

"My parents?"

"No. The...um..."

"Come on, say it."

"Them. Have you visited them?"

Jungwon knew who she was talking about.

The news spread across town immediately.

Tragedy in Seoul. One dozen lives lost in tragic multi-vehicle accident.

"No."

"Did you go to any funerals?"

"I went to the last one."

"Ah, the young one. What was his name?"

Jungwon looked at the glass placed in his hand. He took a sip before speaking.

"We called him Niki."

"Oh okay. Man, the looks on his family's faces. I'll never forget that news article."

MaiMai whimpered, sitting up and sniffing the air.

"I know sweetie. I know."

"Want me to get her some food?", the bartender asked.

"Yes please. She's really hungry. Our usual store ran out of supply."

"I see. I'll go fix something."

"Thanks."
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Two hours had went by of Jungwon taking drink after drink.

He finally decided he was drunk enough, a wanted to go home.

"Can you make it by yourself Mr. Yang?"

"Yes yes. I can...come on puppy girl...let's goooo."

MaiMai jumped off of him, and he followed her to the front door, where they left.

The usual route home was empty, void of any human life.

Jungwon likes it this way.

After all, he had been alone for so long now, he almost forgot what it felt like to have any human interaction.

Is this what Kai felt like in the woods?

He wandered on, feeling nothing but sorrow as he passed the corner.

Turning the edge of the building, he was completely knocked over by the full scale force of someone larger than him.

"So sorry sir!", the man said.

Jungwon just laid on the ground, beginning to cry.

"Sir? Did I hurt you?"

"N-no..."

He began to cry louder, causing the taller person to embrace him, helping him stand up.

"Are you drunk sir?", the person asked.

"A little bit...do I smell like alcohol?"

"A little bit."

"Heh...heh...good. Let the world know how much it hurts to exist. Imagine having your own power turn against you...."

Jungwon stumbled a bit, but the tall person caught him.

"I don't think it's safe for you to be out here alone. You also look young, are you old enough to drink?"

"Hardly..."

"Come home with me."

"Excuse me?"

"I know, I'm a stranger. We just met but...I feel like I need to protect you. And you being drunk out here with a mysteriously shady looking German shepherd is just looking for danger."

MaiMai barked at him.

"She likes you...hehe.", Jungwon said.

"I see. Let's go."

The man led Jungwon and the shady looking MaiMai away.

Together they walked not too far from the bar area, to an apartment complex.

The man led them inside, and to the elevator, where they rode up to the third floor.

"Lucky me, running home in the middle of the night...I saved a drunk person from potentially getting hurt."

Jungwon was far too drunk, and too tired to understand a single word this man said.

He led them to his room.

It was a two bedroom apartment.

"I guess my little brothers are asleep. Are you okay sleeping in my bed?"

"Yep-"

The man quietly led Jungwon to the master bedroom.

It was spacious, with a king size bed and large TV.

Jungwon immediately flopped onto the bed.

"Just sleep off your drunkness. If you're willing to stay in the morning, I'll make you my famous hangover cure."

"Thank you...sir.", Jungwon replied.

The man handed him some stray clothes, which Jungwon changed into before hopping into this bed.

MaiMai was in the hallway, scratching anxiously at the door across the way.

"MaiMai stoppppp.", Jungwon said.

"Hehe, is she a service dog?"

"She used to be...why?"

"Because, I have a neighbor with a service dog. And everytime her dog comes over here, he scratches at that door. I guess they like my brother."

"Maybe..."

Jungwon closed his eyes, putting all his faith in this stranger.

The stranger laid down as well, looking at Jungwon.

He felt happy to see the cute faced boy next to him. He just didn't know why.

Maybe it's because he could finally have a friend other than his brother.

Or maybe, it was another reason.

He laid down, and MaiMai did as well, jumping on the bed.

They fell asleep that way, drifting off peacefully.
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When Jungwon woke up the next morning, he was shocked to not have a hangover.

Even more, he was shocked to have his arms tightly wrapped around someone.

He hesitated to move.

What did he do last night?

Looking up, he was faced with the sleeping look of the man who brought him here last night.

Only...

"Baby?"

The man opened his eyes slowly.

"What did you call me?"

"Sorry...I'm so sorry...you just look like my boyfriend."

"You have a boyfriend?"

"Had. He passed, a few months ago. You know the car accident that killed twelve people?"

"Oh man...sorry about that."

"Me too. It was my fault for trusting someone."

"I see. Do you still need that hangover cure?"

"No. I'm just going to go see them..."

"The victims?"

"Yes. I haven't been to their sites yet. I only went to a few funerals."

"Mind if I go with?"

"Really?"

"Yeah. I want to know more about them."

Jungwon got up, and so did MaiMai.

Together they got dressed, with the familiar faced man ready to take Jungwon to see his friends.

The younger brother of the man came from his room, and MaiMai jumped on him.

"MaiMai! Leave the poor boy alone!", Jungwon yelled.

"Hyungieeeee, where you going?", the brother asked.

"Taking this one to see his friends."

"Oh okay. Hi sir."

"Hi.", Jungwon replied.

"Are you Jongseong's boyfriend?"

Jungwon stopped.

He looked at the man to his side.

Same face.

Same name.

"No...we just met."

"Alright. Well have fun."

Jungwon and who he now knew had the same name as his deceased boyfriend, took the time to walk to the graveyard where the twelve victims had an entire memorial area built for them.

It took around fifteen minutes.

When they arrived, Jungwon spotted the memorial, and walked up to it.

The man stood back, marveling at the gorgeous marble structure.

On it, a list of the names of all twelve victims, and a series of photos of the twelve.

Eleven boys, one girl.

"Wow...", Jungwon said, as he stepped inside.

On each side of the large marble walls, six doors stood. On the other side of each door, a person Jungwon once knew.

"It's crazy how things happen.", the man said.

"It really is..."

"They didn't deserve this."

MaiMai laid down in front of the third door on the left side.

A name all too familiar written atop it.

"That's weird.", Jongseong said.

"What is?"

"Kim Seonwoo. That's my little brother's name. We have different dads."

If Jungwon hasn't put two and two together already, he was about to.

"I know these people."

"How?", Jungwon asked him.

"These photos. These names...look. This is me!", he said.

He picked up a photo of Jay.

"This is my brother!", he picked up a photo of Seonwoo.

He looked all around the room.

"Am I dead? Is this...heaven? Or hell?"

Jungwon walked up to him.

"For me it's been hell. Without them...I have nothing."

"I'm sorry sir. I mean, Jungwon."

"It's fine."

"I'm so confused...what is going on? I'm not dead, I'm right here. Seonwoo is at home! These people...is this the future or the past? Did this actually happen? Oh my god am I a reincarnation of your dead boyfriend?"

"Rude. But...I can't explain it."

"This is wild man..."

"Truly."

Jungwon looked into his eyes.

He sensed fear, a genuine care, and a combination of things happening.

He sensed his Jay.

He thought.

Is this the new life Lily meant?

Did she give them a chance to start over?

Jungwon looked at Jongseong, smiling.

"Can I meet your friends?"

"Sure. They're going to be so so shocked to see this. But be warned...Soobin and Yeonjun like to flirt with everyone they meet, and they might try to date you."

"I wouldn't mind."

"Oh really...I thought you would like me?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Well I do resemble this hot guy right here.", he said, holding up a photo of Jay.

"I guess you're cute."

"Wow, if you were like this to your Jongseong, I feel bad for him..."

"Stop pouting before I fall in love with you."