This Given Time : The Curse of the 17 Stars

Rae-Rae’s Point of View:

August 17, 2026. I didn’t know this would be the last normal day of my life.

"Yonghoon, Kanghyun, Harin, Dongmyeong, Giuk... ONEWE, WEVE, Saranghae!” I cheered at my screen, the names of the members rolling off my tongue like a familiar melody.

“Rae-rae-ah! Aren’t you leaving yet?” Dad shouted from the back door, snapping me back to reality.

“Coming, Dad!” I shouted back. I quickly powered down my computer and turned off my light stick, the room suddenly feeling much quieter. I took a final look in the mirror, smoothing my hair and double-checking my makeup.

Before heading out, I did a mental inventory. Ticket? Check. Light stick? Check. I ran my thumb over the photocard hanging from my bag as a keyring; it was one of my most treasured possessions.

I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. Today, I’d be at the KSPO Dome in Seoul to see ONEWE and Yonghoon oppa in person. My heart did a little flip just thinking about it. This was my first real concert, a dream made possible by the VIP ticket my dad gave me as an early birthday gift.

It was also Yonghoon oppa’s birthday today, and I thought this would be the most unforgettable birthday of his life.

As I walked toward the door, my mind was already at the venue. I kept trying to imagine it. After seeing him through screens for so long, what would Yonghoon actually look like standing right in front of me?

I sat beside my dad in the car, took a deep breath, and got ready to go. I stared out the window and started listening to ONEWE songs on my retro earphones. I had a strong feeling that today was going to be the best day of my life.

Time passed as we traveled. The sun began to set, and I noticed something streak across the sky. A shooting star? At this time?

As soon as it appeared, I closed my eyes and whispered a prayer. “Dear shooting star, I hope this will be the happiest day of my life, seeing Yonghoon-oppa and the other ONEWE members. I hope I can see them always, and I hope they are always happy, safe, and healthy forever.”

Just like that, it was gone, leaving me with a wonderful feeling.

“Rae-Rae, we’re here! I’ll pick you up right here later, okay? Call me after the concert ends,” Dad said, pulling up to the curb.

“Okay! Thank you, Dad!”

Leaving the car and walking toward the venue felt completely unreal. There were so many other WEVEs there too.

Suddenly, an announcement rang out. “VIP ticket holders, it’s time for soundcheck!” Hearing those words made my heart race.

I joined the line at the door, waiting to get in. I noticed every co-WEVE brought their bias’s photocard as a keyring on their bags, while mine was a group photo. I’m Yonghoon-biased, but I love them all. Kanghyun’s guitar skills, Giuk’s rap, bass, and producing skills, Dongmyeong’s bright smile, energy, and voice, and Harin’s drumming and that serious, focused face while he played, all of it caught my heart. That’s why I was so excited.

As I entered the arena, the song “Universe” was playing. I sang along quietly, waving my light stick in time with the other WEVEs walking beside me.

When we finally reached our standing positions inside the venue, I could see the drums, guitars, piano, and all the band equipment. The sight of it excited me so much.

Then Yonghoon-oppa finally appeared in casual clothes along with the other members. He was smiling. Damn, he looked so good up close.

“Hello everyone! We are ONEWE!” they announced together.

We all screamed at the top of our lungs.

“WEVE-ah! Did we make you wait a long time?” Yonghoon asked, his voice warm through the microphone as he looked out at us. He flashed a bright smile. “Let’s have a fun and unforgettable night together today!”

“Happy Birthday, Yonghoon-oppa!” another fan screamed.

As I stood there, Yonghoon-oppa started walking toward my side of the stage. My heart was pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat. Then it actually happened. He looked straight at me.

He didn’t just glance past me. For a few seconds, our eyes met. He had this sweet smile on his face, and somehow, in that crowded venue, I felt seen.

For a moment, it felt like I was the only person in the venue. I was frozen, just staring back at him, my hands shaking. I didn’t use my phone to record him singing, just focused my eyes on watching him, even as other WEVEs around me uploaded their fancams.

Then he gave a little nod and a wink before moving to the other side of the stage. I felt like I was going to melt right there on the spot.

After checking the sound and performing a few songs for the soundcheck, they waved goodbye to us before leaving the stage. We, the VIP holders, stayed inside the venue while waiting for the official concert to begin.

Time passed, and other ticket holders filled the venue. I could hear loud screaming from the back as the concert started.

It wasn’t just Yonghoon-oppa who caught my eye. All of them did. Kanghyun’s guitar riffs and prince-like look, Giuk’s playful bass playing, Dongmyeong’s beautiful voice, and Harin’s amazing focus and serious expression on the drums. Overall, they all shone so brightly.

After the concert ended, it was finally time for the group photo session. My heart was practically jumping out of my chest as I stood in line. I’d totally forgotten we’d get the chance for a group photo.

When it was finally my turn, I walked toward the backdrop where the members were standing.

There he was. Yonghoon-oppa.

Up close, he was even more handsome than I could have imagined. As I stepped next to him, I could smell a hint of his perfume, and the heat from the stage lights was still radiating off him.

I was standing between Kanghyun and Yonghoon-oppa. I looked so small there, damn my short height.

“Hi, Rae-Rae-ah!” Yonghoon-oppa said with his soft, warm voice. I froze for a moment. I realized I’d put my name on my shirt with their logo and a small flower, but he called me Rae-rae instead of Rae-sun. Only Dad and my close friends called me that, but it was fine.

“Uhm... happy birthday again, oppa. There’s only one thing I want to tell you. Please remember that there is always someone here supporting you. Your music, your voice, and your hard work have given me so much happiness. I’ll keep cheering for you and ONEWE forever. Fighting!” I said, raising a small fist.

“Oh, thank you,” he said with a warm smile, placing both hands over his heart.

He leaned in closer for the camera, tilting his head toward mine with that same sweet, flirty smile he’d given me during soundcheck. I did a kimchi pose.

Click. The flash went off, capturing the moment forever.

I thanked him and the others with a shaky voice, and they gave me a warm, gentle look before I had to walk away.

I walked out of that venue feeling like I was on top of the world, clutching my phone and my memories tight.

It still felt so unreal. Really, like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.

Now I was walking outside. I texted my father that the concert was done. He told me to wait a minute, so I did.

Then I decided to go to a coffee shop first, to buy myself a coffee and one for my dad. Other WEVEs were there too, so I got in line to wait.

I was glad there was still a cafe open at that time.

I received a message from Yonghoon-oppa on the Fromm app, where I’d subscribed to him. He sent three cute selfies he’d taken before the concert, thanking all the fans who’d attended, cheered, and greeted him there.

I replied with a cute sticker and a heart just as I heard the coffee shop barista announce, “Number 13817. Here is the coffee. Enjoy!” I took it and left.

I put my retro earphones on, listening to ONEWE songs again, and walked toward where my father and I had promised to meet.

As soon as I was about to cross the road, a loud scream filled the air, and...

I fell to the ground, coffee and blood spilling onto the road.

My retro earphones were still playing the ONEWE song “Starlight.”

My heart pounded so fast that I couldn’t breathe properly, and I couldn’t seem to move my hands or feet.

I spat blood.

What is this? Why is this happening to me?

“Help! Save that girl!”

A minute passed, and an ambulance from near the venue arrived. I felt so dizzy.

“Hey, don’t worry, girl, we will save you.”

“Oh God! That’s my daughter!! Rae-Rae!!!!!!” I saw Dad running to me. He looked so shocked as he came to my side, scanning me to see what had happened.

Wait. Am I dreaming? Why is Dad crying? Because of that, I cried too, and unknowingly closed my eyes.

[11:24 PM | AUGUST 17, 2026]

Darkness. Everything felt so far away.

“...We need blood. She lost too much.”

"Where can we get it? Her blood type is uncommon.”

“Her father has already been...”

“Doctor! We found a donor. Same blood type!”

“...Really? Hurry.”

“We don’t have much time.”

Cold.

Something touched my arm. My chest felt unbearably heavy. I wanted to breathe.

But I couldn’t.

The voices slowly faded into silence.

[2029]

Cheers.

Applause.

Laughter echoed somewhere in the distance.

“Bro! Did you hear them screaming our names?”

“Haha. They wanted another encore, so I kept playing my bass.”

“Yeah... today was really good.”

The laughter drifted farther away...until everything became quiet again.

[2032]

“...Did you hear the news about him?”

“I did.”

“I never expected it.”

“But... what can we do?”

“It’s his life.”

“...I just hope he’s happy.”

Silence.

[2034]

A familiar melody. Someone quietly singing...

♪ Indelible...

A warm hand gently brushed through my hair.

“Time flies...”

“I think you’ve stayed here for too long.”

The warmth disappeared.

Darkness returned.

[2037]

“This week they all seem to be busy.”

“Yeah.”

“But I’m happy.”

“They still made time for her.”

Their voices sounded closer this time.

Then...they were gone.

[2039]

“I still wonder...”

“...how she still looks exactly the same as before.”

A long silence followed. As if no one knew the answer.

[2041]

“Mr. Jin...” “She’s doing well.” “The doctor says...” “...there’s a possibility she’ll wake up soon.”

Wake......up?

The word echoed.

Again.

And again.

Until it faded.

[2042]

A radio quietly played.

♪ Starlight...

The melody felt strangely familiar.

As if...I’d heard it somewhere before.

Or...perhaps...I never stopped hearing it.

The darkness slowly began to crack.

Light. Sound. All of it rushed back in at once.

[PRESENT: JANUARY 10, 2043]

“Yonghoon, Kanghyun, Harin, Dongmyeong, Giuk. ONEWE. WEVE. Saranghae!!!!!!”

What is happening? Where am I? My head felt so dizzy, and I couldn’t feel my feet.

“Doc! She finally woke up!!”

Wake up? How long did I sleep? My vision was still glitching.

"I’ll check her first. Call and tell Mr. Jin,” a doctor said as he checked my eyes, heart, and every part of my body.

I still couldn’t speak, but I could now move my feet and hands. I looked around at where I was.

Oh, our photo together? I thought, seeing the photo on the table beside me. It was the photo from the concert, printed and put in a frame.

Who did this? Dad? Where is he?

“Hey, take this medicine,” a nurse said, giving me water and the meds.

After taking them, I asked her, “Nurse, where is my father, and how long did I sleep?”

The nurse looked so shocked. ”Oh... uhm. Doc said you should rest first, then you’ll know soon.” She said this as she left quickly.

“Wait!” I suddenly felt sleepy, so I fell asleep.

///

“Mr. Jin, she seems to be well now. You don’t have to worry about her anymore. She’ll be discharged soon.”

I woke up again from what I heard.

“Oh, she’s awake again, Mr. Jin. I’ll go check on her,” the doctor said from the door. He came to my side and checked my eyes and heartbeat again.

I gathered the strength to ask him.

“Doc, where is my dad? How long did I sleep? Why couldn’t the nurse tell me, only you?” I said, my voice shaking.

The doctor placed his stethoscope back around his neck. He sat next to me and took a deep breath.

“I know you won’t believe what I’m about to say, but...” he said calmly, with a sad tone that made my heart beat faster.

Why did he look so emotional? Didn’t the accident just happen yesterday?

“To tell you, Rae-sun-ah, it’s been 17 years since you woke up from your coma. Sad to say, your father passed away 7 years ago. It’s a miracle that you woke up in this state, and...” What he said made my eyes fill with tears.

“Se-seventeen years?” I said, my voice cracking in shock. “My dad passed away? How, and why?”

“D-doc, you’re not teasing me, right?” I said, holding the doctor’s hand. He seemed emotional too as he looked at me. The nurse standing next to me started to cry and turned her back to me.

“What is really happening to me?” I said, crying loudly.

The doctor patted my head until I sobbed.

“I know it’s unbelievable. But look, Rae-sun, it’s the year 2043 now. You had an accident in 2026.” My head and heart suddenly ached when I heard that.

2026...

August 17, 2026...

Where I finally met Yonghoon-oppa and ONEWE, on his birthday, and...

My head was spinning. The moments before the accident flashed back.

“Yonghoon, Kanghyun, Harin, Dongmyeong, ONEWE, WEVE. Saranghae.”

“WEVE-ah! Did we make you wait a long time?”

“Let’s have a fun and unforgettable night together today!”

“Hi, Rae-Rae...”

A sound of a crash and car horns...

“What happened, ahh!!!! Rae-Rae, my daughter!!!”

“She lost a lot of blood, we need more blood...”

Ahh!!! I screamed as my head hurt so much, those memories of the accident flooding back.

“Rae-sun-ah, don’t overdo it. You need to rest first,” the doctor said.

“No. No way. This isn’t true, Doc. I can’t accept it!!” I said, pressing my hands to my heart.

“Rae-sun, I know it’s hard to handle, but you need to do it so you can live.”

“No!” I screamed.

“Nurse, give her some anesthesia to calm her down,” he said, clearly panicked too.

“Okay, Doc, here,” the nurse said, holding my arm and injecting it.

“Wait! No!” I screamed.

How could I accept the fact that it had been 17 years, when I felt like it was just yesterday? His voice, the way our eyes had locked together. The time I’d spent with them. How I’d cheered them on while they sang.

Would I never see that again?

I looked at the photo frame on the table, where I stood happy beside Yonghoon and the other members of ONEWE.

Tears kept falling until I finally fell asleep from the anesthesia.

[JANUARY 24, 2043]

Two weeks had passed since I woke up on January 10, 2043. I spent my time in the hospital doing physical therapy to get back on my feet.

I still couldn’t believe the world had changed so much, but even more unbelievable was that my face hadn’t. I still looked seventeen.

It was as if my own time had stopped, but outside, my world had kept going. The things, the gadgets, the fashion, the high buildings, the music.

I couldn’t help but cry every time I saw my face in the mirror. It took a long time before my body healed, before I could walk again, just like my heart.

I was now in our old house, far from the city hospital.

Dad had kept my room the way it was. He’d put up the pictures from the concert that I’d taken on my phone, which made me so emotional every time I looked at them.

I didn’t remove them and kept them as my most valuable memory.

Yonghoon-oppa was still on my mind every day. I didn’t ask, and didn’t want to find out, what he was doing now. I was sure it would break my heart even further if I found out.

Everything had become so advanced and high-tech in the year 2043, from gadgets and social media to furniture and transportation. But in terms of sports, not much had changed.

I wondered how many songs they had now that I’d missed.

I wanted to be my past self again. I still couldn’t face reality as it was.

I needed more time to heal.

While I sat with those thoughts, a phone call came, and I answered it.

“Rae-sun, don’t forget to pick up your school uniform next week, January 24, 2044,” the nurse who’d guided and cared for me while I was in my coma said.

She’d become like a mom and a best friend to me. She was a 40-year-old, unmarried woman.

“Okay, Sis,” I replied, smiling a little.

She told me I was like her daughter. When she’d found out my story, it had moved her so much that she’d wanted to really take care of me, and that’s why she did. Although we were far away now.

She was the one who told and taught me what the year 2026 had led to, and that my father had left a large sum of money for my school education. Before he died, he’d found out I had become someone who didn’t age, my appearance and height frozen in place.

Sis Ali, her name was. It’s funny how her name sounded like a song title from ONEWE.

Was it a coincidence? Maybe it was, but I was glad that although I felt alone, there was still someone who cared for me, even though we weren’t related by blood.

[MARCH 29, 2043 | SUNDAY]

It suddenly started raining. I hadn’t brought an umbrella, so I got soaked. I decided to wait until the rain stopped before picking up my uniform at school.

“Oh, why are you so wet?” the teacher asked when I arrived at the school.

“Oh, sorry. I just didn’t know it would rain suddenly. I didn’t bring an umbrella,” I explained.

“I see. Just go to the comfort room and change into these so you won’t catch a cold and can be present tomorrow for your first class,” she said, then left.

So I changed. Looking at myself in the mirror again, in the school uniform, I noticed the style hadn’t changed even after seventeen years, same as my face.

My heart suddenly ached, looking at myself.

After I finally sobbed, I decided to leave. I was outside, wearing the school uniform. I really did feel like I was seventeen years old again. Although the uniform was the same, the school rooms had changed.

It was Sunday, but there were still students staying at the school. Some seemed to be reviewing for an upcoming exam, others were practicing sports like soccer. So I decided to stand a bit farther away, watching them play.

I remembered my past self, seventeen years ago, watching my classmates play soccer, all of us girls rooting for our boy classmates on the field.

I really missed my high school life, so, as the doctor suggested and Sis Ali encouraged, I was back at school. A student again.

“Hey, girl, look out!” a shout came from behind me as the soccer ball flew toward my side. He rushed to me and held me tightly so I wouldn’t get hit, taking the impact himself instead.

“Hey, are you okay? What were you thinking, not seeing the ball coming?” he said, gasping, sweat on his body. His voice sounded so familiar it made my heart skip a beat.

He lifted my face toward his so I could see him. “Hey, why aren’t you answering?” he asked.

I was so shocked when our gazes met.

“Yonghoon-oppa?”

I said it in my mind, and, without thinking, hugged him.

Then a falling star appeared in the sky.

End...