Seungho let out a slow breath, steadying himself as he finished bandaging the small scrape. He glanced at the child, who still had his lips slightly pouted, his round cheeks tear-streaked from crying.

"Your eyes aren't creepy," Seungho said firmly, his voice unusually soft. "They're… unique."

The boy blinked up at him, sniffling. "Really?"

Seungho nodded, a faint, almost ghost-like smile gracing his lips. "Really."

The child studied him for a moment before his lips curled into the tiniest smile. He swung his legs back and forth, the previous sadness slowly fading from his expression.

Seungho sighed, capping the antiseptic bottle and tucking it away in his bag. "What’s your name?" he finally asked, even though he already knew the answer in his heart.

The child beamed, as if suddenly forgetting all about his earlier troubles. "Jihyuk!"

Seungho felt something in his chest tighten painfully.

So close… so painfully close.

"Jihyuk, huh?" He repeated the name, his tongue wrapping around the syllables like it was something sacred.

The boy nodded enthusiastically, swinging his feet a little more. "What’s your name, mister?"

For a second, Seungho hesitated. He hadn't introduced himself to anyone properly in a long time. But as he looked into those green eyes—eyes that had haunted him for centuries—he knew there was no point in lying.

"Seungho," he answered simply.

Jihyuk’s eyes widened. "Seungho… Seonsaengnim?"

Seungho's entire body went still.

He hadn't been called that in hundreds of years. No one else had ever addressed him like that—only one person. Only Jiwon.

His fingers clenched around the fabric of his pants, his mind racing. Was it just a coincidence? A child’s innocent remark? Or was it something more?

He forced himself to breathe. "Why… did you call me that?"

Jihyuk tilted his head, his small fingers tapping against his chin. "I don’t know!" he chirped. "It just… felt right!"

Seungho's chest ached, a strange mix of hope and despair clawing at him.

Fate had been cruel to him for so long. Was it finally giving him a chance… or setting him up for another inevitable loss?

Jihyuk suddenly reached for his sleeve, tugging at it. "Mister Seungho, do you have anywhere to go right now?"

Seungho blinked. "I was on my way to work."

Jihyuk pouted. "Oh…" He kicked his feet again, his voice turning quieter. "I don’t wanna go home yet."

Seungho frowned slightly. "Why?"

The little boy hesitated before mumbling, "Mommy and Daddy are always busy… and I don’t have any friends."

Seungho’s heart clenched again. He shouldn’t get involved. He knew that.

But how could he ignore the child sitting in front of him—the same soul he had longed for, the same eyes that once teased him, that once looked up to him, that once closed for the last time in his arms?

He sighed, running a hand through his hair before looking back at Jihyuk.

"Then… would you like to stay with me for a little while?" he asked, his voice hesitant.

Jihyuk’s face lit up instantly. "Really?!"

Seungho gave a slow nod. "Just for a while."

Jihyuk grinned, slipping his small hand into Seungho’s without hesitation. "Okay! But only if you buy me ice cream first!"

Seungho let out a soft chuckle—a sound he hadn't heard from himself in ages. "Fine."

And as they walked together out of the park, Seungho couldn't help but wonder…

Had fate finally given him a second chance?