So sat in a chair as he watched the royal painter work on his portrait. He tilted his head to see if he could get a better view, but he was sitting too far away, and it was upside down. As he continued to wait, he noticed Ji Mong tapping the painter’s shoulders and widening his eyes before indicating to his shoulders and then lifting them higher, indicating it should be drawn bigger.

So pointed to Ji Mong, his tone displeased.

“You have to draw me to look the same. I need it to feel like they’re looking at me even by only looking at the drawing.”

“I thought we were drawing what you would look like in your older years. You’re not sitting on your throne,” Ji Mong explained. “People wouldn’t know if you were a prince or a king. They would be so confused.

“I am still very young. Why draw a picture to hang after I die?”

So shifted his gaze forward again as the painter looked up at him to observe once more before going back to his work.

“I have someone to give it to,” he said resolutely.

It took as long as expected. It was very difficult to find Soo, or rather Ha Jin on social media and many days So was at his wits end. What if he had returned too early? Or too late? He didn't want to think about the latter. He had originally assumed it would be easy to come to Ha Jin’s world, but he had quickly realized that wasn’t the case. Despite his search, So was unable to find her online at all.

Eventually, after months and months of physical therapy, So was able to walk independently. When he wasn't searching for Ha Jin, he was working on gaining back his former physical shape. It had been awhile since he practiced his swordsmanship and martial arts but luckily the studio Joon So owned had everything he needed to practice.

He closed the studio down for now and Ji Hyun had talked to him about potentially opening it up again in the future, but at the present time, So was simply focused on improving his physical health and finding his other half. As his strength returned and he became more familiar with the city, So began to venture out around his apartment. Eventually he learned how to take the bus which allowed him to travel much further than walking had taken him.

Ji Hyun did inform So that he had a car but that was something he wasn't ready to challenge again just yet, not on his own anyway. Ji Hyun had offered to teach him once and that lesson nearly ended in a disaster, so it made sense the former advisor was disinclined to offer any additional lessons.

As So stepped off the bus, he took out his phone to see his location. Technology was fascinating in this world and he wondered how he had ever lived before then. Furthermore, how did Ha Jin adapt from having all of this and then going to nothing in Goryeo? Soo at the time had mentioned that she did miss several things, but once she had acclimated to Goryeo, she had no need for those luxuries.

After ensuring he was indeed going in the right direction, So pocketed his phone and walked towards the lake that he had found in the area. There weren't many, and most people likely went to the Han River but he obviously had a special connection to lakes, since it reminded him of Soo.

He was underwhelmed when he finally arrived at the lake. It was quite small and he couldn't walk the perimeter like he used to with Soo back in Goryeo. Still, it looked quaint if not quiet. By the looks of the boats on the docks and the wooden tables, it looked like a place where one could spend the day rowing and then enjoying a meal afterwards.

So didn't know how long he stood there looking out into the waters, but by the time he had shaken himself out of his reverie, he noticed someone had joined him, albeit they were standing further away. He had planned on leaving when he suddenly whipped around and looked again at the figure that was standing there.

Her hair color was different, a much lighter brown than he had ever seen before. It flowed down her back in waves and she was dressed in baggy clothes, both hands tucked into her pockets staring out into the water just as he had been. Although she looked different in this time, there was no doubt that it was the reincarnation of his Soo.

He didn't know how long he stared at her but something held him back from approaching her. What if she didn't remember him? If he made a bad impression, would she ever give him another chance in the future? He didn't want to make the wrong first impression like he did centuries ago. He grimaced in embarrassment as the scene of him shoving her off his horse played in his mind.

When she turned as if to glance at him, he immediately looked away, nervous for some reason. After a little bit, he turned to look at her but she was once again staring out into the waters.  He eventually lost the courage to approach her but figured if it was the heaven's will, they would meet again. After taking one last look at her, he hurried home to continue his search. Now that he knew what she looked like here, it would be easier.

That was what he thought anyway. But he wasn’t able to locate her again until several months later. He happened to be walking through the mall, something that was very similar to a market where he could buy many things, according to Ji Hyun’s words.

He was going to pass quickly through the make-up counters but he caught the figure of Soo putting on make-up for someone. So ended up standing here to stare at her, and when she did turn around, he hid. It looked like she was searching for something, and So wondered if she had felt his stare. She looked behind her a couple of more times afterwards before So felt it was high time he left. He could already see one of the security guards nearby giving him a questioning look. 

So figured that must have been her work place, and that likely that would be somewhere he could count on her being from now on. As he left, something in the back of his mind told him he was borderline being a stalker. Was that what Soo called it one time? Someone who was obsessive with the object of their affections, even if it wasn’t necessarily reciprocated. So promised himself that this was as far as he would go. He didn’t think it would be good if he followed her back to her home. These were different times now, and if his instincts were right, finding out where someone lived without their knowing probably wasn’t accepted in this time and world.

When he arrived home, he found Ji Hyun had let himself in as he always did. He was currently making some tea and when So came to the kitchen island, offered him a cup.

“You look happy today, Paeha.”

“Ji Hyun, you should stop calling me that. I am no longer an emperor. Please address me more comfortably. You are technically older than me,” So said with a smirk.

Ji Hyun grinned and shrugged.

“Old habits die hard I suppose. I spent such a long time in Goryeo that sometimes I wonder if I can ever move on from that.”

So knew he was likely referring to much more than he let on, but stayed silent. He wondered too if he himself would be able to move on from his former life in Goryeo. He had spent many years there as a prince from childhood to adulthood and thensome. Now that he was here in Seoul, there were many things he had to learn about, but ultimately he was given another chance at a second life. He likely wouldn’t be able to make a huge impact as he did before, but hopefully he would be able to do something that was meaningful.

“What brings you here, Ji Hyun? I thought I had demonstrated I was fine enough on my own weeks ago.”

“I can’t help but check in on you. I know how hard it was to adjust when I came back so I figured I should help you all that I can. Tell me, what did you do today? You seemed happy when you came through the door.”

So couldn’t help the smile that came onto his face.

“I was able to find Ha Jin today.”

“No wonder you were so elated. Where were you able to meet her?”

“I wasn’t able to meet her, per say…”

“So you just stalked her?”

So grimaced at Ji Hyun’s blunt words. Seems like his intuition was correct.

“I mean, to be fair, she was working! And I didn’t want to interrupt her. So I just watched her from afar and left afterwards.”

Ji Hyun looked at him blankly before taking a sip of his tea.

“When do you plan to introduce yourself?”

So shrugged and set down his teacup. That was what he had been thinking about for a long time. What would he say if they ever met? Should he pretend that he didn't know about her? Or should it lay it out bare? Ji Hyun could sense his hesitance and asked a more pointed question.

“What are you afraid of, Joon So?”

So looked up at him and for the first time Ji Hyun could see some vulnerability in the man’s eyes. 

“What if she doesn’t remember me? I can’t pursue her with the fact that I have history from our past relationship. Even if I want nothing more to do so, that wouldn’t be fair to her. ”

Ji Hyun looked impressed for some reason.

“Wow, you certainly have grown. The past you wouldn’t have cared about that.”

So scoffed and finished his tea with one last sip.

“I have lived an entire lifetime, Ji Hyun. Surely you think I would have matured from my younger years.”

“I suppose you have, but you are technically 25 years old in this world. The last time I saw you, you were well past that age.”

“Enough of this age talk. I think if we were to be very technical, things would get very confusing quickly.”

Ji Hyun nodded in agreement. He finished his own cup of tea and before he could reach for the teapot, So had reached it before him and poured Ji Hyun another cup.

“I could get used to this. Imagine me telling everyone an emperor poured me tea!”

So rolled his eyes as he poured himself a new cup.

“Don’t get too used to it. Anyhow, what have you been up to?”

“I have been planning for a gig at an exhibition coming up next week. They plan to hang paintings that have lasted since the Goryeo period and I will be giving a walking tour about the history of the paintings. Maybe you should stop by. I heard your portrait survived and they’re displaying it there.”

“Perhaps. It may be strange if I stop by and people notice I look exactly like the portrait.”

So wasn’t sure if he wanted that type of attention. He had been staying lowkey in this new world and hoped that no one would question his existence, for fear that it would be taken away from him. Ji Hyun nodded in agreement.

“It is up to you. Perhaps it would be good not to be reminded of something you are unable to return to.”

-----

Although unplanned, a week later found So at the exact exhibit that Ji Hyun had informed him about. Truth be told, he was curious to see what they had to show, and wondered if he would be able to recognize anything else they recovered aside from his portrait. There were a variety of booths in the same venue but he had already seen the large banner advertising Goryeo era paintings so he made his way there. As he came through the entrance, he heard a few people talk about someone as they exited.

“What do you think made her cry so hard in there?”

“Maybe something reminded her about her ex or something…”

So looked back to see them walk away before heading into the exhibit. It seemed everyone was on their way out, and near the back of the room, he saw a woman hunched on over her knees shaking with sobs. As he approached her, he realized that it was Ha Jin and So wondered why she was crying here of all places. He looked on the wall directly in front of them and saw it was his portrait that hung on the wall. Although the paper was browning and yellowed, it was the same one that he had commissioned many, many years ago.

Was she crying because the portrait made her sad? Did that mean she remembered everything? Or was she crying about something else entirely? He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and hesitantly held it out to Ha Jin. He held his breath as she noticed his presence there before lifting her head to see the handkerchief and reached out for it.