1. A Familiar Voice in Reality – "The strong are those who survive to the end."
The next morning, Lee Hyun-do was getting ready for work.Steam filled the bathroom as he stepped out of the shower—when a sudden chill ran down his spine.
"The strong are those who survive to the end."
A voice, clear as if whispered right into his ear.
Hyun-do froze.
…What was that?
He turned to the mirror, staring into his own reflection.The words weren't random.
It was the exact line Ian (Lee Young-ah) had spoken to him in last night's dream.
But why was he hearing it here, in reality?
He caught movement in the fogged bathroom window—a flicker of a shadow, unfamiliar, out of place.
He spun around, heart pounding—
Nothing was there.
2. Déjà Vu at Work – A Scene Straight Out of a Dream
Once at the office, Hyun-do tried to push the unease aside and buried himself in emails.
Then—
The department head walked into the meeting room and said the first words of the day:
"This project is going to be a fierce competition. The strong are those who survive to the end."
Hyun-do's breath caught.
That's… exactly what I heard in my dream.
He looked around the conference room.His colleagues nodded along, unfazed.
But to him, the moment felt off—like he was watching a rerun of something he'd already lived.
3. A Conversation with Lee Do-hyeon – Advice from a "Dream Friend"
At lunch, Hyun-do escaped to the rooftop, coffee in hand.
The wind was cool, but his thoughts weren't.
Then—
"Hyun-do, you've got that look on your face again."
He turned.
Lee Do-hyeon (Lean) stood there, casual as ever, a faint smile on his lips.He sat next to Hyun-do and leaned back, coffee steaming in his hands.
"You've been… strange lately, haven't you?"
Hyun-do stiffened.
Does he… know something?
"What do you mean?"
Do-hyeon took a sip, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Don't you ever wonder?""Whether the world we live in… is really the real one?"
The question landed like a weight in Hyun-do's chest.
4. Kim Young-min's Words – "Hold on to reality."
After lunch, Hyun-do returned to his desk.
Kim Young-min (Cain) tapped him on the shoulder with a familiar casualness.
"Hey. You okay these days?""What?""You zone out a lot lately."
Hyun-do forced a smile, shaking his head.
But Young-min didn't buy it. He studied him for a moment, then spoke in a voice more serious than usual:
"Hyun-do.""I don't know what's eating at you…""…but don't go too deep."
The words caught him off guard.
"What?"
Young-min's gaze sharpened.
"You're always talking like reality's some dream you can wake up from.""But in the end… the most important thing is here. The life we're living right now."
5. That Night – The Question That Won't Let Go
That night, Hyun-do dreamed again.
And in that dream, Ian (Lee Young-ah) was waiting for him.
She stood in the dim light, eyes fixed on him.
"Don't forget—reality matters."
Half in the dream, half out, he stared at her.
Finally, he asked, his voice low:
"…Then tell me—what is reality?"
She didn't answer.
She only smiled.
***
Chapter – "The Meaning of Living in Reality
1. A Conversation with His Child – Innocent Questions, Unexpected Clarity
A quiet holiday morning.Lee Hyun-do sat on the living room sofa, rustling open a folded newspaper.
Just then, a tiny hand tugged at his sleeve.
"Daddy."
"Hm?"
His child hugged a teddy bear tight, eyes wide and shining.
"Daddy, is a dream… different from reality?"
Hyun-do lowered his newspaper and looked at the child.
"…Why do you ask?"
The little one hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Last night I dreamed we flew together in the sky.""But when I woke up… we weren't flying."
The child's face scrunched up, troubled by the thought.
"So… was the Daddy in my dream fake?"
Hyun-do reached out, gently ruffling the child's hair.For a moment, he said nothing—just let the thought linger.
Are dreams and reality truly different?
He recalled every strange thing he had experienced—moments he had labeled as "dream," yet had bled into reality.
And then—
"What matters," he said softly,"is whether you were happy in that dream."
The child blinked, thinking hard.
"Yeah! I was happy! Flying with Daddy was fun!"
Hyun-do smiled.
"Then it's real."
2. A Conversation with His Wife – Sharing Life, Sharing Reality
After lunch, Hyun-do stood on the balcony with a warm mug of coffee.
Lee Young-ah (Ian) joined him, leaning against the railing.
"What are you thinking about?"
He turned the mug in his hand, watching the steam rise.
"…Nothing much."
Young-ah smirked.
"Philosophizing again, aren't you?"
He let out a short laugh.
"Trying to stop, actually."
"Oh?" she raised an eyebrow."Finally giving up the philosopher's life and coming back to reality?"
He sipped his coffee and nodded.
"Yeah."
"Why?"
His gaze drifted past her shoulder—to their child, running in circles across the yard, shrieking with laughter.
"…Because this—us, here together—this is reality."
Young-ah looked at him quietly.And then, with a small smile, she rested her head against his shoulder.
3. A Conversation with His Colleagues – What It Means to Be 'Strong' in Reality
Monday morning.
At the office, Kim Young-min (Cain) waved him over.
"Hey. We got assigned to that new project."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You've been a little… off lately, but suddenly you seem focused."
Hyun-do chuckled.
"I've just… got fewer things weighing on me now."
From the side, Lee Do-hyeon (Lean) slid into the conversation.
"What, the philosopher mode finally switched off?"
Hyun-do nodded.
"Yeah. I'm just going to live in reality now."
Young-min grinned.
"Good choice. The strong are the ones who survive to the end."
Do-hyeon, smirking, added playfully:
"No. The strong aren't just the ones who survive to the end…""They're the ones who find a reason to survive to the end."
The words sank in.
Hyun-do let them settle in his chest—and then he nodded slowly.
"…You're right."
He glanced out the office window at the city below, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
Now, finally—he wasn't just surviving.
He had found his reason to keep living.
***
Epilogue – The Promotion, and a Child's Last Question
A few weeks later.
"Congratulations! You've been selected for a special promotion."
Hyun-do read the email and let out a small laugh.
"So… the law of the strong applies here too, huh."
Just then, his child quietly tugged at his sleeve.
"Daddy."
"Yeah?"
"Are we… really alive?"
Hyun-do gently ruffled the child's hair.
"Does that even matter?""What matters is that we feel this, experience this, and live this. That's what makes it real."
Lee Young-ah (Ian) chuckled softly beside him.
"Isn't that a little complicated for a kid?"
Hyun-do turned to her, smiling.
And then—he moved forward again, ready to keep living reality.
– END –