BACK TO 10 YEARS AGO
What the hell was that?
He just dreamed that he died and met Yeomra. Then he asked the other if he could go back to the past. The other agreed, only that he would be in a parallel world instead.
Just how active was his imagination that he would dream of something like that? No, it's not because of imagination. He's probably just looking for a way to escape his miserable life.
A bitter laugh was about to escape his lips when he finally noticed something was amiss. He was sitting on a comfortable, soft bed, not the hard one he'd been used to. He quickly looked around was stunned.
There were no stains on the walls, or a musty smell in the air. Instead, the walls were painted in a cool blue tone and the air smelled fresh and clean. The bed was not the only furniture in the room. There was a study table with a personal computer. There was also a small bookshelf full of exercise books, and even an acoustic guitar on the side.
This was not his 10 square meter apartment room. This was the room he used up until he was 18 years old!
Haneul's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was he still dreaming? He pinched his arm hard and pain immediately shot through from there to his brain. This pain that his brain quickly registered could only mean one thing.
He's not dreaming!
Then that meant that he really died and met Yeomra. Was he now in the parallel world the other talked about?
His eyes scanned the room, and it zeroed in on the smartphone that was on the bedside table. He immediately reached for that and picked it up. His hand trembled a bit when he saw that it was the same model he received on his 18th birthday. He remembered that this smartphone completely broke down when he was 23.
Haneul swiped the screen. Thankfully, he had always used fingerprint lock instead of a pass code, so he was able to open it easily. When the screen lit up, the first thing he did was to look at the date.
April 13, 2024.
His pupils shook when he saw the date.
'No, this can't be--!'
This was the date that changed everything in his life. Yeomra said that this parallel world was just the same version of the world he was in. It's just that this world was behind by 10 years. Which meant, if he didn't do something now, what happened in his world would happen here as well.
The time he saw on his phone was 9:58 AM.
He scrambled to his feet, his smartphone falling on the bed. Then he rushed out of his room. He climbed down the stairs at the fastest speed, wishing to all the gods that it's not yet too late.
Please!
Please!
Please!
At the foot of the stairs, he saw three figures near the doorway. As if they were about to go out. Haneul almost lost all his strength when he saw them standing there and very much alive.
His father, Kang Hyunwoo, glanced back at him with a worried look on his face. Even in his early 40s, he still looked like someone who was 10 years younger, with a handsome face and a gentle demeanor.
"Did we wake you, Haneul-ah? I'm sorry. We tried to leave as quietly as possible."
His mother, Park Eunji, slapped his father's shoulder. Unlike his father's gentle demeanor, his mother had a fiery temperament. But just like his father, she also looked younger than her age.
"Honey, what are you saying sorry for? It's that kid's fault for staying up all night. He's probably playing some game on his computer. I heard it's very popular with kids nowadays," his mother said before turning to him. "I've already made breakfast, make sure to eat it, okay?"
Kang Haeun, his younger sister, only smirked at him, obviously gloating. Haneul's last memory of her was of her looking so thin and pallid. But now, she was so full of life, healthy and young.
They were all alive.
Alive!
He ran forward, not even noticing the tears that streamed down his face. When he was just a few steps away from them, he tripped and fell. He didn't even feel the pain. All he could think of at that moment was to stop them from leaving.
"Haneul-ah!" his mother called and squatted down to help him stand up. "Are you alright? You kid, why are you suddenly running like that?"
Instead of standing up, Haneul hugged his mother and said in a choking sob, "M-Mom, don't go. Please, don't leave. P-please... please stay here. Please! Just don't l-leave."
***
Pronunciation of some names:
Hyunwoo - Hyun-wu
Eunji - Yun-ji
Additional info:
In Korean, suffixes like "-ah" and "-yah" are often added to names to indicate familiarity or affection.
-ah: Used when the name ends in a consonant. For example, "Jimin" becomes "Jimin-ah".
-yah: Used when the name ends in a vowel. For example, "Minho" becomes "Minho-yah".
These suffixes are typically used among close friends, family members, or when addressing someone younger. They add a tone of endearment or intimacy to the conversation. ^^