The abandoned park is quiet, the only sound being the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. The sun hangs high in the sky, casting long shadows across the desolate playground. Shin Jonghak rises from his lying position on the worn-out grass, stretching his limbs.
"You've got a good kick," he remarks, a playful glint in his eyes.
I smirk, "Well, it takes skill to keep up with me."
He chuckles, "Skill, or a little bit of magic?"
I roll my eyes, "Magic, skill—what's the difference? A win's a win."
Jonghak shoots me a skeptical look, "Cheating is the difference."
I shrug, "Call it what you want. Better get used to it if you don't want another beating."
He grins, "Maybe I like a challenge."
I take a seat on a weathered bench, and Jonghak follows suit, settling beside me. The creaking wood echoes the quietness of the abandoned park as we both catch our breaths, the sun painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.
"How long has it been since you transmigrated into Kim Hajin's body?" I ask Jonghak, curiosity coloring my tone.
He leans back on the bench, contemplating. "More than five years, roughly. Time flies when you're stuck in someone else's life. Been writing a lot of web novels, gained some level of fame."
I sigh, the weight of my own experiences pressing down on me. "Fame, huh? Must be nice."
Jonghak looks at me, sensing the heaviness in my words. "What about you? What's your story?"
I take a deep breath before opening up, "The past hundred years have been a rollercoaster. Four precious years spent with Rachel and Evandel, a moment of death in Lancaster's hands, and almost a century mired by my own inner demons. Do you know? I don’t know what got into me, but I stayed in the Tower of Miracle for nearly a century just to train, that’s crazy, right?"
Jonghak listens intently, his eyes reflecting the understanding of a good friend. The abandoned park seems to absorb the weight of our shared stories, the quietness becoming a canvas for the echoes of our pasts. I grow quiet by the minute as I realize I have become long-winded.
After I shut up, a short quiet settles between us. The abandoned park seems to amplify the weight of our shared silences. Eventually, it's Shin Jonghak who breaks it, a sigh escaping him before he opens up.
"You know," he starts, his voice carrying the weight of countless struggles, "my time travel hasn't been a joyride. I've been trying to get back to my original reality for what feels like forever, only to find myself hurtling further into an altered past that's becoming more unfamiliar with each jump."
I turn to him, genuine interest in my eyes. "Why keep going back, then?"
He looks away, a bitterness in his smile. "Foolishness, really. The both of us, blindly throwing ourselves into the past, thinking we can fix something or find answers. In my case, maybe I wanted to be a Hero of my own story. The truth is, we don't even know what questions to ask, or the problems we want to solve."
I nod in understanding, realizing the depth of our shared struggle. I don’t know why, but my situation feels like a funny comic.
"The both of us wanted answers, so we time-traveled," I murmur, the words hanging in the quiet air.
Shin Jonghak nods, a distant look in his eyes. "Each of us with our own version of the story to tell, yet it all leads to one conclusion—nothing. No answers waiting for me, or for you, at the end of the tunnel."
A heavy silence settles between us, the weight of our shared disappointment palpable. The abandoned park seems to echo our thoughts, the shadows growing longer as the sun begins its descent. Jonghak and I sit side by side, both lost in our reflections.
No words are needed to convey the sense of shared frustration and the realization that sometimes, the pursuit of answers only leads to more questions. The quiet moment stretches, and I realize I might not be as frustrated as I like to believe… and it seems the same is true for Jonghak.
As the sun continues its descent, casting a warm glow over the abandoned park, Shin Jonghak breaks the persevering heavy silence. "You know, I threw myself into the past because I wanted to meet my late grandfather. Just wanted to feel something, maybe even a bit of remorse for him cheating time."
I turn to him, a slight smile playing on my lips. "Remorse for cheating time? That's an interesting motivation. I, on the other hand, kept jumping back in a blind hunt for meaning, or perhaps just searching for someone to blame… like say, God…"
Jonghak chuckles, the sound carrying a mix of irony and self-awareness. "Blind hunts seem to be our specialty. I wanted to say thank you to my grandfather, even if it was a reckless move on his part. But here I am, lost in a past that seems to slip away with each jump. Funny thing though, I won’t be doing any jumping anymore since this timeline perpetually doesn’t have Outcall."
I nod, understanding the complexity of his emotions. "I arrived at the Zeroth Iteration, hoping to meet God and have a conversation. Of course, he's not here."
Jonghak smirks, a wry amusement in his eyes. "God, the eternal no-show. I guess we're both chasing something that isn't there."
I lean back on the weathered bench, contemplating the futility of our pursuits. "Maybe we're both just looking for answers to questions we haven't figured out yet. Or maybe there are no answers at all."
Jonghak nods, his gaze fixed on the shifting hues of the sky. "It's like we're running in circles, expecting the past to offer some kind of resolution. But all we find is more uncertainty."
I let out a sigh, too aware of my own faults. "Maybe the real challenge is accepting that some things are beyond our understanding. That we can't fix everything or find answers to every question."
Jonghak's gaze meets mine, a sense of camaraderie in his eyes. "True. Maybe the journey itself is the lesson. The pursuit, the questions, the uncertainties—they shape us in ways we can't predict."
The rustle of leaves in the breeze punctuates our contemplative silence.
The sun dips lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the worn-out grass as Jonghak turns to me. "So, what's next?" he asks, a curious glint in his eyes. I feel like the sun is too slow, or maybe it is the coming of the night that is slow.
I smile, a mischievous twinkle in my eye. "Well, I'd love to go home. My parents and my big sister are probably wondering where I disappeared to. Funny thing, I snuck out despite being recently discharged from the hospital."
Jonghak chuckles, shaking his head. "You're a rebel, aren't you? Sneaking out like a teenager."
I laugh along with him. "What can I say? Old habits die hard. Now, what about you? What's waiting for you at home?"
He leans back on the bench, his gaze drifting. "Novels to write, deadlines to meet. The usual. I can't afford to neglect my responsibilities, even in the midst of sharing time-traveling adventures."
A short silence hangs in the air before I break it, a more serious tone in my voice. "But you know, Jonghak, Nayun needs us. She's alone in her own timeline, and as we speak, Lancaster might be targeting her next. The bastard did quite a number on me."
Jonghak's expression shifts, a mixture of concern and complicated emotions. "Chae Nayun," he murmurs, the name carrying weight. "She's always been the apple of my eye. But is that still the case now?"
I nod, understanding the complexities of his feelings. "She needs us more than ever. We can't turn our backs on her. It's time to face whatever challenges come our way, together."
Jonghak sighs, a resigned acceptance in his eyes. "You're right. Nayun deserves better than to face this alone. Let's go home and deal with whatever comes next, side by side."
As the abandoned park embraces the encroaching dusk, the echoes of our conversation linger, marking a shift in our focus from personal pursuits to a shared responsibility for someone we both care about deeply. Well, I care about Nayun but not at the same level as Kim Hajin or Shin Jonghak does.
The sun's warm glow casts a serene ambiance over the abandoned park as Jonghak looks at me, a content smile playing on his lips. "You know, I love living the life of Kim Hajin. There's a peace in this existence that I never had before."
I raise an eyebrow, curious. "Peace? Even with all the time-traveling chaos, the bitter past, and the depression?"
He nods, his eyes reflecting a sense of wisdom. "In this life, I've met numerous versions of myself, learned from my mistakes, and become a better person. It's like each timeline was a lesson, and I finally found the right path."
Leaning forward, Jonghak continues, "In the 666 timelines I've traveled, and the 666 Miracle Towers I've subjugated, I've realized one infinite truth—we are constant, body and soul. And Shin Jonghak is the same."
He stands up from the bench, meeting my gaze. "You might not have found the answers you're looking for in the Zeroth Iteration, but at least you found an ally in me."
I smile, appreciating the camaraderie. “Yeah, you are an ally alright… I cannot ask for a more reliable comrade.”
"True. And speaking of allies, what's next for us?" Jonghak asks again.
I take a moment to consider, then respond, "Let's go and be responsible adults. Face whatever comes our way, not just for ourselves but for those who need us. Nayun, and the others… They will get the backup they need. I have farmed so much Exp Points I reckon we can steamroll this."
Jonghak grins, a sense of purpose in his eyes. "Responsibility it is, then.”
As we leave the abandoned park, the rustle of leaves and the fading sunlight bear witness to our shared resolve, a partnership forged in the quiet moments of reflection and understanding.
At that moment, I begin thinking… should I crack a gay joke now?
Hmmm…
Nah, never mind… I cannot think of any.
The abandoned park is quiet, the only sound being the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze. The sun hangs high in the sky, casting long shadows across the desolate playground. Shin Jonghak rises from his lying position on the worn-out grass, stretching his limbs.
"You've got a good kick," he remarks, a playful glint in his eyes.
I smirk, "Well, it takes skill to keep up with me."
He chuckles, "Skill, or a little bit of magic?"
I roll my eyes, "Magic, skill—what's the difference? A win's a win."
Jonghak shoots me a skeptical look, "Cheating is the difference."
I shrug, "Call it what you want. Better get used to it if you don't want another beating."
He grins, "Maybe I like a challenge."
I take a seat on a weathered bench, and Jonghak follows suit, settling beside me. The creaking wood echoes the quietness of the abandoned park as we both catch our breaths, the sun painting the sky with hues of orange and pink.
"How long has it been since you transmigrated into Kim Hajin's body?" I ask Jonghak, curiosity coloring my tone.
He leans back on the bench, contemplating. "More than five years, roughly. Time flies when you're stuck in someone else's life. Been writing a lot of web novels, gained some level of fame."
I sigh, the weight of my own experiences pressing down on me. "Fame, huh? Must be nice."
Jonghak looks at me, sensing the heaviness in my words. "What about you? What's your story?"
I take a deep breath before opening up, "The past hundred years have been a rollercoaster. Four precious years spent with Rachel and Evandel, a moment of death in Lancaster's hands, and almost a century mired by my own inner demons. Do you know? I don’t know what got into me, but I stayed in the Tower of Miracle for nearly a century just to train, that’s crazy, right?"
Jonghak listens intently, his eyes reflecting the understanding of a good friend. The abandoned park seems to absorb the weight of our shared stories, the quietness becoming a canvas for the echoes of our pasts. I grow quiet by the minute as I realize I have become long-winded.
After I shut up, a short quiet settles between us. The abandoned park seems to amplify the weight of our shared silences. Eventually, it's Shin Jonghak who breaks it, a sigh escaping him before he opens up.
"You know," he starts, his voice carrying the weight of countless struggles, "my time travel hasn't been a joyride. I've been trying to get back to my original reality for what feels like forever, only to find myself hurtling further into an altered past that's becoming more unfamiliar with each jump."
I turn to him, genuine interest in my eyes. "Why keep going back, then?"
He looks away, a bitterness in his smile. "Foolishness, really. The both of us, blindly throwing ourselves into the past, thinking we can fix something or find answers. In my case, maybe I wanted to be a Hero of my own story. The truth is, we don't even know what questions to ask, or the problems we want to solve."
I nod in understanding, realizing the depth of our shared struggle. I don’t know why, but my situation feels like a funny comic.
"The both of us wanted answers, so we time-traveled," I murmur, the words hanging in the quiet air.
Shin Jonghak nods, a distant look in his eyes. "Each of us with our own version of the story to tell, yet it all leads to one conclusion—nothing. No answers waiting for me, or for you, at the end of the tunnel."
A heavy silence settles between us, the weight of our shared disappointment palpable. The abandoned park seems to echo our thoughts, the shadows growing longer as the sun begins its descent. Jonghak and I sit side by side, both lost in our reflections.
No words are needed to convey the sense of shared frustration and the realization that sometimes, the pursuit of answers only leads to more questions. The quiet moment stretches, and I realize I might not be as frustrated as I like to believe… and it seems the same is true for Jonghak.
As the sun continues its descent, casting a warm glow over the abandoned park, Shin Jonghak breaks the persevering heavy silence. "You know, I threw myself into the past because I wanted to meet my late grandfather. Just wanted to feel something, maybe even a bit of remorse for him cheating time."
I turn to him, a slight smile playing on my lips. "Remorse for cheating time? That's an interesting motivation. I, on the other hand, kept jumping back in a blind hunt for meaning, or perhaps just searching for someone to blame… like say, God…"
Jonghak chuckles, the sound carrying a mix of irony and self-awareness. "Blind hunts seem to be our specialty. I wanted to say thank you to my grandfather, even if it was a reckless move on his part. But here I am, lost in a past that seems to slip away with each jump. Funny thing though, I won’t be doing any jumping anymore since this timeline perpetually doesn’t have Outcall."
I nod, understanding the complexity of his emotions. "I arrived at the Zeroth Iteration, hoping to meet God and have a conversation. Of course, he's not here."
Jonghak smirks, a wry amusement in his eyes. "God, the eternal no-show. I guess we're both chasing something that isn't there."
I lean back on the weathered bench, contemplating the futility of our pursuits. "Maybe we're both just looking for answers to questions we haven't figured out yet. Or maybe there are no answers at all."
Jonghak nods, his gaze fixed on the shifting hues of the sky. "It's like we're running in circles, expecting the past to offer some kind of resolution. But all we find is more uncertainty."
I let out a sigh, too aware of my own faults. "Maybe the real challenge is accepting that some things are beyond our understanding. That we can't fix everything or find answers to every question."
Jonghak's gaze meets mine, a sense of camaraderie in his eyes. "True. Maybe the journey itself is the lesson. The pursuit, the questions, the uncertainties—they shape us in ways we can't predict."
The rustle of leaves in the breeze punctuates our contemplative silence.
The sun dips lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the worn-out grass as Jonghak turns to me. "So, what's next?" he asks, a curious glint in his eyes. I feel like the sun is too slow, or maybe it is the coming of the night that is slow.
I smile, a mischievous twinkle in my eye. "Well, I'd love to go home. My parents and my big sister are probably wondering where I disappeared to. Funny thing, I snuck out despite being recently discharged from the hospital."
Jonghak chuckles, shaking his head. "You're a rebel, aren't you? Sneaking out like a teenager."
I laugh along with him. "What can I say? Old habits die hard. Now, what about you? What's waiting for you at home?"
He leans back on the bench, his gaze drifting. "Novels to write, deadlines to meet. The usual. I can't afford to neglect my responsibilities, even in the midst of sharing time-traveling adventures."
A short silence hangs in the air before I break it, a more serious tone in my voice. "But you know, Jonghak, Nayun needs us. She's alone in her own timeline, and as we speak, Lancaster might be targeting her next. The bastard did quite a number on me."
Jonghak's expression shifts, a mixture of concern and complicated emotions. "Chae Nayun," he murmurs, the name carrying weight. "She's always been the apple of my eye. But is that still the case now?"
I nod, understanding the complexities of his feelings. "She needs us more than ever. We can't turn our backs on her. It's time to face whatever challenges come our way, together."
Jonghak sighs, a resigned acceptance in his eyes. "You're right. Nayun deserves better than to face this alone. Let's go home and deal with whatever comes next, side by side."
As the abandoned park embraces the encroaching dusk, the echoes of our conversation linger, marking a shift in our focus from personal pursuits to a shared responsibility for someone we both care about deeply. Well, I care about Nayun but not at the same level as Kim Hajin or Shin Jonghak does.
The sun's warm glow casts a serene ambiance over the abandoned park as Jonghak looks at me, a content smile playing on his lips. "You know, I love living the life of Kim Hajin. There's a peace in this existence that I never had before."
I raise an eyebrow, curious. "Peace? Even with all the time-traveling chaos, the bitter past, and the depression?"
He nods, his eyes reflecting a sense of wisdom. "In this life, I've met numerous versions of myself, learned from my mistakes, and become a better person. It's like each timeline was a lesson, and I finally found the right path."
Leaning forward, Jonghak continues, "In the 666 timelines I've traveled, and the 666 Miracle Towers I've subjugated, I've realized one infinite truth—we are constant, body and soul. And Shin Jonghak is the same."
He stands up from the bench, meeting my gaze. "You might not have found the answers you're looking for in the Zeroth Iteration, but at least you found an ally in me."
I smile, appreciating the camaraderie. “Yeah, you are an ally alright… I cannot ask for a more reliable comrade.”
"True. And speaking of allies, what's next for us?" Jonghak asks again.
I take a moment to consider, then respond, "Let's go and be responsible adults. Face whatever comes our way, not just for ourselves but for those who need us. Nayun, and the others… They will get the backup they need. I have farmed so much Exp Points I reckon we can steamroll this."
Jonghak grins, a sense of purpose in his eyes. "Responsibility it is, then.”
As we leave the abandoned park, the rustle of leaves and the fading sunlight bear witness to our shared resolve, a partnership forged in the quiet moments of reflection and understanding.
At that moment, I begin thinking… should I crack a gay joke now?
Hmmm…
Nah, never mind… I cannot think of any.
