Ye Han's eyes fluttered open to be greeted by an unfamiliar sight. His body was enveloped to the most comfortable feeling he felt since 1 year ago. Feeling refreshed he got up and observed his surroundings.
The first thing he noticed is the comfortable bed he is currently laying at. Equipped with fresh and newly washed sheets unlike his apartment, he truly felt being in paradise. 'Now this is what you call a bed!' He inwardly cheered.
Further observation indicated that he was inside a medium-sized room. Almost the same size as his apartment. In contrast with his home, the place was fully cleaned and fitted with the necessary things a patient needs. Television, fridge, bathroom and ambient atmosphere. 'So this is what's inside a hospital room. Back then only nobles could enjoy such treatment. I bet this room costs a lot.' He was amazed by how times have changed and then paled realizing the fact of how expensive it is. 'I hope someone foots the bill. I can't afford another payment.'
Looking down, he noticed that his chest was heavily bandaged with little spots of blood staining it. Remembering what happened before he lost consciousness, he let out an annoyed grunt. 'The 4 idiots were the one who found my wallet! Because of that, I was forced to starve for 2 weeks! And that trash. Does he think he can defeat me?! If I was not laying low I could mop his face on the floor six ways to Sunday.' The painful memories of his misfortunes that day almost made him rage. But the creeping anger subsided due to worry. "She will now ask a lot of questions." He thought out loud.
***
Flashback 1 year ago.
On this day, the eastern continent was disturbed by a falling meteorite. What's bizarre of this meteorite is that it directly came from the moon. Scientist and scholars made a lot of speculation about the said event. The population was in an uproar since they were not able to determine the cause. The government and other ruling entities ultimately stepped up to quell the populace. They tried covering up the incident by saying it was an accident during an experiment. But even they are not sure of what happened.
At the crash site.
A young man is currently laying down the crater made by the meteorite. He has a head full of white hair. A thin physique with no defining features. His skin is pale and a face crafted in delicateness.
He slowly opened his eyes with his white eyelashes fluttering with each twitch. He slowly got up from his position opting to sit down the crater. Observing the surroundings, his muddled eyes slowly regained clarity. "Where am I?" He asked no one.
Standing up from his original position, he closed his eyes to feel the surroundings. "This is earth indeed." He stood there motionless until an idea struck his head. "Oh?! I'm back! Hell yeah, I'm back!" He started jumping around in excitement before settling just after 5 minutes.
"Let me smell the fresh and fragrant scent of thi- ack!" But before he could inhale everything he started a violent coughing fit. "*cough* what is *cough* this?! *cough* dis-*cough* gusting!" He scooped up water from the nearest pond but he immediately regretted the idea. "BLEEEGHR!"
Coughing and puking until he was left with nothing, the man started to regulate himself. "What *wheeze* ha *wheeze* -ppend…. Here?" he said between his panting. "This is not earth! This is a disgusting garbage landfill! Look at how polluted it is!" He started shouting profanities inappropriate for readers. The shock and disbelief brought by this "disgusting" place prompted him to just start ranting.
After venting out his frustrations, he proceeded to think things out. He is sure that the place he is currently at is Earth. Not some random planet, or place, it is earth. Most of all the pollution. Pollution of this degree can only happen in a very long period. Although some madman might cause this pollution for funsies, he was certain that that's not likely the case.
"What year is it?"
All he knows is that she put him in a deep slumber. Although it was more of a blessing that he survived, he sees it as a curse. "Forget the useless things. I need to gather some info." With a stomp, he was gone from where he was located before. It happened so fast that it was as if he disappeared just like that, only leaving a small web of cracks.
Feeling cocky of himself because of his newfound freedom he did not notice the pair of eyes curiously studying. "He seems, familiar." The person muttered.
***
"Gone, everything's gone!" A man is currently sitting on a bench. He sat there clutching his head in shock. The unfamiliar faces, building and even the unfamiliar environment took him by surprise.
First of all, the buildings. Gone were the bricks and clays that used were used to build. Sophisticated designs replaced the simple buildings he knew. Towers as tall as the skies littered the center of the "town". The roads were smooth and even and seems to be made by some sort of unknown substance. It was full of strange wagons that were not pulled by horses or any magical device of some sort. It can only be described as what his friend before would call it, mechanical.
The people also changed. Their faces looked even more gorgeous from what he could remember. The choice of clothing was a weird thing for him. Tunics and simple shirts were no gone. People wore weird shirts with obnoxiously bright designs, skirts that were too short. There were a lot of varieties, and he noticed that no two people had the same design of clothing. Overall, he cannot explain the fashion of this place.
And most of all, the people looked in peace. The place is in peace, the people were in peace. He cannot see any ounce of worry from their visages. A lot of people were smiling and enjoying their day. No orphans begging for money, or homeless families trying to survive. The people looked well and are in the best condition. For him who lived in that chaotic era, the place was a utopia. War and conflict are long gone. People lived not to survive but to enjoy. But there's one thing that bugged him.
'Why am I here? That b*tch put on this curse on me. A vile curse. But I see no conflict of some sorts. It's peaceful, why was I released?' But his inner monologue was interrupted by a loud voice.
[Time Check 2:19 in the afternoon. Today is March 1, 2020. And please gather around the center of the plaza for the annual fireworks ceremony.]
While everyone was busying themselves, the man was left there gasping. "What the heck is March?! 1?! 2020?! What are those? Year? Did they use numbers to tell the date? Even time? This is advance!!!!" The people looked at him weirdly. Someone screaming in public will most likely gather a lot of suspicious gazes.
"Hello there, cute boy." A woman with a very generous figure approached him. "Hello, there ma'am." The man tried to answer as polite as possible but this only earned a chuckle from the woman.
"You're too polite." She said in a sultry tone.
By now, his danger sense is screaming for him to get away from the woman. Although she doesn't appear to be that strong, another sense of danger is ringing alarm bells inside.
"Uh- wish you a good day. Bye." He then immediately bolted away, faster than he intended to. It created a series of winds enough to knock down people nearby. But what he did not expect is that the woman didn't seem to be affected by it.
"Truly an interesting fella." She said licking her lips.