The highways were bustling with ghouls trying to make it back to the living world for Qingming, and as Dabria was stuck in traffic, she mentally cursed all of them for actually having people that cared for them still on the other side. The clock was ticking, and a sizeable portion of the population wouldn't even be there today!
The time ticking away wouldn't stop for a traditional holiday.
She tried to push past a few but was greeted with understandably dirty glances.
"Of the entire year, we only have this one to go back. Will you stop shoving?" A woman dressed in a stylish fur coat shrieked, obviously frustrated.
Somewhere along the line, the memo was lost and never arrived at her brain. Dabria immediately plastered on my brightest smile. Marketing voice, check. Poster smile with all of my teeth showing, check. She would never miss an opportunity.
"Madame, what's the point of going back when you can relive your entire past! Seeing your attire, I can guess that you married rich your last life, perhaps even giving up your true love," Dabria announced in a self-assumed sing-song voice (it was actually more similar to a scratchy record), pleased that she had read between the lines and caught all of the hints the woman's attire gave off. "In my virtual reality system, you can remeet your first love and find a different ending!"
At the mention of her system, her smile lit up even brighter. The woman would return to her youth, and under that gorgeous cherry blossom tree, she and her first love would share their first kiss. Only this time, she wouldn't leave him for the stunning CEO. They would live happily ever after. Already, in Dabria's mind, pink bubbles were drifting in the air.
It was quite evident that she had never been fortunate enough to enjoy a real romance, and her perceptions largely stemmed from cringy romance novels she found online or irrealistic Kdramas. But of course, that's beside the point.
Instead of the willing customer she had expected, she was instead hit by a sharp jab.
"You strange person! Stop wasting my time!" She swung her Channel purse into Dabria's side. "My son and husband are waiting for me on the other side!" With a flip of her hair, she trotted off. Well, in a few feet, the woman was forced to stop again, but she had gotten her message clear.
If this were before, Dabria would have long called it quits, put on a pair of battered earbuds, and crept back into her own world. But she was on a strict deadline.
When all else fails, try, try, and try again. The blindly optimistic motto that had kept her going in life still held her afloat in the Underworld.
"Sir, would you be interested in joining the beta testing group for the Underworld's newest service?" She immediately redirected her attention to the teen standing beside her.
Hearing no response, she prodded again. "Sir, you will be able to make different choices and relive out your life."
"Yes!" Much to her surprise, he shrieked with excitement, jumping up and down at her question.
She knew there had to be someone that valued her genius inventions! She knew it!
"THERE'S FINALLY WIFI! I KNEW THAT BEING CLOSER TO THE LIVING WORLD..." He couldn't contain his joy, and a few more elderly ghouls were already looking over in blatant disapproval. "AHAHAHHAHA WIFI!!!"
That was the moment Dabria decided to slide away.
The LED-powered sun was already slipping from the horizon, and of the countless ghouls she inquired, there was not a single one that was interested.
How could it be?
Dabria slumped into the side of the road, all the spirit that drove her forward her in her entire life and dead drained. Never before had she felt so tired and hopeless.
It was one thing never to be given a second chance. It was a whole other if she let it slip between her fingers—again.
She was ready to cry out her heart, but someone already beat her to it. A burst of frustration burned from within her. Could she not even cry in peace nowadays?
But once she saw the crumbled child hiding in the corner, blending into the depths of the Underworld, all the rage that fueled her evaporated. The girl was broken, hugging onto her knees like a castaway rag doll.
If it were anyone other than Dabria, they would have shut their mouth. But it was Dabria.
"Will you be interested in being a tester for..."
The girl looked up, tears dancing in the rims of her eyes.
Sensing that now wasn't the most appropriate time, Dabria cleared her throat. "No matter what it takes, do you want to change your past life's choices?"
"Yes." There wasn't a single moment of hesitation, and the gentleness immediately gave way.