Slam! Song-Ji jolted in fright as a book crashed onto his desk, abruptly interrupting the few moments of sleep he managed to snatch after countless days. His weary eyes, hidden behind glasses, bore witness to the burdens he carried—the telltale signs of sleep deprivation lingering beneath them. The world around him was no stranger to struggles, and empathy had become a rare commodity.

"And don't forget about your rocket build due tomorrow. Class dismissed," Professor Burke admonished.

Song-Ji finally lifted his gaze from his desk, meeting the stern eyes of his professor, who exerted an extraordinary force upon a mighty tome of the Design Structure Matrix textbook. Determined to avoid a conversation that would surely end in scolding, Song-Ji hastily packed his belongings and made a beeline for the design lab. However, fate had something else in store for him.

On his way, amidst the flurry of his rushed steps, Song-Ji collided with a girl, sending her books tumbling to the floor. He quickly apologized and assisted her in gathering the scattered pages. As he looked up, he found himself face to face with Chu Bing-Xue—a vision of beauty with eyes like gleaming obsidian and lustrous straight hair cascading over her shoulders. Song-Ji held a secret admiration for her, but his self-doubt and timidity had always kept him from expressing his feelings. After swiftly helping Bing-Xue, he awkwardly excused himself, cutting short the gratitude that was about to grace his ears.

Entering the lab, Song-Ji immersed himself in the delicate art of refining his rocket, toiling away for the next three hours. Time slipped through his fingers like sand, and as the lab's closing hours neared, he reluctantly decided to take his unfinished project with him.

Stepping out into the world, he was greeted by a torrential downpour, his umbrella nowhere in sight. He sprinted through the rain, desperately seeking shelter in his dorm, a twenty-minute walk away. Song-Ji, lacking athletic prowess, gasped for breath as he approached a pedestrian crossing. Glancing at the signal, he realized he had a mere ten seconds to traverse the road. Summoning his remaining strength, he took a fateful step, only to slip and collapse, wracked with pain.

Just as he thought the situation couldn't worsen, he noticed an oncoming car hurtling toward him at breakneck speed. Frantically, he screamed for it to stop, but his cries went unheard. The traffic light shifted to green, sealing his fate. Pressing against the ground with every ounce of determination, Song-Ji managed to rise to his feet, defying agony's grasp. With one final burst of energy, he propelled himself halfway across the treacherous street, narrowly evading disaster. Yet, as he embarked on crossing the remainder of the street, the unthinkable occurred.

Thud!

The impact sent Song-Ji hurtling through the air, his body rolling violently, disturbing the rain-drenched puddles scattered along the asphalt.

*The following day*

Beep... Beep... Beep... Song-Ji groaned, his consciousness surfacing amidst the cacophony of hospital instruments. "I'm not dead," he muttered, grappling with disbelief. A nurse rushed into his room, introducing herself as Ji Han, explaining that he had been involved in a car accident and was brought to the hospital. She inquired about his well-being, meticulously attending to his pulse and heart rate, while Song-Ji's mind delved into the depths of his predicament.

"This couldn't have come at a worse time. How am I going to afford this?" Song-Ji's mind echoed with desperation as he grappled with the weight of his circumstances.

Song-Ji's life could be described as a testament to resilience. Abandoned by his mother at a tender age, he endured the torment inflicted by a father who drowned his sorrows in alcohol and unleashed his pain on his own son. Eventually, his father succumbed to his vices, leaving Song-Ji orphaned and bereft of parental love. The journey that followed was one marked by a series of foster homes, where he weathered the storms of abuse from those who were meant to provide care. Yet, through it all, Song-Ji's strength shone, as he embraced the knowledge that he alone held the power to shape his destiny. With unwavering determination, he toiled tirelessly, securing a scholarship to a prestigious university that covered half his tuition. Still, he found himself juggling two part-time jobs to meet the remaining expenses, striving to sustain himself and cover the costs of housing and daily necessities.

His life had been marred by hardship, and as Song-Ji lay in the hospital bed, thoughts of the impending medical bills, and his lack of insurance, weighed heavily on his mind. Furthermore, the prospect of finding new employment due to the necessity of physical therapy cast a shadow over his already burdened spirit.

"Why God, why?" he whispered through tear-streaked cheeks, consumed by the overwhelming weight of his circumstances.

The nurse, engrossed in documenting her report, looked up, captivated by the raw emotion etched on Song-Ji's face. Curiosity mingled with empathy as she gently inquired, "What's the matter?"

With an unburdening sigh, Song-Ji poured out the details of his predicament, finding solace in the nurse's compassionate gaze.

One week later, Song-Ji had regained the ability to walk, yet his heart remained heavy with the harsh realities he faced. Seeking a moment of respite, he requested the nurse on duty for a breath of fresh air. Sensing the significance of this simple desire, she obliged, wheeling him to the rooftop. As he gazed upon the expansive panorama, a newfound appreciation for the world welled up within him.

"The world is truly beautiful," he murmured, his voice carrying a glimmer of hope.

Bzzzzz Bzzzzz Bzzzzz The nurse's pockets buzzed incessantly, prompting her to retrieve her ringing phone. Engrossed in her conversation, she momentarily lost sight of Song-Ji. Emboldened by a surge of unexplained courage, he approached the edge, his heart pounding. And then, he jumped.

With a jarring impact, Song-Ji found himself jolted into a new reality, his mind racing with confusion. "Ouch, that hurt. Where am I? Did I survive?" he pondered, searching for answers within the depths of his own thoughts.

"Waaaaaaaaaaa," a cry pierced the air, followed by another wave of distress.

"What is happening?" Song-Ji wondered, disoriented and desperate for clarity.

"Waaaaaaaaaaa!"

"WHERE THE HELL AM I?" he exclaimed, his voice a mix of frustrations and determination, as he embarked on an enigmatic journey of self-discovery in this unfamiliar realm.