Iseul Jeon felt her insides choking up, the taste of blood lingering on her lips as she coughed once again.
Two days. It had been two long days since she found herself trapped in this dense and unforgiving forest. What began as a mere accident had turned into a desperate struggle for survival. Iseul had initially believed that her family would quickly come to her rescue, but as the hours turned into days, the harsh reality set in, leaving her without food, water, and shelter.
As she leaned against a tree, her mind wandered back to the life she had known before this ordeal began. She had been Iseul Lee, a young girl from a once-wealthy family that had fallen on hard times. Her father's tragic suicide and her mother's abandonment had left her with only her bedridden grandmother for company. It was a difficult and lonely existence.
Then, out of nowhere, her life took a bizarre turn. It was revealed that she was not actually Iseul Lee but Iseul Jeon, switched at birth by a nurse who confessed the truth on her deathbed.
Faced with this revelation, Iseul had little choice but to embrace her new identity and the Jeon family. She knew that doing so was the only way to ensure her grandmother's care and well-being.
However, life in the Jeon family was far from what she had hoped for. Despite her attempts to forge a connection with them, she found herself isolated once more. Her father was always away on business trips, her mother engrossed in her past life as an actress while catering to Hana Jeon, the girl who had been living the life intended for Iseul.
Even her older brother was preoccupied with business, leaving her feeling like an outsider in her own home. Only her little brother seemed to show some interest in her, but even that bond felt strained and unnatural.
Iseul's mind wandered to the choices she had made throughout her life. She had tried to please the Jeon family, to fit in and find her place, but it seemed like a futile endeavor now. The harsh reality of her situation made her feel foolish for ever believing she could belong in this family that didn't fully accept her.
Iseul Jeon felt a sob building in her throat. She had enough. She didn't want to live anymore. She wanted death. She wanted this life to end.
As a wave of pain surged through her head, she groaned and clutched it tightly. Darkness closed in around her vision until she finally succumbed to unconsciousness, her body weakened and her spirit in turmoil
Death was enveloping Iseul.
Suddenly, her eyes shot open as she founded her self in her bed. Her body was feeling lighter than usual. The pain she was feeling minutes prior was gone. She quickly rubbed her eyes and stood up from her bed.
Why was she not dead?
Iseul pressed her lips in annoyance. She had finally given up on her life and out of no where she was saved. Why?
Beep Beep.
Iseul yelped in surprise and jumped backwards.
'Host has seemed to lost interest in her life'
"Waht the f*ck?! What the hell?! Who the hell are you?"
'Host calm down. You have to save your energy for later revelations'
"Waht later revelations?!", Iseul almost scremed.
'You are going to die in six months!'
Iseul felt her body shaking. The screen moved closer to Iseul and she intentionally stepped backwards.
'Host, listen to me!'
Iseul didn't listen. Instead she picked up her pillow and threw it on the screen. But as if it was transparent, the pillow flew right across the screen and hit the door.
Damn it!
Host is very energetic! This will be interesting.'
"Who the hell are you? And what the hell do you mean I'm going to die in two years!"
'If you'll let me talk then perhaps o could tell you', the system sighed.
Iseul pressed her lips. She knew this all look too fake to be true. Infact she was hoping for a camera to appear out of nowhere and tell her that it was all jut a prank. She whispered, "Go on."
'Ahem. Ahem. I am your system, host. I have been assigned to help you so that you wont die.'
System? Help? None lf this makes sense!
Iseul felt skeptical but she refused to stay silent.
"I'm not going to die! Infact what the hell am I doing in my room?!"
'Host, have you forgotten what you wished for at the last moment of your life? This is troublesome!'
"I wished to die?"
'Yes! Yes! Because of that, your wish has been fulfilled.'
"Then... Thats a good thing?"
'If you consider dying painfully as if you are being skinned alive then yes'
"Huh?"
'Host, your wish was fulfilled! But you will die very painfully.'
Iseul pressed her lips harder. She was going to die oainfully just because of a stupid wish she made? Is this blue screen making things up?
'No! I'm not making things up, Host! How rude! I even sent you back to your teenage years so you can relive your life!'
Iseul jaw dropped down. She quickly jumped towards the mirror and almost lead out a scream. In front of her, a young Iseul was standing. Her dark circles and tired eyes were gone. The small wrinkles that were adorning her forehead also vanished. Instead she was looking youthful and innocent.
Iseul took a deep breath and glanced at that thing. She could no longer deny the truth.
'What the hell do you want? Infact tell me everything!'
'Now we are talking! Host, you have to find the twelve jewels. Each jewel will extend your life. You have to find them at all cost before your time limit is up.'
Iseul narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"Twelve jewels? Can't you get them from jewelry store? Why are you asking me to do that?"
'No! No' Host! Those jewels are very important! There exist no duplication for those jewels in this world! They have celestial power. That will undo your cur- I mean your luck!'
Iseul was done with whatever this was. Nothing was making sense to her anymore. Somehow, Iseul had returned back to the past and now she had no clue what the hell was going on.
'Those jewels are your only hope, host'
Iseul felt her throat tightening. Did she have a choice?
"These jewels.", Iseul continued, "Where can I find them?"
"Wow! You are so eaxy to coax! We can finally start this game."
"Game? Does this all look 'game' to you?! You know what! Get the hell out of here!", Iseul angrily pointed towards the door. Her bretah rate
The system stayed silent for a few seconds and then continued, 'Your strange host! You really don't care for your life. Do you?'
Iseul felt her head throbbing. She glared at the system and opened the door to her room. If that thing wasn't leaving then she wont hold back.
'Are we not talk-'
"Can you shut up and get lost?!", Iseul angrily muttered. The blue screen dissapeared and Iseul let out a deep breath of relief. It was a bit too easy to get rid of that thing.
She walked inside the kitchen and saw it empty. It was afternoon and with in an hour, the kitchen will be bustling with maids, running here and there, preparing dinner.
Iseul quickly poured herself a glass of water and took some aspirin along it. But the headache continued to grow.
Iseul knew that the system was telling the truth. If it was capable of sending her bacm to the past then predicting her death wouldn't be a big thing. The reality was hard to accept.
Iseul could die a painful death.
As she gulped the last drop of water, she felt a presence behind her. She quickly turned around and saw Beon Seok Jeon, her older brother, standing in front of her. Even though he returned from the office just now, yet he still held some sort of charm on his face. His black hair and black eyes were a beautiful combination with his sharl jawline and tall body.
He looked young and handsome, definitely not like his 40 years old self. Huan Wang felt her insides shaking when she realized that she had returned twenty years in to the past. Shit.
"Make me coffee.", these three little words were not a foreign conversation between the two siblings. Infact, hardly any other words were spoken beside these.
Iseul nails dig in to her palm and she intook a sharp breath. She was going to die soon! A painful drath was waiting her. Would she soend her remaining days making this grown man his coffe? He didn't even ask nicely. The audacity!
"You must had a hard day at work."
Beon seok was surprised at Huan Wang's question. His younger sister hardly asked any. She always used to say yes and quickly vanish in to thin air as if she was avoiding him.
"Yes. It was", Beom Seok slowly replied and waited for Iseul's reply. He felt strange talking to his sister. There was a unseen barrier between both of them.
Iseul lips formed a thin line and then the corners immediately flew up. She raised her hand and patted her older brother's shoulder. Beom Seok Jeon looked confused.
"Then it will be hard making coffee on your own after having such a hard day, Good luck!", Iseul enthusiastically
spoke and then left the room leaving Beom Seok shocked and surprised.
What just happened?!