"Forgive me, but you do seem familiar - do we ever cross paths in Seoul years back?"
The deliveryman pauses, looking closer at me. Sudden recognition flashes across his face.
"I'll be damned...Minjun? Is that you?" A grin breaks out. "Well, blast me sideways, what are the chances of running into you out here!"
I stare in shock as memories rush back. "Joon-ho?! I thought you were long gone, old friend!" It is indeed Joon-ho, standing before me – my closest colleague from the days at the academy where we were more than just officers; we were brothers in arms. Our journey together had been abruptly severed by one fateful incident that neither of us could have predicted.
During a routine response to an armed robbery, a situation escalated beyond our worst fears. Joon-ho, aiming to disarm the perpetrator, had instead, in a heart-stopping moment, accidentally shot an innocent bystander. The victim had been used as a human shield, making the split-second decision a tragic misfire. Although the internal review cleared him of wrongdoing, declaring it an excusable mistake given the high-stress situation, the incident haunted Joon-ho. The weight of guilt became a shackle he couldn't shake off, leading him to resign and retreat into obscurity.
In the aftermath, I found myself grappling with the loss of my colleague and friend. I made countless attempts to reach out, to find him, to offer the support I knew he needed. But it was as if he had disappeared into thin air, leaving behind a void filled with unanswered questions and concern. The thought that I might never see him again, that he might be out there somewhere suffering alone, was unbearable.
Yet, against all odds, here we are, reunited in the most unexpected of circumstances. The initial shock of recognition gives way to a flood of questions.
"What happens to you after...after that night?" I venture, my voice laced with a mix of concern and relief. It feels surreal to be standing here with him, delving into a past I thought we'd never get to revisit.
Joon-ho's expression softens, a mix of sorrow and resignation in his eyes. "I lose my way for a long time, my friend," he confesses, his voice carrying the weight of years spent in isolation and guilt.
"The shame, the memories...they consume me." He looks out toward the horizon, a gesture that speaks volumes of his journey back to the roots. "Eventually, I find my way back here, to the simplicity of life I once knew. Takes over the family's delivery business after papa passes away."
Hearing his story, my heart aches for him. I reach out, placing a hand on his shoulder in a gesture of solidarity and understanding. "The most important thing is that you're still here, you've made it through."
Joon-ho's gaze meets mine and then drifts to the fortified structures that surround us, the palpable sense of urgency that hangs in the air.
"This is more than just precaution, isn't it?" he inquires, a note of curiosity in his tone.
"What's happened to you since we last met? This fortress, the supplies...it's as though you're preparing for a siege."
I take a deep breath, gauging the weight of my next words carefully. The air between us is thick with anticipation and the quiet rustle of the wind seems to pause, as if giving space for a revelation that could alter the course of our reunited paths.
"Joon-ho," I begin, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Imagine, if you will, a scenario so extreme it defies all logic. A scenario where I've seen the world we know crumble to ashes, not once but multiple times." I pause, letting the gravity of my statement sink in.
He shifts slightly, an unspoken encouragement to continue. His silence isn't judgmental; it's the quiet of a mind open to understanding, a trait I had always admired in him.
"I've lived through the end of everything familiar, witnessed civilisations fall into chaos, and seen death claim the world as its own," I continue, my gaze locked with his, willing him to understand.
"Each time, by some unfathomable twist of fate, I'm sent back, given another chance to alter the outcome, to try and avert the apocalypse."
The concept is outlandish, the stuff of fantasy, yet as I speak, I see Joon-ho process my words not with disbelief but with the measured consideration of a man who had seen his fair share of life's unpredictability.
He leans in, a sign of his growing interest and concern. "You're saying you've experienced...what, exactly? Time loops? Reincarnations?"
"In a manner of speaking, yes," I admit, feeling the weight of each confession. "With each cycle, the world ends in disaster—a viral outbreak that spirals out of control, leading to societal collapse, anarchy, and ultimately, the extinction of human civilisation as we know it."
I can see him grappling with the concept, his mind racing through the implications of my words. Yet, there is no mockery in his gaze, only an earnest attempt to understand.
"And during these...cycles...what have you done?" Joon-ho asks, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and concern.
"Everything within my power," I say, my voice heavy with memories of failures and fleeting victories. "I've tried warning authorities, stockpiling resources, building sanctuaries, and even attempting to create a community of survivors. But each time, something goes wrong. Either the outbreak is too fast and too deadly, or human nature turns more vicious in the face of extinction."
"So you see—" I conclude, "—I've sacrificed much and suffered long to accrue the insights and means needed to survive the forthcoming worldwide extinction looming ahead."
Joon-ho sits processing my revelation in contemplative silence for a while. Eventually, he looks up, meeting my eyes, resolve crystallising along with dawning purpose and redemption.
After a thoughtful silence, Joon-ho peers at me curiously. "So, you are saying, you do this several times."
"Yes."
"And you preparing for it again means...the world will collapse again, I mean, there will be another apocalypse?"
"Correct."
Joon-ho pauses a bit and then says: "This situation...it reminds me of those web novels I used to enjoy! The ones where the hero gets sent back in time over and over when they die!"
I blink in surprise. The parallel had not occurred to me before. "That's...a compelling comparison actually. Some cosmic story cycle does seem the only explanation for my predicament."
Joon-ho ponders more. "And these other repeated lifetimes...what happens before in the apocalypse?"
I sigh, painful memories resurfacing. "Simply put - I try everything imaginable yet still fail to endure each previous cycle. The plan is never enough when society fully deteriorates into survival-of-the-fittest anarchy. I eventually get overrun each time by scavengers. Or starve. Or succumb to illness without medicine."
I go on to outline the initial viral outbreak, estimating roughly ten more weeks until emerging cases signal the impending systemic collapse. Once air travel and supply chains break down, the cities ignite into violence and desperation within two months.
Joon-ho listens intently, internalising the urgent timeline. He frowns with empathy. "I'm so sorry to hear that you...to endure such trauma repetition by yourself."
I gaze at Joon-ho with admiration. "I must admit, I'm shocked yet grateful at how readily you believe my impossible story. In past cycles, when I try convincing others, they dismiss me as insane or dangerous."
Joon-ho chuckles. "As I say, it reminds me of fantastical tales I enjoy reading to pass long nights on supply runs. Who am I to assume reality cannot mimic fiction on occasion?"
His face turns serious. "And frankly...my spirit is left adrift since that incident. My only solace is caring for father before he too passes. But without him, I must admit my life is just full of emptiness."
As I stand there, watching Joon-ho process the gravity of my story, a flurry of thoughts races through my mind. I need allies, I think, the reality of our situation pressing down on me with undeniable urgency. In the unpredictable chaos of an apocalyptic world, trust becomes a commodity as rare as safety. Betrayal, self-preservation, and fear can turn even the most steadfast companion into an adversary. But Joon-ho...
He isn't just anyone. He is an ex-cop, proven in loyalty and intelligence, battle-tested not just in the line of duty but in the crucible of moral ambiguity we'd faced together. Our shared history, those brutal academy days, the corruption we fought side-by-side, it all serves as a testament to his character. In a world teetering on the brink of collapse, finding someone you could count on is invaluable. Joon-ho can be trusted, I affirm silently, feeling a glimmer of hope amidst the despair.
With this conviction bolstering my courage, I look into Joon-ho's eyes, finding the same unwavering integrity that had always defined him.
"I know this might seem sudden, but if you're willing, I'd be truly grateful to have you with me when everything goes down."
Joon-ho gives me a long surprised look, quiet for a moment as he considers my words. Then, with a spark in his eyes, he nods and responds:
"Sounds like a plan to me."