Gaon had always been overweight, but it never bothered him. He had never let his size define him, or let others' words affect his belief in who he was. He was a good guy, someone who tried to stay positive despite the circumstances. He wasn't the best student, but he worked hard enough to land a spot at a good university and, eventually, a decent job. But once he entered the real world, that's when everything started to change.
Work pressure, the endless stream of tasks, the constant bullying, and being excluded by his peers took a toll on him. His manager, rude and cruel, often yelled at him in front of everyone, belittling him in the harshest ways. Long hours at the office left him with little energy for anything else, and sometimes, it felt like he was living in a hell of his own making. The workload kept him away from home for days on end, and he started to feel invisible.
Then she came into the office.
Gaon first saw her on social media—Areum Dan, a 22-year-old girl who had recently joined the company. At first, he was too overwhelmed by work to even notice her presence at the office. His days were consumed by deadlines and frustration. But one day, when he could hardly breathe from the pressure, something happened. That's when he first encountered her.
It was a particularly bad day. The office was quiet, but Gaon's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. The manager had just yelled at him for the umpteenth time, his voice echoing through the empty halls. Gaon had skipped lunch—hell, he had skipped every meal up to that point—and it was already past 8:30 PM. His manager had just told him to redo all his work by the next morning or else he'd make Gaon run naked through the office. He was at his breaking point.
"Yes, sir," Gaon muttered through clenched teeth, leaving the manager's office. The last shred of patience he had was about to snap. He went back to his table and started working.
At 12:30 he saw that office is almost empty, he stumbled outside, looking for a brief escape. As he approached the vending machine, he inserted the money and pressed the button, hoping for something to relieve his stress. But nothing came. He tried shaking it, nothing happened, shaking turned into kicking, kicking into punching, he started venting out his anger on the machine.
Then, his anger morphed into something else—a quiet sob. Gaon collapsed to his knees, sitting down with his back against the machine. His hands wrapped around his knees as his head dropped forward, and the tears flowed freely. He had never felt so alone.
Suddenly, a voice broke through his misery.
"Hey."
Gaon wiped his tears with his sleeve, embarrassed, and looked up. He hadn't realized anyone else was around. There, in front of him, was a girl—beautiful, with shoulder-length hair and kind eyes. She was crouched down to meet his gaze, holding out an open box of cigarettes.
"Want one?" she asked gently.
Gaon, still embarrassed, nodded silently and took one. He tried to compose himself, still feeling the weight of everything crashing down on him.
Cut to the smoking area outside the office, where Gaon and Areum stood together, the silence between them comfortable yet filled with the unspoken understanding of their shared moment. Areum took a slow drag from her cigarette, exhaling the smoke calmly.
"So," Gaon said, breaking the silence, "How much did you see?"
"I saw from when your manager yelled at you in the evening," Areum replied casually, her eyes soft as she observed Gaon's discomfort.
Gaon bowed his head, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sorry," he muttered, almost to himself.
Areum took another puff before responding, her voice warm but firm. "Why are you sorry? Your asshole manager has no shame. He should be the one apologizing. You know, Gaon, you're sweet. You shouldn't let these people walk all over you. You've got to learn to stand up for yourself."
Gaon blinked at her, stunned by her words. No one had ever said anything like that to him before. He felt his heart race a little—she was kind, and for the first time in ages, someone was seeing him for more than just the guy who always sat quietly in the corner.
"I'll just shut up now," Areum said with a slight laugh. "You don't need another lecture. So, how long have you been working here?"
"Eight months," Gaon replied, a little hesitant but grateful for the normal conversation.
"Eight months? So, you're fresh meat." Areum grinned playfully, causing Gaon to smile despite himself. "Hahaha. I'm new here too, you know. Us new guys need to look out for each other."
Gaon chuckled nervously, still processing everything that had just happened.
Areum finished her cigarette and stubbed it out with her foot. "Well, I've got to go. It's really late."
"Sure," Gaon said, still unsure of what to say.
As Areum grabbed her bag and turned to leave, she glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. "Let's meet again tomorrow, okay? Bye."
Gaon stood there, feeling a strange warmth inside. It was the first good human interaction he'd had in months, and it left him both confused and hopeful. All his office colleagues had been excluding him, and he hadn't had a social life outside of work because of the overtime he is doing. But Areum, this stranger, had reached out to him in a way no one else had.
He stood there, lost in thought, wondering if he had just imagined it. "Once she sees how everyone is treating me, she'll probably ignore me too," he thought, trying to keep his expectations low. He didn't want to get his hopes up only to be disappointed. But despite his better judgment, he couldn't help but feel a little happier, a little lighter.
The next day, Gaon finished the work he had been yelled at for the day before. He submitted it, feeling a small sense of accomplishment. Around lunch, something unexpected happened. Areum walked over to his seat.
"Gaon, do you want to grab lunch together?" she asked, her smile warm and genuine. Gaon couldn't believe it—this was the girl who had reached out to him when he was at his lowest, the one person in the office who treated him like a human.
Before Gaon could respond, one of his peers, Joon Kang, stood up from his seat nearby. Joon was in pretty good shape, always well-dressed, and definitely handsome. He flashed a confident smile and walked over to Areum.
"Hey, I don't think we've met," Joon said, extending a hand. "I'm Joon Kang, Sales Department."
Areum smiled, shaking his hand. "Hi, I'm Areum Dan from the Marketing Department."
Joon gave a friendly grin. "Oh, marketing, huh? Well, we should get to know each other. Maybe you can help me boost my sales."
Areum smiled back, clearly friendly but already making it clear she was still focused on her original plan. "Yeah, I'd be happy to help. Actually, Gaon and I were just about to go to lunch. You should join us."
Gaon remained seated, watching the exchange with a mix of disappointment and nervousness. He wasn't sure why, but Joon's presence was making him uneasy.
Joon, now looking at Areum with a curious expression, asked, "Areum, you're new here, right?"
"Yes, it's only my second week," she replied.
Joon raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so I've got a new junior, huh? I've been working here for three years and five months."
Areum laughed, unsure how to respond, the awkwardness hanging between them. "Hahaha, yeah…"
Joon, in a tone that was both self-assured and a little condescending, continued, "Well, as a senior, it's my duty to guide my juniors. And I'd suggest you choose the right people to affiliate with. A fat fish can dirty the whole pond, you know?"
Gaon felt his stomach churn as he understood exactly what Joon meant. The office's implicit bullying was never far from the surface, but now it was blatant.
Gaon didn't react, just lowered his head and clenched his fist in anger, wishing he could say something back but knowing that nothing would come of it.
Areum, however, wasn't intimidated. She straightened up, her eyes narrowing as she shot back, "Thanks for your advice, but it's my second week in this office, not my second week in the world. I know exactly who I want to be around." She looked directly at Gaon and added, "Let's go, Gaon."
The way Areum stood up for him, even without knowing the full depth of the situation, struck a chord in Gaon. He had never had someone take his side like that before, and it felt both comforting and empowering.
Lunch became a ritual for Gaon and Areum. They started off simply sharing meals together, then texting about small things—how their days were going, the little annoyances of office life, and random thoughts that seemed insignificant but somehow meant everything. Gaon found himself opening up to Areum in ways he hadn't with anyone else. She became his light, the one person in the office who made everything feel a little more bearable.
As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months, Gaon began to look forward to going to work, not for the tasks or the meetings, but for the time he could spend with Areum. She was his escape, his outlet. He found himself venting his frustrations to her, whether through long chats or in person, about his ungrateful manager and the bullying that still ran rampant in the office.
Six months passed, and Gaon had been working at the company for a year and four months. During that time, something had changed inside him. His feelings for Areum had deepened. She wasn't just his coworker anymore; she was becoming someone he couldn't imagine his life without.
But then doubt crept in.
What if she didn't like hearing all my ranting?
What if she doesn't feel the same about me? What if she's just stuck with me out of pity or obligation?
Gaon couldn't shake the fear that his feelings were one-sided, that his confessions might ruin their friendship. So, one day, he decided to test it. He wouldn't text Areum at all.
It was hard. Every part of him wanted to reach out to her, to send her a message like they always did, but he resisted. Every ping and beep from his phone made his heart race in hope that it was her, but it never was.
Areum didn't text him that day. It felt like the world was pulling away, and Gaon struggled to keep his mind from spiraling into uncertainty. The whole day, he felt like he was on edge, unsure whether to approach her at work or just wait for the inevitable distance to grow.
The next day, as Gaon sat at his desk, a broken feeling inside him, he suddenly heard a voice from behind him.
"Where were you yesterday? You didn't text me…"
It was Areum, standing at his desk with a concerned look on her face.
Gaon felt a mix of relief and confusion flood over him. "So? Neither did you…" he said, teasing her in return, even though he couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips.
Areum's smile softened, and she replied, "I thought you were busy. Normally, you text me the first thing when you get home."
Gaon's heart beat faster. Maybe, just maybe, she did care more than he thought. Gaon felt a deep relief settle within him when he realized that Areum was still interested in talking to him. He had been uncertain of her feelings, unsure whether she saw him as a friend or something more. Despite his growing attachment, he decided not to tell her about his feelings, fearing that it might push her away.
As days passed, his feelings only deepened. For the first time, Gaon had allowed himself to truly care for someone. He had always held himself back from forming close connections with women, believing that his physical appearance and self-doubt would be too much for anyone to overlook. He had always rejected his feelings before they could grow. But with Areum, everything was different. To him, she had become everything. He yearned to be with her, to spend time outside the confines of work, to experience her presence without the watchful eyes of the office.
But they had never been anywhere alone, just the two of them. Every conversation was within the boundaries of the office walls. Gaon didn't know how to ask for more, but he wanted it desperately. He was ready to give anything to be with her.
Then, without warning, Areum disappeared.
She stopped answering his calls, and she wasn't replying to his texts. At first, Gaon thought it was just a temporary thing, maybe she was busy or had other things to attend to. But when it stretched into two days with no word, he couldn't think straight. His world began to crumble around him.
When he asked around at the office, no one seemed to know where she was. Her manager had said she was on leave for a week, but that didn't stop the gnawing worry that took root in Gaon's chest. An hour without Areum felt like a day, and with each passing moment, he felt his anxiety mounting.
He couldn't bear it. He had to know where she was, to make sure she was okay.
The texts began.
"Where are you?
Why are you not answering calls?
Why are you not replying?
Are you okay?
I'm sorry if I did anything to upset you.
How are you?
Can we talk a little?
I miss you. Just tell me that you are okay.
Just text me once, I won't disturb you.
-7 Missed Calls-.
Please pick up my calls.
I'm sorry if I did anything wrong.
Why are you not replying to me?
Areum, where are you?
I need you, Areum.
Areum, please.
Areum, I can't live without you.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you.
I love you."
The messages went on and on. Hours stretched into days, and still no reply.
Four days passed with no word from Areum, and Gaon's panic grew deeper. He couldn't sit still. He took leave from work and locked himself away in his room, wrapped in his blanket. Nothing soothed him. Every ping from his phone sent a surge of hope through him, only to be crushed when it wasn't from Areum.
Gaon hadn't slept in two days. He was too restless, too consumed by the anxiety of not knowing if she was okay, not knowing why she was ignoring him. His mind raced in circles, and yet nothing helped.
Finally, when he woke up the next morning, there it was: a message from Areum.
"We need to talk."
Gaon's heart leaped. He didn't even check the time before calling her. He needed to hear her voice, needed to know that she was okay. He didn't care about anything else.
Tring tring, tring tring, tring tring, tring tring, czack
"Hello?" Areum's voice was faint but clear, and Gaon felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"Where were you? Do you know how worried I was? Are you okay? What happened?" Gaon blurted out, the words spilling out in a rush. He had been holding them in for so long.
"Calm down," Areum said softly, but her voice was strained. "It's nothing. I fell down the stairs and broke my hand and phone. My dad contacted the manager at the office. Didn't you hear from him?"
Gaon's heart dropped. He had been so caught up in his own worry, he hadn't even thought about something as simple as her being injured. His anger shifted from Areum to the manager for not keeping him informed, but at the same time, he was relieved that Areum was safe.
"Oh, are you okay now?" Gaon asked, his voice softening.
"Yeah... I'm okay," Areum replied hesitantly. "I read the messages…"
Gaon froze. The realization hit him hard. The texts, the desperate words he had sent her—they were all there, and he felt the weight of his actions crashing down on him.
He quickly tried to backtrack, his voice faltering. "Don't mind it, I was just kidding," he said, but it was too late.
Areum paused before speaking again, her voice tinged with regret. "I don't think I can, Gaon. I need you to know that I don't want to date anyone. I've always seen you as a friend, and nothing more. I didn't have the slightest clue that this is how you felt about me, and now it seems all too obvious. I'm sorry, Gaon. I guess we should stop talking to each other."
The words felt like a slap to Gaon's face. His mind raced, trying to form a response, to explain himself, but the words caught in his throat. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
"Bu—but I—" he stammered, but before he could say anything more, the call ended abruptly.
The line went dead.
Gaon stared at his phone, his heart sinking into his stomach. The silence that followed was deafening. He couldn't understand what had just happened. He had never been so sure of someone, so certain that this connection he had with Areum was something real. And now, it was gone.
He sat there, motionless, for what felt like an eternity. All he could think about was how he wished he could take back the words he had said, how he wished he could undo everything. But even in his pain, he knew one thing for sure—he didn't regret meeting Areum.
Because, for a brief moment, he had truly been happy.
A month passed since the conversation that shattered Gaon's heart, and although Areum's arm had healed considerably, she still wore the plaster around it. She returned to the office, but there was a palpable distance between them. Areum didn't acknowledge Gaon at all, despite his attempts to reach out. He tried his best, sending messages, offering a smile whenever they crossed paths, but Areum didn't seem to care.
Gaon couldn't understand it. Not a second passed when he didn't think about her—about the good times they had shared, the way they used to talk for hours, about the affection he felt for her. His mind replayed those memories again and again, as if trying to hold on to the fragments of a dream that was slipping away.
One day, around 1:30 PM, after finishing his work, Gaon left for home. He was lost in his thoughts, but then, as he walked down the street, he saw someone from behind. His heart skipped a beat, and without thinking, he began to walk faster. It was her. He was sure of it. Even though she was walking with a guy, Gaon could tell it was Areum just by the way she moved.
But something didn't sit right. The guy had his arm wrapped around her neck, and they were heading toward a love hotel. Gaon froze, his mind struggling to make sense of what he was seeing. Was it really Areum? No, it couldn't be. She had always said, "I don't want to date anyone." He tried to convince himself that it wasn't her, but the knot in his stomach tightened.
He needed to be sure. He couldn't just walk away without knowing. So, he waited outside the love hotel, hiding in the shadows. Time dragged on, each minute stretching into what felt like an eternity. His mind kept racing—No, I've been with Areum for months, I know her. She's not like this. She can't be. I'm wasting my time, I should just leave.
But then, after what felt like an hour, the couple emerged from the hotel. Gaon's heart leaped into his throat. His instincts screamed at him to leave, to stop being a creep lurking outside a love hotel. But as the couple turned in opposite directions, Gaon saw it.
The girl—the one he thought might be Areum—was wearing a plaster on her arm.
Gaon's heart shattered. His worst fears were confirmed. She was wearing the same plaster that Areum had been wearing for weeks. Gaon's legs gave way, and he collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably. He ran toward her, tears streaming down his face, his nose running, his chin trembling, his hand shaking, stomach twisting in knots. He was crying like a child, his heart breaking all over again.
He stood in front of Areum, his breath ragged. He didn't care about the guy standing beside her. He didn't even register Joon, who stood there, looking at him with a puzzled expression. Gaon could barely see him through the tears in his eyes.
"And Joon?" Gaon cried, his voice breaking. "You were in a love hotel with Joon?"
Areum looked at him, wide-eyed, clearly shocked to see him there. "What are you doing here?" she asked, clearly confused.
Gaon's mind couldn't process her words. His heart was a storm of conflicting emotions—pain, confusion, betrayal. He sobbed harder, the tears blurring his vision.
"Why?" Gaon gasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Why did you do this? You said you didn't want to date anyone."
Areum was taken aback by his outburst, but she quickly composed herself, her expression turning distant. "I told you the truth, Gaon. We're not dating. We're just friends."
The words hit him like a slap. His knees buckled as the weight of her words crushed him. He felt his chest tighten, the anger and sadness boiling over inside him. But the worst part was the finality of it all. The crushing truth that she had never seen him as more than a friend.
Gaon wiped his tears and let out a shaky breath, trying to steady himself.
"Okay." The word left his mouth like a whisper of defeat.
Without another word, he turned and walked away, his mind numb. He didn't know where he was going or what he was doing. He just kept walking, his feet carrying him through the night.
He found a quiet corner of the street and sat down, his eyes blank. His mind replayed everything over and over.
What had Areum said when she first met Joon?
What had she said during their talks?
Was it all just physical for her?
Did she said that to console me?
Did she really see him as nothing more than a friend?
Gaon's thoughts spiraled. He wanted to be close to her. He would have given everything to be the one by her side. But she hadn't even considered it. It hurt more than he could express.
Why?
The question kept echoing in his mind.
Why was I so different from Joon?
Was it because of how I look?
Am I not good enough for her?
The more Gaon thought, the more his frustration grew.
Maybe it's the fault of this world,
he thought bitterly.
A world that punishes the good guy, the one who wants to take care of her, the one who would do anything for her. And it rewards the jerk who doesn't care.
Gaon closed his eyes in frustration. I wish I had been born in a different time...
He had no energy to go to work the next morning. He called his manager, hoping for a day off, but his request was quickly denied. His manager yelled at him to come in, and with a heavy heart, Gaon forced himself to stand.
With a blank expression on his face, he made his way back to the office. He wasn't sure what was worse—facing his manager or facing the truth that Areum had never been his.
Gaon sat at his desk, his eyes locked on his computer screen, though he wasn't truly seeing anything. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by the image of Areum walking away with Joon. The heavy weight of his emotions—guilt, sadness, and pain—pressed on him like a storm he couldn't escape. But he didn't care anymore. Nothing mattered.
He didn't even flinch when his manager came in, yelling about the leave he was asking even though he ws physically fine. His words fell like empty noise in Gaon's ears, nothing more than an echo. He just sat there, still, like a ghost.
The yelling continued for a few minutes before the manager, seeing there was no response, stormed off. Gaon's gaze remained fixed ahead. It felt like the world was moving around him while he was frozen in time.
Minutes later, Joon and Areum walked into the office together. Gaon didn't even look up as they passed. Joon took the seat beside Gaon's, but not a word was exchanged between them. Gaon was lost in his thoughts, the numbness in his chest growing stronger with every breath.
It was then that lunch came, and Areum was nowhere to be found. Gaon sat in his seat, staring at his computer, his mind spiraling in circles, unable to break free from the torment.
"I need you, Areum. Please. I can't live without you, I love you..."
Gaon heard the voice from behind him—Joon's voice. He was reading Gaon's texts to Areum, surrounded by four of his peers.
They all laughed.
"Last night, this guy came up to me and Areum and started crying—'Uaaah, uaaah, why?' Hahahaha!" Joon laughed, his words slicing through the air like daggers.
Gaon's eyes stayed glued to his screen, but his heart was shattering, piece by piece. The laughter continued, each word twisting the knife deeper.
"Bro, that bitch is such a slut… she lets me hit that whenever I want… She likes it rough, hahahaa. I'm gonna fuck her and then throw her away like a bi—"
Thud.
The sound of Gaon's fist connecting with Joon's face rang out, drowning out the laughter. Joon stumbled backward, his mouth open in shock, but before he could react, Gaon was on him.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Gaon's fists rained down on Joon, each punch driven by the overwhelming surge of anger, pain, and heartbreak that had been building inside him for so long. The crowd of onlookers shouted, trying to pull him off, but Gaon couldn't stop. He didn't care.
He didn't care about anything anymore. He just wanted to hurt Joon. Hurt the person who had mocked him, the one who had taken Areum away.
Thud.
Gaon landed one more punch before the crowd finally restrained him, pulling him away from Joon's battered form. His body shook with rage as they dragged him away, and Joon, bleeding and swollen, looked up at him, terrified.
"Hold him tight!" Joon screamed, his voice shaky and desperate, blood dripping from his broken lip.
Gaon struggled against the hands holding him, his eyes fixed on Joon. He couldn't stop himself. He needed to get to him. He needed to make Joon feel the pain he had caused.
But before he could take another step, a sharp sound cut through the air.
Smack.
The sting of Areum's slap sent a shockwave through Gaon's body. His entire world seemed to collapse in that moment, his strength draining away.
He looked at Areum, and for the first time in a long while, he saw the disgust in her eyes. It was as if she was seeing him for the first time, but not in the way he had hoped.
"That's your problem, Gaon," Areum said, her voice cold. "When I first met you, I told you to take a stand. But instead, you bitched about your manager and your peers nonstop. You had no control over your emotions. I didn't talk to you for a few days, and you went mad. You saw me with another guy, and you beat him black and blue."
Gaon's heart pounded in his chest, his head spinning. He opened his mouth to speak,
"but Ar~"
"SHUT UP," she snapped, cutting him off. "Don't ever take my name out of your mouth. Don't ever show your face to me again."
Gaon stood there, frozen, his mind a blur. The words hit him like a freight train, each one stripping away what little hope he had left. He couldn't understand. He didn't know where it had all gone wrong.
Areum turned to Joon, a faint smile playing on her lips. "You were right," she said, looking at him with something Gaon couldn't bear to see. "I need to stay away from fat fish."
She took Joon's hand and walked away, leaving Gaon standing there, broken and empty.
"Let's go," Areum said, her voice soft as she led Joon away. "Let's get you treated."
Gaon stood in the middle of the office, staring after them. The world around him seemed distant, disconnected. The weight of everything that had just happened crashed down on him. His body shook, but he didn't move.
He couldn't move.
For the first time in his life, Gaon felt truly lost.
Back to present -
Gaon lay on his bed, wrapped in his blanket, phone clutched in his hand, tears streaming down his face as he stared at a photo of Areum on a beach. She was the love of his life.
After leaving my last job before they could fire me, I thought I'd be fine. I thought my education would be enough to land me a new job. But every time I got close, the question of why I left my old job would get in the way, either from me or from the background check. For six months, I survived without pay. After that, I had to move back in with my mom and dad. At first, it wasn't too bad. But now, two years later...
He wiped his tears and sniffed. How do I face them? How do I face my dad? He's done so much for me. Supported me through everything. But how can I face him now?
The guilt gnawed at him. The shame was unbearable. Slowly, he felt his body changing, his weight creeping up. He'd gotten so much heavier. All his friends were moving ahead in their careers, growing. But Gaon? He was stuck. Stuck in his room. Stuck in his life.
And then, the questions started. His parents started asking about his job. Not out of malice, but from concern. But for Gaon, it felt like a reminder of his failure. How could he look them in the eye? How could he show his face?
He picked up his phone again, looking at Areum's picture. His chest tightened. She was out there, living her life. And here he was, in the same place he had been for the last two years.
I need to change... I can't keep living like this... I won't be a burden anymore. Starting now, I'll change. I will walk toward change.
He glanced at the clock. 2:35 AM. His noodles, long forgotten, sat untouched on his computer table.
I'll start with getting slimmer. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind.
He pushed the trash aside, clearing some space on the floor. He got down on his knees for push-ups. He was overweight, out of shape. His arms trembled with the effort.
1, 2, 3... 7.
His breathing was heavy, his body begging for rest. He stood up, feeling the strain. I guess that's it for today. Can't go all in on the first day.
He checked the time again. 2:42 AM. He looked at the noodles. They'll get soggy if I wait too long... don't want to waste food.
Sighing, he sat at his computer and began eating the noodles, distracted by a show playing on the screen. The noodles finished, but Gaon kept watching, lost in the content, the hours slipping by.
Before he knew it, it was 5:00 AM. He shut his eyes, thinking, If only I could go back in time...
I would do things differently. I'd invest in crypto, be rich by now. I wouldn't need a job. I'd work out every day, have abs, be able to do 100 pushups easily. I'd get all the girls... Joon wouldn't stand a chance...
He smiled at the thought, drifting into sleep.
Gaon woke up with a jolt, the fog of sleep lifting slowly. He was back in his room. His old, familiar room. His own bed. His own body.
The air was stale, the room cluttered as always. His phone was still beside him, the screen dim and forgotten. The warmth of the blanket around him felt like an anchor, pulling him back into his habitual stupor.
It was just a dream, he thought, blinking rapidly. Just wishful thinking. I didn't... I didn't really get a second chance. It's just me. Still me.
He sighed, turning his head to look at the clock. 10:00 AM. Another wasted morning.
His body felt heavy, as if even the act of moving was too much to bear. But his mind was heavier still, filled with thoughts of what could have been. He dragged himself out of bed, rubbing his eyes and walking over to the mirror. His reflection stared back at him—a tired, defeated man who had no idea where his life was headed.
The days passed in a blur of inactivity. He woke up late, spent hours in front of his computer, scrolling mindlessly through social media, watching videos, playing games, anything to keep his mind distracted. But no matter how much time he wasted, the ache in his chest never went away. He was stuck.
Every night, as he lay in bed, the same thoughts plagued his mind. What if I had a second chance? What if I could go back and do things right?
His thoughts circled around the same fantasies. I'd be rich. I'd have abs. I'd be happy. He imagined what life would be like if he could go back to his younger self. He would change everything. He would be someone better, someone worth being proud of.
But every morning, he woke up to the same reality. His body still heavy, his spirit still broken. Time passed, and Gaon did nothing but wish for a life that seemed increasingly impossible.
It was easier to stay inside, locked away in his room, away from the world. No one asked him about his job anymore, and for that, he was thankful. His parents, though kind, had given up on asking. He could feel their disappointment lingering in the air, even when they said nothing. They didn't need to. Gaon knew. He knew he was a failure in their eyes. He knew he was a failure in his own eyes.
The days stretched into weeks, then months. Time didn't mean anything anymore. Every day was the same. He would wake up, stare at his computer screen, eat, and go back to bed.
But every night, he would lie awake, staring at the ceiling, thoughts swirling. If I could go back in time, I'd do everything differently. I'd be strong. I'd be successful. I'd be someone worth being proud of.
The cycle continued. And with each passing day, Gaon grew more and more isolated. He stopped talking to his friends, stopped trying to reconnect with his family. He felt invisible, lost in a sea of unfulfilled dreams.
If I could get a second chance... The thought haunted him.
And then, one day, something shifted.
He woke up tired, more exhausted than ever before. His body felt as if it had given up entirely. His arms and legs felt heavy, and he could barely open his eyes.
What... what is happening?
He tried to scream, but no sound came out. His vision blurred. He felt someone forcing his eyelids open, the pressure unbearable.
When his eyes finally opened, he was no longer in his room.
Wait... where am I? The room he found himself in was unfamiliar, opulent, decorated in a 60s style, like something out of an old aristocrat's house. He couldn't understand how he had gotten there.
The man standing before him was unfamiliar too, speaking in a language Gaon didn't recognize. It wasn't just the language—everything felt wrong. He felt out of place, like he didn't belong. His mind raced, but his body felt too weak to move.
"𓂀⚛ ⬯⚛⬭⚛⧿ ⧫⬡𖣔⬯⩎⚛ ⧉ ⧩⚶⚛ ⬡⚛⬟ ⬭⚛ ⬟⧊⬭ ⧿⚛ ⧩⬭ ⚛⬯."
Another voice, a woman's, came next, full of concern, though the words were still a mystery to Gaon.
"𓂀⚛ ⬯⚛⬭⚛⧿ ⧫⬡𖣔⬯⩎⚛ ⧉ ⧩⚶⚛ ⬡⚛⬟ ⬭⚛ ⬟⧊⬭ ⧿⚛ ⧩⬭ ⚛⬯."
Gaon blinked, his heart racing. I don't understand… His thoughts were frantic. This is not reincarnation... This is transmigration...
The realization hit him like a ton of bricks. This isn't just some fantasy. This is real. I've been given another chance. But what now?
Everything felt like a blur, and yet it was all so clear at the same time. Was it truly a second chance, or was he just trapped in another cycle of his own making?