Chapter 44
Chapter 44
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 44
Chapter Title: Going Back (6)
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It was a dreamlike day.
"So, do you have any ideas for your streaming career going forward?"
"As a fan, I'm just here to cheer you on."
"Come on. I told you, you're not just a fan anymore—you're an investor now. If you have any requests or healthy feedback, feel free to share."
"Hmm... healthy feedback, huh."
Christmas Eve.
The time spent chatting with you, my one and only loyal viewer.
Even though we'd only just met in person today, you felt more comfortable than friends I'd known for years. It was an incredible feeling.
A tickle in my chest, a moment of certainty blooming from the affection I'd secretly nurtured.
"You'd probably get a great reaction from playing horror games."
"...You're just teasing me, right?"
"No, seriously. What's the biggest strength of your avatar?"
"Everything?"
"...Thanks, but that's not what I—"
Talking about tomorrow with you was pure joy.
My heart ached with happiness, my breath quickened with bliss.
I wished it would never end.
I wanted you by my side tomorrow, too.
"----------!!!"
"--------------!!!!!!!!!!"
The pounding of my heart drowned out the sounds of the world.
I saw only you, so the rest of the world faded from view.
That's why I didn't hear it.
The screams of people yelling for me to get out of the way.
The roar of the engine racing up behind me, the screech of tires scraping the road.
When you leaned in close, reaching out for me, I closed my eyes, thinking it was a kiss.
And in that instant, I felt weightless.
With superhuman strength from who-knows-where, you grabbed my arm and literally flung me aside.
"Huh?"
Thud, crash.
My body tumbled across the ground, and the world snapped back into focus.
Pain shot through my back and legs, but for some reason, it barely registered.
I lifted my head.
Cold winter in Busan, Seomyeon.
A crowd had gathered at the intersection.
"Student, are you okay?"
"Oh man, doesn't look like any injuries..."
People came over, worried, but apologies—they didn't even register in my eyes or ears.
My gaze pierced through them, fixed on something far off.
A tire on the road, its bumper half-smashed, somehow upright.
Far more people surrounded the car than those around me.
"Student! Don't go over there!"
"Hey, grab her! What are you doing? You trying to show her that?!"
My instincts screamed.
This was the moment to run.
Gasp, gasp.
Forcing down the ragged breaths surging up, I bolted.
"Excuse me! Coming through! Excuse me!"
Forcing my way through the wall of people, there you were at the end.
"Legend!!!!!!!!!!"
You lay collapsed in a pool of blood, sprawled on the ground.
"Don't fall asleep! Open your eyes! No, no, nooo!!!"
I rushed over desperately and dropped to my knees beside you.
Your hand in mine was ice-cold.
Nothing like it in my life before.
Not just cold—it felt like life was draining away.
Terror seized my body, reason crumbling.
Breathing shallow, my lungs froze solid.
Even seeing it for the first time, I knew it bone-deep.
This is death. You're dying.
Not anywhere else—right here in my arms, your life was flickering out.
The blood drained from your face, winter's chill hitting my own even harder.
My labored breaths turned to fog in the cold, obscuring my view—I hated it.
Get out of the way. I can't see.
"...Shut up. My ears hurt."
"Legend...?!"
Common sense said no one could speak after impact like that.
For a split second, hope surged.
"Cough."
Blood sprayed.
Blood from your mouth splattered my cheek.
It was shockingly cold—unbelievable that it came from a living body moments ago. I swallowed hard.
Hope froze in that blood.
...No.
No.
Please, don't go.
I haven't even repaid a fraction of what you've given me.
You gave me something so unbelievable, and all I've done is buy you a few meals worth tens of thousands of won.
'Without you, I—.'
My heart shattered.
Drifting into endless abyss.
The world's sounds vanished; you became my entire world.
But the emotions crashing in were worlds apart from minutes ago—cold, despairing beyond measure. Tears spilled unbidden.
"B-Babe..."
You reached out.
To me.
Your bloodied hand wiped the blood from my cheek.
"It's not... your fault..."
Your hand clenched into a fist.
Then reached for me.
Like you wanted a fist bump.
Absurd.
How could you even do that?
Even if we'd known each other online for three years,
Even as a fan.
Could you really throw your life away for a stranger?
"So... hang in there..."
How could you offer comfort to someone you just met, even at the end?
That was your last word.
Thud.
Your fist, lost and powerless, dropped onto my knee.
"Ah, aaah...!"
I clamped my hand over my mouth desperately.
I don't know why.
Maybe instinct screaming not to make noise in front of the dying.
Wanting you to live even a little longer, I swallowed the wail clawing at my throat.
"Hic, hnnngh...!"
Tears flowed.
Mere tears, hotter than your blood—annoying me, I wiped them away roughly.
"Move! Out of the way!"
"Are you family? What's your relationship?!"
"H-Haa... haa, haaaah!!!"
"...Take this kid too. My gut says we can't leave her behind."
The ambulance pushed through the crowd; paramedics took you away to the hospital.
Begging, please save him. Please.
Crying, bumping into people, clinging, bowing my head.
Those memories lingered in my dreams.
Ugh, uuu.
Myth rubbed her eyes.
"Haven't had a dream like that in ages."
Inside the KTX speeding north toward Seoul.
Myth opened her eyes to the sliver of sunlight sneaking through the poorly drawn curtains.
I hadn't dreamed it since Seol woke up.
Before that, it haunted me every night.
Uuuuugh.
Myth stretched.
Back then, I'd wake up scrubbing tear tracks; now I could dismiss it as a silly dream and stretch like this.
A wave of simple happiness washed over me.
This is all thanks to you waking up, right?
- The next station is ■■■ Station, ■■■ Station.
Ah, gotta get off here.
Myth hurried to her feet.
We said we'd handle the bulky suitcases, so she grabbed her light handbag, slung on her backpack, and stepped off the train.
"Oh, hey. Isn't that the girl from before?"
"Hi. Small world. You seem to take this taxi a lot."
"Yeah, fellow southerner—I'll knock off the toll fee. Same apartment as last time?"
"Yes."
She hailed the Busan uncle taxi driver by chance again.
"Mind if I open the window?"
"Go ahead."
With his okay, she rolled down the window.
Is spring finally here?
Warm spring breeze tickled her cheeks through the window.
"...Beautiful."
I'd ridden the KTX countless times, passed this road endlessly.
But with just you in the world, it transformed into something so lovely.
She closed her eyes, replaying today's dream.
Why that dream, of all days?
The uncomfortable KTX seat?
'Or maybe because I've been away from Seol too long, and anxiety crept in without me noticing?'
Hmm.
A reasonable explanation.
Or maybe the plain truth.
Sharing a room and messing around was fun, but man, it was boring without Seol.
'They say dreams are the opposite of reality.'
Of all days, on this one where an ominous feeling made me rush back to Seoul early—coincidence I dreamed you drifting away?
I'd rather it not be.
In the dream, you were pulling away; maybe reality would bring us closer instead.
'Maybe even a confession.'
...Nah, that's pushing it.
Still, I wish you would.
I said I'd wait, but honestly, I want to hug you freely, cuddle up, post tons of pics on Insta.
Show off "that thing" I prepped for viewers.
Her emotions flipped back and forth. Myth's feelings whirled.
Anyone who knew her usual self would gawk at her face cycling through expressions.
"Alrighty, we're here."
"Ah, thanks. Here's the fare."
Myth got out of the taxi, checked her souvenirs and bags, then headed to our house.
Precisely, Seol's house.
'Surprise, he'll be shocked, right?'
She hadn't told a soul about coming up this time.
Not even Seol.
She wanted to surprise him for once.
What would Seol think, seeing her back three days early?
Shocked? Happy?
...Not burdened, I hope—that'd sting a bit.
Her hand paused at the door.
'Oh, right—he might not even be home.'
Hadn't considered that.
...Whatever. If not, I'll wait till he gets back.
Going to find him or waiting—either sounded fun.
Especially since it's you.
'If he's there, I'll glomp him.'
Beep, beep, beep, beep.
She punched in the code and boldly opened the door.
No signs of life inside.
Out?
Myth dumped her stuff by the shoe rack and stepped in, spotting Seol on the sofa.
"Huh."
"Eh."
Their eyes met.
Seol's face flushed crimson in an instant, like he'd been caught red-handed.
It felt extremely, extremely weird.
She'd planned to rush over and hug him the second she saw him, but today his reaction was off.
Couldn't pinpoint exactly what, but something was wrong.
It wasn't just Seol.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Her heart raced bizarrely fast.
Suddenly, just a fleeting thought.
Yeona unnie's words from before popped into her head.
'You know, the moment you get confessed to, you just feel it, bam?'
'Unnie, you were the one confessing.'
'I did ask him out. But this unnie's been proposed to.'
'So what did it feel like?'
'Hmm, the guy you see every day suddenly looks even handsomer, you can tell he's nervous, he's prepping something... Ah, whatever. You'll just know when it happens.'
"Um... Myth. Wanna sit next to me for a sec?"
Seol patted the spot beside him.
Face red, eyes averted, hands trembling slightly.
Then, certainty lodged in her heart—thump—as it plummeted.