The True Gift – Sim-sang

A power like a superpower had emerged, beyond just the appearance. 'An ability to mimic a master baker. I really can't cook.' Needless to say, Sujin had no clue, and even Choi Suho's best was kimchi stew—most meals came from meal kits. Baking cookies? No idea. If he'd known how to bake them this deliciously, he would've quit the company and opened a shop without a second thought.

'It reacts to my wishes by searching for sim-sang...'

What I wanted was cookies that would satisfy Eun-seo. It must have reacted to that and searched for a way to bake delicious cookies.

But that unfamiliar word, sim-sang, had popped up.

'What the hell is sim-sang?'

I pulled out my phone and searched for sim-sang.

It was explained in complicated terms, but basically, it meant turning mental images into reality. In literature, words do it; in my case, it's an ability. Think of delicious cookies, and you gain the skill to make them.

If I truly wish for something, sim-sang grants the ability to make it real.

Once my thoughts reached that point, it hit me: the gift from that woman wasn't just the appearance. You couldn't bake cookies this good with looks alone. This was talent territory.

'If I could freely use any ability I want, that'd be jackpot.'

I'd assumed the appearance was the gift and ignored everything else. I'd only focused on reviving hazy memories of Choi Sujin.

Now that it had come to this, I needed to check for other abilities.

The woman who offered me a new life in the hospital room came to mind. If I could just ask her directly, no need for guesswork—but what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had been so urgent back then?

'Will she come again? I have so many questions.'

Fortunately, my curiosity didn't last even a day.

I opened my eyes to that godforsaken hospital ceiling. Skinny limbs, IV drips dangling everywhere, sweat-soaked gown—the full dying Choi Suho package, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠days from the end.

"What the hell? Fuck, it was a dream?"

No matter how I looked, it was my hospital room. What? Those two weeks as a high school girl weren't possession—they were a life-flashing-before-your-eyes hallucination? Then what the hell was that woman?!

"It was a dream, yes."

She was suddenly right there beside me. After stirring all this up, she had the nerve to casually call it a dream?

"You're kidding, right?"

I snapped at her, of course. If I'd had the strength, I'd have sat up and slapped her.

"Seems you've misunderstood. This is a dream."

"What?"

That this moment was in a dream?

"We weren't supposed to meet again, but I rushed last time and left things half-said. I'm here to finish, so think of it as after-service."

"Then why not just come normally? Why recreate the hospital room? It's confusing as hell."

"This is where we last spoke. It was content for Suho ssi, not Sujin yang."

She recreated that moment because it was the last memory we shared. That's why I'd mistaken it for a hallucination. I didn't get why that timing mattered, but at least I wasn't actually back in the hospital. What a relief.

'Wait, a pretty woman entering a man's dream...'

"Are you a succubus by any chance?"

Crack! A vein bulged on her smooth forehead. She clearly hated that word.

"Never mention such a low-class whore again. It disgusts me."

"Sorry."

A salesperson's basic skill is a quick apology. Even if the customer's wrong, you take the hit. That's how you move to the next step.

"What didn't you tell me?"

If she was showing up in my dreams, she must've skipped something important.

"I didn't explain what the gift I promised actually is."

"I know. You gave me perfect looks. Everyone was shocked."

She smirked slightly, like she'd expected that.

"That's just a bonus. Once you get the gift, you can't go back to ordinary looks. Good thing I came—you really had no idea about the real gift."

I'd been testing her, and as expected, the appearance wasn't it.

Can't be ordinary... then what the hell did I get?

"The gift for you, Suho ssi, is sim-sang—the ability to realize your wishes. You've used it once, so you have a rough idea."

I baked great cookies, but that didn't mean I fully grasped the ability. I got that it fulfills wishes, but the key was how far it went. The scope and limits were too vague.

"You look confused."

"I'm curious how far it goes. Can I use any ability I want? Anything at all?"

A human with every ability? That'd be godlike.

"Such irreverent thoughts. I'm not giving you omnipotence, Suho ssi. Power only emerges when needed to fulfill your wishes."

She could read my mind, apparently. Her face twisted like last time—annoyed again. Who told her to peek?

"My wishes?"

"Yes. You wanted an easy life."

'Oh, right.'

"This power is what you need for an easy life. Sim-sang judges and provides it automatically—no need to worry. When a message appears, that's your cue to use the ability."

"So I can't choose freely."

"Correct. Even if I let you, you couldn't. Humans aren't wise enough to wield the right power at the right time."

"What's with the sudden diss?"

"It's the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠truth."

It pissed me off, but she wasn't wrong. If humans could use the perfect power perfectly, Earth would be paradise already.

"I agonized over what would let you live easily—too many variables. If I gave something and you hit a bad fate line, it'd be a mess. I'm no creator; I can't control destiny."

After-service, my ass—she was explaining in detail.

"Overthinking gave me a headache, so I went with sim-sang. No matter your fate, it'll fulfill your wishes."

A healthy body, this appearance, and a power guaranteeing comfort? She was like a giving tree of a goddess. Could she afford to give so much?

"Since it's working, take it all. This is your only shot."

Reading my mind again.

"One caution: sim-sang only activates on true sincerity."

"What does that mean?"

"You must want it. If you're forcing it, half-hearted, or hesitating, nothing works. Sincerity is sim-sang's fuel."

Basically, no half-assing. That I could do. I'd always given my all, win or lose. That was how a guy with no standout skills lasted over ten years at the company to make section chief.

"Finally—not pushing, but... grant Sujin's wish."

"Her ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wish?"

"Yes. She wanted to act. You might not care, but you've got her body—think about it. That's why she went to arts high."

I'd considered it, but couldn't commit right away. Memories showed Sujin with insane passion for acting, but my past life had zero experience or interest.

"No worries there. Her lingering attachment to make you the ultimate actor in that body remains."

"What? What's that mean—'this body' and 'Sujin's lingering attachment'?"

"Sujin's soul is gone, but her acting obsession lingers. Through the sim-sang I gave, it'll grant you various abilities whenever acting opportunities arise."

"......"

I couldn't picture it, but she kept explaining, so I listened quietly.

"Abilities to find valuable scripts, draw out performances from scripts, exclude evil scripts, actors, producers—acting-exclusive, off-the-charts powers will keep emerging. Because of Sujin's wish to be the greatest actor."

'Evil scripts—what's that?'

Still, now I got the gist. Acting-limited special sim-sang.

"Try it, even without conviction. Who knows? You might get hooked."

She laughed, saying full sincerity would awaken Sujin's talent for perfect acting, and everyone around would worship me. Fair point—with this face and acting skills, broadcasters would welcome me with open arms.

"I've told you everything. Time to go. Enjoy your new life—comfortably."

Not "happily," but "comfortably." She remembered what I'd wished for in the possession.

As she vanished, my body faded. Just like the first possession.

I never wanted to see this hospital room again.

To confirm if it was a hallucination or not, I forced my eyes open. It was still dark, early dawn.

'Yep, Choi Sujin.'

Rolling around in bed felt fine. In the hospital, even lifting an arm was torture.

Staring at the ceiling, I mulled over her words. Sim-sang, not appearance, is the gift; full sincerity triggers it; Sujin's acting wish grants special sim-sang. Critical info I nearly missed.

Hearing it all explained why the cookies turned out perfect. My sincere wish to do something for my first friend after possession led to baking mastery.

Testing more would confirm fully, but I'd unwittingly verified sincerity as the trigger.

Half-eaten cookies sat on the desk. Mom and I got so excited making all sorts, plenty left.

They were insanely good, but tastes differ between us commoners and chaebols.

Still, for a first gift, I hoped she'd accept it happily.