NOVEL NEXT Chapter 0
The sound of car horns, footsteps, and people’s conversations seeped through the curtain of my basement window.
Like any other day, I woke up at noon when the sun was high in the sky.
Then I rolled around in bed, checking my phone repeatedly.
[Kwon Do-hyung, who caused the Luna crash… The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is summoning for an investigation.]
[The fatal flaw of Terra and Luna… Did Kwon Do-hyung hide it?]
[The hacker group Anonymous says, “We will bring Kwon Do-hyung to justice” – Pookul Daily.]
Reading the articles made me sigh deeply.
Having faced many deficiencies since childhood, I skipped college and jumped straight into society as soon as I turned 18.
I spent my twenties without enjoying a single youthful romance.
The hard-earned money I saved up while others were playing amounted to 100 million won.
Suddenly looking back, I regretted all the time I spent without enjoying anything.
I couldn’t live my life working all the time anymore.
I couldn’t live just doing that.
So, I decided to invest the 100 million won I had saved up.
There was also the aspect that it was the height of the cryptocurrency craze.
I learned about coins from an older guy I met while working, and then went all in on Luna Coin. In today’s world, I’m just another typical speculator.
“Damn it.”
I muttered a curse with a sigh.
Am I cursing Kwon Do-hyung, who made Luna Coin, or myself for throwing my money away like an idiot? Probably both.
After tossing and turning in bed for a while, I felt hungry, threw on some random clothes, and headed out to the convenience store.
The sunlight is blinding.
The bright sunny weather feels like a different world from my gloomy mood.
“Ah, I want to go to another world.”
It’s funny saying that.
I let out a chuckle, and a tear trickles out.
Must be because the sun is too bright.
People walking along the street seem to blend with the sunlight.
It feels like they and I are from different worlds.
Couples in love, busy office workers, students heading to afternoon classes, children holding their mothers’ hands.
Their futures look full of possibilities.
As I opened the convenience store door, the ringing bell was followed by a half-hearted greeting from the part-timer.
A part-time job greeting, it seems
“Welcome!”
I left with a bunch of ramen and soju.
Today is ridiculously hot.
‘Why is it so clear and annoying today?’
On the way home, I see an old woman pulling a cart full of garbage.
The old woman dragging the cart on this scorching day looks particularly exhausted.
I felt a sense of camaraderie with the old woman.
I approached the cart, pushing it from behind and said to the old woman,
“I’ll help you, ma’am.”
“Oh, thank you, young man.”
“Where to?”
“It’s fine, but could you take it just up that hill?”
The old woman and I climbed the hill, sweating profusely from the heat.
“Really, thank you, young man.”
“Not at all, just be careful not to get heatstroke.”
“Thank you.”
On the way home, I decided to think positively.
‘Still, I’m much younger than this old man. Sure, I wasted my twenties, but let’s have a drink and start fresh tomorrow.’
As I kept repeating this like a mantra, I suddenly felt invigorated and a strange sense of anticipation washed over me.
‘Tomorrow, I’ll be better than today.’
‘I can do it!’
Before I knew it, I was at the crosswalk in front of my house.
And the moment I crossed the crosswalk, a truck ran me over.
‘Ah, life sucks.’
They say life doesn’t go as planned, but to die the moment you decide is a bit much.
My vision blurred and everything went dark.
‘Ah, I don’t want to die.’
‘I wanted to live splendidly.’
‘I wanted to be someone’s idol…’
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‘Maybe I should’ve auditioned to become an idol trainee when I was 13.’
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‘When I was 15, I should’ve sung a different song in music class…’
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‘Damn it, why did I participate in that talent show back then?’
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‘When I was 18, I should’ve confessed to that guy…’
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‘…What’s going on…? Why am I not dead?’
“Wait a minute…!”
I opened my eyes and screamed.
But what came out of my mouth was the cry of a baby.
“Wah…?”
When I opened my eyes, I saw a woman and a man in front of me.
The woman’s face was a mess, covered in sweat and tears, but even in her disheveled state, she was a beauty.
“Darling, you’ve really worked hard..!”
The man, looking like a prince, said.
“Our princess is so cute… Truly.. Do-hee’s mommy.”
‘Huh…? Princess?’