Looking at the blurry image on the computer, in front of him, Min-Jae rubbed his eyes trying to clear his vision.
However, as he rubbed his eyes, his body slowly started tilting on its own.
In slow motion, he felt his body slipped away from the chair and hit the cold office floor.
Plop.. thud...
Even though his eyes was still wide opened and his consciousness was still there, Min-jae could not control his own body.
What's happening to me? Why can't I move at all? Min-Jae's thought wondered as he sensed some people rushing to him.
Before long, his eyes could not stay open as they slowly closed onto him.
He could not see anything, but he could feel the touched of those people.
At that chaotic moment, he could hear people talking. But he could not quite discern what they were saying.
Just some words.
Helpp!..... Min-Jae.... Okey??..
His body was unresponsive but his mind was still active.
Only then did he realized that his body gave out. It could not longer keep up with his workloads.
In minutes, Min-Jae was put on a folding bed and rushed to the hospital on an ambulance.
In no time, his unconscious body arrived at the hospital and was rushed to the emergency room.
At the same time, a woman was also rushing to the labor and delivery room for giving birth.
The difference between the two was that one was on the way to leave the world and the other was on its way to bring life.
As soon as Min-Jae was inside the emergency room, doctors started giving everything they could to save his life.
One doctor pressing his chest in hopes that his heart will start beating faster. But instead his heartbeat was getting weaker and weaker with its second.
Despite their efforts, Min-jae remained unresponsive.
Inside his body, Min-Jae himself could his body was slipping away from him. Like he was becoming a spirit.
Surrounded by darkness, his thoughts went on as his lige continued slipping away.
Am I dying? Well, its better that way. ...ai... if I knew I would go this way, I should have enjoyed my life instead of working too hard. What's good with having this sharp memories full of knowledge when I can't even enjoy.
I should have made friends when I had the chance. I should have confess to her when I had that chance.
Urghh.... now I think about it, I didn't do anything other than studying. What a crazy person I was... haha...
As Min-Jae continued remembering his life, he realized that he had never done anything meaningful.
As an orphan, he was taught to study hard so that he could live an easy life. Now that he looked back, he realized what a fool he was not to enjoy his life.
Thinking back to all those lost chances, he started regretting.
Argh..... if I can live my life all over again, I will not make those same mistakes again....
But what can I do.. now I'm dying. No friends by my side, no one. How lonely my life is...
In just a few seconds, Min-jae felt his whole body suddenly getting lighter like he was floating,
At that moment, he heard one of the doctor's voice. "It's over. There is nothing we can do. Give your goodbyes to him." His voice contained a tired tone, like he was used to that kind of scene for countless time.
So, I'm dead? Even though he regretted not living a good life, at that moment, Min-jae felt a sense of relief. Surprisingly, he felt no pain or any discomfort.
Then, everything went silent. No hospital noise, no beeping sound, no sound of nurses and no doctors. Just complete silence in the void.
Feeling the dead silence and the darkness all around him, Min-Jae thought his soul was finally leaving for the afterlife.
But, when he sensed closely, he realized that his soul was not going anywhere. It was just floating at the same spot he arrived earlier.
What's going on? Am I stuck here?
Ohh God please don't do this to me. I lived a shitty life and now I'm stuck here as a punishment!? For what!?...
As he was panicking over there for no reason, he found out that he could move on its own.
Ohh..
Min-Jae felt a bit embarrassed and looked around. "Ohh right! I'm the only one here."
Shrugging off, he started wandering aimlessly in the void.
With no one and no light to guide him, Min-Jae soon lost his sense of direction.
Where the hell am I? Am I on the way of afterlife? Or .... don't tell me... this is what hell looks like...?
When he thought about it, Min-Jae felt even more scared.
If what he was thinking was true then it was indeed scary.
Unlike the fiery pits, and lavas and molten volcanos that people imagined, just wandering in the void for countess years, tired and hungry.
Just imagining it sent shivers to his body, even though he had no physical body anymore.
I must find the way to afterlife quickly, otherwise who knows how long will I be spending my life here. Shaking his head and throwing away the scary thought, Min-Jae hurriedly stated walking, trying to find a way quickly.
As he continued walking, he sensed his surrounding was getting narrower and narrower. Like he was going deeper into a narrow tunnel.
Maybe I'm in the wrong direction? Min-Jae thought of turning around and head to another direction.
However, before he could do that, he suddenly saw light coming from the direction he was heading. Even though it was just a small ray, it gave hope to him.
Suddenly, he felt excited and he was like full of energy.
Without even caring the obstruction from his surrounding, he continued running towards the light.
As he got closer and closer, he found the source of light. It was a round floating light gate.
Excited, he immediately ran towards it. But soon, Min-Jae found out that his body was getting heavier and heavier. Not only that, he also felt soft like things all around his body, suffocating him.
Ohh my God, I just died and now I'm dying once again? Nope. Not letting that happening. Determined to go on his way to the afterlife, he fiercely struggled against those soft things obstructing his pathway.
After a long hard fought battle, Min-Jae finally got his victory and reached the light gate.
Taking a deep excited breath, he stepped into the light gate with unknown beyond it.
As soon as he stepped into gate, Min-Jae suddenly felt heavy like he instantly got back his body.
Then, came the sounds. Babies cries.. adults excited voices.
Then, he heard one of them. "Mrs. Kim, it's done. All two of the babies are safe and sound."
Whatt...!! What's happening? Am I back to the moment I was born. Is that soo...
Filled with excitement and joy, Min-Jae tried to move his body. But all he could do was some strange waves and kicks.
Seeing the baby in his arms kicking and waving with cries, the doctor immediately smiled and said. "It seems like this one is more active."
This one?