A vast field snow stretched out around Kwon Taekjoo. Everything was completely white,
With not a single footprint visible in the deep, accumulated snow. Even the bare branches of scattered trees were covered in snow.
"Here we are again."
Taekjoo muttered to himself while surveying the area, wondering if he was on Ajinoki Island. Suddenly, he chuckled. He had been thinking about Zhenya all day, and it seemed his subconscious had led him here.
He started walking in a random direction. The geography and the overall atmosphere felt quite familiar.
If Zhenya's mansion were near a cliff, this could really be Anjinoki.
But as he looked around, there was no mansion, not even a cabin. Nor were there any signs of animals like reindeer or rabbits.
Was it all just a dream?
He wandered aimlessly across the vast field. Eventually, he spotted small footprints. They belonged to a child, not an adult.
For some reason, he felt relieved. Smiling, he quickened his pace, following the tiny tracks.
Soon, he saw a child crouched in the distance, wrapped in a fur shapka, boots, and a fur coat. Still, he recognized him instantly.
"Zhenya."
He called out excitedly, but the boy didn't respond. He didn't turn or react at all. Was it because this was a dream, too, and he couldn't communicate properly?
"Hey, why are you out here in the cold? Where's your house?"
He took long strides toward the boy as he asked. But the child remained motionless, head down staring at something.
Upon closer inspection, he noticed the boy's small body trembling slightly. It wasn't a good sign.
"Hey, little one. What's wrong?"
He reached out and turned the child by the shoulder. Only then did he see the young Zhenya's face, soaked in tears.
Shocked by the unexpected scene, he froze when he saw what the little boy was holding. It was a blood-soaked corpse. The face had been shattered by a bullet, impossible to recognize.
He could only guess who it was by the finger, nails, and build
The corpse Zhenya was clinging to was Kwon Taekjoo.
"Ugh… Zainka. My Zainka."
With tears streaming down his face, Zhenya began to sob. He was so stunned that he couldn't think of how to comfort him.
Meanwhile, the corpse grew redder and redder. The blood was gushing from somewhere, forming a torrent.
Both the body and young Zhenya were sinking deeper into the crimson flood.
"Aaaaaang."
The young Zhenya let out a piercing wail. Suddenly, the once calm sky lit up. Then, unknown objects started to fall thickly, like rain. They were countless bombs.
Instinctively, he reached out to the young Zhenya.
"Zhenya!"
He screamed his name with all his strength. But it was in vain, as the bombs falling everywhere exploded, shaking the earth and tearing the ground apart.
Though he fought desperately, the distance between him and Zhenya only grew bigger.
"Aaaaang, Aaaaang!"
The young Zhenya's crying grew sharper and sharper, until it became so loud it seemed like it would tear his eardrums. Just then, the snow on the ground lifted in a white whirlwind, and thousands of bombs buried in the ground shot up into the sky.
The bombs collided everywhere, igniting flames. The chain of explosions sent waves of pressure across the land, devastating everything in an instant. Finally, even the child, sobbing uncontrollably, vanished without a trace.
"Hah..!"
He woke up with a jolt. The familiar sight of his room suddenly filled his vision, causing a slight dizziness.
Even when he squeezed his eyes shut, the feeling didn't subside easily.
He felt like he couldn't breathe.
He groaned softly as he ran a hand over his face. His palm was instantly soaked with sweat. His limbs ached from how much he had struggled in a nightmare.
After covering his eyes with his arm for a moment to catch his breath, he punched the bed in frustration.
"Damn it… what an absurd dream."
He sat up abruptly. Cold sweat ran down his back and chest. The sensation was so uncomfortable that he gritted his teeth.
His neck, the insides of his elbow, even the backs of his knees were sticky, making him feel utterly disgusted. He needed a cold shower.
He flung the door open and stepped out. From the kitchen, the sounds of dishes clinking could be heard. It seemed his mother was preparing food.
He glanced at the clock and saw it was already 11 in the morning. He had been lost in thought until late in the night, so he had slept in, which was unusual for him.
"Are you up?"
His mother called out loudly from the kitchen, noticing Kwon Taekjoo's presence. He was only wearing boxers, so he hurried to the bathroom across the hall.
"Yes. I'll wash up first."
"Alright."
After closing the bathroom door, he looked at himself in the mirror. Despite having rested, his face still looked pale. He sighed and slowly walked to the shower.
He stood there for a while, letting the water cascade over him. Gradually, the warmth of his body faded, and his scattered thoughts began to settle.
He didn't attach much meaning to dreams. He just thought they were deep emotions or subconscious feelings manifesting freely while reason slept.
Everything was without context and unfolded absurdly.
However, the dream about the boy who resembled Zhenya always left with a mix of complex emotions and a sense of unease.
Although the boy resembled a young Zhenya, there was no proof it was really him. Only Kwon Taekjoo saw him that way. Even if it was him, it was nothing more than an illusion that vanished upon waking.
Despite trying to convince himself it was nothing, he couldn't forget the image of the boy crying bitterly.
"It can't be anything important."
He shook his head. Then, he started scrubbing his wet hair vigorously, as if trying to wash away all the confusing thoughts from his mind.
After a quick shower, he returned to his room. Before putting on his on his underwear, he checked his phone.
There was no massage from Zhenya. Even though he had explained everything clearly, nothing had changed. It was like talking to a wall.
"That son of a…"
He stared at the phone in frustration and pressed the call button. But before it could ring, an automatic voice informed him that the person he was trying to reach was unavailable.
Did Zhenya turn off his phone? Or maybe he didn't realize it was off.
He threw the phone onto the bed in irritation.
"Damn it! That big idiot just makes me worry. No, I'm the crazy one. Who the hell am I even worried about?"
Running his hands through his hair in frustration, he headed towards the kitchen.
As expected, lunch was already set on the table. He took the ladle from his mother, who was about to serve the soup.
"Let me do it."
He gently guided her to the chair, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Then, he served the hot soup and brought it to the table
He also moved the rice and side dishes that his mother had prepared, using his large hands to carry everything at once.
"Its just the two of us, and you've made a ton of food. Honestly, Mom, you always go all out."
"You always eat well when I cook for you."
"That's true. Let's dig in."
"Yes. Eat slowly and plenty."
Mother and son sat down together at the table and began eating. During the meal, he cheerfully complimented his mother's cooking, saying it was delicious and that her skills were unmatched.
He did this to keep her from worrying about how pale he looked.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, Kwon Taekjoo's mother didn't pay much attention to him. She was absorbed by her own thoughts and barely touched her food.
Worried that something might be wrong, he observed her in silence. Suddenly, their eyes met, and his mother smiled timidly.
"I'm going to the temple after lunch."
"The temple? All of a sudden?"
His morther often visited a nearby temple when she felt unsettled or when she thought about his father and brother.
She did this to calm her mind through prayer.
"Is something wrong?"
"…No, I just want to make an offering after all this time."
"What's going on?"
When he pressed her gently, his mother hesitated a little long before speaking.
"It's about your aunt in Canada."