Si-hun was rushed to the hospital with Jae-Un by his side.
Even though Si-Hun was looking physically in a bad condition, his results were shocking.
He didn't have any broken bones or any internal or external injury, which was very strange because everyone had seen him getting squished by the goblin.
It was like a miracle.
He opened his eyes a little, and he was in a laboratory.
"You're awake already? Maybe the anesthesia didn't work well on you." A nurse spoke.
"Why am I here? Where is Jae-Un? Did the other predators survive?"
"Yes, they are doing fine."
"Hmm."
"Here, these are your results."
He checked it carefully, searching if he had an injury or something else, but... nothing.
"I remember I was in a severe condition, almost dying. How come I don't have any injury?" He thought in his head.
Then he checked around his body to look for any marks or anything, but nothing.
"Are you sure that I didn't have any injury after the portal?"
"No, sir. We also found it unusual that you don't even have a single fracture or even a scratch."
"Strange." He muttered under his breath.
"So, am I free to go now? And give me the bill?"
"Umm, because you were hurt during a raid, we won't charge you. It's free for predators hurt in a raid."
"Oh, thanks, then."
With that, he got up and left.
Even on his way back home, he couldn't help but replay the memories and what stung the most…for those whom he risked his own life, left him when they should've helped him.
"People sure are selfish, everyone had turned their backs on me except my one companion – Jae-Un…..Jae-Un, I need to check on him."
He called Jae-Un.
~Ring~
No answer.
"He must be busy after the raid, he was hurt too, I remember, while the merging process."
He sent him a message:
"You happen to be free tonight?"
He then went home.
"Where had you been for so long, Han Si-Hun!? It has been almost two days!"
"I was trapped in a portal fight, Mom."
"Ughh! This petty job of yours."
"I'm going to my room, Mom."
His mom didn't even ask how he was or if he had been injured.
He expected her to at least ask how he was, but no..nothing.
"She didn't even ask me how I was."
His voice was almost a whisper to himself, reminding him of how he was in real life.
His birthday is in three days; he will be 22 this year.
"It's my birthday in a few days, I will be 22. Another year of bullshit waiting for me." He sighed.
~Ding
He checked his phone to see who had texted.
Jae-Un.
"Yeah, I'm free today, but I will be going out of town tomorrow, so let's meet right now."
"Where?"
"Let's meet at the soju shop downtown."
"Okay, I'm coming, bye."
"Bye."
He left again from his house.
He reached the soju shop and saw Jae-Un waving at him.
He waved back.
"Hey Si-Hun! What's up??"
"Nothing much. How are you feeling now?"
"I should be asking YOU that."
"I'm doing fine, surprisingly."
"But didn't you have a few broken bones? I was surprised you wanted to go out in that condition."
"I don't know, but my results said that I don't have any injury, and I'm doing fine too."
"Weird."
"Hey! Waiter, come here."
"Your order, sir."
"Two large bottles of Soju, please!"
"Done, anything else?"
"No, only this."
"You remember you still have to treat me to ramen!"
"I sure do, bud."
Their drinks arrived at their table.
They both drank and talked for about two hours.
In that time, Si-Hun had drunk over two bottles, but he was caught off guard when the soju didn't have any effect of alcohol on him.
"This is getting very strange. I have drunk over two bottles, but I'm not even a little drunk. What is happening with me?" He thought.
"Umm, Si-Hun, I gotta go now! My mom must be waiting for me. I have to prepare for the trip, so bye for now." Jae-Un said in his raspy voice because of the alcohol.
"Already?"
"Yeah."
"Okay, bye, see you later!"
"Bye, Si-Hun!"
After that, they both left their separate ways.
The two days passed in the blink of an eye.
Today was Si-Hun's birthday. Of course, he didn't expect any birthday messages except from his brother and Jae-Un.
He woke up to his brother chanting his name.
"Hyung! Hyung! Wake up!'
"Let me be Ji-Ho!"
"No, brother, you have to get up with me and treat me to ice cream. Come on! Get up naw."
"Fine, you win! Get ready, I will take you to the new ice cream parlour in town."
He said, amused by his brother's childishness aside from being 14.
"Finally."
Ji-Ho left to get ready.
Si-Hun freshened up too and got ready.
He was scrolling through his phone when a message popped up on the screen. It was Jae-Un.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDD!!"
"Thanks, bud :)"
"You're getting older ;)"
"I'M AWARE OF THAT!"
"Haha, you sure are."
"Come on brother, I'm ready! Let's go now!"
"Okay okay, lil bro."
"I gotta go, Jae-Un, bye."
"Okay okay. Go ahead, bye."
"Let's go, Ji-Ho."
They both left for the ice cream parlour.
On their way, Ji-Ho asked Si-Hun.
"Brother, aren't you going out with your friends today?"
"Umm, no. I don't have any plans."
He was deep inside, sad that even on his birthday, he was alone, but it was worth it. He was enjoying his time with his brother.
They reached the parlour and ate Ji-Ho's favourite ice cream – Vanilla ice cream.
"It is such a pretty day, brother!"
"Yeah."
On their way back, Ji-Ho insisted they play in the park.
"You're not a child, Ji-Ho."
"Who said you need to be a kid to enjoy your life?"
"...."
"Fine, let's go."
They both enjoyed the swings like kids.
Si-Hun had a great time.
He always had a good time with his brother and his friend Jae-Un, the only two people who didn't judge him.
After a hectic day, it was evening.
They both watched the sunset from a roof.
'Brother, you know you're my role model."
"Role model?"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
It was overwhelming.
"You're so strong, brother. You're always so reserved and you handle things so neatly, even when mom and dad are being jerks."
"Strong? Reserve?"
"Yes."
He felt a little out of place, but it touched his heart.
His little brother was talking about how he felt about him so openly in front of him.
They both talked a little and left for their home.
Si-Hun was bored at night, so he went to his favourite place, where he could relax..
The hills.
He let the cool air brush his skin.
Si-Hun sat on a bench and thought about his life.
"All this time, from my childhood to today, I've never really felt wanted and seen…. But I've noticed now, how all this... doesn't affect me anymore. It's like I'm living without a purpose. Trying to be someone for someone else. My motive was to impress others, to prove them wrong about me, to change myself, and, honestly, in a positive way, I'm glad I made that decision. Because of that, I found joy in improving myself. I don't want to do it for others, I…I want to do it for myself. My life has indirectly given me so many lessons that I failed to learn. I've stopped expecting. I've realized that people don't care. Real strength is starting from the dark, alone, and then rising through the dark alone. I don't think that being alone is a weakness; it is…a strength that can be your speciality in every sense, you start alone, you achieve alone. I won't stop improving myself because no one noticed; I will continue because I noticed, and that's enough for me. Life's better off alone, huh?"
Si-Hun had thought about things after a long while.
He thought about things clearly and was honest with himself.
Not ignoring things that he didn't like to make himself feel better, but staying true to himself.
He had a small cupcake and a candle with him to celebrate alone.
He put the candle on the cupcake and blew out the fire.
"Happy Birthday to me," his lips twitching just about into a little smile.
And he blew the candle.
This time, he wasn't really unhappy about celebrating his birthday alone; he found it relaxing and soothing to think about himself for once rather than on others.
He realized people are selfish, from that portal raid where he was injured, he learned that being alone isn't a weakness, it's a strength, when his team mates left him, he finally understood that only a few stay, by being alone, he learned that goals are important after seeing his little transformation, he realized that everything happens for a purpose and there's a lesson you can always take from life.
He had found a purpose; he wanted to live his life improving and learning with every breath, and like himself for who he is.
He didn't blame his fate; he thanked it for teaching him through experiences.
From that night onward, Si-Hun no longer lived to prove anyone wrong - he lived to prove himself right.
His journey is reshaped and will be reshaped step by step by his fate.