The year was 2027.
Hon Suk Jin ...
was an eighteen-year-old high school senior. Tall and slender, with fair skin and round glasses, he gave off the image of a quiet, model student.
His family wasn't wealthy, but his parents did everything they could to provide for him. He had two younger siblings, and as the eldest son, he always felt a sense of responsibility.
At school, Suk Jin excelled both academically and in sports.
However, because he came from a poor neighborhood, he often faced subtle discrimination and bullying. Still, he had long since grown used to it. He no longer let such things stay in his mind.
Although Suk Jin studied in Seoul, his parents worked in another city. Every month, they sent money for him and his younger sister to live on.
But on this day,
fate quietly began to shift.
Evening
"Oppa, today's July 28th, right?"
The voice belonged to his younger sister, Hon Soo-ah — petite, fair-skinned, with long flowing hair and an irresistibly cute face.
"Yes, it is,"
Suk Jin smiled gently.
"I was just thinking of buying a cake for Mom. Want to come with me?"
"I'll pass. You go ahead and buy it. Mom and Dad will be here soon, so I need to prepare the surprise!" said by Soo ah.
"Alright. I'll be back quickly."
July 28th was their mother's birthday.
They didn't usually celebrate it, but this year was special. It was Suk Jin's final year of high school, and his parents were coming up to the city. So he wanted to make it meaningful
.
"Strawberry cake would be best… Mom loves strawberries."
Then another thought crossed his mind.
"But she's been coughing a lot lately… Is she sick?"
He shook his head quickly.
"Stop it. Don't think like that today. Tomorrow I'll send her to a clinic. I still have some savings."
He remembered his father standing under the blazing sun at a construction site, helmet pushed back, sweat running down his face—yet still smiling during video calls.
"Just a little longer," Suk Jin muttered softly. "I'll graduate soon. I'll make them rest.
With that thought, Suk Jin headed to the bakery.
Inside the shop, he carefully chose the cake and asked the staff to write his mother's name on it. His heart raced with quiet excitement.
It had been so long since he'd been able to celebrate her birthday properly.
Cake box in hand, he stepped outside.
He didn't notice the strange white card that had somehow slipped into his bag.
5:30 PM
Suk Jin walked home happily, his mind filled with thoughts.
Have Mom and Dad arrived already?
What kind of surprise did Soo-ah prepare?
He smiled to himself.
Then—
Everything went black.
He fell to the ground.
The cake box shattered. Cream and strawberries mixed with blood across the pavement.
"Huh…? W-Why did I fall…?"
His voice was weak.
"My… blood… it's getting on the cake… No… that's for Mom…"
"What… happened to me…?"
Earlier—
Lost in his thoughts while crossing the street, Suk Jin hadn't heard the blaring horn of the approaching truck.
The impact came before he could even realize it.
But… was it really just an accident?
Blood slowly flowed across the road… slipping into his fallen bag.
Inside—
A perfectly clean white card.
At its center was a single letter.
S
A drop of blood fell onto it.
Then another.
The S flickered faintly.
A thin cracking sound echoed softly.
The letter trembled—
And split.
S
↓
S1
S2
The single card separated into two identical cards.
Both stained deep crimson.
Suk Jin never saw it happen.
Darkness swallowed his vision.
Then,the mysterious white card turned completely red.
A Few Days Later
"Ah… my head… Where am I…?"
Suk Jin slowly opened his eyes.
Bright lights.
White ceiling.
As someone who excelled academically, he quickly analyzed his surroundings.
"A hospital… This room… it looks like a VIP ward. No… this is bad. Mom and Dad's money…"
He tried to sit up—
But his body collapsed back down.
The door opened.
"Suk Jin… You're awake?!"
A beautiful young woman rushed toward him, shock filling her eyes.
He frowned slightly.
"W-Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"What?!" she snapped. "Don't tell me you hit your head and forgot everything! It's me!"
"I… I'm sorry… I don't remember…"
A man standing beside her stepped forward respectfully.
"Miss, he suffered a head injury. It's possible he has temporary amnesia. I'll call the doctor."
He quickly left the room.
The girl clenched her fists.
"I'm… Jin Min Seo," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Your wife."
Silence.
Suk Jin's eyes widened in disbelief.
"M-My… wife?"
Before he could process the shock—
A bright blue light suddenly appeared before him.
Transparent panels unfolded in midair.
A mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
"Welcome, Hon Suk Jin."
"Would you like to Log In?"
[ YES ] [ NO ]
Chapter 1 – End