Jang Ha-ru sat on the bed dumbfounded as he looked around in a daze. He still couldn't believe what was happening at that moment.
Suddenly he slapped himself across the face hoping that maybe the second time round it would work but he didn't wake up.
He winced as he rubbed his cheek.
After his cheek had slightly recovered he stood up and started paving around.
"This isn't true." He whispered as he stood at the foot of the bed before flopping down on the bed before taking the pillow at the head of the bed and screamed into it before sitting down and starting to punch the pillow in frustration. He put the pillow on his face and fell back onto the bed while he breathed heavily.
He turned to the side and saw a mirror in front of him.
He stayed in that position for a while looking at the mirror, looking at himself or rather the new version of himself.
He slowly sat up not looking away from the mirror. He let out a sigh before slowly standing up and slowly walking towards the mirror. Unlike earlier he was much more collected this time.
He stared at the refection for some time. His mind contemplating what happened.
The last thing he could remember was being engulfed by cold water his, his body becoming numb but now here he stood.
In a different body
A younger body for that.
He had been fourty five when it happened but now his body was agile unlike his rusted body. His face was smooth and youthful.
He sat down cross-legged in front of the mirror.
He slowly started inspecting this new body from the hair to his legs and hands.
His eyes however looked a bit dead.
He wondered what happened before this boy left.
Did he try to end his life? Or was it a misunderstanding?
How could such a small boy with so much ahead in life try to end it.
He stood up and opened the drawers to the desk. The desk had the latest computer with headphones on the top. There was also half eaten snacks laid out and some still in their packages. He took the headphones and inspected them.
He had seen something similar during his time but he didn't pay them any mind as he was so busy with work, but these looked refined.
There was also a triangle calender on top showing the year to be 2025. His mouth formed an o as he shook his head.
He placed them down and started damaging through the drawers looking for something any clue as to what the body did or who he was.
He took out a notebook and opened it but all it gave him was a headache as he tried to make out what it entailed. All he could make out was the words players with numbers and nicknames beside them. Apart from that he couldn't make out anything else about the quests written down. He placed the book down and continued searching.
After looking for a while he came up empty unfortunately. He stood with his hands on his waist.
Just then he heard something buzz out of nowhere making him jump slightly.
He looked around and finally saw what had startled him. He slowly approached the side of the bed and there on top of the bedside table was the same device he had seen Mae-rin holding just before.
His eyes squinted as he shoved it slightly. It had already stopped making the noise. When it didn't react he relaxed but just then it lite up once again startling him as he jumped back slightly once again. He slowly approached the phone and peaked.
He noticed the name Lantern on it.
His eyes crunched in question as he slowly picked up the ringing phone.
He saw an arrow pointing upwards and swiped up unconsciously.
He had seen predictions in his life that by 2025 phones that could create hologram projections of people would have been invented after the scare of the world ending when the 2000 era came on ended.
There was such a frenzy on it with people freaking out and selling their businesses, land and properties. He was lucky he didn't succumb and only sold a little of it just to be safe. He wouldn't be surprised if it was a rumour started up by those big corporations so they could hoard all the money.
He waited expecting someone to pop out of the device but nothing came up. He crunched his eyebrows in question before inspecting the device. He could hear a sound coming from it but he couldn't pin point it.
Then the interaction with Mae-rin popped in his head. Mae-rin had held her phone to her ear.
"Ohh....so it's just like before. I thought they would have advanced more." He grumbled as he placed the phone next to his ear but it was a bad idea as someone shouted his name at that precise moment making him wince and pull the phone from his ear.
"Are you listening?" The person shouted. "I know you can hear me!"
"What!! Why are you shouting!!!" He shouted into the phone too taking the person on the other side unaware as they started clearing their throat.
"Where were you? You are the one who planned the tournament but you didn't even show up!" The person on the other end said but anger was still evident in his voice.
"Which tournament?" He asked innocently
"Seriously!" Lantern sighed in disbelief as all the words flew from his mouth.
Ha-rus eyes caught onto the calender and saw something marked on it. He walked towards it and sure enough there was something written on it.
"SXc tournament?" He asked absentmindedly.
"You know what you do shittyy things all the time but this takes the cake." With that he hung up.
Ha-ru looked at the phone in question. He placed it down and looked at the computer.
It seamed like the voice on the other end sounded like a boy his age. He was also angry. The tournament must be important.
He looked around trying to find anything that could give him more information but all he found was a notebook with SXc tournament circled multiple times.
With a sigh his eyes landed on the computer.
He had on in his house but he didn't use it often and seeing as how technology hadn't changed too drastically he was sure he could figure it out.
The only difference with this computer was it didn't have a bulky back unlike earlier. He felt around for anything and finally found a button on the front.
He pressed on it and it immediately turned on.
"It doesn't load as much ." He said twisting his fingers jn front of him as he sat down on the gaming chair.
He let out a low moan as he felt the seat was so comfortable. After wiggling for a bit he decided to focus on the task.
He moved the mouse and the computer asked for a password. He thought for a while before pushing the chair back and bending down under the desk and sure enough a card was there.
He had seen it while sitting near the mirror earlier but he didn't pay it any mind. He placed the card on the desk and sat up properly.
Much to his relief the computer after he typed for what felt like ages.
After opening it he high-fived himself and started going through it. There were quite a few tabs open all of which entailed different games. After going though different tabs some of which were disturbing he finally found a tag with a search on it.
He opened it and sure enough it was a search engine.
He applauded himself and started typing once again.
As soon as he finished typing and entered it the tournament appeared.
It looked like it was a big event. But the event was set for the night of the previous day so by now everything had already concluded.
And judging by his current situation he definitely missed it.
"Sorry kid." He mumbled as he sat back.
Just then a thought occurred to him.
If this computer was able to search up the tournament why not himself.
He typed in his name and a few articles came up.
ACTOR KIM JANG-ILL FOUND DEAD AFTER RECEIVING HIS AWARD. (Dated 1/1/2000)
WHAT TRULY HAPPENED TO THE LEGENDARY ACTOR KIM JANG-ILL AND WHY DID HIS CAREER COME CRUSHING DOWN.
(Dated 6/5/2010)
There was hardly anything on him apart from a few more articles all of them speculating he ended his life due to the hate he received.
But there was one detail that stood out to him.
The articles stated that he was found in his bathtub.