Chapter 8. New life (2)

Author's note: Thank you guys, all for the support.

Does it Remind you of someone???

"Hey dude, can you spot me?"

"Alright."

Boredom had been eating away at me, so I decided to get a life outside, instead of rotting in my house all day.

"One more, one more." 

As I helped him lift the bar, I encouraged him, "Good job."

Lately, I've been making an effort to socialize, not be an extra. But if I actually managed to find real friends instead of fakes..., will I continue to sacrifice myself? 

||||| Instead of Ronan Vercetti's cruel salvation, it may become Lee Dohyun's cruel salvation... |||||

"My name is Kyung-joon by the way, what's your name?" Kyung-joon. Kyung-joon was tall, with a decent build that suggested years of dedication

I don't know anything about him, but that doesn't mean I wasn't aware of his existence. Over these two months of my journey in the gym, I've always seen him working his absolute hardest, helping others who were struggling. A very sincere man, always willing to help and knows when to drop his ego and apologize. 

He extended his hand for a handshake, his gaze steady and full of determination. His smile radiated warmth, carrying a friendliness that felt genuine. But is he a fake, just like the others around this world?

[The result devours the cause, and the cause devours the result. Only at the end your journey will be fully revealed.]

I haven't reached the end of my journey yet, have I? Is this path I'm walking even the right one? Did I make the right choice back then?

I am terrified, I don't want to sacrifice myself again, I don't want to walk that agonizing, shallow path anymore.

||||| I know some things don't work out in the way you want, and that's okay. Because that's how life is supposed to be. Even so, don't dwell on it too much and let your heart lead you. |||||

Right. Let my heart lead me. But is my heart still alive? 

Of course it is, that's why you're currently remembering these memory fragments. Wake up!

"My name's Lee Dohyun," I said, taking his hand with a firm smile. "Pleasure to meet you."

"Nice to meet you. You go here every day?"

"No, I come here on Monday to Thursday at 2 PM."

"Got it. Then let's work out together during those times, yeah? his smile filled with satisfaction, similar to that man's. Seojun but without giving weird vibes. 

"Sure." 

Time flew by, one week, two weeks and then three weeks. As I spend time with Kyung-joon, I've got to known him better and my understanding of him increased. A calm yet kind presence, radiating warmth from his voice, reminding of someone I know, Lee Hyunsung. 

It felt nice to have someone to share time with, gradually changing my perspective about him. He may not be fake after all.

But why do I have a feeling that something or someone is left behind, like it's lost. Surely, I felt better than before. Less hollow and lonely, but in exchange something or someone unknown was also being forgotten. Just what is it?

Chapter 8. New Life (2)

After picking up one of my old hobbies, I began writing a story, a story that contained and reflected my life, my desires, my emotions "To Save and Be Saved." I didn't expect anyone to read it, but somehow it was seen by others in the webnovel community. 

Views: 1.04K  Chapters: 8  Chapter completion rate: 100%

"To Save and Be Saved -> TSBS" was the proof- the lie- and my desperate attempt to remember those times.... Kang Jiyeon, Sa-rang, Tae-hyun.

The book itself is incomplete, because little by little I'm forgetting them, but I don't want to forget those times...

Have they forgotten me? I wonder. The truth is it was all a lie. I did in fact expect someone to read it, I hoped for them to read it- my story- and their story. That's why on almost every chapter I serialize, I would add "Author's note: Does it remind you of someone?" hoping they would remember me, recognize this story....

Does it remind you of certain someone? Do you miss that story?

Among those one thousand people, was there a chance Sa-rang, Kang-Jiyeon and the others could have seen it?

||||| Please remember me. ||||||

Nothing in this world are truly ours, we will all eventually die meaning nothing ever lasts forever. As time passes, old stories get forgotten and new stories get told. However, in the snowfield Kim Dokja once told me something:

"Well, I think it's what gives life, our journey a value. It has value because it's not permanent, it's valuable because its thing that will only exist once." 

Lee Dohyun remembers every bit of detail of that moment as sharp as an undefeated warrior's blade. Kim Dokja's voice calm yet filled with an unshakable conviction, carrying the weight of countless stories and lives. It was a fleeting moment, yet it etched itself deeply into his flesh and bones. 

Lee Dohyun had all the reasons to give up on life, but he still kept going- for the sake of his little sister... Sa-rang knew it, she knew that Ronan Vercetti wanted to end his life many times but still kept going because of her. Sa-rang knew that her wish to keep him alive, was an ugly, selfish wish. 

And even in times where her sister couldn't help Ronan Vercetti, someone else was there, rather there were people there carrying him on their back, leading him to his path. Kim Dokja and his companions. They were not real people, they were from fiction- from a book called "Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint" by SingShong. 

Sa-rang was genuinely concerned, what if he ends up becoming isolated? He won't find any friends with those hobbies. 

Sa-rang has seen the novel, but she never connected on a level of her brother. Still, she was genuinely glad. A single person called 'SingShong' and characters from the novel managed to be there when even her can't, they were one of the reasons Ronan Vercetti kept going. 

She liked annoying her brother- it was her lie- and desperate attempt to spend more time with her brother. Whenever, Sa-rang glanced at him, she would always find him staring at the LCD screen of his smartphone. Ronan Vercetti would always say "I really love this novel. Everything I've read since then and before will probably never compare to it because ORV is so masterfully crafted with beautifully woven plot, impactful characters that you will forever miss like an old friend, and an ending that will stay with you for the rest of your life."

Sa-rang couldn't help but laughing at that moment, because when she thinks about it, everything he said were true. Ronan Vercetti was surprisingly mature for his age, he had a lot of knowledge and understood people's emotions. Was it because he likes reading?

"Ronan Vercetti, your little sister Sa-rang just got into eleventh grade." she stood alone at the rear of the school's gym, clutching a worn-out photo of them together, her fingers tracing the edges as if she could hold on to the past before slowly looking at the sky. Its vast expanse painted in hues of orange and pink as the sun dipped below the horizon, tears swelling her eyes.

Kang Jiyeon had finally graduated high school and got into a decent college, everything was working great in her favor, but in the bottom of her heart she pitied Sa-rang. 

Kang Jiyeon thought to herself "I don't care if you never saw me as a friend or not, but your little sister is struggling you idiot."

"What are we hitting today?" I asked Kyung-joon.

"Chest." Kyung-joon replied with a confident grin, already rolling his shoulders as if preparing for the challenge ahead.

Sweat, the evidence of our hard work rolled down our foreheads.

"Come on, you got one more in you. Keep pushing!"

"That's what I'm talking about." Kyung-joon slapping me on my back to encourage me. 

Kyung-joon, the first ever man who I'd consider as my friend. Someone who made gym feel like home- a place of laughter, grit, and relentless encouragement.

"Want to grab a drink, my treat."

After our work out we both got into a nearby cafe. And I've found out more about Kyung-joon as we exchanged information as we drank our smoothie. Something that can only be seen if you get deeper to him, overwhelming depth. 

"My little sister, Hwa-lin is very ill and is currently hospitalized. It was all my fault..." Kyung-joon's voice trembled with sorrow.

"May I ask what happened?"

"I was driving her to her date, but the guy turned out to have a different motive. Along with his buddies they tried to kidnap my sister." Kyung-joon paused for a moment as if he was holding his tears. "I couldn't protect her because I was too weak. They took her away and did all sorts of stuff to her. And fortunately, the police soon found her and rescued her. Her physical conditions aren't bad, the doctors said she will soon be okay. Still, I couldn't protect her from mental trauma... If only I was stronger then.." 

 Something weighed on him, and for the first time, I saw cracks in the armor of the person who always seemed so unshakable. A deep remorse and sorrow lingering surrounding him. 

He clenched his fists, fighting back his emotions "That's why, I am training hard to protect her, I will never let anyone hurt her ever again."

I was never good at comforting people, probably because I've never been around others. Still, just this once I wanted to comfort someone. I put my hands on his shoulder looking him in the eyes. "You know, I'm not good at comforting people but I'm a great listener, so if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

I never thought he had any problems going on, because he never showed any vulnerability. But that doesn't mean it isn't there just because it isn't seen. How stupid am I? Everyone has problems, and that is what makes us differ from robots, our emotions... 

In a sense, he is stronger than me, he was able to conceal all those emotions perfectly.

Kyung-joon forced a laugh, scratching the back of his neck. "Thank you."

 People are nothing more than characters, and I've been sacrificing myself for them. I wonder...

Who is the main character of this story? Are there any qualifications to become the protagonist?

If there were it would probably be something like this.

1. A Driving Purpose

2. Flaws and Vulnerabilities

3. Resilience in the Face of Challenges

4. A Connection to Others

Kyung-joon fits all those conditions. So, could he be the 'Protagonist' of this story?

"Hello? Dohyun-ssi, can you hear me?" I was jolted out of my thoughts.

"May I ask about your past?"

The question I've always been avoiding, something I never want to answer, I myself, don't remember it vividly. But I think he deserves an answer. 

"I..." I stuttered. It's like my tongue is chained, I cannot bring myself to say it.... 

"Do you have trouble saying it?" 

Was it because of the contract with Seojun? No... It only said I cannot reveal my identity. I can briefly go over how things were, right?

I plucked up all the courage I had and managed to say one single sentence. "I saved them all."

"What?" his gaze asking detail landed on me.

"I..... I had a little sister whom I loved so much. But, due to personal reasons I had leave her at Seoul." 

I did it.