It was raining.
Even though it was well past rush hour, the roads were still bright.
The headlights were streaking across the wet asphalt.
Yunseo stopped in front of the crosswalk.
The company messenger was floating on the phone screen.
[Human Resources Team]
Interview Guide for Restructuring Recipients
It was a short sentence, but it was full of meaning.
Yunseo looked down at the screen for a while and then slowly exhaled.
It was something I expected.
But when reality actually arrived, I felt like my legs were losing strength.
The traffic light changed and people walked forward.
Yunseo also followed suit.
That was when.
A sharp honk was heard from the left.
When I turned my head, it was already too late.
Bright lights filled my vision.
For a moment, it felt like time had slowed down.
Strangely enough, Yunseo felt emptiness before fear.
Is this how it ends?
I haven't changed anything yet.
It was at that moment. Someone grabbed Yunseo's arm.
My body shook violently and I fell backwards.
A car passed right in front of me. My breath was taken away.
Yunseo sat on the floor, staring blankly ahead.
And then slowly raised his head.
A man in a black coat was standing there.
Even though it was raining, strangely I didn't feel wet.
He was tall and his facial features were clearly visible even under dim lighting.
The man's gaze turned to Yunseo.
The moment she saw those eyes, Yunseo stopped breathing.
I felt like I'd seen it somewhere.
no.
It felt like I had seen him ‘before’.
The man slowly opened his mouth.
“…I almost was late.”
It was a low, quiet voice.
Yunseo couldn't say anything.
The man took a step closer.
And he lightly grabbed Yunseo's wrist.
It was cold.
As if it wasn't the body temperature of a living person.
The man looked at Yunseo's wrist and said.
“This time… you won’t remember, right?”
Yunseo opened her eyes wide.
"what-"
At that moment, something was visible on the man's wrist.
Black line.
A pattern as thin as thread wrapped around the wrist.
Yunseo's gaze fell on her wrist.
There was something similar there too.
The light was flickering very faintly.
The man spoke again.
“That’s okay.”
After a brief pause.
“…because we can start again.”
At the same time,
The world has become dark.
All sounds faded away.
As if the light had gone out, my vision went black.
When I opened my eyes.
A familiar ceiling appeared.
Yunseo blinked for a while.
I got up.
Blanket...desk...curtains...
It was all just as I remembered.
Yunseo slowly looked around.
Here.
It was my old house.
The studio apartment I lived in before moving.
My heart started beating fast.
The calendar on the desk caught my eye.
March 2019.
Yunseo took a deep breath.
“That’s ridiculous…”
That was that day.
The day before receiving the restructuring notice.
That's when everything fell apart.
My hands were shaking.
Yunseo quickly checked her phone.
The date and the messenger log were all the same as before.
It wasn't a dream.
really.
Time had come again.
That was the moment.
My wrist felt tingly hot.
Yunseo rolled up her sleeves.
A thin black line wrapped around his wrist.
Yesterday, it was exactly the same as what was on the man's wrist.
And very weakly.
It was shining.
Yunseo froze in place.
That morning.
Yunseo headed to the company.
My mind was in turmoil, but one thing was clear.
Today, something must change.
The elevator door opened.
The moment he entered the office, the team leader called Yoonseo.
“Ms. Yoonseo, please come to the conference room for a moment.”
My heart sank.
I expected it.
Restructuring interview.
Yunseo slowly opened the conference room door.
And then it stopped.
Inside the conference room, there was a strange man sitting with the team leader.
Black suit.
Calm posture.
The moment I raised my head.
Yunseo's breath stopped.
yesternight.
It was the man I met at the crosswalk.
The team leader said.
"This is Jeong-guk, dispatched from the headquarters strategy team. We'll be working together on future projects."
Jeongguk got up from his seat.
And he reached out his hand towards Yunseo.
“It’s Jeongguk.”
Yunseo couldn't hold his hand.
Jeongguk's gaze went down to Yunseo's wrist.
And he spoke very quietly.
“…It’s the same day again.”
Yunseo's heart shook greatly.
“What did you say?”
Jeongguk met her eyes.
This time I said it clearly.
“In this life too.”
After a brief pause.
“You will die in a month.”
The air in the conference room became as quiet as if it had stopped.
And that moment.
The black line on Yunseo's wrist,
It shone very clearly.