You and I just waiting for 5:53
03. The 5:53 Rule
The promise was clear: "A playground near XX-dong."
Those words were clearly exchanged over the phone.
But Chaeyeon didn't meet anyone at the playground.
If it had ended with that one fact, it could have been dismissed as a simple prank call or an error.
The problem came next.
That night, Chaeyeon had a hard time falling asleep.
When I closed my eyes, the same thought kept coming to mind.
'Why was no one there?'
'No, could you really come?'
The other person clearly said, "I've lost it now."
Chaeyeon was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, when she was suddenly interrupted by a very simple question.
'If that person really existed, why couldn't we be in the same place?'
From then on, everything started to go wrong.
5:52 PM the next day _
Chaeyeon was unconsciously holding the air conditioner phone in her hand.
강채연 (18)
Surely you won't come again...
The moment I thought that,
Tiring ringing ...
This time I wasn't surprised.
Rather, as if he had expected it, he swallowed his breath.
05:53 PM
The clock read exactly 5:53.
강채연 (18)
...hello.
??
Why didn't you come out yesterday?
The other person's voice was clearer than yesterday.
There was a mixture of discontent and a little bewilderment.
강채연 (18)
I went out.
Chaeyeon said immediately.
강채연 (18)
I was at the playground in XX-dong. There was no one there.
A moment of silence.
??
...That's strange.
??
I waited there for a long time too.
At those words, Chaeyeon's heart sank.
강채연 (18)
if...
강채연 (18)
What's the date now?
The other person hesitated for a moment and then answered.
??
...March 4, 2025.
At that moment, Chaeyeon's breath stopped.
강채연 (18)
...It is now March 4, 2026.
Exactly one year difference.
Not a day, not an hour, but exactly one year.
??
Well... the reason we couldn't meet yesterday... was because we were at different times.
The other person spoke first.
There was a distinct tremor in his voice.
Only then did all the puzzle pieces fall into place.
No matter how much Chaeyeon, who is now in the present, goes to that place, her past counterpart won't be there.
No matter how long her past counterpart waits, the present Chaeyeon isn't there at that time.
This promise was never meant to be kept.
05:54 PM
Thump -
The call was disconnected after exactly one minute.
It was the same as yesterday.
05:52 AM
That morning, Chaeyeon woke up from her sleep.
The clock showed 5:52 a.m.
I couldn't figure out why, but my heart was beating strangely.
I grabbed the air conditioner phone just in case.
05:53 AM
Tiring ringing ...
5:53 AM _
The phone rang again.
This time, both were convinced at the same time.
강채연 (18)
It's 5:53 again now, right?
??
....yes.
In a short conversation, the rules became clear.
1. Calls can be made and received at 5:53 AM and 5:53 PM.
2. You can only make two calls per day.
3. Connection time is exactly 1 minute
At other times, no matter how long I waited or walked, I couldn't get connected.
??
So... does that mean I'm in the past?
Instead of answering, Chaeyeon thought back to the playground she'd been to yesterday.
And the scenery that hasn't changed today or yesterday.
Chaeyeon said quietly.
강채연 (18)
That's why we couldn't meet.
강채연 (18)
..because they were at different times.
Just before the call time was about to run out, the other person asked urgently.
??
So... who are you?