Park Ji-hoon didn't move.
He couldn't.
---
"…Who are you?"
---
The words echoed in his head.
Again.
And again.
And again.
---
In front of him—
Kim Min-jae stood like a stranger.
No—
Worse than a stranger.
---
Because a stranger had never looked at him like that.
---
Empty.
---
Ji-hoon let out a dry laugh.
"…Nice joke," he said, though his voice trembled. "You've done enough crazy things today. Stop messing around."
---
No reaction.
---
Min-jae just stared.
Waiting.
---
Like he actually expected an answer.
---
Ji-hoon's chest tightened.
---
"…You really don't remember me?"
---
Silence.
---
Something inside him cracked.
---
"…We went to the same school," Ji-hoon said quickly. "You used to copy my homework—no, wait, I copied yours—"
He stumbled over his words.
Trying to find something.
Anything.
---
"We used to hang out at that convenience store near the station. You always bought the same drink—what was it—"
---
He stopped.
---
Because he couldn't remember.
---
Ji-hoon's expression froze.
---
"…What… was it?"
---
The question slipped out before he could stop it.
---
His mind went blank.
---
The memory—
Gone.
---
"…No…"
---
His breathing quickened.
---
"No, no, no…"
---
Not just that.
---
More things.
---
Small things.
---
Details.
---
Moments.
---
They were disappearing.
---
Ji-hoon grabbed his head.
"…Why can't I remember…?"
---
Across from him, Min-jae frowned slightly.
---
Not in recognition.
---
In confusion.
---
"…Are you okay?" Min-jae asked.
---
That was it.
---
That was the moment.
---
Ji-hoon realized—
---
It wasn't just Min-jae forgetting him.
---
The world—
---
Was helping.
---
Erasing him.
---
From both sides.
---
Ji-hoon let out a shaky breath.
Then—
He laughed.
---
Soft at first.
Then louder.
---
"…This is insane," he muttered.
"…This is actually insane…"
---
He looked up again.
At the person who had once been his closest friend.
---
"…My name is Park Ji-hoon," he said.
---
Min-jae listened.
Quietly.
---
"I don't know if you'll remember it," Ji-hoon continued. "Hell, I don't even know if I will remember it in a few minutes."
---
His voice steadied.
Just a little.
---
"But you should know this."
---
He took a step forward.
---
"You saved me."
---
Min-jae's eyes flickered.
Just slightly.
---
Ji-hoon caught it.
---
A small hope.
---
"You dragged me out of there," he continued. "You kept telling me to run, even when I didn't understand anything."
---
Another step.
---
"You're the reason I'm still alive."
---
Closer now.
---
"So even if you don't remember me…"
---
He stopped right in front of him.
---
"I'm not leaving."
---
Silence.
---
The air felt heavy.
---
Min-jae stared at him.
Long.
Hard.
---
Searching.
---
For something that wasn't there.
---
"…I don't understand," Min-jae said finally.
---
Ji-hoon smiled faintly.
"…Yeah," he replied.
"…I figured."
---
A sudden crack echoed in the distance.
---
Both of them turned.
---
The sky—
---
Split.
---
Not like before.
---
Worse.
---
Deeper.
---
And from that fracture—
Something descended.
---
Not chaotic.
Not broken.
---
Precise.
---
Controlled.
---
A figure.
---
Human-shaped.
---
But wrong in a different way.
---
It didn't flicker.
---
It stabilized the space around it.
---
The air grew heavy.
Still.
---
Ji-hoon's instincts screamed.
---
"…That's new," he whispered.
---
Min-jae's expression changed.
---
For the first time since losing everything—
---
He felt it.
---
Fear.
---
"…This one…" Min-jae said slowly.
"…is different."
---
The figure tilted its head.
---
And then—
---
It spoke.
---
Not out loud.
---
But directly into their minds.
---
"You are… irregular."
---
Min-jae stiffened.
---
"…You can talk?"
---
"You consume what should not be consumed."
---
The words were calm.
Measured.
---
"You retain what should be erased."
---
Ji-hoon stepped back.
"…Min-jae, I don't like this—"
---
"Correction."
---
The figure's gaze shifted.
---
To Ji-hoon.
---
"You are… unnecessary."
---
Ji-hoon froze.
---
"…What?"
---
Min-jae moved instantly.
Stepping in front of him.
---
"No," he said.
Firm.
---
Even without memory—
His body moved.
---
On instinct.
---
On something deeper.
---
The figure watched.
---
Then—
---
It raised its hand.
---
The world—
---
Paused.
---
Not slowed.
---
Not distorted.
---
Paused.
---
Ji-hoon couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
Couldn't think.
---
Only Min-jae remained.
---
Standing.
---
Alone.
---
Facing it.
---
"Choose," the figure said.
---
A single word.
---
Heavy.
---
Absolute.
---
"Preserve yourself."
---
A pause.
---
"Or preserve what you cannot remember."
---
Min-jae's eyes trembled.
---
For the first time—
---
He hesitated.
---
Behind him—
Ji-hoon stood frozen.
---
A person he didn't know.
---
A connection he couldn't feel.
---
A memory that no longer existed.
---
And yet—
---
His chest hurt.
---
"…Why…" Min-jae whispered.
"…does this feel wrong…?"
---
The figure said nothing.
---
It didn't need to.
---
Because the choice—
---
Was already breaking him.
---
[Synchronization: 7%]