Chapter 16 – Time Flows – Part 4

Chapter 16 – Time Flows – Part 4

“How on earth did you hear my words…?”

His brain tried to grasp the situation in confusion, but it couldn’t interpret it.

Because he had never experienced it before and had no information.

Woojin opened his mouth.

Surprise is a luxury for him. He needs to be made to think differently.

I design his brain.

He lowered his voice even more than before.

When the voice is lowered, the opponent’s brain is made to concentrate to unconsciously receive information.

“Number 2038’s family members passed away one by one each year. Death by heart attack, or poisoning.”

A fanged smile grew on Woojin’s face.

It was a smile created with self-consciousness, but even the micro-expressions were perfect.

“You, you bastard…”

Number 2038’s shoulders trembled.

It no longer mattered how Woojin started hearing voices.

He suspected Woojin had killed his family, and Woojin, through subtle hints, provided his brain with what it wanted to rationalize.

People only see what they want to see, and believe what they want to believe.

No, their brain makes them do it.

“Number 2038, two acquaintances in your neighborhood also died of heart attacks. They hit me a lot. All of them… They died instantly.”

Woojin’s smile grew once more.

That smile sent shivers down Number 2038’s spine.

Woojin was, of course, observing his reactions.

-His behavior shows a freeze response.

-His chest rises and falls more frequently.

-His pupils are dilated and sweat begins to secrete on his forehead.

These are external signs of adrenaline being secreted as he tries to escape unstable stress.

Woojin’s gaze landed on his hand.

While difficult for others to see, Woojin, who was superior in observation, could see it.

-His hairs are standing on end.

There are several reasons for hair standing on end, one of which is to block contact with the outside world.

For example, when exposed to cold air, goosebumps appear and hair stands on end. This effect traps air and blocks external contact.

This phenomenon also occurs when watching scary scenes in horror movies.

He wanted to block Woojin out.

-Adrenaline is secreted, hair stands on end, pupils are larger than before, and cold sweat is visible. (Self-protection)

-He blinks with a frozen expression and his Adam’s apple bobs as if swallowing. (Reduced tear and salivary gland activity)

-His face turns pale, like someone lacking moisture. (Blood pooling in the chest due to increased heart rate)

Number 2038’s sympathetic division (sympathetic nervous system) was, through external non-verbal cues, indicating an emergency.

Like a mouse before an immobilized cat.

Woojin quickly scanned his entire body and then spoke.

“It’s good that you started exercising, but please don’t expose yourself to too much sunlight. For your health, don’t eat until you’re completely full like today; put your spoon down when you feel a moderate amount of fullness. Is what you’re writing an autobiography? I’m curious about the content.”

Number 2038’s eyes widened.

Because Woojin saw everything he had done today.

“You must stay healthy. I also put some Commissary Funds in for you. I haven’t gotten a job yet, so I don’t have much money, but I’ll put some in for you often.”

The Commissary Funds were a design.

A design to make him keep thinking about Woojin.

Woojin stood up. At that moment, the man, startled, fell backward.

Watching him, Woojin slowly nodded his head.

Now he would show a reaction.

“Prison Guard! That bastard is a murderer! My family! The people in the neighborhood! That bastard killed them!”

A desperate struggle to eliminate Woojin’s existence and protect his own safety.

“Number 2038! Calm down! I said calm down!”

“There’s that guy’s minion watching me from the Prison! That bastard Criminal…”

“Stay still!”

Thump!

Number 2038 was subdued by two Prison Guards.

Woojin looked at him, pinned to the floor, and calmly said,

“See you again.”

***

Woojin was drawn by a smell he had never encountered before at the train station and started walking.

[Takoyaki]

It was a dish he had never seen before.

It was round, and something like thin paper was sprinkled over the food.

“Which one would you like?”

At her words, Woojin, who had been watching people eat their takoyaki and leave, pointed at the menu.

“I’ll have the regular.”

“Okay. I’ll make it delicious.”

Woojin watched the cooking process.

It was similar to a goldfish-shaped pastry…

“Here you go, sir.”

Woojin first savored the smell.

It seemed to have a sour scent, and a savory aroma rose from it.

As Woojin picked up a takoyaki with a skewer and was about to bring it to his mouth,

“Sir, please be careful, it might be hot.”

“Whoosh~. Whoosh~.”

A smile grew on her lips.

It was because Woojin, wearing a red scarf and cooling his takoyaki before eating it, looked like a child.

Munch munch…

He had guessed it, but it truly was a new flavor.

It was both sweet and a bit salty.

The octopus inside was chewy and added to the umami.

Woojin, still chewing, raised his head and looked at her.

“It’s very delicious, isn’t it?”

“Excuse me?”

“Goodbye.”

The president looked at Woojin’s retreating figure heading towards the train station with a puzzled expression.

The train ran and ran, taking Woojin to his destination, and after one more transfer by subway, Woojin came up to ground level to catch the bus home.

Snow continued to fall.

Some people held umbrellas, while others looked up at the sky.

Most of them were smiling.

Woojin reached out his arm into the world of falling snow.

‘Snow…’

Tiny ice crystals with water vapor attached, falling due to gravity.

Depending on one’s environment, it can bring joy or stress.

Therefore, the environment was truly important to people.

It was cold, but it seemed it couldn’t take away the warmth of the people passing by, leaving footprints.

Then.

Woojin’s head turned to the side.

It was because something had caught his sensitive hearing.

‘Bomi?’

Woojin’s hunch was correct.

She was walking from afar with students who appeared to be her friends.

Woojin, with his gaze fixed on Bomi, made a call.

“Bomi, where are you going?”

-I’m about to head home! Where are you, big brother?

“In front.”

-Huh? In front?

He saw Bomi lift her head among the people.

Bomi, who paused briefly as if surprised,

“Big brother!”

Bomi, with a wide smile like the falling snow, ran towards him.

It might be slippery, but she ran towards him, exhaling white breath, not looking at the ground, only at him.

The softly falling snow seemed to suit his pretty younger sister well.

In Woojin’s eyes, that scene appeared to move slowly, like a slow-motion video.

And he repeated the thought he had just had.

‘Environment is really important to a person.’

Woojin’s lips unconsciously curved into a thin smile.

Then, is this joy? Is it happiness?

Bomi, who had approached without him noticing, hugged Woojin.

And she looked up at her brother, letting out white breath.

“Brother, where are you coming from?”

“I went to see someone I know.”

“What kind of acquaintance?”

“Hmm… just someone I knew, someone I don’t need to see anymore.”

It wasn’t a sight you would see from an ordinary brother and sister, but Woojin and Bomi had a strong bond tied by familial love.

Woojin in his own way, Bomi in her own way.

The idea that they had to protect each other was strongly embedded in their unconscious.

Woojin took out a small box from his pocket.

“Bomi, try this.”

“What is this?”

Woojin had brought back half of the takoyaki.

He had kept it in his arms so it wouldn’t get colder.

“Takoyaki, it’s really delicious.”

The snow fell even whiter, like large snowflakes.