To Save and Be Saved

Author's note: Credits to SingShong author of Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. 

"Have you received any chocolates?"

"I hope I receive chocolate from Su-ji!"

"This year, I'm definitely getting one."

"Hate you break it to you, but you won't."

"What'd you say? Huh? I've done lots of good deeds for the ladies he-he."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I doodled on my sketchbook, sitting at my assigned desk- at the back, left corner of the classroom I could hear my classmates muttering about 'valentines', 'chocolates', seriously giving this much attention and care to a 'not-so important' holiday, how foolish. If I had the authority to say whatever I want it would be something like this, "Seriously you idiots, no one gives a rat's a** about this damn holiday- chocolates, love letter I don't care, just be quite." 

Ding! ding! ding!

Our classroom teacher came in. "Alright everyone settle down!" she is our English and literacy teacher, why is she holding a stack of paper?

"Today, you guys will be writing an essay about love, I will be personally checking it, so just try to return a blank paper." she grinned while clenching her fists. 

Writing was never a problem for me because it was one of the skills I developed throughout my so called 'nerdy' hobbies. 

I swiftly wrote a masterpiece no human had never wrote before. Ha. that was a joke, but I don't think I wrote something trash either. But I suppose I could've been more thoughtful, no wait... what was the point? I wasn't going to waste time on a topic like love.

"Ronan! you come meet me in my office right now!" Dang it, right was I about to get the hell out of this cursed place she came in, fantastic timing!

A nicely decorated spacious room, lockers and bookshelves left and right, I glanced at the students chatting before putting back my school shoes to follow her. 

No one dared to say anything, I could hear students chatting, some even glancing to our direction causing me to overthink the situation, imagining possible outcomes on why she called me suddenly- overthinking is also one the skills I possess. No... rather than a skill it's more like a talent. I've always had a great imagination, creating any kinds of scenarios in my head. Although it has some benefits it also has a drawback too, a great example is the 'overthinking' since my imagination is good, overthinking would naturally incr- .... Ugh, I sound like an actual nerd now.

She was holding our essays, looking for certain someone's... Wait, mine? 

She threw a cold glance at me before reading the last part.

As I said, waiting for someone knowing they won't come back is love, waiting for someone without knowing when they will come back is also love, love cannot be formed without one's sacrifice. In conclusion, love is useless, it is a twisted curse bound to hurt us. It is never fair, destined for one's selfishness. 

Ronan Vercetti.

I felt utter embarrassment arising, teachers giving us weird glances, her dark, tired eyes carrying a thoughtful expression looked into mines. I wonder how my eye looks in others' eyes. 

"Upon writing essays, you almost never write something negative, how many times have I said it!" 

"My bad." 

"Anyways, I have a question. Is this how you truly feel about love? Do you think it's just an extra in our lives? But being the person you are, even if I ask you, you would just try hiding it and make excuses."

She got that right.

"I don't know what you've gone through, nor do I have any idea how your life is. I also don't have any authority to lecture you about life, since it's your life. However, please try to be more faithful, not everything will go bad you know, have faith in others, form a friendship, enjoy your youth and most importantly create happy memories that you can look back at."

"I understand." I replied looking down. I listened to her sincere words, but I just didn't feel it. I'd rather be alone reading webnovels, writing novels and drawing. 

I slowly walked through corridor, faint sunlight streaming through large windows, cream-colored walls and green classroom doors on one side. Only my footsteps were heard, everyone had left by now. 

"Before we die, we see our happiest memories for 7 minutes."

I heard it from TikTok, but if it's really true... what would my seven minutes look like? Will it just be my boring high school days- no it could not even appear since I don't have any memories I consider as 'happy'.

"Ouch!"

It appears I have bumped into someone, specifically girl from my class Park Somin.

"My bad." I quickly went to help collect her stuff. As I was helping her, I uncontrollably glanced at the LCD screen of her smartphone. Something way too familiar, unmistakable title was there. 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint'. 

Lost fragments flew in like papers scattering in the wind, forming a puzzle piece, 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint'.

"Tell me you fool, if I continue to regress, will I ever get to meet you again?" Yoo Joonghyuk's faint smile as he extended his hand to reach the stars. 

"Is it because there are too many stars, that I cannot see you?"

"...That guy. He is my companion." Yoo Joonghyuk muttered as he swung his sword tirelessly. 

"There are three ways to survive in a ruined world. I've forgotten a few by now. However, one thing's for certain, that is you who are reading these words will surely survive."

"If this story can really save you, if you regained just a little of memories and remember us just one more time... Then, I'll keep writing the epilogue for you for eternity, until the end of time." Han Sooyoung grinned like an idiot.

"I am going to find him and bring him back one way or another. I am sick of playing this game of numbers, whether it's 49% or 51%, I need 100% or nothing."

"Answer me! If we're really characters in a fictional novel, why did you die for us over and over?" Lee Jihye spoke her heart out, tears dropping down

"That man is the world I wish to save." Jung Heewon held sword tightly, her eyes filled with determination. 

"This wasn't the Ways of Survival I knew, it was a story far more wonderful, My story." a man who was actually coward, the most ordinary man out of everyone, who never hesitated to sacrifice himself for his companions looked at the sky, his crimson eyes carrying pure sadness.

"It was really a great story, isn't that right? Let's meet again Yoo Joonghyuk."tears dropping down, but he still manages to form a smile

"We are life and death companions."

I couldn't help laughing. Now we would really live together or die together.

If I was really a god, then I would be the most incompetent god in the world. The most helpless god in the world who knew everything but couldn't explain anything.

||||| 2%. |||||

That number was the proof - and the lie -that I remembered my companions far better than my Avatar. Even if no one knew of this version of me existing here, even if the companions' stories had come to an end like that... But, at the very least, I swore to myself that I'd never forget about them. 

Memories of me reading that novel flooded in as I stood frozen in my position. By the time I regained my wits, she had already disappeared. 

"What just happened?"

I began walking to home, my mind still drifting to that moment. Kang Jiyeon, who has few friends but never really draws attention to herself liked reading webnovels? especially Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. 

Well now that I think about it, there will be something that will show up in the last seven minutes of my life, that novel. 

A faint but sincere smile formed on his face.

"I'm home." 

"I'm going out with my friends alright?" she's my little sister Hye-jin, just a while ago she was scared to walk in the dark, time really does fly.

A weird feeling could be felt in his chest, probably his trauma of not having parents.

Throughout my life, I've always been alone in the background, I watched other kids having fun with their family while I just look at them with jealousy. I still had my aunties raising me, but I never once thought of them as my parents, and I don't think they did as well. They only raised me to pay the debt they owned to my parents. One day a man brought a baby, saying it was my little sister. My aunties thought it was a prank, but that man was dead serious. He left the baby and disappeared without a trace. They had no choice but to raise it, time flew. I got into high school she got into middle school.

Aunties left the place leaving the house to us, paying rent and giving us monthly cash to live while they roam around the world doing whatever they want. Honestly, I don't blame them. We are not their child after all. Still, the word 'parents' still haunts me to this day... If I had actually had parents would the Ronan Vercetti who has parents differ than me?

"Hey, I said I'm leaving. You hear me?"

"I get you. Go on, don't be too late."

"Thank you." a bright smile formed on her face. 

To be honest, I think I should be the one thanking, she always makes sure to notify me before going out. 

"Wow you even cleaned the house!" I was genuinely impressed, according to my observation most peoples' sisters are all lazy, has no respect for their brother but she... she was something else.

"Oh yeah."

I dragged myself to my room and jumped on my bed, 'The most comfortable place in the world.'

As I was in the middle of my TikTok scrolling session, I saw a message from someone I never expected. 

liam :/ sent you a message. 'liam'-> Kang Jiyeon.

I quickly opened the chat. "I'm sorry for bumping into you today, and I also have a favor to ask you if it's okay."

I replied with the classic thumbs up emoji.

"Could you gatekeep what happened today, I mean could you not tell anyone what you saw on my phone?"

Is she talking about ORV?

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. You know, I also love that novel"

"What! YOU KNOW ORV???" why is she so excited?

"Yeah, it's my favorite. I've read it like 8 times lmao."

"OMG I never thought you of all people to like ORV (no offense by the way) lol. I'm so glad someone from my class likes ORV!"

"Same. You're on chapter 371 right?"

"Yeah, but it's unbelievable that you read the whole thing 8 times!"

"lol yeah it was that good."

Talking to someone with the same interest as me was nice, time seemed to flow even faster when I'm texting her. But deep down I knew our friendship wouldn't last long, almost every boy and girl relationships in high school ends, whether it's the boy or the girl it doesn't matter, one eventually ghosts another until the relationship scatters. Even if our relationship was the top 1% and doesn't end, I honestly think she shouldn't be friends with me, being friends with a guy like me will draw her attention, unwanted negative attention.