"Are you going to the afterparty today?"
"No."
"Why?"
I casually replied with indifference towards my fellow badminton club teammate, who asked me with blinking eyes.
"I heard that the webcam I ordered has arrived today."
"What did you say?"
"Oh, a webcam. Web-cam."
"A webcam? What kind of webcam?"
"Hey, you guys suggested that I do a broadcast showcasing my excellent teeth brushing skills."
"So, are you really going to do it? That's hilarious."
Such is the indifferent friendship among men.
Surprisingly, the only reaction from the person towards their naive friend's intention to dive into internet broadcasting was a single word: 'hilarious'.
Seemingly uninterested in my YouTube debut, the person casually scratched under their eye and swiftly returned to the original topic.
"Hey, but that can be done tomorrow, you know."
"My girlfriend is helping me out."
"Oh, really? Ah... By the way, I heard that Jung-hoon won't be going today either. This is quite bothersome. Should I skip going as well?"
"But you don't even have a girlfriend. Just go."
"Ha!"
"I'm going."
Leaving behind my friend, who burst into laughter with an expression of disbelief, I quickly walked out of the campus, leaving him alone in the club room.
A short while later, I boarded the subway heading towards home. During the journey to my destination, Bonghwasan Station, I engaged in a text conversation with my girlfriend, passing the time.
←Judasom
"[Noona, I just hopped on the subway.]" [What should I buy? LOL?] [No idea.] [Can't even finish writing it.] [Noona, I'm dead tired today.] [Hahaha, I'll grab some ice cream.]
Two years ago, our relationship started with her confession. She was a freshman in college at the time and was also my private tutor. Since then, our relationship has been going smoothly, and it continues to thrive as I have successfully entered the university of my choice.
Taking advantage of my parents' trip to the East Sea for a 3-day, 2-night vacation, I seized the opportunity to invite her to my house.
It took a long time before I convinced my bothersome younger sibling with two 50,000 won bills. That rascal is currently crashing at a close friend's house, and it looks like he'll lazily make his way back home only tomorrow, around lunchtime.
[Shall we eat out for dinner? Or have chicken and beer at home?]
[Sounds good, but what if you become a huge hit on YouTube? I'll be dying with regret if I change my mind later.]
[Sure, let's do it!]
[Hahaha, saved it.]
Seemingly pleased with the prompt response, she returned a captured image of the recent conversation with a smile, indicating that she had saved it.
[Haha, I'm finally here.] [I'll get ready too, then.]
As we exchanged messages back and forth, I suddenly found myself arriving at the final station. I quickly stood by the door, grabbing my bag.
Fifteen minutes later, after getting off the apartment elevator, I noticed a parcel box placed in front of my house and hastened my steps towards it.
"It's here already."
[Unit 1506, Seong Tae-min]
[ComMarket Plus]
I moved the box to my room and started unpacking. As I opened it up, I saw the webcam body and tripod that I had ordered online three days ago.
I immediately turned on the computer and started setting up the webcam diligently.
The installation itself was straightforward.
I adjusted the joints to secure the webcam on the top of the monitor and connected the USB cable to the main unit. That was it.
As I let the connector hang down behind the monitor, I knelt down and crawled under the desk. The back of the main unit, covered in dust and untouched since its installation two years ago, greeted me.
“-.”
As I connected the USB cable, a notification appeared on the bottom of the monitor, indicating that a new device had been connected. I let out a quick exhale to relieve the tickle in my nose, which had been bothering me.
Now, all that was left was to install the software.
With my knees on the floor, I accessed the manufacturer's website and downloaded the software.
However, for some reason, even after completing the software installation properly, there was no sign of the webcam working.
"Why isn't it working...?"
After repeatedly installing and uninstalling the software several times, I eventually had no choice but to crawl back under the desk.
Wondering if it was due to dust, I recalled the dusty crevice behind the chassis that I had seen earlier. Without hesitation, I plunged my head deep into the space, blowing into the USB port as if to clear any possible obstructions.
In that instant, a spark of blue light flashed right before my eyes.
"Ah!"
Startled, I quickly stepped back and turned off the computer's power, worried that a fire might break out.
However, that alone didn't put my mind at ease. I began to detach the webcam from the main unit, just moments after completing the installation.
whoosh-
Just before grabbing the cable, I lightly brushed my fingertips to check for any unexpected safety hazards, but my fingers were dry without any moisture. Finally feeling relieved, I reached out my fingertips towards the wire. In that moment:
"Ah?"
That was my final words.
After that brief exclamation, no more words came out of my mouth.
“------.”
My fingers gripping the wire stiffened. I wanted to let go, but I couldn't even do that. As my arm slowly unbent and my body unfurled, my head, pressed against the desk, started convulsing violently, producing a loud and jarring noise.
tak tak tak tak-
There was neither pain nor screams.
It was just a strange and unpleasant sensation that engulfed my entire body, as if my body was no longer my own.
It must feel like this when you experience an electric shock.
Even the brief tranquility of my thoughts was soon shattered. My consciousness, unable to escape through my throat, scattered like a desperate scream, swallowed emptily by the current coursing through my body.
And so, deep darkness found its way inside me.
* * *
How much time had passed? The discomfort that had been disturbing my body subsided, and a sense of coziness began to envelop my surroundings.
However, I still couldn't move my body freely as I wished.
Feeling trapped and suffocated, I thrashed my arms and legs in frustration as if confined in a tight space. After a while, I finally felt a rush of fresh air filling my lungs, and I let out a scream that I had been holding back for a long time.
"Waaah... W-what?"
Taken aback by the unfamiliar cry that escaped from my own mouth, I abruptly halted my scream and opened my eyes wide.
In that moment, I noticed an elderly woman with silver hair peering down at me.
"Ah..." (Chinese)
As our eyes met, she flashed a wide smile, her deeply wrinkled face crinkling even more. Then, she averted her gaze from me and shouted in a booming voice.
"She gave birth to a baby boy!" (Chinese)
Soon, the sound of something rushing quickly and the sound of a door being flung open followed.
"Madam, are you okay?" (Chinese)
"Where is my baby...?" (Chinese)
Although I couldn't understand the conversation, it was clear from their voices that the emotion conveyed was joy.
Finally, I felt a sense of calm in my chest. Unable to resist the overwhelming drowsiness, I slowly closed my eyes.
But just as my eyelids closed in the darkness, a strangely familiar red icon appeared. In that moment, I couldn't help but open my eyes wide.
[YouTube - Shortcut]
"... Huh?"
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