Memories of the Past (2)
“What is this?”
No Hyung-jin, who was studying in the reading room as usual, suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed the table to stand up.
“But there’s nothing here?”
It felt like something had hit him in the head. It was an indescribable feeling of sadness and despair. It was so chilling that he couldn’t concentrate.
“Student, where are you going?”
“I’m just going to take a short break.”
After leaving the reading room, he went up to the rooftop and took a cola from the vending machine, drinking it quickly.
“Huuh, what was that feeling?”
Even for No Hyung-jin, passing the exam at once was not easy. Therefore, he had been trying hard to concentrate lately.
“Is my body weak?”
That might be the case. He had been pushing himself too hard lately.
“Okay, just hold on a little longer. It will get better.”
As he stood there in a daze, he finished the last of the cola and shot the can toward the trash can like throwing a ball. Unfortunately, the can fell to the side instead of into the trash can, and seeing that, No Hyung-jin approached to pick it up and put it in the trash.
“Throw it away properly.”
He noticed another can next to it and frowned. It seemed someone had done something similar and just left when it didn’t go in.
“I should put this in too.”
The moment he picked up that can absentmindedly, No Hyung-jin felt that dizzy sensation again. However, this feeling was completely different from before. While the chilling sensation was similar, this time it felt like something was brushing past his head.
“Ugh!”
Due to the sudden feeling, No Hyung-jin dropped the can.
“What is this? What was that I just saw?”
A momentary image that flashed through his eyes, or rather, his mind. It showed unfamiliar people. They were not people he knew.
“What happened?”
It was definitely an image that seemed to have some meaning. It was a view from somewhere else, not here.
“What on earth…….”
Not understanding what had happened to him, No Hyung-jin swallowed hard and approached the can again.
“Wait…… calm down……. Yeah, it must be an illusion.”
Saying that, he tried to calm his mind. He didn’t want to miss anything that might happen.
“Huuh, huuh.”
Taking a deep breath, he picked up the cola can. At that moment, a strange yet familiar scene rushed into his mind.
“Ah, annoying. Because of Damteng, what is this?”
“What can we do? We have to study.”
“Hey, should we throw up?”
“Damteng said he would call to check our location.”
“Ah, this is driving me crazy.”
A conversation between two male students, one holding a cigarette in one hand and a cola can in the other.
“Let’s go inside.”
“Damn, I want to smoke one more.”
“That was the last one.”
“Damn.”
One of the two who went inside threw the can into the trash can. It flew, hit the edge, and then rolled on the floor.
“Ugh!”
And that was the end of it.
“What is this? What just happened?”
Not understanding the image that had just flashed through his mind, No Hyung-jin stared at the can intently.
“I don’t understand……. Why…….”
Is there an image that he doesn’t recognize? He thought for a moment, then put the cola can back in the trash and went downstairs.
“It must be just an illusion.”
Trying hard to convince himself that it was nothing serious, No Hyung-jin entered again. He sat back down and tried to concentrate. He wanted to study. However, that was impossible.
“Resignation is when counting cabbage.”
A poster placed on his desk. And a man hunched over studying. The man was studying with a serious face, and the despair and urgency he felt were clearly conveyed.
“Ugh!”
“What is it?”
Was it a loud scream? Everyone looked at him because of his voice, and No Hyung-jin could only stand there awkwardly.
“Ah…… I’m sorry.”
He apologized and looked at his seat. It was definitely the same place as in the image.
‘My seat…… no, is it really my seat?’
It was a seat used by someone else. In fact, all the seats here must have been used by someone.
‘Who was that man earlier?’
He didn’t even know who that man was. But his feelings were frighteningly accurate.
‘Let’s stop for today.’
For some reason, he felt uneasy. No Hyung-jin shook his head and stood up from his seat. He felt it would be better to stop here for today.
“Huuh.”
As he packed his bag and was about to go outside, he saw the person managing the reading room talking to two students.
“How many times do I have to tell you? Don’t smoke there!”
“It wasn’t me.”
“Do I look like I’m joking? You’re not even adults, and you’re smoking!”
No Hyung-jin, who caught a glimpse of the manager scolding, flinched. The person being scolded was someone he knew. Or rather, someone he remembered?
‘Those people earlier?’
When he picked up the cola on the rooftop, they were the ones he saw in the image. Even the name tags on their uniforms were exactly the same.
‘Why…….’
The problem was that he was seeing them for the first time. They were from different schools and different years. There was no reason for them to cross paths with him.
“Uh…….”
“Ah, student, what’s up?”
Feeling a chill, No Hyung-jin, who was about to pass by, asked the manager with a glimmer of hope.
“My seat. Who used it before me?”
“A student who is repeating a year.”
“A student who is repeating a year?”
“He went to the medical school of Yeonhap University. He studied really hard and made it. Maybe there’s some good energy there? Hahaha.”
The medical school of Yeonhap University is one of the top medical schools in Korea. To get there, he must have studied really hard, but that wasn’t the important part.
“By any chance, was that person short-haired, wearing thick-rimmed glasses, and a bit big?”
“Ah, do you know him? That’s right.”
At that, No Hyung-jin couldn’t help but tremble.
“Psychometry.”
As No Hyung-jin searched for information about what had happened to him on the internet, he could only be stunned. Psychometry. In Korean, it can be expressed as ‘reading the memory of objects.’ The ability to read past memories left on objects or strong memories held by their owners. Of course, like all superpowers, it is just a technology of imagination.
‘This isn’t imagination.’
He clearly saw it. He saw what happened there, so he couldn’t say anything.
‘Why…….’
He couldn’t even understand why he was reborn, and now he had an unexpected superpower.
‘Is this a power from a past life? No, that can’t be.’
If it were true, he wouldn’t have been unaware of it after living for so long. It was clear that this was something newly acquired in this life.
‘Is something wrong? Or should I say it’s a good thing?’
This unexpected superpower was not entirely a pleasant thing. If he wasn’t careful, he could be captured and tortured or experimented on.
‘Damn, what is happening?’
Since this wasn’t a joke, No Hyung-jin shook his head.
“Could it be a coincidence?”
Thinking it might be a coincidence, he swallowed hard. Then he looked at the pretty wallet on his desk. The wallet his sister had left behind.
“Could it be…….”
With the thought of ‘could it be,’ No Hyung-jin picked up the wallet. He focused his mind, but nothing strange appeared.
“Is this just an illusion?”
At first, he thought it might be an illusion. But it wasn’t an illusion. What he saw inside were just some numbers. The numbers that initially appeared blurry became clearer as he concentrated.
‘Numbers?’
Unlike the previous image, seeing the numbers made him tilt his head, and he felt as if he wanted to grab one of the numbers. As soon as he did, the surroundings changed, and another space appeared.
“Ugh.”
But the scene was quite shocking. The intense impulse felt from his sister and the embarrassment. At the same time, the strong sensation of lips seemed to be conveyed strongly. Was he holding the wallet at that time? That feeling was so strong that it was imprinted in his memory and conveyed to No Hyung-jin. And as he realized what that image meant, No Hyung-jin was astonished.
“Isn’t this too fast?”
His sister, who resembled his father, if she gets hooked, she gets completely hooked, but after two months of meeting, there was already a kiss.
“Huuh, should I be grateful that it’s not that stupid trash?”
At least he was relieved that his sister was doing well with Park Kwang-seok, whose future was guaranteed.
“But then what are those numbers?”
Not understanding what the numbers he had grabbed were, he scribbled here and there, and suddenly he felt like he could understand something.
“Is this…… how it works?”
When he combined the numbers inside, a pattern began to emerge. And he could only understand what that pattern was after experimenting several times with his own belongings. He couldn’t know when someone else’s belongings were held.
“Time.”
Like a timer, a combination made up of years, dates, and times. If he selected that, he could see the scene at that time.
“Usually, it’s completely random.”
Since it was a power that existed in imagination, it was often expressed randomly, and he never thought it would be a power that allowed him to choose time and see it.
“At least, it’s fortunate that there aren’t many types of time.”
After several experiments, No Hyung-jin was finally able to understand his ability.
First, he could only read memories when in direct contact with an object or very close to it.
Second, if there were strong memories, those took precedence, and meaningless memories would disappear or become blurry.
Third, choosing a time to see is only possible if there are several strong memories or thoughts in that place. Meaningless memories or everyday thoughts often do not appear.
Fourth, to read meaningless memories, accurate information about the situation at that time is required.
After organizing these facts, No Hyung-jin realized that the ability he had was definitely not a dream.
“What is happening?”
He muttered while staring blankly at the notebook with the rules written in it.
“Sister.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you happy after the kiss?”
“A kiss? Who said kiss? Did Kwang-seok do it?”
“No, I was just probing.”
The surprised expression on his sister’s face.
“So you did it.”
“Shut up, kid.”
“Yeah, I’ll tell mom.”
“You’ll die!”
“Mom!”
“I’ll give you ten thousand won!”
“I’ll keep quiet.”
“Ugh, my precious money.”
He had just tried a little, but it seemed that the kiss was indeed true.
‘What is this, what is happening?’
He didn’t know why he had this ability, but No Hyung-jin decided to put studying aside for a while and research this ability. No other choice. When he concentrated, all sorts of memories and thoughts came flooding in without him realizing it.
“Is the progress going to be slower than expected?”
He sighed with a feeling of worry he couldn’t explain.