On Jimjaechondang Island, lying west of South Chungcheong Province, the land curved like a half-moon. The eastern section, Jimjae, spanned 1,264 square kilometers, while the smaller island within its bay, Chondang, measured 186 square kilometers and was linked by a long bridge. Together, they formed Jimjae–Chondang.
The island was fortified with fourteen nuclear power stations and heavy defense systems. From above, Yoona gazed down at the scattered houses—tiny, with barely any buildings rising higher than fifty meters.
Her jetpack lowered her safely near the entrance of Sehun Hospital. The wings folded neatly into her backpack as she stepped into the white lobby. Approaching a nurse, she asked politely: "Excuse me, could you tell me where Dr. Chang Si Hun's office is?"
The nurse turned. "Oh, the doctor's on sick leave today. Do you need him for something?"
"I have a letter from P. Pharma. Just a small matter. Could I have his home address?"
"Sure. 1721 Hangnam Village, Haejon Road 18-7. Southeast of here."
"Thank you so much."
Yoona hurried out, wings unfurling once more. She soared across the sky, cutting through the wind until she landed in a quiet village street. Children pointed phones at her, recording.
"Superhero flying!" one shouted. Yoona struck a playful pose for the camera before ringing the bell at house 1721.
An elderly man appeared. "Doctor, I'm here on behalf of P. Pharma. This is a letter for you."
He accepted it with a knowing nod. "Ah, Park wants me to host the event. Shame Dr. Takiya isn't around anymore, the showcase would've been spectacular."
Yoona's smile softened. "Yes… a tragic loss for medicine."
"You didn't need to deliver this in person, you know."
"Sometimes tradition matters more than convenience," she replied, glancing toward you as if sharing the thought.
The old man chuckled. "Reminds me of my youth. Technology changed everything. Well, since you came all this way, let me at least offer." He looked up, but she was gone. "Strange girl…"
Yoona streaked back into the sky. "Mission complete! Time to head back."
Her helmet buzzed with an incoming call. "Yoona, when are you coming home?" her mother's voice asked.
"Eomma[1], I'm swamped. Still need to clear out my dorm."
"Your father found a new job, sales at a small company."
"That's great! I'll visit once I'm done."
"Stay safe, sweetheart. We love you."
"Love you too, Mom." She ended the call, jetting across the Yellow Sea at 120 km/h.
She tilted her head toward you. "Life after college is messy, huh? I was born into a modest family, my parents worked hard, and I want to repay them with something big. Maybe even leave Korea someday. Not America, though. I dream of visiting England's steam city at least once. Kids with connections already landed good jobs, but people like me? We have to fight for scraps. Still… I'll keep pushing. For my future. For my dream."
Her voice grew thoughtful. "Technology runs the world now. Some third-world countries collapsed because everything spins too fast. Ordinary people like us have to adapt. If ARCI didn't exist, maybe the world would be more fun. Don't you think?"
Suddenly, her jetpack sputtered. "Damn it!"
Warning: Electrical leak detected! flashed across her visor. The left wing jammed, sending her spiraling into a forest. She crashed through the brush, crawling out with a scowl.
"Great. Now I have to hitch a ride to the nearest station."
She stuck out her thumb by the roadside. A driverless car shimmered into a sleek electric vehicle, whisking her from the green forest back to Seoul's skyline.
At the subway platform, the train doors opened, and transformed into the door of her apartment. Exhausted, she stepped inside as the sun dipped below the horizon. Neon lights flickered across the city outside her window.
"I'm beat…" she muttered, collapsing onto her bed. Her eyes drifted to a photo on the wall: herself with a handsome young man, chisel jaw, with sparkling pink eyes and dark blue bangs.
"That's Gong Min Jun[2]. A K-pop idol I once loved obsessively. But he's a flirt, and privacy means nothing to him. I don't need someone like that. Still… there's a thread I haven't cut. I want to meet him one last time, end things properly."
She looked at you with a smile. "How long do you think love lasts for one person? Don't answer, I can read it in your face."
Yoona bounced off the bed. "I don't get lonely easily. As long as I've got imaginary friend like you. Anyway, enough rambling, I need to pack. Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to my warm, cozy family. Whehe!"
She pulled a blanket over herself, poking one finger out to point left. "Turn the page to the next chapter…"
[1] mother
[2] Another "Series 8 : My Heart, My Idol" Easter egg