I rode a taxi to the hospital. My heart was pounding.

‘What time is it now?’

The time was 1 p.m. The visiting hours for the intensive care unit had already passed.

Even if I went now, I wouldn’t be able to see Seon Woo Jin’s face. I knew that, but my steps didn’t stop. With nowhere else to go, I aimlessly entered the hospital.

“Lee Ju Eun?”

At that moment, I turned around at the sound of someone calling my name.

“What are you doing here?”

It was Sung Ji Chan.

Right. What am I doing here…? Unable to answer, I fumbled around, and Sung Ji Chan looked at me with pitying eyes.

“First, let’s calm you down a bit.”

Sung Ji Chan pulled me and sat on a bench on the walking path in front of the hospital.

“Drink this.”

What was handed to me was coffee from a vending machine. I thanked him and brought the paper cup to my mouth.

“The girl is completely out of it.”

Sung Ji Chan clicked his tongue, looking at me.

“Have you been sleeping properly these days?”

I shook my head. I knew he would say that. Sung Ji Chan muttered and sat next to me.

We sat quietly for a while without saying a word. My mind was a mess, and at a glance, Sung Ji Chan also seemed to have a lot on his mind.

After a long time, Sung Ji Chan spoke up.

“You came to see Seon Woo Jin, right?”

Yes. As I nodded, Sung Ji Chan sighed.

“That guy is going into surgery soon.”

“What?”

Sung Ji Chan calmly said.

“They said this would probably be the last hurdle.”

I felt like my heart was sinking.

“Don’t worry too much. It will go well.”

Sung Ji Chan tried to smile as if to comfort me, but judging from his expression, he didn’t seem confident either. I clenched my fists tightly so as not to reveal my anxiety.

“It’s my fault.”

I muttered.

“If only I hadn’t been there that day…”

“Hey, hey, what are you talking about.”

Sung Ji Chan hurriedly cut in.

“Of course, Seon Woo Jin got hurt trying to save you, but still, the person who caused the accident is the problem. It’s not like you ran out onto the road.”

It wasn’t wrong. If this incident had just been an ordinary accident.

Knowing the real reason why the truck suddenly appeared, my guilt grew even greater.

‘I shouldn’t have rushed.’

I should have just solved it slowly. Then there wouldn’t have been a final battle, and this kind of accident wouldn’t have happened either.

The thought that everything was because of me was tormenting. My chest felt suffocated.

Feeling like my throat was constricting, I sighed and rambled on without thinking.

“…You know. Actually, I’m not from this world.”

“What?”

Sung Ji Chan scanned me up and down with an expression that said, ‘Has she finally gone crazy?’ But I resolutely continued.

“It’s true. You asked me where I was going? Actually, I was trying to go back to my original world.”

At my words, Sung Ji Chan frowned.

“Original world? Are you some kind of alien or something?”

I laughed.

“I’m just a person.”

“Not just a person, but a crazy person, you.”

Sung Ji Chan muttered in a doubtful tone. His appearance made me laugh.

“Anyway, that’s why I was trying to distance myself from Seon Woo Jin on purpose…”

I stopped talking there and fell into thought for a moment.

What was the right thing to do then?

I always thought I was doing my best at every moment, but looking back, there are always doubts left.

If I had realized my heart a little earlier, if I had just accepted it honestly, would I not have had regrets like now?

‘I really can’t end it like this after all.’

I clenched my fists tightly.

“You know. I kept comparing.”

At my words, Sung Ji Chan tilted his head.

“Comparing what?”

“Going back to my original world and meeting Seon Woo Jin again. I didn’t know which one to choose.”

Sung Ji Chan hummed, looking puzzled.

“Can’t you wait until Seon Woo Jin wakes up, meet him, and then go back to your original world? Or go and come back again.”

For someone who sarcastically asked if I was an alien, he’s playing along quite well. I laughed and said.

“I can only choose one of the two.”

“What’s with that?”

“And if I go back to my original world, I won’t be able to come back here again.”

“Why?”

“That’s the rule.”

Sung Ji Chan made a face that showed he didn’t understand, looking disgruntled.

“Do you have to put such restrictions on your imagination?”

At those words, I burst out laughing.

Somehow, my current worries all felt foolish.

“Right. Why do I have to do that?”

It would be nice if I could do as I wanted.

But I know. Life can’t be like that.

When you choose something, you have to give up something else.

I’m just at that crossroads of choice right now.

Actually, I don’t have to use my wish necessarily for Seon Woo Jin.

As Sung Ji Chan said, I can wait until Seon Woo Jin recovers on his own, say my final goodbyes, and return to my original world.

But if I do that, can I really forget Seon Woo Jin?

To be honest, I’ve been afraid all along. Afraid that even if I return to my original world, I’ll never be able to forget Seon Woo Jin. Afraid that I’ll have to live longing for someone I can’t even meet for the rest of my life.

Yes, this world and that world. In the end, it was something I had to choose someday.

‘Let’s think positively. This might be better.’

It’s better than returning to my original world without any thought, not knowing I had a chance to choose, and then belatedly longing for this world.

I crumpled the paper cup and threw it in the trash can. Thanks to the coffee, my head cleared a bit.

At that moment, Sung Ji Chan spoke up.

“But if you’re not from this world.”

“Yes?”

“What did you do in your original world?”

Suddenly?

I wondered why he was quiet, but it seems he was thinking about that. His imagination is unnecessarily rich.

“Me? …Just an office worker.”

“What, that’s boring.”

Sung Ji Chan said indifferently.

“Next time, please put more effort into your setting. That way, it’s fun to immerse yourself.”

Gosh, how absurd.

As I stared at him in disbelief, Sung Ji Chan grinned mischievously.

“But if you were just an office worker, isn’t this world better?”

“What?”

“Why, at least this world is fun, isn’t it?”

Sung Ji Chan folded his fingers one by one and spoke.

“This world has me, Seon Woo Jin, Ban Ha Min, and Yoo Hee Na. With this much, it’s great.”

What unbelievable confidence.

But those words, which I would have cringed at usually, didn’t sound bad today.

“Yeah, it’s great.”

I laughed, following Sung Ji Chan.

Talking with Sung Ji Chan, I felt like I could see the answer. I don’t know if this answer is right or wrong, but at least I think I know which path I will choose.

“Thanks.”

“For what?”

“Thanks to you, I think my thoughts are a bit organized.”

At my words, Sung Ji Chan scratched his head.

“I don’t know what I did… but I’m glad it helped.”

After saying goodbye to Sung Ji Chan like that, I got up from the bench. Now that my head had cooled down, I thought it would be good to go home. It’s not like I can visit even if I stay at the hospital anyway.

“Lee Ju Eun.”

Lastly, Sung Ji Chan called out to me.

“Why?”

“In the end, you’re struggling with whether to leave or not, right?”

I neither affirmed nor denied it. Sung Ji Chan patted my shoulder.

“Well, I don’t know exactly what you’re worrying about… but still, cheer up.”

Sung Ji Chan grinned.

“Whichever world you’re in, I’m your friend.”

Then I’m going. Sung Ji Chan said goodbye and went back into the hospital.

I looked at his back for a moment and smiled.

[This is the timeline separator]

After returning from the hospital, I kept thinking at home. Those thoughts continued and continued until finally, late at night, they came to an end.

Only then did I finally make a decision.

“System.”

When I called, a square window appeared before my eyes.

[Yes? o_o] [Did you call me?]

I nodded.

“I’m going to make my wish now.”

Somehow, I felt detached. Although my body was screaming from not getting proper sleep for days, my mind was clear.

At my words, the system spewed out a flurry of text.

[Ju Eun, let me tell you again, you have to make your wish carefully!] [Once a wish is granted, it can never be taken back!] [Above all, after granting this wish, I will leave your side. ㅠ−ㅠ] [I won’t be able to help you anymore.]

What? Leave?

I asked back, a little surprised.

“Do you mean you’re going to disappear? Why?”

[Because my job is done.]

The system displayed the text calmly, unlike usual.

[I originally just came to ask you to create a happy ending for Ju Eun. Now that the goal has been achieved, I’m going back to where I belong.]

I see.

Come to think of it, it was natural. I possessed the story and saw the ending. Now there’s no reason for the system to be by my side.

When it actually said it was disappearing, I felt sad. The system had always been with me since I possessed the story. If it’s gone, I will feel very empty.

“So… no matter what I choose, you can no longer be by my side.”

Is it because it’s the moment of farewell that I feel more regretful than liberated?

I smiled at the system.

“Thank you for everything.”

[^_^]

Seeing the familiar emoticon, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Maybe I’ll miss you sometimes.”

[I’ll miss you too, Ju Eun. ㅠ^ㅠ]

But both the system and I know well that this is the last time.

‘It’s really the end.’

A new realization spread in my heart. But I can’t be lost in sentiment forever.

“Well, shall we slowly begin then?”

I tried to brighten the mood by raising my voice. Now that the goodbyes were over, it was time to make the choice I had been putting off.

I slowly opened my mouth.

“I’ll say it now.”

I clenched my fists tightly. So that my heart wouldn’t waver.

“My wish is…”