I stood at the rooftop's edge, wind against my shoulders and brushing over my hair. My shoulder flapped softly and then I closed my eyes.
Underneath me was a crowd of onlookers struck with panic and worried that I was about to commit suicide.
I mean, I would... if I were a maniac. But my life was great. My life was… perfect.
But my goal today wasn't to die; it was to draw as much attention as I could from that center square up ahead.
The one having a free and half-price sale that everyone wanted to get their hands on. They were so happy.
But little did they know that the longer they stayed there, the longer they were exposed to danger.
A few cops burst in through the rooftop behind me. They saw the situation and raised their hands, carefully, slowly approaching me.
"Sir, I'm gonna have to ask you to calm down and step away from the edge."
That was to be expected but I wasn't going to come down so easily. I had a mission to accomplish.
I glanced at my watch and looked up at the sky.
"It's about time."
The officers behind me slowly approached but seeing this, I pretended to slip, putting them on high alert and causing the crowd below to scream in more panic.
'Whoa, I really almost fell, haha.'
This was one of the times I was glad I wasn't scared of heights.
The officers kept talking, trying to calm me with words like 'life was precious' so I wouldn't do anything reckless and dangerous, but it wasn't like I didn't value my life.
I was just waiting for the perfect moment until...
'I think it's time.'
Then, all of a sudden, in the middle of the square, there was a sudden earthquake and the Earth split into two, devouring the goods and a few of those who weren't attracted by my suicide attempt.
It was too bad I couldn't save everybody but at least, a seventh of those who had been present there, who should've all died, were saved thanks to my act.
I watched the commotion, the ground shaking and I could feel the tremor underneath my feet even though I was so high up.
Just imagine how terrified those down below would feel.
"Sir, it's not safe. Come down. Think of what life has to offer." The officers edged more and I chuckled.
Certainly, life had a ton of shit to offer to me.
But they didn't have to worry, I was waiting for my ride that would be here in five, four, three, two...
A shadow suddenly loomed over me and I raised my head.
Ah, there he is.
There was a man suspended in mid-air, as if gravity had nothing on him. He was wearing what looked like a uniform, white, with a combat harness strapped around his chest. He had such a nice and firm chest, ahem.
I could feel a cold energy coming from him, not just his temperament, but the way his skin looked frozen solid, and his blue eyes crackled with ice.
He was an Esper.
He looked right at me with that sharp ice gaze, enough to freeze me in place, but I was unfazed.
"What are you doing in this crisis?" He asked, and just as his entire being felt like a huge lump of ice, his voice was the same.
Ah, it was just as I had remembered.
I tilted my head, letting the corner of my mouth curl as if it was all fun and games.
"What do you mean?" I asked, spreading my arms wide. "I am the crisis." And then took a step into thin air, as if I were invisible. Trust me, I wasn't.
All this... Was to get attention anyway.
I stepped off the edge, no hint of fear, Ike someone who had surrendered to their ill fate.
The air rushed over my body and clouded my thinking. At that rate, I would definitely hit the ground soon but I wasn't worried.
Why would I?
I already knew what was going to happen anyway.
And then I stopped falling, my body bracing the cold chest of the man who was revered as a hero.
With his strong arms, he caught me midair, one arm underneath my knees and the other at my back, stopping my fall right away and my stomach flipped.
Okay, that was a heart-stopping fall. I'm not that indifferent to danger so I did feel a bit of anxiety while I fell, even knowing he would catch me. But...
I flung my arms around his neck immediately, refusing to show the little bit of fear I experienced, and though he was like an icy wall, the places my skin touched, his neck, his chest, and all of that, suddenly began to melt with my warmth.
He felt it, I was sure of it.
Because that indifferent look in his eyes quickly melted into something more... Interesting.
He was dazed.
"Well," I said, meeting his eyes with a shameless grin. "Since you've gone through all that trouble, why don't I pay for your troubles as well?" I suggested. "How about dinner? I'll cook."
For a second, he looked at me in surprise, wondering what I was up to. A civilian who just attempted to commit suicide was asking him, a well-known Esper, out for dinner, offering to cook.
Anyone would laugh or even scoff at this but this Esper wasn't just anybody.
He was... Lee Sung-min.
My future boyfriend.
Though he probably doesn't know me yet but I knew him. I knew everything about him. What he likes, what he hates, how he likes to spend his alone time, and how he keeps a cat because they're very interesting creatures.
I know all of that, and that behind that cold mask, and that dangerous appeal, he's just a lonely Esper who has never had anyone to open up to.
And... The reason for my death.
Hi, my name is Choi Joon-ho and I'm a returner. Or rather, a transmigrator, and I'm about to fill you in on a crazy story, so climb on board, fasten your seatbelt, and be prepared for a bumpy ride.