Kim Heuk-jae sat at his desk, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead as he stared blankly at the computer screen. The office was a mundane place, filled with the sounds of typing and the occasional murmur of colleagues discussing their weekend plans. Heuk-jae, however, was lost in his thoughts, his mind drifting to the novel he had been working on for years. It was a story that no one had read, a tale of towers that appeared out of nowhere, challenging humanity to conquer their heights.
Feeling the weight of his unfulfilled dreams, he decided to take a break. He stood up, stretching his legs, and made his way to the rooftop. The cool breeze greeted him as he stepped outside, a welcome relief from the stifling office air. He leaned against the railing, looking out over the sprawling city of Seoul. The skyline was dotted with skyscrapers, each one a testament to human ambition, yet he felt a sense of insignificance in the grand scheme of things.
As he gazed at the horizon, Heuk-jae's thoughts turned to his birthday, just a few days away. September 12, 2025, would mark the fourth anniversary of his novel's completion. He had poured his heart and soul into it, yet it remained hidden, a secret that only he knew.
After a few moments of contemplation, he decided to head home. The elevator ride down felt interminable, each floor passing by like a reminder of his stagnant life. Finally, he reached his apartment, a small but cozy space filled with books and scattered notes. He closed the door behind him, the familiar scent of old paper and ink enveloping him.
Heuk-jae walked over to his desk, cluttered with drafts and coffee cups, and opened his laptop. The screen flickered to life, revealing the document that held his creation. He hesitated for a moment, then began to type, the words flowing as he lost himself in the world he had built. Little did he know, the very story he was crafting would soon change everything.
The words poured out like a confession, characters dancing across his screen as his fingers flew over the keys. Heuk-jae hadn't felt this kind of momentum in months. His protagonist, Lee Min-ho, was climbing the mysterious North Tower, facing trials that mirrored Heuk-jae's own struggles with obscurity and doubt.
\"The tower demands sacrifice,\" he typed, then paused. Something felt different tonight. The air in his apartment seemed to vibrate with a strange energy, as if the boundary between fiction and reality had suddenly thinned.
A notification pinged on his phone. Probably another reminder from his supervisor about tomorrow's deadline. He ignored it, diving deeper into his narrative. Outside his window, clouds gathered, unusually dark for this time of evening.
Three hours passed in what felt like minutes. When Heuk-jae finally leaned back in his chair, his neck stiff from staring at the screen, he felt a sense of accomplishment wash over him. He had written more in one sitting than he had in weeks. Yet, the unease lingered, gnawing at the edges of his satisfaction.
He glanced at the clock. It was late, and the city outside was cloaked in shadows. Heuk-jae stood up, stretching his arms above his head, and walked to the window. The storm clouds had thickened, and a low rumble of thunder echoed in the distance.
As he turned away from the window, he caught a glimpse of his reflection in the glass. A tired man stared back at him, eyes filled with a mix of hope and despair. Heuk-jae had always dreamed of being a successful author, but the reality of his life felt like a far cry from that dream.
With a sigh, he decided to call it a night. He saved his work and closed the laptop, to watch some TV, the screen of the laptop dimming to black. The storm outside began to unleash its fury, rain pounding against the window as he prepared for bed. Little did he know, the storm was not just a weather phenomenon; it was a harbinger of the upheaval that would soon engulf his world.