Time. There was no time to adjust. My eyes felt heavy & my body extremely weak. I soon enough was sat in a room & Ms. Cha sat across from me. "석진아, 몸은 좀 어때요? 푹 쉬었어요?" (How are you feeling, Seokjin ah  ? Well rested ?) She asked in that sweet tone of hers.

I was still adjusting so I didn't know what to look out for. I didn't know it then, & I most certainly didn't know it now. "I am fine, Ms. Cha. How are you ?" She seemed pleased with my answer. "I am quite well. I am ecstatic that you've finally woken up." 

This is when Ms. Cha sat a document in front of me. "What ? What is this ?" I was beyond confused. Which wasn't a bad thing to be feeling in my situation. She pointed at the document, "이것은 간단한 비공개 계약입니다. 당신은 여기서 일어난 일에 대해 아무 말도 하지 않을 것입니다. 그것은 또한 당신이 나의 연구 프로그램에 참여하면 보상을 받을 것이라고 명시되어 있습니다." (This is a simple non-disclosure agreement. You will not talk about any of what has happened here. It also states that you'll get compensation for your participation in my research program.) I looked over & it was exactly as she said. No tricks. 

"So all I have to do is sign this ?", I asked as I stared at the dotted line where I was meant to sign. She grinned as she handed me a pen. "All you have to do is sign, Jin." I signed & was escorted out with Secretary Oh.

Secretary Oh handed me a folder. "What is this ?" She looked paranoid. Like even just speaking too loud would be an absolute problem. "글쎄, 잘 모르겠는걸요. 석진아, 당신이 이곳을 떠나고 나면 당신에게 도움이 될 거예요." (I can't say. It will do you some good after you leave here, Seokjin ah.) It wasn't long before we reached the front door. 

Secretary Oh pointed at the folder, "Look at it when you can." Security got me to a car & then I was being drove home. Nothing looked as I remembered. Before long I was home. It took me a minute, but eventually I knocked on the door.

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"Oh, Jinnie !", My mother said as soon as she opened the door & had seen me. She looked younger. Much younger than when I had last seen her. "엄마?" (Mom ?) She smiled as she brought me inside. "Why don't you take a seat ? I'll make you some tea." 

I did as she suggested. The house also looked different. Much different. How long was I away ?  "I am so happy you're home, Jin. I've truly missed you." Things felt different. I looked at her wrist, a watch was on it with the N.L.I trademark. "What aren't you telling me ?"

My mother sighed as she took a seat. "당신 아버지는 우리가 이혼한 후에 재혼했어요. 저는 지금 학교에 다니고 있는 아들이 하나 더 있습니다. 석진 씨도 그렇게 바뀌었어요." (Your father remarried after our divorce. I have another son who is currently at school right now. That's what changed, Seokjin.) Remarried ? Son ? She had a whole life I've missed. My mother wasn't what I remembered.

"You divorced Dad & you have another son ?", I asked as I was trying to process. My mother nodded as she pointed at her wrist. "I was reincarnated. This watch tracks my data for NewLife Industries. You being in that program was a tremendous help for Ms. Cha' company & for the rest of us with the dormant ability." 

Home, sweet home... The conversation ran cold after that. Neither of us knowing what to say.