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. "돌아온 걸 환영해요, 태형아." (Welcome back, Taehyung.) She asked in that sweet tone of hers. It sounded creepy to me, but I wasn't going to tell her that.

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. "Um, thanks ?" I have no idea of how to answer her. "Let's not waste any more time, shall we ?"

This is when Ms. Cha sat a document in front of me. "What ? What is this ?" She pointed at the document swiftly, "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 smiled as she handed me a pen. "All you have to do is sign, Taehyung." 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're alone." 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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"Tae!", My father said as soon as he opened the door & had seen me. He looked younger. Much younger than when I had last seen him. "아빠?" (Dad ?) She smiled as she brought me inside. "Sit. I am sure coming back here is a long to process."

The house also looked different. Much different... "I am so happy you're home, Tae. Things have been a bit off without you being home." Things felt different. I looked at his wrist, a watch was on it with the N.L.I trademark. "What is that ? What's going on ?"

My father sighed as she took a seat. "드디어 재혼했어요. 당신의 새 계모는 당신을 만나기를 고대하고 있습니다. 태형아, 그래서 변했어요." (I finally remarried. Your new stepmother is excited to meet you. That's what changed, Taehyung.) Remarried ? He had a whole life I've missed. What was this feeling ? Sadness ? Disappointment ? Jealousy ? He had started a new chapter in his life without me... Without my mother...

"What about mom then, Dad ? Did you forget her ?", I asked as I was trying to process. My father shook his head as he pointed at his wrist. "I could never forget your mother, Taehyung... 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."

My mind was racing & my body was completely calm. A conflict I wasn't used to in the slightest. What was going on ?