8 About This Earth & How Sujin Met A Little Wonder

February 1, 2027 (Monday)

Somewhere on Earth

Now, many of you think that Sujin's story has already started. But, in order to get to the good part of the story, we must first learn of this parallel universe that she lives in.

On this Earth, the first day of February is beautiful. The white powder that once rose to people's ankles is reduced to puddles by the warm rays of sunlight. Puddles populate the sidewalk, causing many to slip and fall. The bridge that reaches across the bay still has traces of ice on its steel frame. The cars as well, have frost on their windshields and white powder on their roofs. To say that this first day of February is beautiful is an understatement. It's gorgeous!

On a bridge that reaches across the bay, people are walking along the river. They all have different features, but one characteristic is the same, the three lines on their wrists. These lines are called Life Dates. They tell each person when they will accomplish a life goal, meet their soulmate, and when they will die down to the second. Although these dates can not be seen by others, it is required that the government have record of your life date. The government needs life dates to issue benefits, guaranteed monthly pay, and to wire your life dates to your bank account. These three lines can determine how high of a position you can obtain in the workforce, and the spending money you get from the government. As long as your life dates are good, meaning that your third life date takes place after you turn fifty years old, you can receive benefits from the government, as well as a guaranteed monthly pay from work even if you take the whole month off! Not only do you get guaranteed pay and monthly benefits, the government gives out money for its citizens to spend in order to help the economy grow. More consumer, more money. Less consumer, less money. Many in this world aren't poor. Rather, they are well off. It is a peaceful world without conflict and war. It is the ideal world.

But, there are always people who have rather unfortunate fates. On the bridge which reaches across the bay, a woman with dark ebony locks and beautiful facial features, sighs as she looks longingly at all the . If only she could live a little bit longer. If only she didn't have to die. But, fate never works the way we want it too. And this lovely and beautiful lady, only has a couple months left. She'll never be able to meet her soulmate, she'll never be able to see her favorite niece grow up, she'll never be able to grow old with her soulmate. There were just so many things that this lovely lady isn't going to be able to do. And with such unlucky Life Dates, she is not given any support from the government. Because of this, Sujin had to get remarkably good grades and take many part time jobs in order to pay for college. She studied at a local university, and studied two years abroad for her master's. Sujin was only allowed to study abroad if she gained a scholarship. And, she got one. She went to college and completed school. She got both a bachelor's and master's degree. And, is now in training to be the CEO of KI Group. Things are going pretty well.

But, Sujin's time is running short. With only ten months and twenty-five days left, Sujin is desperate. All the things she had planned, all the things she was going to do aren't going to get done.

⌠A couple months left.⌡Sujin thinks to herself. ⌠A couple months left.⌡

A couple months left. Only a couple months left. Sujin will leave soon, causing pain to those closest to her. But, nothing can prevent her from leaving. Fate has already decided that she will die on her twenty-fourth birthday, Christmas Day. The day she is supposed to spend with her loved ones is the day she will leave. The day she was to grow a year older. The day that she wanted to watch Hwayoung open up her gifts. The day that. . . . . .

Sujin's head drops to her chest, sobs causing her small frame to shake. The thought that she can't stay any longer grieves her so. But, when all seemed to be going wrong in her world, Sujin felt someone grab her hand. She turns to find a cute little boy, wearing a red hoodie, holding onto her hand.

"Why are you sad Agasshi?" he asks with his high pitched voice. "Agasshi doesn't look pretty when she's sad. . . . . . ."

Sujin smiles at the boy's attempt to cheer her up. She squeezes his hand and bends down to look him in the eyes.

"Where are your parents little one?" She asks.

"I don't have a mama or a dada. I live at an orphanage." The boy says softly.

"Should I take you back to the orphanage?"

"NO! I WANT AGASSHI TO BE MY MAMA!" The boy screams, his little face turning bright red.

Sujin's weakness is little kids, so how could she say no to this adorable little man. "Ok, I'll be your mama. Come on little one."

The two start walking towards the nearest orphanage. Once they arrive, Sujin notices that the orphanage is in a state of chaos. The adults at the children's home are dashing about shouting a name. They seem to be looking for someone.

"Excuse me," Sujin says as she taps a woman on the shoulder. "Do you know where the main office is? I would like to adopt this little boy here."

The woman looks at the kid and shouts, " I found Hyunwoo! And, someone says they want to adopt him!"

All the other adults rush over and scold Hyunwoo. " Do you know how worried we were? You can't just run off like that!"

Remembering that someone wanted to adopt Hyunwoo, they turn to see a young lady standing a few feet away.

⌠This young lady wishes to adopt our Hyunwoo? What an angel! She's so pretty! She must be sent from the lord above!⌡The adults think to themselves.

" You want to adopt our Hyunwoo?" A woman asks Sujin.

" Yes," Sujin smiles. "He found me in my darkest moment and lit up my world. He made me smile when I was crying. And, I realized how a parent feels when they are comforted by their children. They want to be strong in front of them. And that's what I want to do for this little boy. I want to be the one who is strong and brave. I want to be the one he always looks up to. I want to be his mom."

All the adults that work at the orphanage are deeply moved by Sujin's short speech. Not once, has any person given such a reason to adopt a child. Their hearts felt warm at the thought of Hyunwoo holding Sujin's hand.

⌠This is the right person to let our Hyunwoo go to. She will surely be there for him at all times.⌡

The adults all look at each other and nod. They will let Hyunwoo go live with this young lady. For she will be the mom that Hyunwoo had never had.

"Follow me," one man says to Sujin. "The papers are in my office."

Sujin walks into a rather dust office, and immediately thinks of her crazy brother-in-law.

⌠Jungwoo Oppa would go crazy if he saw this mess. . . . . ⌡Sujin thinks to herself.

The man looks through the pile of papers in his desk and pulls out a Manila folder. In the Manila folder, there's a picture of Hyunwoo attached to a form where all of his information is recorded. The man points to the two lines at the bottom.

"Can I see your ID?" The man asks.

"Oh. Yes." Sujin says while she pulls the ID out of her wristlet. "Here."

The man scans over the ID before handing it back to Sujin. Then points at one of the two lines at the bottom of the paper. "Here's your ID back. Sign here."

Sujin scribbles her signature and looks at the man sitting across from her. The man also signs the paper then puts it back in the Manila folder. He holds out the Manila folder to Sujin. Sujin points to herself, as if asking the man if the folder is hers to keep. He nods. Sujin takes the folder into her hands and hugs it to her chest, obviously happy that she gets to take the cute Hyunwoo home with her. She thanks the man then runs out to the courtyard of the children's home.

"Hyunwoo-ah!" She shouts. "You're coming home with me."

Hyunwoo's little face lights up and he runs to Sujin, who scoops him up into her arms. She pinches his little cheeks and holds him to her chest.

⌠I'll never let you go.⌡Sujin thinks. ⌠Even when I'm gone, I'll always be with you. Mom will never leave you. I will find a way to stay with you forever. I will not die.⌡

She messes with Hyunwoo's hair. "It's time to go home."

Sujin sets him down on the ground and holds out her hand. He grabs her hand, and they leave the orphanage smiling, hand in hand.