CHAPTER 1: THE CUBE

Year 20XX

Hana-Puellaweo City - MedExpert Co.

Interrogation Cube

Video 71: Going Live . . .

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Standby . . .

Preparing Stream . . .

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Preparation Complete.

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Live Interrogation: No. 71

Starting in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

Beep—

"Please introduce yourself."

This place is too bright for my eyes. Probably because I'm so used to staying in the dark. Windows were closed in my room due to the daily strong wind and heavy rains. Not even a single ray of sunlight can go through it, even its warmth.

Summer doesn't exist in this world I was born in including the other two seasons, Spring and Autumn. Only the harsh snow of Winter visits us. But most of my years here, only the cold drops of rain can be felt and witnessed outside almost everyday.

Those nonexistent seasons only lived in people's imagination. Or perhaps it's an old memory that only the elders remember. It turned into a tale rather than a part of the history since no one has seen it with their very own eyes. No one has the proof that these seasons existed. Oh, how they wished they could see its beauty. Yet their hopes and beliefs are starting to become like a pen in which its ink runs out.

And just like that...my belief of it existing has come to a halt.

"...Number 71?"

A man dressed in a white medical uniform called out to me, placing his hand on the cold rectangular table before us. He seemed to be around his 30's.

Then there's me, sitting across him with a white robe and a nameplate of 71 attached on my chest area. Thankfully, my hands aren't cuffed. This all-white place isn't a prison anyway.

But not gonna lie, I'm starting to think that it was.

"Number 71?"

This is really frustrating me. If only this was just a dream...I wish I could wake up now. And if that ever happens, I wouldn't be involved with them.

"Number 71, you must introdu—"

"My name...is NOT 71, sir," I shot him a glare. "I am kindly asking you to..." I let out huff, interrupting his gentle statements.

"Well I was never 'kindly' escorted into this damn cube," Isn't this a medical facility? Why are there so many armed men? This place is indeed suspicious just like how that prick described it to me.

Everything is being recorded while all the staff of this white prison is outside, watching me from the screen. Hell, I think the whole nation can see me. The camera serves as the eyes of the citizens of Hana-Puellaweo and I can tell they are terrified of seeing me. In their eyes, I am some kind of a threat within the city.

"...I want all the people to know me as a victim. Not a criminal nor someone dangerous," We only wanted one thing. Because of this crisis, the innocents have no power and a chance to live normally.

"We wanted freedom...and find the cure. That is why I and my colleagues formed this group for the sake of the city and for those who've lost their loved ones."

The man tapped his pen on the files lying on the table. The way he looked at me gave me a hint of doubt. He thinks that finding the cure without doing proper research is ridiculous—that we're here to steal their research papers and use them for our own advantage.

He's wrong.

We're using a different method. It may be a complex one, but I'm certain that most of us know what it was. I bet this man wouldn't care less we believe on such absurdity. Well, the plague affecting us has that absurd root. Wouldn't that at least makes sense to him?

He blinked before preparing another question. The next one is really easy to tell.

"Would you tell us...who leads your group?" he inquired as he placed his pen down next to the files. I knew he would ask that, he seemed curious when I mentioned I'm in a group against their facility. Although, I couldn't care less about the question.

"No one is leading us, that's for sure," I told him while my eyes wander around the room to look for hidden cameras.

Speaking of our group, only one of us has the upper hand. However, it wasn't me. It was someone else. I don't have enough information about that guy, unfortunately. He's been keeping himself reserved. His real identity is difficult to dig into, and I bet they won't be able to track him down.

"What exactly is your group plotting?" He fired another question, which what he said got me infuriated. I slumped down on my seat as I glanced back at him with my brows frowning.

"Plotting?" I scoffed. Are they seriously forcing us to make us look like the villains here? "—We're looking for answers. Aren't we all?" Silence took over after my response.

Wasn't that enough for an answer? This interview is really testing my patience. I quickly shifted my posture and I leaned closer to the table. "Not satisfied? Fine. I'll tell you this..."

I quickly searched for the camera around the room until I caught a faint gleam of the lens from the ceiling on my right. There, I faced the audience watching behind the camera.

They must've been waiting for the answers they are craving to know. "I...am the Green Gladiolus,"

I also carry the disease within me. I still couldn't find the cure because of the unexpected events in my life. The disease has spread all over the country and the source is still unknown.

For 2 years of suffering, I've understood how it killed dozens of people. The disease can only be confirmed when an individual suffers from extreme coughing. As much as how common the symptoms were, the most painful side of this disease is how flowers start to bloom inside your lungs then up to your throat. And then, it will continuously sprout out of your mouth.

How odd, right? It was suffocating enough to get our hearts affected that leads us to our deaths. The reason how we got it? It's because of this thing called LOVE.

"These flowers that grow within us are a sign of the disease..."

"But once it wasn't shared with the person you love, the flower grows and makes you feel miserable," It forces its way out which makes us cough it out. If we couldn't accept being rejected, the sickness remains. The more we longed for their love, the more painful it gets.

"But did you know that only Love can cure us? What kind of fuckery is this, is that what you guys are thinking right now?" I glanced at the man who has been listening to me before turning back at the camera on the ceiling.

"But here's a thing...It's one of the best medicines. If 'love' started it, then love will end it," I leaned closer to the table and rested my arm against it.

"Wouldn't that be interesting to know that Love can cure you than swallowing pills or removing them through surgery?"

I know this wouldn't convince a lot of people. Most of them think it's bullshit while some would think they've thought about it. It's just that they had no chance of succeeding. But if they will always rely on MedExpert Corporation, the city might turn into a zombie land. I can't afford to see people looking so lifeless from the streets...If the world I see already seemed monochromatic, what else would it look like when humans lost their sense to love again?

"...Do you have any more to ask?"

The man flipped through the papers before pinning them back to his clipboard. He eventually faced me with his eyes fixated on mine.

"Green Gladiolus...It's a nice code name, how did you come up with it?" I rolled my eyes as a starting response of this stupid question.

"Isn't it pointless to ask if you already know the answer?"

"...I see," He gave me another look before standing up from his seat to end the interview. I immediately called him out by telling him something he shouldn't forget. It's like a criminal's last words if ever they are in death row.

"You know what, Doctor? 'Doctor'...You don't deserve to have that title," I blurted the words I've been itching to tell him ever since the first time I have lost someone dear to me. He was the one who took care of my friend and yet he was barely there to cure him. I believe we have opposite concepts about what a doctor is. But one thing's for sure, this man right here doesn't care about the people. He just wanted recognition.

He looked back at me with his brows frowning. That face is what I'm expecting him to show me. That look is something I would definitely laugh at. The Doctor quickly changed his expression. Now he looked as if he wasn't bothered about what I've uttered. I smiled at him, amused by his reaction.

"...I've saved a lot of lives, young miss," he said, attempting to save face. And of course, I began to burst out a laugh.

"Is that the only thing that matters to you? That's not how I remember you...Doctor." I replied as I rest my chin on my palm. He just gave me a glare. I know this man is up to something. Thanks to a certain 'someone' I discovered his true intentions. It could be my chance to use it against him.

Doctor Jin Yun Seok...I know there's something else you are after, and you will always try to find a way to take it to your own advantage.

"...Number 71, I suggest you not to speak further for I am already done here," he shut me up as he sighed sharply. "What? That's it? I thought this is an interrogation? Why was I interviewed instead, huh?" I asked, as I was expecting some more violence from this medical facility. "And here I thought you're fond of hitting people, Doctor."

"Nonsense. Don't think badly of me. I am only doing my job, young miss" he stated with a frown as he let out a short huff.

Why shouldn't I? You know very well who's in the wrong here.

He took the liberty to leave the room as I watched him close the door while it slowly creaks. Between the gap, he gave me a watchful gaze.

The door shuts, then silence took over. I am now left alone in this blinding room with nothing but blinking cameras.

Good. It's still on.

I should thank them later for leaving it on for me. I guess they've successfully hacked through the facility's system. I can now deliver the message I wanted.

As I wrapped my hands together, I faced the camera one last time to deliver my one last message.

"Let me introduce myself again...I am Green Gladiolus, one of the WANTED citizens that have been infected by the disease," I gulped down as I clasped my hands together to endure the aching pain in my chest.

"...I am just like all of you, struggling to get a cure. And I assure you that I'm on your side. I do not wish for you people to suffer any longer," I focused my emerald-like optics on the camera's lens, hoping people could see me clearly.

"I won't let society think that we're the villains. There can be only one villain that we must face...and it's this damn disease."

"Believe me when I say...if you want to stay human, don't trust these fuckers to get rid of the flower. That flower is part of you, but you and you alone can let it die. That's the power of our emotions—that's the power...of LOVE."

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Livestream has ended . . .

Beep—

Love can kill, Love can heal

Love is blind, Love is clear

No matter what you say, it will always give us conflicted views.

Love is risky, Love is safe

What only matters was that we can feel emotions rather than being numb.

Love...Love...Love.....So sweet, yet so bitter.

How long would it last till our hearts grow flowers?

How long would it last till these feelings... prosper?