4 Good Opportunities are hard to Come by

Gudu. Gudu.

Gudu. Gudu.

The underwater world was serene, with all the noise and clamor gradually fading. Only the gentle, bubbling sound of water surged in his ears. Troubling thoughts began to settle, and Ronan briefly returned to a state of deafness. This allowed him to regain his bodily equilibrium, and the scattered thoughts wandering in the universe slowly started to return. Even his heartbeat began to slow down.

Plop. Plop!

His heart thudded steadily against his chest, a clear reminder that he was still alive. It wasn't until the oxygen in his lungs was nearly depleted that he suddenly lifted his head from the bathroom sink.

Crash.

The icy cold water dripped down his wet cheeks as he vigorously rubbed them with both hands. It was as if he was mobilizing every muscle in his body, vigorously shaking his brain to life. Then, he exhaled deeply, expelling the stale air from his chest. The chaotic thoughts in his mind gradually subsided. Gravity pulled him back to reality, and his brain finally fully awakened.

Ronan wiped away the water droplets on the bathroom mirror, but stubborn stains had accumulated over the years, making the reflection appear hazy and indistinct. At this moment, a young and unfamiliar face stared back at him.

Beneath his arched eyebrows were a pair of long, clear eyes with a faintly visible halo of colors deep within them. The naturally relaxed corners of his mouth showed no particular emotion. The tall bridge of his nose cast a gentle shadow, adding a touch of softness to his lips.

The corners of his mouth were tugged into a small, exaggerated smile like a clown forcing out a grin. Ronan couldn't contain his laughter any longer as he saw this smile forming.

Snapped.

Ronan lightly patted his cheeks twice, the sound crisp in the water-filled bathroom. The smile in his eyes grew even more expansive, and the chaotic and bitter emotions began to dissipate. Gravity grounded him, allowing his brain to fully awaken.

So, he should feel fortunate.

Not because he had traveled from 2020 to 2012 but because... he could hear. The world was so clear. He could also see, and the veil shrouded his vision had vanished.

Indeed, he could sense the world again.

The dark green tile floor was covered in dirty moss and grime, with mold creeping up the dark yellow walls, flourishing wildly in every corner. Even the dark brown wooden windowsill hadn't been spared, offering little room for the industrious spiders trying to spin their webs.

The flimsy bathroom door couldn't block out the raucous noise outside the bar. The roar of engines from the parking lot at the back, along with the scent of gasoline, seeped in. The dim red taillights hinted that night was approaching its quiet hours. People were starting to leave, one by one.

Ronan hungrily scanned every corner of his field of vision, even the dirtiest ones. All the colors were vivid and vibrant, and the sounds were clear and transparent. Standing there, he could feel the contours of the world without needing to use his hands to explore it.

Finally, his gaze returned to the dirty mirror. He stared intently at the face before him once more.

Then... he started winking and making faces!

"Why, do I look so funny?"

No matter how challenging it was, Ronan did his best to mobilize his five senses, engaging every facial muscle, even his tongue and nose.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2012 World Face Contest finals. We are now in the closing moments of the championship round."

"At this moment, the contestant Ronan from China is attempting a five-star difficulty performance. He just completed a challenging 'withered chrysanthemum' combined with an 'eyebrow battle,' which already earned him the highest score of 4.82 in the game. Now, he is challenging his record, striving for a super six-star difficulty grotesque face!"

"Wow!"

"He did it! He really did it! The judges are giving a standing ovation and all awarding him perfect fives! Ronan wins the Face Contest and officially becomes the world's ugliest face champion!"

Ronan raised his hands high and flashed a bright smile in front of the mirror. It felt as though the audience's thunderous applause echoed in his ears.

Ha ha.

Ronan couldn't help but burst into laughter again. He looked at the face in the mirror, slowly getting accustomed to it. He scrutinized it carefully and discovered a faint sense of familiarity as if he could recognize himself in those bright eyes. In truth, he had no idea what he would look like when he grew older; his memories were limited to his childhood.

"Maybe when I grow up, my eyes will look like this."

Maybe... this was his chance to rewrite his life.

He could hear once more, he could see once more. Disease was no longer an obstacle restricting his progress, and darkness was no longer a reason for stalling his dreams. He wanted to explore the world with his feet, shape his life with his hands, embark on daring adventures, and steadfastly pursue his dreams. What would life be like?

Furthermore, he wanted to use music as a bridge to break down barriers, allowing people to reconnect emotionally in the cold and distant modern world. He hoped to help them rediscover their warmth and tenderness, finding a bit of happiness nestled deep within their hearts.

Although Ronan didn't understand why he'd been granted a second chance by some twist of fate, he cherished this rare opportunity. He aimed to chase his dream, not only to realize it but, more importantly, to make this journey unique.

He wanted to bloom like a summer flower, even if it was a brief bloom that faded quickly. It didn't matter; at least, he had bloomed exuberantly. With only one life to live, he pondered the meaning of existence when missing out on too many wonderful things due to fear or compromise.

"King for a Day."

Ronan carefully contemplated the name of the band, and a smile slowly spread across his lips. He aspired to be a king, even if it were just for one day.

With this in mind, Ronan turned his attention back to the face in the mirror. Confidence and determination gleamed in his eyes. The initial panic, restlessness, trepidation, and fear quietly dissipated. Even his jumbled thoughts settled, and then... he made another funny face in the mirror, contorting his mouth and eyes like a playful ghost, laughter bubbling up from his chest.

He turned and pushed the bathroom door open, which felt surprisingly heavy. As the door swung open, it revealed a figure rushing toward him.

Ronan quickly took a step back, narrowly avoiding the incoming figure. It turned out to be Ollie, who stumbled forward and landed on the ground in an embarrassing heap.