Love Across Universe

Changes Are Important, But Not All

Soojin

So, there I was, sitting with Lucas to complete our Math project. He looked like a nerd, and he truly was. He was doing the calculations while I leisurely flipped through the pages of his encyclopedia, enjoying the break and letting him do the heavy task. It was rude, I knew, but I was incredibly bored.

"I see you have a strong interest in Science, Miss Min," Lucas said, his eyes fixed on his calculations.

"Can we drop the formalities? Come on, we're friends," I replied, putting the book down.

"Correction - classmates, or more precisely, project partners," he said, stressing 'project partners' more than 'classmates.'

"You know what? You really need to get a life," I said, sitting beside him. I wanted to check if he was really okay. Too much math could make anyone a little crazy.

"Soojin, I'm serious. These ties - friends, family, parties - they're all temporary pleasures," he finally looked at me.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Soojin, listen carefully... someone once told me that these enjoyments are fleeting. Yes, we need them, but not always. Once you achieve your goal, the happiness you feel is what's known as permanent pleasure," he said clearly and deliberately.

Months later, our final exam scores were released, and Lucas, the shy, nerdy, introverted boy, shocked everyone by securing the top position. Perfect scores in Astrophysics, Math, and Robotics were no joke.

"Hey, you, stop!" I called out.

Lucas halted and turned around.

"Oh hey, Miss Min. Congratulations on your 6th place. Your hard work paid off," he said with a casual smile.

"7th place, actually. And thanks. I'm not going to congratulate you since many already did," I said quickly.

"One more congratulations is just the same as the fifty I've already received," he remarked.

"How did you do it?" I asked, giving him a look that was a mixture of curiosity, excitement, and confusion.

"Leave behind your temporary pleasures," he said, walking away.

But I couldn't let it go. I chased after him. "Hey, stop! Who gave you this advice? It's meaningless. Intelligence comes from the accumulation of neurons in the brain."

"You can believe that if you want. This advice was given to me by Mr. Alain Abreo. He asked me to pass it on to you because he believed he wasn't the right person to tell you," he said before walking away.

My world stopped. Was this even real? Sweat formed on my forehead. Alain had been gone for so long. Mentally, I had assumed he was no more, and now it was time to let go. But I knew I couldn't.

Oh God! What was happening to me? My mind went numb. I was trying to move on, but the universe kept finding ways to remind me of him. Please stop playing these tricks and bring him back to me. Just bring him back.

I wasn't crying, nor did my eyes become glossy. I was too shocked to accept these tricks. I was confused. No, it couldn't be possible. I couldn't cry. What had happened, had happened. There's no use of crying over spilt milk.

The past was past; there was no going back. That's why I hated history.

All my attempts to console myself failed as hot tears ran down my cheeks. I fell to my knees and broke down.

"Soojin, are you okay? Don't be sad; you did well, and we know you'll do even better," I heard Anna's voice, and I felt embarrassed.

I ran away... ran home, to my comfort person, my unnie.

"Unnie!" I broke down, and she was shocked.

She embraced me, and we sat on her bed. I explained everything to her.

"Soojinah, it happens... be calm. Listen, the universe isn't playing tricks. It's because you're overthinking. You're stressed. I know you never had many friends, and in America, it got worse. You can't fit into groups, and Alain was like you. It's not your fault. You're a human too," she comforted me for the next hour, and her words worked like magic.

I went back to my room. Maybe now I could stop thinking about what happened. I felt my eyes getting heavy, and my body was becoming... paralyzed? Wait, what was happening to me? No!

"Is the universe playing tricks on you?" a voice echoed.

"Why are you doing this? What have we done?"

"What have you done? Oh God! The culprits are asking for an explanation of their deeds."

"We've done nothing wrong. Leave me alone. Let my Soojin live."

"Of course, I have to leave the main culprit lives, right? Or else it wouldn't be any fun."

"What did she do?"

"Playing with time and space, creating a bridge between realities isn't something a normal person can do, right?"

The next moment, I opened my eyes and found myself lying on the floor, my head hurting like hell. Who were those people? The voice that was questioning and pleading sounded like Alain's. Wait! Ugh, no. I was overthinking again. But the other voice... it wasn't human, animal, or robotic.

That voice didn't belong to any earthly beings. They had an unearthly, eerie tone. But I was mentioned in their conversation, and I couldn't remember everything clearly.

What had I done?

Was the universe playing tricks on me?

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Everything is so confusing!! Both for the author as well for the readers 🙃🙃
But believe me, you're gonna enjoy the ending 🤭
Till then, remain hangin'
Lots of love 💓 💓 😘 😘