The dim glow of a single candle flickered within the quaint, wooden room, casting playful shadows against the intricately painted walls adorned with traditional Korean art. Jimin, dressed in her vibrant pink hanbok—the iridescent silk catching the light in a way only a ghost could appreciate—sat cross-legged on the floor. Beside her, Jungkook, in a deep navy hanbok, appeared equally perplexed, his boyish features scrunching as he stared at an ornate object resting on his lap.
“Are you sure this is how the future communicates?” Jungkook asked, his voice laced with curiosity blended with a touch of disbelief. He held the sleek black phone, its screen gleaming like a polished mirror, completely foreign to him. “It looks like magic!”
“Yes, it’s like an enchanted mirror,” Jimin mused, trying to sound wise. She had only just learned what technology was, thanks to Winter’s enthusiastic descriptions of her world, which amounted to a mix of wonder and bewilderment. “But...” Her brows knitted together in concentration, “How do you even make it work?”
“Maybe it’s a puzzle,” Jungkook suggested, a smirk appearing as he tried to maneuver the device with both hands. “Like those Chinese puzzles I used to play with! Just pull the right corner and…”
With a dramatic flair, Jungkook jabbed at the screen, and it let out a digital chime that sent the two of them jumping back. “What did you do?” Jimin exclaimed, clutching her hanbok, her eyes wide.
“I don’t know! I don’t think it liked my approach,” Jungkook defended, waving his hands like he was dismissing a ghost. “Let’s try again. How hard can it be?”
• • •
After several minutes of failed attempts which included an impromptu thumb wrestling contest with the phone, Jimin threw her hands in the air in exasperation. “It’s obviously too advanced for our historical sensibilities!” She glanced at Jungkook. “I’m going to blame you if this doesn’t work. You made it angry!”
Jungkook feigned horror, clutching his heart in mock surprise. “Me? I was just trying to tame it like one of those wild horses! It’s not my fault it’s… what did you call it? An ‘iPhone’?”
“It’s supposed to be a phone. A means of communication! How can we talk to Winter if this doesn’t even unlock?” Jimin leaned in closer, squinting, as if her gaze could somehow penetrate the mysteries of the modern gadget.
“Wait!” Jungkook had a brilliant thought, his eyes sparkling as he pointed dramatically. “What if we treat it like a flower? You know, they grow better with sweet talk?”
“Oh! So you want me to sweet-talk the phone?” Jimin quirked an eyebrow, a playful grin creeping onto her face. “Alright, let me try. Oooooo, phone, you beautiful creation of the future, please reveal your secrets to me!”
Jungkook laughed, his laughter ringing like a wind chime in the breeze. “I can feel its reluctance. But maybe it just needs a more poetic approach! Why not try reciting a classic?” he suggested, rolling his shoulders back dramatically. “How about something by Yi Sang-wu?”
“Wait, I can’t just whip out a poetical masterwork on a whim!” Jimin protested, giggling at the absurdity of the situation. “But okay, how about this—‘Roses are red, violets are blue, unlock this phone, or I’ll park my shoe!’”
“Is that how it’s done these days?” Jungkook chuckled. “I think I’ve stumbled into a poetic time warp! The soul of the 50s must be turning in its grave!”
“Maybe that’s why we’re stuck in time!” Jimin winked and gave it another shot by caressing the device gently. “C’mon, phone, you want to help us talk to Winter, right? You might get more fame than in the history books!”
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ATTACHED • Winrina
FanfictionWinter kept receiving letters from an unknown recipient. One day, the recipient wrote her name and date. She discovered they were decades apart. ❗Winter × Karina❗
