[COMPLETE] First Time

TRANSMISSION 06 - YOU

The cause of death was meeting you, Pil's voice echoed in my head.

"So... Sungjin is destined to die as long as he and I are bound together?"

I love you best when you're happy.

I've forgotten when I was last happy and if I still know how.

If I back out now, Pil won't hold it against me.

But that's just the thing.

For Sungjin's happiness...

With that thought, I made up my mind.

Even if my heart has broken into a million pieces.

"Then I'm cutting that bond today. What do I need to do, Pil?"

He led me to another Dome Chamber, this time the one which housed the Maker's Spindle - a machine which enhanced their power and enabled them to choose what thread to manipulate.

"Your first day of school for the last year is tomorrow, right?"

I nodded, and Pil configured the settings of the Spindle. He then closed his eyes and placed his palm on the motherboard and suddenly the Spindle started to turn, a multiverse thread shining with an iridescent light. The thread then went towards a portal tube and the thread hung there, as if it was waiting expectantly for what will happen next.

"You're about to enter a timeline where the two of you never met and the chances of the both of you meeting is less than 1%. You get to continue as a regular Multiverse Manipulation graduating student in the Institute. He's a post graduate intern under the SpaceTime program. I'm still your best friend and when you go through there, you can still count on me because I remember everything, too."

I wiped my tears away and stood in front of Pil, who was busy finetuning the Spindle. He went towards me and wiped my tears with his sleeves.

"Less contact is the best and only shot, okay? The moment you guys meet, this reality will merge with that... And that Sungjin's reality will have to go through the sick years he's going through now like the first time... But you'll be going through it all over again."

"Pil? How can I ever repay you for this?"

He looked lost in thought for a while, then nodding to himself, he stood in front of me.

Pil held my face in his palms and looked at me straight in the eye. He slowly leaned in and kissed my forehead. After a while I opened my eyes that I didn't know I had closed, and looked at Pil confused, my face feeling hot.

It was only Pil. Pil, who I grew up with and cared for me like a little sister he never had. Pil, who was always there for me. Pil, who cheered on me and cheered me up. Kim Wonpil, my best friend, the big brother I never had... Was a man.

"Wh - what was that, Pil?"

He looked at me with his poker face, walked slowly away from me, and placed his hands on the control board once more. A multiverse portal opened, bathing me in light.

Everything blurred, colors swirled and before everything went black, the last thing I heard was,

"You've already paid dearly for all this so... That was a good luck charm..."

"And my payment."