The theme of this Small Talk is to make a “relay novel” with the Tidings writers. A relay novel is a story which is written in succession by a number of people, like how a relay race is run. I took the first part of the novel, and randomly chose who to write after me.

I hope you enjoy reading it.

Chung Minkyung

If there’s a God in the world, people thought maybe it was God’s mischief. People’s time began to run backwards. One was born as an old man and ended their life as a baby. No one knew why. However, a few were born in the form of middle-aged or young men. Some might say that it would be good to not suffer from old age, but it was not that simple. Their life was shortened. Their desired lifespan was fixed at the moment of their birth.

Shim Hyebeen

It became natural to be born as an old man and die as a newborn. One day, in a village, something strange happened. It was the birth of a young baby. The middle-aged parents were so embarrassed but didn’t have enough time to think about it, because it became known to the world quickly. Doctors from all over the world flocked to the village to solve this mysterious secret. The baby fell asleep quietly, not knowing how many people focused on her and how long she could live.

Lee Jumi

Unlike the concerns of other people, the baby survived. She grew up in full health. However, she was not able to play with her peers. The old children were too weak to stand her power of youth. So, she hung out with the elders, who had strength. But this did not last long, either. She could not bear the worn out souls inside their young bodies. She was lonely. One night, she packed her bags and quietly left her home.

Cho Suyeon

She carried money, food, a small watch, and her favorite doll, and wore a cloak so as not to be noticed. It took only a few minutes for her to leave the small town. She didn’t know what she was going to do, but she felt a great release. She believed that she could make real friends who truly understood her.

She walked and walked. Then she checked her watch as she heard the bird songs in the morning. “I’ve already been walking for five hours!” she thought. She stopped to rest and sat on the roadside. But soon she looked back with surprise because of a strange sound.

“Hi, girl with a red riding hood,” the wolf said.

“I see your pocket watch is moving anticlockwise!”

Han Suji

“Hi. Isn’t my watch cool?” the girl asked. The wolf with a twinkle in its eyes said, “It is amazing. I want to have it. Do you want to exchange yours with mine?” In an instant, the fact she was an outsider flitted through her mind. She really wanted to accept the proposal. However, she didn’t know the exact age of the wolf. She couldn’t take a risk. So, she used her wits. “I will exchange it with you if you go with me for a week.” She had hidden intentions to become a normal person by getting the wolf’s watch. It didn’t look like a big deal, but this suggestion would bring a great change in the future.

Cho Aruem

The wolf seemed nicer than she expected. He would feed her and give a place to stay. Unlike the original plan, they stayed together for weeks, and in the meantime she found out that the wolf was only a few years older than her. She would try not to admit it, but they fell in love. Finally, one night, under the shadow of the Almighty, they exchanged each other’s watches. She was so happy that she could give him what he wanted while taking what she wanted at the same time. She didn’t realize it when they exchanged the watches, but they exchanged bodies as well. After everything, she was trapped in the wolf’s body.

Lee Giwon

Cursed to be a wolf, the girl was devastated. The wolf, on the other hand, was mesmerized with the human body. It did not hesitate to betray the girl. It left her alone, gone to find people who aged properly, just like its new body. The girl, who was now a wolf, could not believe that she had been abandoned. Blinded by sadness, she dragged herself into a cave, and shut herself up. She then swore to herself that she would find the wolf in her body and tear him apart to pieces. There would be no mercy for the abhorrent traitor. She kept herself alive by consuming the smallest amount of mugwort and garlic. A hundred dreadful days passed.

Lee Taehwi

After hundreds of unexpected miseries had passed, she felt something in her heart. It felt like someone was talking to her, telling her to get out of the cave as soon as she could. For a few days, she tried to evade this eerie feeling in her mind. However, it was clear that she had to do what her heart was telling her to do. Eventually, she found herself walking in the woods, and a strange boy was sitting on a piece of a log few hundred feet in front of her. That boy seemed a little different. Her instinct was telling her that the boy had what she had been longing for. It was not long before she went up to him, saying, “Hi. I see your pocket watch is moving anticlockwise!”

Ha Jungyoon

“That sounds familiar.” The boy stood up and whisked the dirt off his pants. The wolf was shocked as the boy continued. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you again.” The wolf asked the boy, trembling, “W... why did you leave me?” The boy answered, “Well, I just thought that it would be fun to live as a human being, but like, you know, I, well… you weren’t normal.” He continued with an awkward smile, “I know you want it too. Here’s your pocket watch. Let’s fix the things right together.” The wolf felt her heart beating faster than ever. Outraged with anger, she approached the boy, growling menacingly. Splashes of blood oozed out of the boy as the wolf tore him apart into pieces of flesh. After her cruel revenge, she muttered to herself as she licked her paw slowly. “This isn’t bad after all.” She smiled and howled, “Awooo,” just like a ‘wolf.’

Chung Minkyung  7carrot@naver.com

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