Why do humans feel?
Is it because they’re too weak? Or is it because they’re seeking attention?
Humans know for a fact that most of the time, their emotions hinder their success.
They call it ‘heart.’ They call it ‘humanity.’ But isn’t it just an excuse? A way to justify their own limitations? If emotions make them strong, why do they lose because of them?
A person gets a once-in-a-lifetime job offer abroad but refuses because they don’t want to leave their family.
A top student or professional gives up their career path to support their partner’s dreams instead.
Someone gives their lover a second chance out of sentimentality, leading to another betrayal.
These are only a few examples where human emotion holds them back from their potential to actually transcend the world’s limits!
Such emotions were also the reason why ’25’ was having such a hard time with his current mission.
11:35 PM.
In the cramped, antiseptic-scented white room were five figures. One of which was Sanjae Lim, lying on the hospital bed, hooked to a mechanical ventilator.
“I suggest it is best to let him go,” the doctor said to the couple standing beside the young man’s body. “He has been diagnosed with this disease since birth, and I’m afraid he’s not getting any better. In fact, he’s getting worse.”
The old couple began sobbing uncontrollably.
‘Just let me die in peace!’ 25 thought. He wished he could say it out loud, but there was a tube down his throat.
He felt the nurse’s hands hover above the tube, and his heart raced at the thought.
‘Yes. Yes. Yank it out,’ he excitedly chimed.
“What does he need, doctor?” his father desperately asked. “Does he need another operation? I know we don’t have a lot of money, but if it’s the only way to save him, then we can make ends meet.”
25 internally shook his head. He knew they had a negative balance on their bank account, so it was much better to let him go.
His mother nodded in agreement. “Sanjae is our only son,” she cried. “We have been fighting his disease for the longest time. We can’t just give up now.”
25 was slowly losing patience. He wondered if he should just hold his breath so he could finally die. However, the mechanical ventilator was the one doing the breathing for him! The only way for him to die was to actually pull the plug out.
He heard the doctor sigh. “In the end, it is still your decision,” he started off.
Because of this statement, 25 wanted to say all the curse words known to man. This doctor wasn’t helping his situation at all!
“However,” he continued. “He will continue to rely on the machine for an indefinite amount of time. Based on all of his laboratory and imaging results, it would take quite long for him to recover. Now, I’m a believer of miracles, but there will come a time when even miracles seem impossible.”
His lips twitched. ‘Ah, yes. I’ve always liked this doctor.’
“I know how much you love your son,” he said, his voice softening. “I’ve been a witness of it all since Sanjae was still a child. It is heartbreaking to see him transform from a bright, hardworking young man to now, a vegetable.”
His parents’ sobs filled the room.
“And with that, I believe this is what Sanjae would prefer,” he continued.
‘That’s right. You tell them, doctor!’
There was silence for a few more seconds before Sanjae’s mom finally spoke.
“Okay,” she said, her voice filled with resolve. “You’re right. Sanjae had told me last month, before he was hospitalized again, that he wanted a peaceful death.”
His father choked a sob as he looked up to the ceiling. “He even got me that second-hand truck I’ve always wanted. He wanted me to use it to start over, but I couldn’t keep his promise. I sold it for this hospital confinement.”
25 nearly jolted in his bed. What the heck? He worked his ass off to get that truck! He even wrote a novel for two whole years just for it! He was on the five hundredth chapter but couldn’t update since he was hospitalized at the beginning of the month. He even ended on a cliffhanger.
His readers must be cursing at him now, but hey, they weren’t the ones dying on a hospital bed.
Sanjae’s father let out a deep breath. “We will sign the form to terminate the life support,” he finally said.
The doctor pursed his lips before nodding. Meanwhile, 25 rejoiced.
Finally.
11:50 PM.
‘Any moment now,’ he thought.
Just then, he felt it. The doctor pulled the plug, and he found it extremely hard to breathe. Dang, the machine was helping him that much?
He could still hear his parents crying, but he was more focused on making this death as quick as possible.
Slowly, he began losing oxygen. But just when he thought he would see black, his memories of this life flashed in his mind.
The day he was born. His first word. His first steps. His first day of school.
It was quite a bummer, really. His parents were good people—one who gave him a great life despite his chronic illness.
For some reason, his chest began to hurt, and he knew it wasn’t because of his illness. He had become numb from physical pain already.
‘Weird,’ he thought. That was the first time he had felt such a way.
“He never even got to celebrate his 25th birthday.”
“Time of death: 11:59 PM.”
Those were the last words he heard before everything turned black.
[Death Meter: 100%]
[Congratulations!]
[You have completed the mission: Die.]