SMS | Chapter 1.1

Life is so dull.

That’s what I honestly thought, even though older folks might scoff at someone who’s only twenty-eight saying such a thing. But seriously, twenty-eight years isn’t a short amount of time.

Even with a product, if you’ve used it for twenty-eight years, you can write a pretty detailed review, right?

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And if I tried to list out all the crazy things Mino did to make life more interesting, I’d need the sky as my paper and the sea as my ink—and even that might not be enough.

It had already been a year since I quit all those hobbies I used to cling to desperately. The moment I realized all those efforts were meaningless, I dropped everything. All I had left were memories and a bit of knowledge.

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Brushing off the snow piling on his shoulders, Mino mused indifferently.

Will this impression ever change, even as time goes on? Looking back, the review of my life could be summed up as “boring.”

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Mino’s life was exceptionally ordinary, starting from his birth. He was born the only son of a family neither well-off nor struggling. Both parents worked, and he wasn’t exactly a long-awaited child. He grew up under moderate care and attention—no over-the-top excitement about his birth, but also no neglect due to an unwanted arrival. In short, he had a life of average blessings and affection.

“Mom, what was my conception dreams?”

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At some point, the topic of conception dreams came up at school. Whether it was the teacher or a classmate who brought it up, I can’t remember. But I distinctly recall the conversation I had with my parents after they came home from work.

“Hmm, let me think. Wasn’t it a pupa? Right, honey?”

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“Yup. So we just assumed it’d be a boy.”

I didn’t understand why a pupa meant it’d be a boy back then, but what I did know was that it was a super boring answer. Honestly, I would’ve preferred the typical pepper symbol. The next day, when my classmates were talking about dragons or mermaids in their conception dreams, I couldn’t help but feel pathetic.

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A pupa? How lame and gross is that?

My teacher tried to wrap it up nicely, saying, “A pupa transforms into a beautiful butterfly. Maybe your mother had that dream while Mino was still in her belly, hinting at your potential.”

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But now that I’m twenty-eight, my honest impression is: “More like canned food…”

Yep, canned pupae. That’s my life. Grossly dull and utterly predictable.

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Even pupae as a snack don’t hold much appeal—barely welcomed when served free at bars and mostly ignored at supermarkets, even on discount.

My middle school days were even more average. Sure, I studied, but not to any notable extent. I wasn’t the top student nor talented in sports or arts. I was just a regular model student type #1: the kind who ate breakfast, went to school, attended classes, and headed to private academies afterward. I had no real complaints—until I realized not everyone thought life was just like that.

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“Hey, dude, check this out. Isn’t this hot? Take a look.”

Like most kids our age, one friend couldn’t speak without cursing. That day, he was the instigator. I wasn’t antisocial or friendless, so these offers happened from time to time. Usually, I’d find some excuse to escape, but for whatever reason, that day I let myself be dragged along to watch an adult video.

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While my friends were openly reacting, I was stone cold.

Nothing about it interested me. Naked bodies, entwined limbs—it all just seemed… gross. Especially the women’s bodies; they were even harder to look at.

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Strangely, my eyes drifted more to the male actors—their toned muscles or deep voices caught my attention briefly. But even that didn’t last.

“They look like samgyetang.”

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To me, the sight of a naked man and woman entangled on a bed was far from sexy. That blunt assessment made my friends’ faces twist in unison.

“…You should just become a monk or priest, man.”

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“Seriously, are you a eunuch or what?”

“Hey, maybe he was a royal eunuch in his past life! Hahaha!”

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They laughed while I sat there unaffected, not even getting aroused during the entire video. Eventually, they all concluded that I should live a life free of worldly desires.

“I’m heading out.”

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“Hey! Mino, where’re you going?”

“You guys keep watching. I’ve got to get to my academy.”

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I remember bolting out of there like I was running for my life. That memory alone was enough to put me in a sour mood.

The pitch-black sky was showering white snowflakes, a stark contrast to any worldly desires. This year’s first snowfall was unusually early and heavy.

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“It’s so white…”

Mino muttered, his breath steaming in the cold air as he stared blankly at the falling snow. For some reason, snow always made the cold feel less biting. A large snowflake landed on his thick lashes, and he brushed it away with pale hands.

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His steps quickened, crunching through the snow that blanketed the ground, making the streets look like powdered sugar on desserts.

A year ago, he might have forced himself into winter sports or fishing just to feel alive. Not anymore. Now, everything felt like a hassle. Why bother when it wasn’t fun?

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A tiny snowman caught his attention. It must’ve been made by some local kids earlier in the afternoon. Despite its amateurish build, it had a certain charm, adorned with little red berries someone must have found.

“How clever,” he thought. He wanted to admire it longer, but the chill was beginning to seep into his bones.

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Just as he was about to look away, he froze.

“Ah, what the…?”

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Next to the snowman, something tiny was curled up—a small black lump dusted with snow.

“What is that…?”

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As he got closer, he realized it was a tiny kitten, nearly buried under the snow. At first glance, he’d mistaken it for trash someone had abandoned.

Was it alive? He bent down to check, and thankfully, the kitten was breathing—barely. Its tiny body trembled as it clung to life.

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“Oh no…”

Mino had never owned a cat before, but it was painfully obvious the kitten was in dire shape. As he gently picked it up, it let out a weak cry. He quickly took off his coat, wrapped it around the kitten, and held it close to his chest, hoping to share some warmth. Snowflakes began soaking his shoulders, but he didn’t care.

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What now?

He scanned his surroundings in a panic. He couldn’t just let it die—it was a life now entrusted to him. Most stores were closed, but a faint light caught his eye. A small animal hospital he usually passed by without a second thought.

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He approached the door anxiously, only to see the lights go out. His heart sank. There wasn’t even a “24-hour” sign to give him hope.

Then, just as he stood there in despair, the door opened, and a tall man stepped out, adjusting his scarf.

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“Excuse me…”

Mino trailed off. The man turned his back to lock the door, and Mino hesitated. Was this man the veterinarian? He was so tall Mino had to crane his neck just to meet his eyes. He certainly didn’t fit the image of a TV vet.

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The man looked at him, puzzled, and asked, “What is it?”

His voice was so deep and pleasant that Mino’s ears perked up. And his face… Mino was speechless. The man was so stunning it was almost intimidating. Mino’s breath hitched—now he understood why people said someone too good-looking could be scary.

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“What’s wrong?”

The man looked tired, but instead of looking disheveled, it gave him a model-like aura. Even his crisp suit, perfectly tailored, made Mino’s shabby clothes seem embarrassing. But there was no time to dwell on that.

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Mino gathered himself and blurted out, “It’s dying.”

“…Should I call 119?”

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The man’s casual tone caught him off guard, and Mino realized too late he hadn’t specified who was dying.

“Not me. The kitten.”

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Mino opened his coat to reveal the shivering kitten. The man sighed softly, nodded, and stepped aside to reopen the door he had just locked.

“Come in.”

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Reopening the door he was about to lock just moments ago.