He didn't answer right away.148Please respect copyright.PENANALjbRDC1RtT
148Please respect copyright.PENANA1cmfUQ1cVj
Because he knew—it wasn't a question one could answer in a single breath.148Please respect copyright.PENANAFg4Ox1de3v
It was a riddle that required the soul to slowly shed its layers,148Please respect copyright.PENANAhymixSxQIL
to be rewoven before it could respond.148Please respect copyright.PENANA4XVVR3C0yA
148Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZcgBTvsMJ
"Do you think I still have a choice?" he whispered, as if asking himself.148Please respect copyright.PENANAns6WCGSGvw
148Please respect copyright.PENANAX2Ki0xRI8F
"You were never given a choice,"148Please respect copyright.PENANAIKsJwCVuYa
Bai Zi-Ming replied, his gaze calm like a still river,148Please respect copyright.PENANAhohHm8Ou4s
but with currents hidden deep beneath.148Please respect copyright.PENANAajNzIzgAie
"What you've always had—was burden."148Please respect copyright.PENANA7OMfpl6iQ4
148Please respect copyright.PENANAArzDjzPr8o
He tried to speak,148Please respect copyright.PENANAafC8elcTRe
but his throat was parched,148Please respect copyright.PENANAex5L9dyxQQ
his voice buried beneath layers of fractured time.148Please respect copyright.PENANAb6Vg14zoaj
The ungrasped past, the names too dangerous to recall,148Please respect copyright.PENANAMXYreXOCLh
and the cross in his pocket—148Please respect copyright.PENANAGVmwI2nVvx
all pressed against his breath like a weight.148Please respect copyright.PENANAFskSdvvlXp
148Please respect copyright.PENANA5F5bbVpLf0
"You want the truth behind the 281 days?"148Please respect copyright.PENANA132cDKp7vg
Bai Zi-Ming asked suddenly, his voice nearly a whisper.148Please respect copyright.PENANAFjwQxIYkY5
"Then understand this:148Please respect copyright.PENANA2iN4HgFDhC
your memory was never from a single source."148Please respect copyright.PENANA0NroLr2jZF
148Please respect copyright.PENANAh8Z0jj1o6w
"…Meaning?" He looked up, brow furrowed.148Please respect copyright.PENANAVGaBGlVqbW
148Please respect copyright.PENANAizdFuqMv7A
"You've been… adjusted.148Please respect copyright.PENANAI7e7mllhBr
Or rather, your time has been written, rewritten, and folded again."148Please respect copyright.PENANAAxGTJNBGer
148Please respect copyright.PENANAx02bi13TyC
"Each moment you remember—148Please respect copyright.PENANAP7tO2NgZAb
may come from yourself,148Please respect copyright.PENANAZUM9J1pREG
another version of you,148Please respect copyright.PENANA1JlT3lGY2Q
or a future that hasn't yet occurred."148Please respect copyright.PENANA9HewMG3DPv
148Please respect copyright.PENANAYVAr4aRN5V
Silence stretched between them,148Please respect copyright.PENANAPiOPKBsZsr
like the broken timeline unraveling inside his mind.148Please respect copyright.PENANAtwcYUE99Pk
148Please respect copyright.PENANApUvFtWVb3I
He suddenly remembered the photo—148Please respect copyright.PENANAkwLv1oUEC5
the clock frozen at 28:01.148Please respect copyright.PENANAyAbW12cimG
It wasn't the end of time.148Please respect copyright.PENANA43KBSDrkfJ
It was a new beginning, in another form.148Please respect copyright.PENANAsIAyNhupkg
148Please respect copyright.PENANA1UX4cc3K8d
"So who am I now?"148Please respect copyright.PENANArvb1QxCqwg
He asked softly. But this time, there was no tremble in his voice.148Please respect copyright.PENANAnPMm33poDp
148Please respect copyright.PENANA32dx4bs0VF
Bai Zi-Ming didn't answer immediately.148Please respect copyright.PENANAVx0SyxITe5
Instead, he stepped closer, and said quietly, with clarity:148Please respect copyright.PENANAKncwU4mmim
148Please respect copyright.PENANAcHu6jpmrAY
"You are the one who—across every version—chose to remain."148Please respect copyright.PENANACbYAAQPWzd
148Please respect copyright.PENANAl6QComZO15
The moment those words landed,148Please respect copyright.PENANAeKj8i1TFE7
something inside him stirred—148Please respect copyright.PENANAMPIJm4K4NB
not breaking,148Please respect copyright.PENANAy0Sxla4vUt
but realigning.148Please respect copyright.PENANAaeOx6lmMaI
148Please respect copyright.PENANAUKgmxH1juT
"When you're ready," Bai Zi-Ming said, turning into the shadows,148Please respect copyright.PENANAtA8ZGNrSb8
"come back to me.148Please respect copyright.PENANA37G7wOxLUk
But remember—don't be late again.148Please respect copyright.PENANAiWvDBABxJY
One more delay, and you will forget who you are."148Please respect copyright.PENANAgesU7dgCGy
148Please respect copyright.PENANA05Uj11z2wu
The lights in the hallway flickered,148Please respect copyright.PENANAgcJdsPdiQt
like a memory signal about to be severed.148Please respect copyright.PENANAVaPW40eHTY
148Please respect copyright.PENANAqnB8WjMNhY
He stood still.148Please respect copyright.PENANAZrNGZsxDjq
Didn't chase,148Please respect copyright.PENANAdx4IXsmV9O
didn't turn back.148Please respect copyright.PENANAMmPFJDG355
148Please respect copyright.PENANAf9fm2bicQJ
Because he knew—148Please respect copyright.PENANADqM1AF7x67
the silence in that moment was already a kind of wordless promise.148Please respect copyright.PENANAmCIOmPRTV6
148Please respect copyright.PENANAc5wDf4yCF0
He lifted a hand and held the cross in his pocket.148Please respect copyright.PENANA2qh8wXhSls
His fingertips trembled slightly.148Please respect copyright.PENANADlgSstf0w2
It wasn't just cold metal—148Please respect copyright.PENANAI7XcJDTHdd
it was a key to every possibility.148Please respect copyright.PENANAKAAkqiWuUr
A key to memory,148Please respect copyright.PENANA0fCWmNU9D1
and to the fate he could no longer avoid.148Please respect copyright.PENANAsRoxePFEHN
148Please respect copyright.PENANAuJpae8rHN0
The door was opening.148Please respect copyright.PENANA1MrGAInreF
148Please respect copyright.PENANAk7q5YKAfBi
148Please respect copyright.PENANALPAvgddsOV
---148Please respect copyright.PENANA2B03sODz6I
148Please respect copyright.PENANALT45lAmxmB
When he left the LUOYEH base,148Please respect copyright.PENANA5fYBPgi3uo
the sky outside hung between two extremes—148Please respect copyright.PENANAae2iYi1WNX
not day,148Please respect copyright.PENANARUaVft6xQe
not night.148Please respect copyright.PENANAEXNkPlP6AF
A soft light drifted through the air,148Please respect copyright.PENANA6MwedNifvt
carrying whispers left unfinished.148Please respect copyright.PENANAZGJHwqGbPD
148Please respect copyright.PENANASlPlx78oug
As he entered the alley,148Please respect copyright.PENANALgf958IMSa
his phone screen lit up on its own.148Please respect copyright.PENANAetT2Vm0MPr
The time flickered for a second, then displayed:148Please respect copyright.PENANA451AX4P9Nm
148Please respect copyright.PENANA4MlE1JeKnB
February 23, 2025 (Sunday) — 18:40148Please respect copyright.PENANAhk0gp3Liok
148Please respect copyright.PENANA6nLah3hl23
He froze.148Please respect copyright.PENANAYjMq5m7qmq
148Please respect copyright.PENANA3lwYh1tjWR
That was impossible.148Please respect copyright.PENANAHgVnlgY3yx
148Please respect copyright.PENANAv2owzJ43ds
When he entered the base, it was 3:47 PM.148Please respect copyright.PENANAI2IQjCbexg
The conversation hadn't lasted more than a few minutes.148Please respect copyright.PENANADfVr8j8tHB
There should've been no gap of nearly three hours.148Please respect copyright.PENANAlUSaVgeFLA
148Please respect copyright.PENANA4qQboF17IC
Even stranger—148Please respect copyright.PENANAXcJbErFG9c
he couldn't recall anything from the moment he left the inner room until now.148Please respect copyright.PENANA8gUAMo4mju
As if someone had sliced out an entire stretch of memory—148Please respect copyright.PENANAaR96p6MMQX
cleanly, surgically, without even ash remaining.148Please respect copyright.PENANApcEKV4hEQ4
148Please respect copyright.PENANAg6Q85u3oq2
"How long have I walked again?"148Please respect copyright.PENANAppx60MxSV8
he asked himself, voice so low not even the wind bothered to reply.148Please respect copyright.PENANAaz9F07QkFD
148Please respect copyright.PENANAuT8Ks8UYAh
He opened his notes app,148Please respect copyright.PENANAjG5AR5bhb1
intending to record what Bai Zi-Ming had said—148Please respect copyright.PENANA5iJLSTsUpK
only to find a line he never remembered writing:148Please respect copyright.PENANAt41zzvowm6
148Please respect copyright.PENANAzdCnodQEN6
[Tuesday – fracture : 2/25, 03:00 tentative]148Please respect copyright.PENANA1TANTXPSgJ
[Reverse Axis remains unstable.]148Please respect copyright.PENANAHymumf044k
[Do not return.]148Please respect copyright.PENANAqpGIEc6uLC
148Please respect copyright.PENANAtgoMhshGxu
He hadn't written that.148Please respect copyright.PENANAz2eQ34vxCE
But it was in his voice—148Please respect copyright.PENANAI3cRC360uW
his format, his rhythm, his syntax.148Please respect copyright.PENANAycTvDMnN7n
Exactly like something he'd write to his future self.148Please respect copyright.PENANAmtBN7vGT5B
148Please respect copyright.PENANAkMjqiqQgOk
He tried deleting it—148Please respect copyright.PENANA7y0emkCqYg
but nothing happened.148Please respect copyright.PENANATt7cSCOxLu
His finger brushed the screen,148Please respect copyright.PENANAcOYxfalDN1
and the entire device seemed to chill.148Please respect copyright.PENANAGFnnPoM70A
Tiny static flickers danced across it—148Please respect copyright.PENANAQHhkr3vWG2
like interference.148Please respect copyright.PENANAvOczgvGXkD
148Please respect copyright.PENANAgmFPJDEiKa
Then he knew—148Please respect copyright.PENANAmTTfthZugI
this wasn't a warning.148Please respect copyright.PENANAseuh2iGmQF
This was a trace of timeline interference.148Please respect copyright.PENANAGArUN75uWC
148Please respect copyright.PENANALdP4CCVhLT
He looked up quickly, scanning the distance.148Please respect copyright.PENANAdxzENQ569r
148Please respect copyright.PENANAKPBBle747W
At a far corner,148Please respect copyright.PENANAtT9CxUa0j9
a figure flashed past—148Please respect copyright.PENANANrdz9XGRhS
so like the reflection he'd once seen in a mirror.148Please respect copyright.PENANA994vqytMFL
But the stride was different, the posture foreign,148Please respect copyright.PENANA6KY05ih9au
the eyes not his.148Please respect copyright.PENANAWlkmOJDNMQ
148Please respect copyright.PENANAAdBXonOPZL
Yet—148Please respect copyright.PENANAKlCAX0FthM
not entirely not his.148Please respect copyright.PENANAFZPTYxbKLW
148Please respect copyright.PENANAR1FK4tpuL9
He turned sharply,148Please respect copyright.PENANAZe1qgK5b6R
ready to chase—148Please respect copyright.PENANATG3LddOmrX
but stopped.148Please respect copyright.PENANAlQ9COSpaTu
148Please respect copyright.PENANA2comAyJ81H
Because he understood:148Please respect copyright.PENANA8L5FriMfFc
if he approached,148Please respect copyright.PENANAZELoAjtHWM
he could never come back.148Please respect copyright.PENANAzjT15XWwCR
148Please respect copyright.PENANAlVL8bXhJmr
He whispered,148Please respect copyright.PENANAQjfp3Yb78M
"28:01… is it beginning?"148Please respect copyright.PENANAdoE61trRS6
148Please respect copyright.PENANAYutRwjhJMn
He drew the cross from his pocket,148Please respect copyright.PENANA2If8RPNrVp
held it in his palm—148Please respect copyright.PENANAvgLosSUeO7
as if testing whether it would respond again.148Please respect copyright.PENANAI0PysyhuFz
148Please respect copyright.PENANAdlMPvbB8YF
Cold.148Please respect copyright.PENANAT10bsPhrTE
Silent.148Please respect copyright.PENANAdwCxoxHYBH
148Please respect copyright.PENANAAzCN0GdeAG
But as his gaze settled on the point where the bars intersected,148Please respect copyright.PENANAlA3q09wkmB
he saw it—148Please respect copyright.PENANAU8ZX1qTOSt
a fine fracture running along the surface,148Please respect copyright.PENANAK9omA3S6YR
and at a specific angle,148Please respect copyright.PENANAjBZlYWXEQb
a hidden reflection emerged:148Please respect copyright.PENANAZSu4LfdVYR
148Please respect copyright.PENANAMM69sG0ae1
X-Ω Layer // Phase 1 Initiated148Please respect copyright.PENANAwKpmBgYCcS
First Reversal Expected: 火曜日 28:01148Please respect copyright.PENANAnZJcGmkcc9
148Please respect copyright.PENANAoF6en612a3
Not "Tuesday".148Please respect copyright.PENANArKlaJVECpe
火曜日.148Please respect copyright.PENANA7raUxYfCyC
He'd never seen that word in his phone or system—148Please respect copyright.PENANAFHiykBghCV
an ambiguous name,148Please respect copyright.PENANAeUwGufI9Lw
a term that only surfaced148Please respect copyright.PENANAW3o1LJjv3Z
when events had crossed into irreversibility.148Please respect copyright.PENANAh06MCujLms
148Please respect copyright.PENANAWhjsUK30Xl
"He really did stay behind," he murmured.148Please respect copyright.PENANAN95xfU6PQj
148Please respect copyright.PENANAi9ypqAgIZn
"But now…148Please respect copyright.PENANAki5EFR6TIA
can I still leave?"148Please respect copyright.PENANA06kboTohof
148Please respect copyright.PENANA4BCWWgNYLD
No one answered—except the wind.148Please respect copyright.PENANAbBCxfNndec
148Please respect copyright.PENANAX7w3UoFqzR
The wind had never truly stopped.148Please respect copyright.PENANAx7ZRpxsYJY
148Please respect copyright.PENANATQ8GvHLCI8
And now,148Please respect copyright.PENANA96bAO1VaOV
it was no longer just the movement of air.148Please respect copyright.PENANAZCTv4ddwtq
148Please respect copyright.PENANAZUzgz7gOi5
It was the echo of memory—148Please respect copyright.PENANAfiPQpJ8hFW
and of fate.