CHAPTER FORTY ONE
GLITCH!

❝ SERA? ❞

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"Welcome back to another episode
of Neo—"

"Next."

"Again at Neo City where—"

"Ugh, no. Next."

"Let's us thank the Prime Minist—"

"Ew no. NEXT!"

"Neo City is a place wher—"

"NEXT."

"Here at Neo Ci—"

"Not again!" Sera yelled as she throws the remote control towards the holographic screen only for the device to fly through and land on someone's hand.

"Quite a temper for someone who slept in today."

"Renjun!" Sera called out sheepishly. "I'm sorry you had to witness that... It's just that— I thought the cables would be fixed by now but I guess they're still working on it."

"I bet it's just a glitch." Renjun said walking over to the couch she sat on and sat beside her. "Are you ready for later?"

It had been months since the incident happened and you could say that everything is going back to the way it used to—well not exactly, but after a ton of changes with how the system worked, they are finally living the world they had imagined.

No more facilities, no more strict rules, no more plantations, just them living freely in the new world. They could finally wear what they wish to wear and children no longer lived with unknown guardians.

They learned that the UA had been taking advantage of unconscious and dead bodies of people, creating replicas for the new world and using it as a way to control people.

Sera eyed Renjun for a split second, as if her answer can be seen through a quick eye contact before looking towards the window. No longer did the sky seem gloomy nor do the people in act as if they were robots. Everyone was finally acting on their own will, on their own minds, aware of the two realities and the differences between the original and the new one.

"How many years do you think I have left?" Sera questioned the boy, walking towards the windows of the building. Renjun frowned at her question, not wanting to believe that she had been infected by the virus.

"Don't say that."

"I'm sorry! It's just, it has been a few years since that day happened and I don't think I can ever forget."

"And we mustn't." Renjun uttered, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "The past shouldn't be forgotten nor erased. We shouldn't rule like how the UA did."

Sera responded with a tight lipped smile before heading towards the mirror, checking out her outfit for later's event.

"He would be so proud of you." Renjun told her, standing beside her and handing out his arm for her to grab, however, Sera shook her head as a sign of not taking his arm. "Are you sure?"

"I don't need a man." Sera grinned at him.

"I doubt you'd be saying that once you see—"

"Shut up!"

. . .

"I never thought I'd see this day." Yunseo breathed out, almost awestruck as the view in front of her. Thousands of people now aware and in their own mind now gathered together to listen to the final speech given by the head of the rebellion.

A hand slithers its way around her waist and she nearly gasps at the instant butterflies in her stomach. Her cheeks dusting a deep crimson color as she looked up with a slight frown, "What the fuck?"

"What? Am I not allowed to do that?" Yangyang asked with a smug grin plastered on his face.

"No. Not in front of us." Jeno said as Donghyuck pried Yangyang's arm off Yunseo's waist.

"Oh come on! At least let me sit beside my girl."

"Your girl?!" The rest of the lab rats exclaimed in unison, slightly drawing attention to them causing Renjun to facepalm from afar and shake his head.

Sera chuckled and nudged the boy playfully, "I'm sure they'll be fine. But... where is he—"

"Looking for me?" As if on cue, Mark appears right beside her with an eyebrow raised cockily. He looked absolutely dashing in his suit for the special event meanwhile his eyes lingered onto the red dress Sera wore and smiled.

Leaning closer to the girl he whispered, "You look great, infant."

"I certainly did not miss that." Sera replied and pushed him back.

The sound of the microphone feedback caught everyone's attention. All eyes on the front as they watched Youngho push a wheelchair where Taeyong weakly sat with a meek smile. Sera could feel her heart stop upon seeing her brother. It wasn't something she was unfamiliar of but still it broke her bit by bit seeing him grow so weak each day.

"I would like to say... that this would not be possible without the glitch in the system. This day, where we are finally free from the UA's rules."

But Sera, are you sure you've finally
set yourself free from the UA

A shiver ran down her spine as she hugs her arms, eyes widening at the sudden voice in her head.

No, no, no. This shouldn't be happening. She thought to herself.

What was happening? That voice, it sounded familiar. It sounded just like Taemin. But how? Taemin— He's back in the real world where everything is being handled. Taemin's already been planted with the virus, meaning he has the same fate as the rest of his siblings. How come she could hear him—

Sera... Are you sure you've found yourself?

Are you sure this is your reality?

Or are you only following the way of others
just like how they programmed you to be?

Sera

Sera

Sera

SERA

The girl awakens to the sound of machines beeping loudly and people rushing into the room. There were a lot of people in white which she immediately assume was doctors. Where was she?

"I—I..."

"She's trying to speak!"

"Where am I?" The girl croaked out.

"Saeyoung! Oh my god, you're okay." An unfamiliar woman walked towards her and hugged her tight.

"Saeyoung...?" The girl blinked, "But I'm... at least from what I remember my name is Sera... Am I not Sera?"

"Sera?" The woman raised a brow in curiosity. "What do you mean, darling, you've always been Saeyoung."

Saeyoung... The same name from before...

Why is this happening? It's like a cycle...

Who are you?

I'm... I don't know

Why are you here?

I'm one of the survivors, I think.

You think? Then...
What are you?

I'm... a glitch

Do you really know who you are?

No.

Do you trust yourself?

No.

if so. . .

will you be able to prove your identity?

No.

or are you just programmed to follow the system
like everyone else?

Maybe I am.

Or maybe it's because I'm a glitch in the system.

After all, there is and will always be a flaw in the system.

"Sera? Are you okay?"

The said girl flinched and realized she had been holding the remote this whole time, gripping onto it tightly she finally let go and frowned. "What was happening?"

"A glitch in the hologram happened and then suddenly I lost you. Are you okay?"

"Sejeong... How long have I been..."

"Just a few minutes or so," Sejeong hummed. "Are you okay?"

"No... but," she pauses, glancing at the holographic screen that played an advertisement about the new establishments in Neo City. She stands up and heads towards the window, checking the sky and all, and everything seemed fine, no sign of the big bad UA anywhere.

"But?"

"Nothing. It's just a glitch after all."

Or is it?

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