After the Century

I

YEAR 2094

Lots of people are here at Venice Hall. It looks like a huge gathering is going to happen.

Hundreds of books were arranged in the gigantic book stand. Automatic sensitive-ladders were also placed on each side to accommodate the people who wanted to get books from the top shelves.

A lot has changed in recent years. It is undeniable that technology has swallowed up the people and society. People are bigger and taller now and can control technologies in easier ways, so they don't need too much effort and action to do what they want to do. But at this point, the people are still not satisfied.

As the standard and satisfaction of the people increases, so does the quality and desire to innovate further.

It's not just about the growing book stands here. There are also robot cops and surveillance for security measures. It is dangerous that something bad might happen.

In such years, balloons and paper designs as well as banners are still used in such celebrations. There will also be a banquet later and bulk buying of the book.

What is being celebrated today is the centennial celebration of the book "A Miracle in the Sky" written by Yang Chae Yeon.

Gatherings are now a trend again because the pandemic that lasted for several years has also disappeared. Thanks to Professor Jang Seong Wook, he has found a cure for it and he has become one of the top medical scientists and researchers in the country. People's lives have become happy again.

Some of them wear a white turtle neck and long white coat and others wear a black turtle neck and a long black coat. In those wearing white uniform, they have red glasses on the face, called eye visors, and in black uniforms they have yellow visors. They use it to find out all about the people they meet. They avoid it if they are not compatible.

This time, the personality of the person is already dependent on the visors. It is no longer people who judge a certain person but already these hi-tech visors. People also register their information with visors, so when the person doesn't have a visor, another visor won't tell about that person. People can delete, change and add their information there.

In this hi-tech city, the majority of the people wear a white and black coat, it’s for one reason: to find out if they’re from Pyeong Sang or Jo Seong working. This is their uniform. Most people in this country work in two companies. That is where their livelihood is based. The most demanding people here are researchers and scientists. The second is technology engineers and architects. Third is information technology.

The women wore a fitting skirt that was knee length and wore boots with 3 to 5 inches long heels. The men, on the other hand, fit pants and boots. They are both wearing the top wardrobes.

They have numbers on the top of their clothes, around their necks, on their polo necks. The numbers listed there indicate the position or hierarchy of employees in both companies. Often at work, they are called by number and not by their names. It is obvious that hierarchy and discrimination are still a big deal these days.

From what can be observed by the other people here, most of the workers have pale mouths and large eye bags, maybe due to overworking. People work more now compared to then. The working hours increased with an exchange of increased minimum wage. Jobs are more demanding now compared to then.

When someone spoke, everyone was quiet because the celebration party was about to begin. Until now, that book has also become a part of the lives of book lovers these days. Maybe because of its content about a strange love that only ended in tragedy.

One of the avid fans here is Choi Ye Na. The joy on her face is vivid because it is a celebration of her favorite book. Even if she is born a few times, this book will still be her favorite. Because this book is very relatable to her even though she has not experienced it in real life. It seems like everything she wants to happen in the book is actually written there in the book. She feels they have mutual feelings and understanding with the author. They both understand the assignment, according to some sayings.

Lee Tae Min is also a fan of this book because he seems to be the man in the story. He relates to the personality of the main character but not to the flow of the story.

When the party started, Tae Min immediately got bored and wanted to find a strange hobby. Those who are not based on technology because all the advanced and modernized equipment that can find anywhere can be found in his house. He is always visible and tangible to those things. He always uses it.

Ye Na immediately had a drink with her friends and talked about everything. Sometimes, what is in her imagination, she also narrates It to her friends. She is a book worm, so even with the contents of the books she reads, she mixes them and tells stories out of them. She is an ambiguous storyteller.

When the celebration ended, Ye Na immediately called her father on her watch. The watch today is just not used at the time. The watch now has a flipping screen and people nowadays can see the things seen on smart phones before. Due to the small size of the watches, not all applications can be seen, so a virtual monitor will appear on the watches that will consist of all the apps and information from the watch. People can also connect with others, virtually through a hologram. Also, all computer-based information and apps will pop out of the watch when it is activated. All the information needed is already on the watch. It is because of the apparent boom of very advanced digital reality technology.

"Where are you, Ye Na?" Ye Na's father asked.

''Sorry, father. We just finished. I'll go home right away,'' Ye Na replied and suddenly she also turned off the watch and hurried to say goodbye to her friends.

Her number is 00002. Wearing a black uniform with yellow visors.

As she was running out of the venue, her foot was paralyzed, which resulted to her imbalance, when someone caught and held her arm, a reason for her not to fall to the floor. She may be even more embarrassed and damage her family's image if that happens. The spread of any kind of information today is even faster than a minute.

When someone held her, she immediately looked at the person who helped her.

It was the first time Ye Na stared at a man shamelessly, but she could not separate her eyes from the guy’s godly face. He was magnificent; every feature made her heart flutter.

The man also stared at her.

He is wearing a white uniform with a red visor.

His number is 00002.