Mia Returns Crossing the River - Chapter 3
“What the, kuh, what exactly happened?”
Han Mia was a realist. Yet the moment she lifted her head out of the water, even her dry, practical instincts sensed something absurd was going on.
This place was not the world she knew.
Miraculously, Mia stepped out of the rushing water with her body completely dry.
“Not a single clothes and belongings got wet…”
Falling into a rain puddle, swept away by a current, gasping for breath…and then poof, transported to another world! How does that even make sense?
But the air felt different on her skin. The sky and the taste of the water were unfamiliar. Oh, and somehow she had gulped down some unknown water.
‘Definitely will catch some kind of stomach bug.’
As she wondered if she might throw up, a crowd of unfamiliar women swarmed toward her.
“That’s her, right? She’s grown so much, I can’t believe you recognized her.”
“I don’t see it. Are you sure that’s our baby?”
“Baby, can you talk yet? Taking your first steps now?”
Overwhelmed by questions, Mia could only part her lips silently.
“Calm down. The baby must be scared.”
A husky female voice cut through the noise, and the women instantly fell silent. A woman with long, mysterious hair stepped forward, reaching out her hand to Mia.
“Welcome home, baby. This is your homeland.”
The long-haired introduced herself as Scheherazade, the eldest of twelve sisters, and spoke eloquently.
“… that’s what happened.”
As Scheherazade explained, the other women nodded in a circle. Though called twelve sisters, there were fewer than ten of them, varying in race and age, with little resemblance to each other.
Mia repeated what she had just heard.
“So you’re saying this world is different from where I’ve been living, and I was originally from here?”
“Yes.”
“And somehow, as a baby, I crossed over to the other world and went missing?”
“That’s right.”
“And those two cult evangelist like ladies over there, sorry, the two looking proud ladies finally found me and brought me back?”
“That’s exactly it. Smart girl.”
Mia glanced at the two kidnappers dressed in vintage traditional clothes. One was Bari, the fourth sister. The other Cheong, the seventh. Their names sounded familiar, but now was not the time to think about that.
Again, Han Mia was a steadfast realist. Dreams, hopes, magic, and adventures didn’t even graze her sharp logic.
‘But if I had known I’d end up like this…’
Whether it was the story of siblings becoming kings of a magical kingdom inside a wardrobe, or an orphan boy breaking through a wall to enter a train station. Maybe Mia should have watched at least one of those. But wait, were those even the same movie?
No, stay calm. Mia focused on the important thing first.
‘How am I supposed to go to work?’
It was the weekend for now, but what about Monday? But if she can’t go, does she have to go at all?
If not, then why bother? She could write her absence as “Unavoidable world transfer incident”, and the duration as “Until problem is resolved.” But when exactly would that be?
Mia glanced at the women.
“Assuming everything you just said is true, how long am I supposed to stay here?”
They laughed uproariously. They laughed so much every time Mia blinked that it honestly felt overwhelming.
“How long?”
“As long as it takes!”
“Our baby went through all that trouble to come back. Now you’re not going anywhere. Let’s live happily with us forever.”
“Excuse me? If I skip work without notice and get fired, are you taking responsibility?”
Don’t underestimate a worker who shows up even during a typhoon. Losing a job during an important time before moving would be disastrous.
“Listen.”
“Call us your aunts. Baby niece.”
“No, thanks. And please don’t call me ‘baby’ either.”
Who exactly were these dazzlingly bright and cheerful women? To avoid getting swept away by their nonsense, Mia strained her eyes.
“I don’t even like calling the lady at the restaurant ‘Auntie’ or calling my coworkers ‘Sisters.’ So I’d rather you not call me ‘baby’ either.”
Mia frowned.
“Besides, I’m old enough to know better. When you say, ‘You were born in this world!’ and I’m supposed to just say, ‘Wow! Really?’ and blindly follow, isn’t that crazy? Yeah, right…”
Hesitating, Mia continued.
“…Of course, I admit, even if I concede a hundred times over that this place is strange. But even if this is really my home, does that give you the right to drag me around like this?”
In her tightly clenched hands were the only things she had brought to work: a tote bag, a phone with a broken screen, and a convenience store plastic bag holding cup noodles and beer.
This was all Mia had. And her reality.
She had lived so far without knowing her parents or origins. After struggling among people with black hair, it seemed like her future was just starting to become clear.
Maybe next year, she’d finally land the regular job she’d been longing for.
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