TSTL 06

Chapter 6

Memories of the Past

“What the…?”

As usual, Hyung-jin Noh was studying in the reading room when he suddenly felt dizzy. He grabbed the desk to steady himself and rose from his seat.

“There’s nothing wrong, though?”

It was as if something had shot through his head — an overwhelming sense of sadness and despair that made his skin crawl and broke his focus completely.

“Hey, where are you going?”

“Just going to take a short break.”

Leaving the study room, he climbed up to the rooftop, bought a can of cola from the vending machine, and downed it in one gulp.

“Phew… What was that feeling?”

Even for someone like Hyung-jin, passing all his exams in one go was never easy. He’d been pushing himself to the limit lately.

“Maybe I’m just exhausted.”

That was likely. He had been overworking.

“Yeah, just hang in there a bit longer. It’ll pass.”

He sat blankly for a while, then tossed the empty can toward the trash bin like a basketball shot. Unfortunately, it missed and clattered to the side. Grimacing, he walked over to pick it up.

“People really can’t throw straight.”

Next to his can was another one. Someone else must have tried the same thing and left it there when they missed.

“I’ll toss this one too.”

But the moment he picked up that other can, a strange sensation struck again. It wasn’t quite the same as before — still eerie, but this time something flashed through his mind.

“Ugh!”

Startled, he dropped the can.

“What the hell was that? What did I just see?”

A fleeting image — not through his eyes, but inside his head. People he didn’t recognize, faces he had never seen before.

“What’s going on?”

He was sure the image was real, showing somewhere else entirely.

“What the hell is happening…?”

Trying to make sense of it, he swallowed hard and approached the can again.

“Okay… calm down. It’s probably just my imagination.”

He forced himself to relax. Whatever this was, he didn’t want to miss it again.

“Breathe… just breathe…”

He inhaled deeply, then picked the can back up. The moment he did, another rush of images burst into his mind — unfamiliar, yet strangely familiar scenes.

“Urgh!”

And then it was gone.

“What the hell just happened?”

Still gripping the can, Hyung-jin stared at it in confusion.

“I don’t get it… Why am I seeing things like that?”

People and places he didn’t know — yet they felt so vivid.

After a moment’s hesitation, he tossed the can into the trash and went back downstairs.

“Just hallucinations,” he told himself.

He forced himself to believe that as he sat back down at his desk. But he couldn’t concentrate.

There — on his desk — was a slogan poster, and a man hunched over, studying desperately. His expression was full of despair and anxiety, and somehow, Hyung-jin could feel those emotions as if they were his own.

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

His cry drew everyone’s attention. Embarrassed, Hyung-jin bowed quickly.

“Sorry… I’m sorry.”

He glanced at his desk again. It was the same desk from that strange vision.

My seat… or maybe not?

Someone else must have used it before him. After all, every desk here had once belonged to someone else.

Who was that guy, though?

He had no idea, but the man’s feelings still lingered, raw and real.

That’s enough for today.

Something about the atmosphere just felt off. He shook his head and began packing up to leave.

“Phew.”

As he walked out, he noticed the reading room manager scolding two students.

“How many times do I have to tell you? No smoking on the rooftop!”

“Yes, sir…”

“Do I look like I’m joking? You’re just kids, and you’re already smoking?”

The manager’s sharp voice made Hyung-jin pause — because he recognized the two boys being scolded. No, more accurately, he’d seen them before — in the vision from earlier.

Those guys… from the can.

Their school uniforms, their name tags — everything matched perfectly.

What the hell is going on…?

He was sure he’d never seen them before. They weren’t from his school or even his grade. There was no reason their paths should cross.

“Excuse me…”

“Yeah, kid?”

Feeling goosebumps prickle up his arms, Hyung-jin hesitated before asking the manager,

“About my seat… Who used it before me?”

“Some guy studying for his third try at the college exam,” the man replied.

“Third try?”

“Yeah, he made it into Union University’s medical school. Studied like a man possessed. Maybe his determination rubbed off on you, eh?” He laughed.

Union University Medical School — one of the top in Korea. The guy must’ve studied like crazy. But that wasn’t what mattered.

“Uh… that guy, did he have short hair, thick-rimmed glasses, and kind of a big build?”

“Yeah, that’s him. You know him?”

The moment the manager confirmed it, Hyung-jin shivered uncontrollably.

“Psychometry…?”

Later that night, he searched online about what had happened. What he found left him stunned.

Psychometry — also known as “object reading.”
The supposed ability to read the memories or emotions imprinted on objects by their owners. Of course, like all so-called supernatural powers, it was something that existed only in fiction.

But this isn’t fiction.

He had seen it — the events, the people, the emotions.

Why is this happening?

He didn’t even understand why he’d been brought back to life — and now this?

Was it something from my past life? No, that can’t be. I would’ve known if I had this before.

It had to be something new — something that came with this second chance at life.

Is this bad… or good?

A mysterious power might sound like a blessing, but it could just as easily turn him into a lab rat if the wrong people found out.

Damn it… what’s happening to me?

This was no joke. He shook his head, trying to clear it.

“Maybe it was just a coincidence?”

To test it, his gaze fell on a pretty wallet sitting on his desk — his sister’s, which she’d left behind.

“No way…”

Still, curiosity won. He picked up the wallet and focused.

Nothing.

“Huh? Guess it really was just in my head.”

At first, he thought nothing would happen — until faint numbers began to shimmer before his eyes. The more he focused, the clearer they became.

Numbers?

Instead of images, all he saw were sets of numbers. Reaching out mentally toward one of them, he suddenly felt the world around him twist.

“Ugh!”

Then — a shock.
An overwhelming flood of emotion — desire, embarrassment, and the vivid sensation of lips pressed together. It was so real it nearly made him drop the wallet.

Realizing what he was witnessing, Hyung-jin groaned.

“Seriously? Already?”

His sister — the type who fell headfirst once she liked someone — had apparently kissed her boyfriend after just two months of dating.

“At least it’s not that bastard Park Gwang-seok…”

Still, better this guy than the “trash” who’d ended her life in the previous timeline.

“But what were those numbers?”

He stared at them again, trying to make sense of them. And then it clicked.

“So that’s what they mean…”

By rearranging the digits, a clear pattern emerged. After several experiments using his own belongings, he finally understood — they represented time.

Dates, years, and exact hours — like timestamps. Choosing one showed him what had happened at that precise moment.

“Most stories say it’s random…”

In fiction, psychometry usually showed random memories. But in his case, he could select which moment to view.

“At least there aren’t too many at once.”

After repeated testing, he summarized what he’d learned:

1. He could only read memories from objects he touched directly or held very close.

2. Strong memories took priority; weak or meaningless ones faded.

3. He could choose moments to view only when multiple strong memories were stored in the object.

4. To see vague memories, he needed accurate contextual information about when or where they happened.

After listing these points in a small notebook, Hyung-jin sat back and stared blankly.

“What the hell is my life turning into?”

He muttered at the absurdity of it all.

“Noona.”

“Huh?”

“Does kissing feel good?”

“K-kissing?! Who told you that? Was it Gwang-seok?!”

“No, I was just guessing.”

His sister froze — which told him all he needed to know.

“So you did kiss him.”

“Shut up, brat!”

“Sure, sure. I’ll just tell Mom.”

“You little—! I’ll kill you!”

“I’ll keep quiet for 10,000 won.”

“Fine!”

“Deal.”

“My hard-earned money…” she groaned.

He’d only been teasing, but it turned out he’d been right.

What a mess this is turning into.

He didn’t know why he’d gained this strange power, but one thing was certain: for now, studying would have to wait. His mind was too crowded with the memories and emotions that weren’t even his.

“This might slow me down a lot…”

Sighing deeply, Hyung-jin wondered just how much stranger his new life was going to get.