The lady's body drifted down into the palace of Changdeokgung, reborn in the Joseon era. The wooden halls shimmered beside a rainbow river, as if conjured from a fantasy world of old. She rose to her feet, dressed now in a pink hanbok, gazing around in awe.
From the palace steps descended four noblewomen, their gowns woven with threads of gold.
"You've arrived, troublesome maiden," the first greeted.
"I… oh! yes, Madam. Have you waited long?" Yoona bowed low, playing the role of servant.
"Well done. Rise, my favored handmaid…" The second lifted a golden bracelet to cast a spell, but the trinket fizzled out. "What?! Irene, my bracelet expired!"
"Then top it up, silly," Irene, the third, sighed.
"I hate this game! Only a week and it's already gone!" The four avatars shimmered, reverting to their real selves while retaining their digital visages. Yoona's servant form dissolved back into her own.
"Irene, Na Hyun, Eugene, Sophia, how have you been?" she greeted her friends.
"Ugh, low‑level traitor! Running off to your boyfriend instead of raiding with us. And thesis—done yet? We're killing ourselves writing ours. Doesn't matter if it's genius or trash, just let us pass!" Na Hyun, ever lively, grabbed Yoona's arm and shook it. "We're graduating soon—I missed you so much!"
"Hey, don't be dramatic. Your house is two kilometers from mine," Eugene teased, patting her shoulder.
"Is So Hyung really going abroad?" Yoona muttered aloud.
"What?! No way. He loves you too much to chase foreign girls. If he came to me, though… I wouldn't mind," Sophia joked nervously.
"My dad spoke with his mom. They're sending him overseas. I can't even focus on my thesis anymore!" Yoona cried, bouncing in frustration.
"Count yourself lucky he still cares. My boyfriend just parties nonstop," Eugene groaned. "One day I'll smash a basin over his head to stop him drinking."
Na Hyun leaned in, voice restless. "Listen, don't cling too hard. You give more than he gives back. Be everything for him, except normal. Times have changed, Yoona. We don't need to live together to feel close."
Yoona nodded, turning to you. "Still, digital can't replace flesh and blood. Right?"
Her friends gathered in a circle. "Then let's pray," Eugene said.
"Zim sala bim, don't leave me!" Yoona clasped her hands above her head, swaying side to side. "Sim sala bim, abracadabra! Okay, see you at the concert, I've got to finish my thesis."
"Not leveling up with us first?" Sophia urged.
"Nope. Work first. See you, my fiery queens!" Yoona touched her temple as if pulling something free. The palace dissolved, replaced by her bedroom once more. Outside the window, two butterflies danced together, drawing a smile across her face.
"Such a lovely bond," she whispered, before drifting into sleep.
Knock, knock. "Yoona, So Hyung is here. Didn't you plan to go to the mall?" her mother called.
"Mmm… just a moment. What time is it?" Yoona pointed drowsily at the bedside clock.
9:37. "What?! Did I sleep or die? Too much melatonin overflow…"