Prologue

We The Living Few

 

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PROLOGUE

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Thank you for confirming your registration!

You are scheduled to join our 12th Orientation Program on the 8th of August, 11:00 at the VITA Headquarters in Daegu.

We look forward to seeing you! Meanwhile, please read a short message from our Founder and CEO, Dr. Kim Junmyeon.

 

I have a faint memory from my childhood where I squeeze in between my parents at night and my mother reads me a story. Any story. Sometimes, she just makes them up. Other times, she just actually reads whatever it is written on the book she picked up on the side. My dad, on the other hand, would put down whatever it was on his hand. Sometimes, it's a book about work; other times, it's just a pen and paper. Then, he would take his glasses off and turn to me. He would pat me gently — over and over — as my mother's soothing voice serenades me to sleep.

Then I would wake up and realize, it was all just a dream.

I had no memory of my parents. Not a single one. They passed away a few days after I was born and for a while, I was consumed by anger. I wanted to avenge my parents for their — as I would all it — untimely death. They were victims of a suicidal man's fit of rage at the same hospital where I was born. His own child didn't survive through nine months and was stillborn. This event ticked him and had him on a rampage. A wild one that cost the lives of 35 adults and 4 newborn infants.

I wasn't sure if I could call myself lucky to have survived such ordeal. Until I met the man who had murdered my parents. I was just a striving college student, wanting to hold my parents in my arms once again. On that day, he apologized to me and said this: “If I could, I would give my life to the people who need it more. If I could, I would take my own life and give it all.” And then it hit me.

Maybe we could. Maybe we should.

And I began developing VITA, the world’s first methodological, and industrial physician-aided-dying program. At VITA, we believe in the value of every person’s life. What may seem like worthless, repetitive day-to-day to you, maybe a gift to others.

Thank you for choosing VITA.

Live on,
Kim Junmyeon
Founder & CEO

 

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Lakanamihan #1
I just read the foreword and now I'm looking forward to reading this. I'm definitely intrigued!
BlackWhiskers #2
Chapter 11: The ending seems a bit vague. Why do they want to take it down? It seems that it helps people, and there hasn’t been a reason for them to make it seem as if Junmyeon’s a bad person. The fact they’re two people in one body is a side affect, and it can be worked on if they just told him, or it can work as a bonus?
So many questions
BlackWhiskers #3
Chapter 10: So the two are now sharing Baekhyun’s body? Hmm, it seems like a pretty good result, although it’s also a singular thing? I mean, tney’re the only one who are like that considering none of the VITA patients have delivered anything of such notions?

It’s pretty interesting!

I’m a bit astonished with how close they actually seem. I didn’t think Kyungsoo would cry? He seemed like a stoic character and he barely knew Baekhyun. It seems like more of their scenes together and solidifying their relationship for the reader would put us into clearer perspective
BlackWhiskers #4
Chapter 9: I thought it was a dream???? Wtfff. Did Baekhyun really try to kill him self?
Damn, that’s a plottwist
BlackWhiskers #5
Chapter 8: This makes me sad :(
The fact Kyungsoo describes Baekhyun as ‘very clumsy’ gives him actual dimension for the first time. I think the better way to connect with characters it to give them a personality. Sometimes the characters say things and I don’t feel anything because I don’t really know them, y’know?
BlackWhiskers #6
Chapter 7: I wonder if VITA is an economic cooperation, and perhaps it is because it’s so big and has so many branches that it has to be a capitalist institution. I’m interested to know how their money process works!
This whole donation of live actually does work like a donation process, huh? The bodies or the DNA needs to match first? Is that why Baekhyun had a lot of time staying without the hope of good news?
I wonder if Kyungsoo stays or leaves.
BlackWhiskers #7
Chapter 6: Hmmm
BlackWhiskers #8
Chapter 5: The characters all seem a bit neutral? Almost passive? I hope Baekhyun has some sort of in-depthn characterization so I know what kind of a person he is.
It appears that the receptionist isn’t really on her first day? I feel like things are staged to test his mentality? Lmao, am I reading too much into it?
The bods seem like a nightmare. I’m not a BIG claustrophobic but I don’t like enclosed places at all. But if forced, I think I can calm myself down? Idk man I never tread such dangerous area.
Is it actual science, though, this REST? I gotta google it sometimes to see its efficiency.
I thought doners and donee may have different time periods in staying in the institution considering the latter is on a waiting stance or something? Like in actual donation programs for organ transferring? But by Kyungsoo’s question, it seems they too, have a time limit of six months?
BlackWhiskers #9
Chapter 4: This chapter makes me feel sad. Kyungsoo’s answer, even though are stiff and have no emotional package, still manages to stir something in me.
Didn’t expect Minseok to be a survivor himself — but I did think he’d definitely be liscened in Psychology.
I feel that the conecpt of taking lives of people unwilling to live is morbid? If they’re sick enough to not want to live it means they’re not exactly in command of their own choices, and so it’d be sort of abuse to abide to their wish of death; and i can’t imagine a healthy person wanting to die unless sacrificing a life for someone else?
BlackWhiskers #10
Chapter 3: The sense of monotony continues. I feel that eveeything feels stale, dry, and robotic. If you intended for this to be in this way, you’re brilliant. If not, I’d recommend some flavoring— even if it was unrealistic. Perhaps Minseok acting like a clown? Hehehe. It’s give the story spice. But I figure it’s my own perspective. I like diverse characters.
I’m very anticipant of Kyungsoo’s live as it changes or progresses in the institution, and I wonder what Baekhyun’s role play in all of this.
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