There was a part of me that almost felt bad for Bong-sik.

From his perspective, it must have been frustrating. He was born with that name, and suddenly someone like me comes out of nowhere and accuses him of being from another world. It must have seemed absurd.

But from my perspective, this was incredibly important.

I’ve been in this world for three years.

Even though I’ve learned the language, the culture, the skills, and built relationships, there’s still an emptiness inside me that comes from missing my homeland. It constantly gnaws at me, no matter what I achieve here.