Chapter 1: The First Test
The air in the lab always tasted like a warning. It was a cocktail of ozone, the sweet-rot tang of flux from a soldering iron, and something undeniably burnt, clinging to the concrete walls. Min-jun Park tapped a restless rhythm on the edge of a stainless-steel worktable, his other hand hovering over a device that looked exactly like something out of a sci-fi film.
It was a sleek device, silver in color. It had a titanium coating and a full touch-screen on the front. It was a little bigger than his hand, and beautiful in all ways.
They had perfected the device and tested it out successfully yesterday night. Now, all that was left was to make a bet as to see who would be in full control of the remote, as his sister Hae-Won had proposed.
"We should do a tennis match," she said just then. "Besides, both of us are exceptionally good."
Min-Jun scoffed. "Even though you're one year older than me, I'd crush you. It's genetics, boys are just better than girls at sports."
"Fine, " Hae-Won said, her confidence unwavering. "Then you have to have a handicap."
"I'd beat you no matter what handicap you give me," Min-Jun scoffed, his confidence unwavering as well.
Hae-Won disappeared upstairs for a while, and then came back down with two silicones breast forms.
"You can't be serious..." Min-Jun started.
"What? They're the same size and weight as mine, and besides, we'll be on even playing fields. Unless your scared?" Hae-Won said, laughing.
"Fine. I'll put them on," Min-Jun said, taking them reluctantly.
In the bathroom he took the specialized adhesive and stuck both of them onto his chest. They were heavy, and constant weight pulling on his chest. He lifted them up with his hands, testing their weight. His confidence wavered for a second, unsure how much this would affect his playing style. He did a test jump, and immediately felt the difference. The silicone breasts bounced up and down, the weight nearly throwing him off balance.