The World They Left Behind

As the atmosphere settled and people began enjoying their meal, a man at the far end of the table looked toward Arga. A friendly smile appeared on his face as he asked, "So, Arga, what's your story? How did you end up here?"

Time seemed to slow down as all eyes turned to Arga. The air grew quiet, with only the crackling bonfire filling the space. Ningning, sitting at the side of the table, looked at Arga, her eyes conveying an unspoken message: stay calm.

Arga took a deep breath, letting the warmth of the night air and the surrounding atmosphere seep in. He reached for the wooden cup in front of him and took a slow sip. The warm liquid flowed gently down his throat, giving him the courage to speak. After setting down the cup, he looked at the people around him. With a steady yet slightly trembling voice, he began to speak.

"I returned to my country after completing my studies abroad," he said, his tone flat but heavy with underlying emotion. "My intention was simple. I just wanted to visit the orphanage where I was raised and pay my respects at my mother's grave. However, just a few hours after I arrived, everything changed."

Frowns of confusion appeared on the faces of several people at the table. Arga lifted his face, staring into the campfire, as if seeking strength from its flickering flames.

"I was kidnapped," he continued, his voice quieter but still clear. "When I regained consciousness, I was already in this place."

A faint murmur of whispers could be heard among them, but no one interrupted. Everyone was waiting for him to continue.

"At first, I didn't know where I was. This place felt unfamiliar, unlike anything I had ever known. So, I climbed the highest mountain I could find, hoping to get a clearer view. But all I saw was an endless expanse, as if this world had no boundaries."

He paused for a moment, letting the suspense hang in the air. The others stared at him, some with curiosity, others with skepticism.

"I wondered," he continued, his voice now deeper, "What kind of world is this? Are we still on Earth? Or could this be another planet? I even thought... had I been abducted by aliens?"

A small laugh came from a young man across the table, but it quickly faded when he saw Arga's serious expression.

"But my strongest hypothesis is..." Arga paused again, letting their curiosity peak. He looked around at the faces before continuing firmly, "We're on Mars."

Silence enveloped the table. The crackling sound of wood burning in the fire became more pronounced in the stillness. But the quiet didn't last long before it was shattered by laughter and protests.

"Mars? Are you kidding?" a man shouted, slamming his hand on the table and nearly choking on his drink. "How could we survive on Mars? That's impossible!"

Others chimed in. "Yeah, Mars doesn't look like this. This place feels more like Earth, only... smaller, or maybe more isolated."

But Arga remained calm. His gaze was unwavering as he replied, "It's just a possibility. If this is Mars, then perhaps this place was prepared in advance. Maybe we're the first colony sent here to survive."

Some people fell silent, digesting Arga's words. Even Ningning, who had seemed skeptical at first, now looked at him with a mix of awe and confusion.

"But if it's not Mars," Arga continued, "perhaps this is another planet with characteristics similar to Earth. Somehow, we were brought here."

As people remained quiet, trying to make sense of Arga's theory, a young man at the end of the table suddenly blurted out, "Hey, that makes sense! You know, there are those crazy rich guys who love launching rockets and dream of building a human colony on Mars. Maybe it's already happened, and we're their experiment!"

The previously tense atmosphere shifted quickly. Laughter filled the air, bursting like sparks from the fire blown by the wind. People started joking, tossing comments back and forth with hearty laughs.

Arga only offered a faint smile, letting the cheerful mood take over. But deep inside, he knew none of this was a joke to him. Whatever the truth was, he had to find it.

Arga gazed around the circle of people, lifting his cup once more. The warm liquid touched his lips, but his mind kept racing, forming the words he would say next. He lowered the cup slowly and spoke, his voice steady yet cautious, "Of course, this is all just speculation. We can't jump to conclusions too quickly. What we need to do is gather as much information as possible. We need to hear everyone's story here—how they ended up in this place, what they have experienced. Only then can we begin to understand what is really happening."

His words echoed through the group, creating a meaningful silence. He glanced at Ningning, who sat across the table, her eyes glinting as she recalled what she had once said about the cities and facilities already present when she arrived. "I've even heard someone say that when they arrived here, cities and facilities were already built. All basic needs were provided. The resources were abundant, and this environment... it feels too accommodating for life."

An older man nodded slowly, the wrinkles on his face reflecting deep curiosity. "You might be wrong, but you could also be right. Your story is intriguing," he said, glancing at the others as if trying to gauge their reactions.

Arga scanned their faces one by one, the firelight reflecting in their eyes. His gaze was full of determination, like a leader rallying his troops. "Now, what about you all? What's your story? How did you end up here?"

Silence fell once more. Those who had been skeptical now seemed moved to share, drawn in by Arga's presence like an invisible force.

Ningning, sitting nearby, offered a slight smile, realizing that Arga's presence had brought a new spirit to their group.