A flower floating on the lake

Chapter 18. In Place, In Place

The sun is burning brightly,

Like the night sky that always waits there




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Chapter 18. In Place, In Place











*


“Jungkook!”




“We’re here. You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”







Yeoju and Jimin ended their day by going to see Jungkook. The scenery from the hill was so beautiful, it filled their hearts with memories. Jungkook, who had been simply living his day, welcomed them, brightening his day. The sunset no longer held a lonely color.







“Okay, I packed a sandwich.”




"looks delicious!"




“Eat a lot. I pooped a lot.”








I ate a sandwich under the setting sun. The sun, setting red and blue, blazed brighter than ever, a thrilling recollection of the day. While I was busy enjoying the scenery, Han Yang approached Yeoju.







“It’s cute. The fur is soft too.”




“Oh, it’s a sheep that the Southern Mansion gave me because they no longer raise it. It likes people.”







Feeling the soft fur, the heroine, lost in a reminiscence, grabbed a hard object buried in the sheep's fur. Pulling it from the fur around the sheep's neck, she paused for a moment. It was a necklace. The one I had placed around the lamb's neck.







“Sis..?”







The name I'd thought I'd heard echoed back in the sheep's dark eyes. Sis spoke with his entire being. He said I was that baby lamb, that he'd missed me. Looking into Sis's eyes, his depthless, dark, infinitesimal eyes, I knew he was the lamb who had always embraced the universe.







“You said you were a shepherdess before. Do you know me?”




“Yeah, I know.”







The weather was getting colder as the sun set, but warmth seemed to be rising from somewhere. Sis seemed to be enjoying himself even in this garden. Isn't reunion, no matter when or how you look at it, as breathtakingly beautiful as a sunset? As the blue water slowly sank into darkness, a map unfolded across the sky.







“That’s Gemini, and that’s Canis Major.”




“Wow.. you’re good at finding constellations!”




“Yes, my father taught me that when I was little. ...And those are the boy and girl positions. Those two are always together.”




“That’s amazing… Jimin, give me your arm.”







The woman placed a pen on the arm Jimin had extended. She drew dots and lines over the engraved marks. They were the boy and girl constellations Jungkook had taught her. Jimin, about to say there was no such constellation, simply shut his mouth.







“Jungkook, we’re leaving this town soon.”




“Really? Why??”




“There’s a place I absolutely have to go. There’s someone I have to meet there.”




“Yeah! But once I get settled in, I’ll come see you often.”




“...No. You don’t have to come.”







Jungkook remained momentarily silent as he asked why. The young boy still lacked the courage to leave the mountain he had spent his entire life in. But Jungkook soon looked up at the night sky and opened his mouth softly.










Wherever I go, the night sky is with me


I feel like I can go anywhere with peace of mind.