'Today, the weather is expected to be cloudy and rainy nationwide.'
I didn't even bother to grab an umbrella or leave a text message for Niel.
'It's raining today. It's the last day, so prepare.'
And then, before turning off the phone screen, I checked the phone book again, which had changed from Team Leader to Niel C, and left the house.
Daniel, who had received the heroine's message, went back into the house instead of leaving, packed a paper bag with clothes to change into, and left.
The end and a new beginning
Today, the day has come when all my time, all my memories, those days when I relied solely on Ui-geon, can truly become a distant memory. It's too much to rejoice, too empty to remember the days when I loved Ui-geon and lost him. And it's too much to grieve, for the person by my side, who will protect me from now on, is too perfect, and has given me strength.
Maybe it was thanks to Niel that this day came, and it was thanks to Ui-geon that I was able to meet Niel and make a new start.
"are you okay?"
"It's better than I thought. Don't worry too much."
Niel, who didn't know how I was feeling, couldn't easily bring himself to say anything, afraid that I might get depressed or sad and start crying again, and just kept asking if I was okay.
Even during lunchtime, Niel-ssi was so sensitive and observed my expressions, and I was so happy about it. He was so much happier than I expected, which surprised me, but I didn't laugh out loud. I don't know how much Niel-ssi must have been heartbroken, but I loved that look. It was that kindness, that consideration for my every feeling.
"Niel, do you know what I'm going to say to Eui-Geon if I see him tonight?"
"Well... I hope I don't cry too much."
"Thank you so much. Thank you so much for allowing me to say the goodbyes I couldn't say, thank you for letting me get up and start anew, and thank you so much for coming to me in Niel's body. That's what I'll say. Do I look better now? I'm really okay..."
Mr. Niel hugged me tightly without saying anything.
And then he said.
I'm so grateful, too. For giving me the chance to say goodbye, for helping the heroine get back on her feet, for giving me the chance to love this woman, for coming to me out of all the people around me.
Hearing that, I was reminded of our first meeting and let out a snickering laugh.
"Why are you laughing? I'm being serious."
"I know. I know very well that you are sincere. I know best."
He keeps calling me "Eui-geon," but who is he? Why are you calling me by a name I don't even know? Why do you always look so sad? I really hated Niel back then, because he only spat harsh words at me. I thought it was just bad luck that Eui-geon had to turn into this kind of person. Right now, I'm hugging him tightly at work, secretly, without anyone knowing.
"How about we go somewhere other than home tonight? Maybe to a nice restaurant?"
"If that's what you want, then anything is fine with me."
"Honey? It's so awkward."
I burst out laughing at the nickname "honey," which I'd never heard before. Niel, who couldn't hold back his laughter as he looked at me, grabbed my hand and shook it wildly, telling me not to laugh.
"You don't like me? I like you."
"It's not that I don't like it. Anyway, let's call it a day and go to Maro Restaurant."
Because it's the last one.
The word 'last' made me want to show my best, something different from usual.
As the end of work approached, the sky darkened and rain began to pour down.
I don't think it was this dark originally, but it was much darker than usual because it was raining.
It was a sign that Eui-Geon was returning after a long time.
"Everyone worked hard today. See you tomorrow."
Niel got up and I followed suit, grabbing my bag and getting up.
I followed Niel, who was looking at me, to the parking lot and got into the passenger seat.
"Are you nervous?"
"little."
"Me too. It's really over now."
"But that's not us."
"Of course. We're just getting started. I'll do even better for you, Yeoju."
So after arriving at the restaurant and ordering food, Niel and Yigun returned at the same time as they were frowning.
"Hello. Long time no see."
The expression on Eui-Geon's face, which had been slightly raised with a smile at my greeting, looked sad.
But I've decided not to cry today. I'm going to send Ui-geon off with a smile.
The food we ordered was placed on the table, and we naturally picked up our forks and knives and continued talking.
"I thought about our future, where we would be happy every moment I spent with you. Was the future I imagined always that happy?
There aren't any petty fights, we eat delicious food and laugh happily, watch movies together all night, and visit many pretty tourist destinations that are posted on the internet."
Ui-geon remained silent.
Yigun never told me that all this would be over once we said goodbye.
He probably didn't know how it started or how it would end.
But looking at his expression now, it seems like he also realized that today would be the last.
"I've had a really hard time, and I think it's been even harder because I've been imagining things like that. Our future has gone up in smoke."
"Sorry.."
"No, don't be sorry. I'm okay now. I'm so glad you came back, so I can finally know the end."
I'm really fine. Strangely, I kept feeling short of breath and had to keep catching my breath.
"Thank you. Thank you so much for allowing me to say the goodbyes I couldn't say, thank you for allowing me to start anew, thank you for letting me get up and shake things off, and thank you so, so much for coming to me in Niel's body."
I also relayed exactly what I had said to Niel during the day.
"You know, I'll never say again that I'll follow you to death. I won't be able to enjoy the small happiness that I couldn't have with you. I'll be happy for you too.
"It would be a lie to say I could forget you. Thank you, Ui-geon, for being a precious memory to me, a beautiful memory I will treasure for a long time to come."
Eui-Geon's eyes were sad, but Eui-Geon's mouth was smiling.
The tears in Yi-Geon's eyes reflected light and entered my eyes.
"Niel-ssi is really good to me, right? So I'm trying to see if it's really okay. I'm trying to keep an eye on the last things you said so I don't forget them. I hope you feel at ease."
I didn't deliberately prepare my words in a rush. I wanted to say everything I wanted to say in that moment. I wanted to be true to the emotions I could only feel in that moment.
"Eui-geon. Be my friend in the next life too. Be my lover, and be with me for the rest of my life."
Before I knew it, tears fell and touched the back of my hand that was resting on my knee.
"Haha.. this is weird.. I'm really fine, but why am I crying.."
I was clearly smiling, but strangely tears were flowing down my face.
I quickly wiped my tears with the back of my hand and forced my face to smile again.
"I will. I will definitely stay by your side for a long time in the next life.
"That's the best greeting, heroine. I'm so grateful to you too. For loving me, for crying for me, and for smiling like this."
I laughed with all my might, even though I was still out of breath and having a hard time breathing, and Eui-Geon, who had been laughing with me, turned around like that.
The person in front of me, who had become Niel again, took a deep breath and then looked at my expression.
"Okay... is it okay..?"
"Of course. Let's eat quickly. It's getting cold."
My breathing, which had been suffocating, felt a little better. And it got even better every time I heard Niel's voice.
As I became more comfortable, as my tears dried, Niel smiled and handed me a gift.
"what's this?"
"A gift. Open it."
A small case came out, and when I opened it, a dazzlingly shiny necklace was revealed.
"Wow... so pretty..."
"I'll walk you."
Niel got up from his seat, walked towards me, took a necklace out of the box, and put it around my neck.
"You look even prettier now that you've met your master."
"When did you prepare this?"
"That's a secret. Thank you for loving me. And I will love you even more in the future."