EP.00
Tadak-
Hearing the crackle of firewood, I collapsed before it. I dragged the blanket over me from the bed, but even so, a chill lingered. It was a day when I was 13.
''I miss you, unnie... You only like Romeo... But I like you more...''
I sighed deeply and grumbled. But soon, my spirits lifted as I realized that I was the first to hear about my sister's incredible plan. It was a thrill and a sense of superiority that came from knowing about it before Romeo.
I was still thinking that my sister liked me more. Soon, I started to feel more and more tired, and I slowly crouched down and looked at the fire.
Hoping to be with my sister in front of this fireplace tomorrow, I moved very slowly, little by little, searching for the perfect position. Luckily, I soon found a comfortable one. Of course, it wasn't as cozy as my sister's embrace, and I closed my eyes.
Thump- Thump- Thump-
But then, a strange, incongruous noise suddenly woke me, and I slowly opened my eyes again. Still, the noise persisted. Unable to bear the seemingly endless noise, I rubbed my eyes and blinked. I slowly turned my head and looked out the window.
Thump- Thump- Thump-
Someone was throwing a rock at the window. I rubbed my eyes once more and finally got up from my seat. I hurriedly draped the blanket over my shoulders.
On a cold winter day, I walked slowly to the window, taking one step at a time on the cold floor that had not yet warmed up. After a few steps, I arrived in front of the window.
As soon as I arrived, another snowball was thrown, but it soon stopped. I gently placed my hand on the window and searched for the owner of the snowball. A chilling air lingered, as if I were holding the cold winter in my hand.
''Huh? It's the Fed!''
Outside, it was a snowy, white night, and in the middle of that snowy field, my first love, Yeonjun, was standing. The snowy wind was biting, but I didn't care and opened the window as hard as I could.
As I opened the window, a cold wind and snowflakes blew into the room. I closed my eyes tightly without realizing it because of the cold wind. I shivered from the cold and clutched the blanket tightly.
Snowflakes drifted slowly, carried by the wind, gently landing on my window sill. A few drifted in, landing on my face and hair. As I was absorbed in the beautiful scenery, I heard a voice calling my name.
''Jeong Yu-hwa! Yu-hwa!''
I was so happy that I leaned out the window and looked down at Yeonjun who was calling me urgently. When my eyes met with Yeonjun's, I smiled brightly and waved.
I could roughly guess that Yeonjun had been waiting for me for a long time, even though he had been hit with a lot of snow. I could clearly see him shivering from the cold. He was curled up as much as possible.
Just as I was starting to feel a little sorry, he immediately waved at me upon seeing my greeting. It wasn't a gesture of acceptance, nor a gesture of greeting myself. I couldn't tell what it was, but it was clearly an urgent gesture.
''Come down quickly, Yuhwa!''Seeing his fidgety expression, I glanced back out the window. I thought maybe there were adults around, but no. Yeonjun was alone. Outside, no one was present except Yeonjun.
''Wait a minute!''
I whispered and ran straight to the closet. Just as my sister had told me, there were warm coats, gloves, scarves, shoes, and more in the closet, so I quickly put on my clothes.
And then I slowly and stealthily went down to where Yeonjun was. I was worried that the adults passing by in the hallway might see me.
This was my first time alone, and I was worried about what excuses I'd have to make if I ran into someone. As I was thinking of various plausible excuses, I found myself outside, snow falling.
00
So Romeo and Juliet died.
I immediately fell into Yeonjun's arms. After a quick hug, I slowly relaxed my grip around his waist, wanting to see his face. But Yeonjun grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him. I found myself in his arms again, and he hugged me tightly and patted me.
'' what's the matter? ''
Yeonjun hesitated for a moment at my question. He just held back tears and sobbed, hugging me tightly. I thought he should be the one being comforted, but instead, he seemed to be comforting me.
''What's going on, Yeonjun?''
“How can you be so calm?”"Why? What the hell is going on?"
''I heard from my brother. That Juliet died.''
''What...? What are you talking about?? ''
Yeonjun looked utterly shocked at my words. I felt the misunderstanding growing. I began to breathe slowly, and Yeonjun's breathing, matching mine, gradually began to stabilize.
"My sister isn't dead. She just took a potion that made her sleep for exactly 48 hours. I saw it! It's a potion that really makes you sleep like you're dead!"
“What, a potion?”
"Yeah! My sister knows someone who is good at alchemy, so she asked him. Don't worry about safety, I've already done the experiment. "
I couldn't hide my excitement, so I jumped up and down and explained to Yeonjun with a beaming face. I took another deep breath and continued my explanation.
"He was a truly amazing alchemist! I can't believe someone succeeded at it! I thought he was a total weirdo, but he's a genius, the genius of the century!"
At my words, Yeonjun blinked a couple of times with a blank expression. Then, he started to mumble with a confused expression. It was as if he was having a hard time understanding the current situation.
'' Uh... uh no... uh... that's... no, that's what... what, what.... ''
I took a deep breath. Perhaps I'd been too excited and given Yeonjun too much information at once. I opened my mouth again to explain things step by step.
''I sent a letter to Romeo!''
'' ...is that correct? " " uh? "
“I asked if it was really true. Based on your expression and words, it seems like your sister is not dead, but asleep, just like you said...''
Yeonjun asked, his expression even more serious as he grabbed my arm. His grip was so tight it hurt, but his hands were shaking so much that I couldn't say anything.
'' Yeah, am I the first to hear about this perfect plan?? ''
I said proudly. Yeonjun let out a sigh of relief and held my hand tightly. His hand was so cold that I gently placed the hand he wasn't holding on the back of his.
“You don’t trust me?”
"No, believe me. You're the only person I don't doubt?"
"My brother went to where my sister is. Let's go there quickly."
''Huh? Why?''
Yeonjun hesitated, then tightened his grip on my hand. My gaze drifted to his hand. Then, Yeonjun gave me a quick kiss on the cheek.
''Because I like you. That's why I don't want to be apart from you.''I looked at Yeonjun, holding my flushed cheeks. Yeonjun met my eyes and smiled at me, his cheeks a shade of red that didn't match the pure white snow.
“My brother has made plans to leave with my sister Juliet. Of course, I can also stay in the Montague family and continue the lineage without following him. But...''
Yeonjun hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head. Then he took my hand. Slowly, starting with my pinky finger, he moved it little by little, step by step, until his hand and mine were completely intertwined, and he continued speaking.
"Then I'll never see you again. Montagues and Capulet don't get along very well. So I... have decided to abandon my family."
It was a complicated confession, but his words about abandoning his family and choosing me were so captivating. I, too, didn't want to break up with Yeonjun, and I didn't want to remain in Capulet after my sister left.
“I like you too, Yeonjun. I want to marry you like my sister and brother. Like a mom and dad.”
Yeonjun tightened his grip on her hand and ran to the Harter Cathedral where his sister was sleeping. The bells rang out in the distance, signaling midnight. Soon, it was time for his sister, who had been in a deep slumber like a sleeping princess, to wake up.
...
I arrived at the cathedral, panting heavily. The lights were still on inside. There was no sound inside. Only the sharp whistle of the snow and my own heavy breathing. Yeonjun, having caught his breath, waited for me, who was struggling.
" are you okay? "
I was breathing, but it was so painful. Still, I nodded repeatedly, not knowing when the adults would come in. Yeonjun handed me water. I wanted to thank him, but my voice was too weak to come out.
After a moment of catching my breath, my breathing quickly returned to its normal pace. I didn't know how much time had passed, but I instinctively knew it was well past time for my sister to wake up.
"I can't hear anything inside..."
“Is your sister still awake?”
“That can’t be. My sister should be awake by now. Maybe my brother hasn’t arrived yet?”
“No way. My brother said he would run straight to my sister.”
“So you left us behind?”
At my words, we looked at each other, swallowed deeply, and then clasped our hands tightly together. Together, we opened the cathedral door.
"With my sister... and my brother?"
We still held hands and looked at the two figures inside. Then, step by step, we ran quickly.
"Sister, sister! We're here!"
“Brother!! Let’s go quickly!!”
As we gradually came into view of my sister and Romeo, we sensed something strange and cautiously approached them, one step at a time, then half a step at a time.
'' Sister...? ''
The first thing I noticed was Romeo. He was lying on the bed, foaming at the mouth, asleep against my sister's bed. I slowly looked up at my sister. My heart was pounding so hard it reached my ears. I slowly, very slowly, looked down and saw my sister Juliet, covered in blood, embracing Romeo. Before I could even grasp the situation, I fainted.