"...."
[hello?!!]
"I'm listening. Hey... I have a headache, so be quiet. What's your business?"
[If you're alive, please report that you're alive sometimes. Since there's no news, there's no way to know if you're alive or dead!]
"Tell me how to die and then say something like that."
[I said I don't know either, so that's why?]
"Okay... Is that all you have to say? I'm hanging up."
[Oh, wait! We haven't even gotten to the main point yet.]
"Speak quickly."
[Today or tomorrow? A girl is going.]
"Do you know when our contract ends?"
[Tomorrow, perhaps?]
"Does a kid who knows that send people?"
[If you arrive after midnight, I'll just send you back and not say anything about it.]
"I should get some rest too, kid."
[I'm sending this to you after 3 years. What do you mean you want to rest after being cooped up at home for 3 years?]
"I don't really move around much."
[If you don't move like me, your bones will stiffen. Cut it off.]
"Hey, hey?"
"Ha... I was just trying to get some sleep after a long time."
I get out of bed, open the curtains, and the warm sunlight streaming through the large, expansive window, the soft snow piled high in the garden beyond, the withered trees—all of this feels foreign to me. This is my life. When I lay down to sleep, I can count on one hand the number of times I've truly slept. I've always spent the night wide awake, or been plagued by nightmares, unable to sleep soundly, so I just lie there.
But just as I was about to fall asleep, I got a call from that guy named Yoon Jeong-han, and I had no choice but to answer. He said he was an angel, but I don't know for sure. He just made a contract with me, and every now and then he'd send me a human. I'd listen to their stories, let them stay the night at my house, and they'd leave on their own. I hadn't heard from him for a while, so I thought he'd forgotten, but he sent someone right before the contract was up? What kind of angel is that? It's a devil, and a really bad one at that.
"You're coming today, you're coming tomorrow..."
When I get out of bed, I drink tea or read a book. It's said to help you sleep better, but it doesn't seem to have much effect on me. I dragged my groggy body to the study.
"Wow, I guess I lay down a little too long this time."
The last time I was awake, the book I was reading was still there with the bookmark I had left on it because I hadn't finished reading it yet. The only thing that's changed is that it's a little dusty now.
I sat down at my desk and began to finish the book. Even though I'd read it years ago, I still remembered parts of it, so I had no trouble reading.
As I was reading a book, I felt the world spinning faster as I turned my neck and stretched it, and the sunset sky caught my eye.
----
Clearly... Even though it was my first time in this forest, I felt like I had to go there, so I kept walking, following my heart. My legs hurt... ....? What's that? A villa visible through the leaves...? It looks like a really old house. Do they live there? What... Won't they let me stay for one night? As I walked toward the villa with such hope, I saw an old, creaking gate. Oh, it's open. By the way, it looks bigger when I get closer.
What's that? I raise my head, sizing up the villa, and then I see a creature. ...It's moving. Is it the owner of this house? Why is it perched so precariously on the windowsill?
'hey'
'hey!'
...Are you ignoring me on purpose, or do you really not hear me? I don't know. I guess I should just apologize profusely.
-dripping
Excuse me
What's going on? It's so quiet? There's not a single noise in this big house? Does that person live alone? I saw him from the second-floor window, so he must be up there, right?
Wow... It's bigger than I thought? How many rooms are there? But... Which room am I in? I couldn't hear well earlier, do I have to open each one?
I started from the very end, and most of it was bedrooms. Living alone, I had so many bedrooms. Besides the bedrooms, there were also the library, the attic, and other locked places.
This is the last room, why did you have to start from there? First, knock, go in, say hello, apologize for coming in without permission, explain the situation, and ask to stay there.
-dripping
....
I definitely knocked on the door.
'excuse me,'
What was visible in the room with the door open was a large desk in the middle of the room, a few small sofas, a display case and a bookshelf against the wall, and him sitting by the window.
He is reading a book, his pale blue hair shining in the moonlight, looking even more beautiful.
Why does a guy like that live here...? Wow... Is reading a book really that cool and sexy? Oh... Our eyes... met.
"who?"
'Uh... over there, that's it...'
Oh my, even his voice is perfect... Mom, did that person seduce me first?
"answer."
"Huh..? Oh, I called out to you from downstairs earlier, but you didn't answer, probably because you didn't hear me. It's my first time here, so I don't really have anywhere to stay, and I'm tired of the sun, so I wonder if I can just stay here for a day.."
The clock shows eleven thirty-nine.
"..as you please"
'..! Thank you! I really appreciate it!'
"Let me know if you need anything."
'Well... then where should I sleep?'
"Go and sleep anywhere. Except the room next to this one."
'And... this is a shameless request, but there are a lot of books in the last room over there, so if you read them...'
"Just read it as you please, cleanly, and put it back where it belongs. Besides that, if there's anything you want to go or do in the house, just do it without asking."
"..Thank you! Well then..good night."
-squeak
-widely
The door closes,
He's handsome and has a good personality... He's not a bad person, right? Even if he were bad, he'd probably kill me, right?
Well then... let's go to that library from before. It was full of the novels I wanted to read!
----
The clock in the study was 30 minutes slow.
I couldn't concentrate on the book anymore, so I played with my hair. I was just wishing I had the ability to read people's minds.
"Some people are insensitive to sincere compliments..."
After staring at the night sky for a while, it was already three in the morning. As I was heading to my bedroom, I noticed the door to the library at the end of the hallway was slightly open.
"Aren't you asleep yet?"
...I headed to the library under the pretext of bringing back the book I was holding.
"I told you to sleep anywhere, so you're sleeping here?"
You are crouched down in an uncomfortable position, leaning against the bookshelf, and the book is lying on the floor, as if you have long since let go of it.
"Hey, there are plenty of empty rooms, so why are you sleeping here? Don't you know that weak-looking people like you can easily catch a cold if they sleep in a place like this?"
There was no answer, perhaps because he was deeply asleep.
"...It's become annoying,
"Aren't you eating? Why are you so light?"
-
"I moved you and brought you to your room and laid you down, but you're still sleeping?"
No matter what I say, seeing you sleeping so peacefully makes me feel sleepy too.
"Hmm..?"
The bedroom where I brought her yesterday. I just opened my eyes there.
"..I guess he went out"
I stared at the bed he was lying on for a long time and then closed my eyes again.
"Is it a coincidence?"
A constant sound heard without thinking about anything.
"What are you talking about.."
I followed the sound and came downstairs, and I saw you.
'Are you awake?'
"..What are you doing?"
"Oh, breakfast! You let me sleep at your house, but this is all I can give you... Did I wake you up by any chance?"
"No, but where did you get the ingredients?"
"It's in the fridge, right? I even checked the expiration date, so don't worry. I may not know about other things, but I'm confident when it comes to housework."
The white rice, soybean paste stew, and rolled eggs on the table caught my eye.
"What are you staring at like that? If you're awake, sit down and eat. Or is there something you can't eat?"
"Eat well.."
"That's great. Come and eat before it gets cold."
There weren't many items on the menu, but I started eating some warm-looking home-cooked meals.
'how is it..?'
".."
'Uh...you don't have to force yourself to eat it...'
"delicious"
'yes?'
"It's delicious, really delicious."
'Wow... you look even more handsome when you smile...'
"what?"
'What did I say?'
"You look better when you smile
'By the way, what's your name?'
"..."
"Oh, let me introduce myself first. I'm Jo Eun-seo. I'm twenty-five this year."
Jo Eun-seo...
"I'm... Choi Seung-cheol's age..."
How old are you?
'How old are you?'
"....twenty-seven"
'Okay, then can I just call you oppa?'
"As you like"
Seungcheol oppa moved me yesterday, right? Thank you.
"suddenly?"
"I was going to say this originally. It must have been heavy. Thank you for your hard work."
"not really.."
'?'
"It wasn't that heavy"
----
What? Are you being polite? Or are you trying to be indirect? It's been a while since I weighed myself, so I'm not sure exactly how much, but if I were average weight, I should be grateful. But you're saying I'm light?...
'But, is this the house you live in alone?'
"Yeah, sometimes something comes and stays for a few days and then goes away. That's just rare."
What do you mean by leaving after a few days?
'Is this your house?'
"Well... well, he gave it to me, so it's mine now."
'Wow, you're so young and you've already bought a house! And it's a huge house!'
"You... when are you going?"
'Would you like me to go?'
"no."
...It was meant as a joke, but it's quite embarrassing to say it so firmly. Have you become attached to me? We haven't even been together for a day?
'Are you in love with me?'
....Crazy Jo Eun-seo, why are you saying such things? It just made the mood worse. What kind of crush are you? Don't show off just because you talked to a handsome guy a little. Are you mad? You're not saying anything. Ah. Is there a hole around here? I want to crawl into it right now.
"I see"
'What did you just say...?'
"Am I in love with you?"
What a question! That's a truly maddening question. I appreciate you staring at me with that face and that expression, but I never knew there was a real man who could deliver lines fit for a web drama. I never imagined a man would say those lines right in front of me.
'Uh, if you stare at me like that with that face, it's against the rules..'
"Foul? I was just looking."
'That's why..! Your face is.. so... handsome..'
"Don't you call me oppa? That was nice to hear."
It's dangerous. It's dangerous. It's dangerous. It's dangerous. That guy doesn't know how scary women are and he's just going around bewitching people.
'Be honest with me. You know you're handsome, right?'
"well?"
'well?'
"Just looking at your complexion, I think I've become a bit more mature."
What's my complexion like... Is it red... It must be blushing... Ha...
"Okay. Let's stop talking about faces. Seungcheol, is there anything you want to know about me?"
"How did you end up here?"
"Um... My friend took me to this forest. And then he disappeared, telling me to do whatever I wanted. I had no idea where I was, so I just walked. I just kept walking and when I came across a big house, I saw it? The front door was open, so I came into the garden and saw my brother. Even though he was a little far away, I could clearly see his hair color. It was a light blue. Now that I think about it, it's just silver hair now...? Anyway, when I saw my brother, I thought there was someone there, so I came into the house to ask him to let me stay for the night."
"Your friend brought you here?"
'..I didn't bring him..I just opened my eyes and there was a forest I had never seen before and he was there.'
"Are you close with him?"
"We're not really close friends, and I'm not even sure if he's even human. He's really pretty and handsome, and his personality... isn't exactly great, but I feel like he's trying to help me, so we get along."
"..Do you know his name?"
'No, when you ask people what their name is, they say
They call me God?'
"To you too?"
'Do you know someone like that? Is that you?'
"Yeah. He told you
I am darkness and light, I am day and night.
Lee didn't make a sound?"
"He didn't make any such snarky comments, but he did say some weird things sometimes. Like, "That guy's still alive because of you," or "You and him are like darkness and light, night and day." I think there must be someone connected to me, but the problem is I don't know who."
"It was darkness and night... I see."
'What is it?'
"The reason your friend brought you into the forest. The reason you came into this house. The reason I, I have lived forever so far."
'Eternal life...is that it?'
"You were my light and my day, just as I was your darkness and your night."
'I am... light, day...?'
"You are my one and only."
'I think it's a good thing that I've become something, but I don't understand the situation at all.'
"Well, I don't remember when it started. Anyway, I've been living here in this same state for a long time now. I've been living here forever, and I will continue to do so. I thought it was an abandoned house because I couldn't see the owner, but then the owner showed up. The guy you said was your friend was the owner of this house...."
..
..
..
..
..
So the two of them made a contract, and the contract basically said that in exchange for receiving a house, they would let people who got lost in the forest stay for just one night. The contract period was 30 years, and right before the contract ended, I came and let them stay for me, but what was that light?"Some people are born with a talent that is different from others, but that talent is divine. It takes time for each person to discover their divine ability. When they realize their divine ability and find their ability, time stops and waits for the other person."
"My brother and I are one of those few people... My divinity... is light and day? Then my opponent is my brother...?"
"Yes. I was waiting for you."
'What role does the other person play?'
``People say he's the mastermind.
"What are you, a god who just barges into someone else's house?"
Wow, this is God
``It feels strange to hear it like this.
'Then, God, what is your real name?'
Yoon Jeong-han
'...surprisingly, it's in Korean.'
'By the way, what do you do when you meet someone?'
``Don't fall in love``
'That easy?'
``The original partner should have a personality or appearance that is close to the ideal type of the two.
'Ah~ So that's exactly the man I wanted?'
"Thank goodness I'm the man you want."
'But is it okay for the balance to be this bad?'
``Don't you like it?``
'That's not it... He's the main character and I'm an extra...'
"I'm good, but you don't like me because you're my backer?"
'No... I have no reason to hesitate when a man like you is the mastermind. But I think you can meet a prettier and more capable woman.'
"If you keep doing that, you'll meet other women and have a backstory or something?"
'That doesn't mean you should abandon me...'
"I won't throw it away. As long as you don't say anything that will hurt your pride."
"God, I truly mean this, but I love you. Thank you so much for bringing such a man into my life, and I love you."
``I understand how you feel, but if you just say "I love you" one more time, I'll be okay with you. Then take care~ I'm done with what I have to do, so I'll go.
You're more jealous than I thought. You look like you could make all the women in the world cry.
Weather: Clear xx/xx/20xx, x day of the week
We are getting to know each other day by day. Seungcheol oppa smiled and said that he sleeps well since I came here, and sometimes when he can't sleep or has nightmares, he comes to my room with a sad face and sleeps next to me. (It's really cute.) I read the novels in the library one by one, and it feels like I'm finding books that I never had before. The refrigerator and cupboards are also filled with food, various ingredients, and snacks. It doesn't look like anyone has been there, but since it's God's house, it seems like there's some kind of magic? It's actually comfortable and good, so I'm living comfortably and contentedly. These days, the two of us drive around together a lot more often. I'm driving around various places in Korea with Seungcheol oppa. Later, I want to travel the world together.
《THE END》
Thank you for reading my poor writing.