“Oh, I want to be in love too.”
Seha muttered that, as if letting out a sigh without realizing it. The autumn sky, just after summer had passed, was blue, high, and clear. It was a maddening contrast to her own gloomy insides. She desperately wanted to love and be loved by someone, but she couldn't find anyone who could match her fervor, so Seha's dark eyes were becoming filled with irritation. How many months had it been since she had forced herself to suppress her desires and needs for affection with a glass of beer every night and tried to sleep when she couldn't? If she kept going like this, she might burst from the excruciating loneliness, Seha thought, and let out another deep, deep sigh. With that sigh, her soft, long, straight hair swayed dizzily.
"Kang Se-ha! Another sigh? Seriously, should I set you up on a blind date?"
“Eunjae...”
“You said you don’t want to meet just anyone... What do you want me to do?”
"But, I...want to meet my destined partner. Not just a friendly friend or a passing crush..."
“Oh my, what a useless, stubborn romantic...”
A hollow laugh spread across Eunjae's face, and she shook her head. Seha, her childhood friend, had always been like that. Kang Seha, her friend who had lost his parents at an early age. But despite the hardships life had thrown at her, Seha hadn't grown up to be a frivolous person. She was a foolishly beautiful, movie-like being, a romantic and fateful lover, a bit peculiar, yet pure and honest. Eunjae patted Seha's shoulder as if to encourage her, and said,
"Then why don't you stop here and go to a church or cathedral? Go and pray. Who knows? Maybe God will take pity on you and drop a destined partner from heaven right in front of you?"
After Eunjae waved and left, Seha smacked his lips, almost making a "tsk" sound. It was a hollow laugh, but soon he found himself deeply troubled. Well, wasn't it God who decided who was destined to be? He wasn't religious, but he felt that praying to God might somehow bring him comfort. No, perhaps God would actually help him meet someone precious to him. With that hope in mind, Seha considered going to church or a cathedral today and praying.
=====
On the way home after parting ways with Eunjae, Seha entered the small alleyway in front of her house, opening the door to the small church at the entrance. It was dark, but a small light was lit on the wall where a small cross hung. Seha slowly walked toward the cross. He carefully knelt before it. Then he clasped his hands together. In a small voice, so no one could hear, he prayed earnestly. Please, God, let me meet someone I want to love. Someone who loves me and whom I can love. Even if it's just for a day, let me experience a love so intense and wonderful that I'll never forget. A faint, hopeful smile spread across Seha's pale face.
=====
It was from that day on. Seha started having strange dreams. Without missing a single day, he began to have the same dream. Every night, a muscular man with pure white wings, contrasting with his eyes, blacker than the night, would visit Seha in his dreams. At first, Seha woke up in shock, but as this continued every night, he became accustomed to it, and before he knew it, he found himself waiting for the man. He called Seha's name in his dreams. He didn't do anything in particular. He simply called her with that calm, affectionate voice, and gazed intently at her with those pitch-black eyes. But that voice, that gaze, was so rich and deep that Seha found himself falling for this unfamiliar, yet now familiar, being.
“Who...are you...?”
One day, Se-ha mustered up the courage to ask him, but he only gave her a faint smile. Warm air spread from his fluttering wings, and his black eyes were shining brighter than usual.