“…Something feels strange… Are you… really Seol-ah?”
At that moment, someone's hand quietly grabbed his.
A warmth that is neither cold nor hot.
"....!!!!"
The hand was carefully placed on his palm.
He moved as if writing something.
touch.
Each and every finger moves
As if engraving a letter…
A single letter left on the palm—
The writing that I feel is,
.
.
.
.
.
.
“Run away.”
That one word pierced through Yeonjun's body.
His eyes trembled, his lips trembled.
He raised his head and looked at Seol-ah's figure in front of him.
Now I know.
“…You… Seol-i… no… you are… huh….”
At that moment, the shape changed.
The corners of his lips, which had been smiling, twisted upwards, and his eyes darkened like empty holes.
“Ugh… I got caught?
But—it was too late.
Don't ruin my plans!!!!!!!
This… this… this… this!!!!!!!”
The demon's roar raged like the wind of hell.
In an instant, Yeonjun's body was dragged into the darkness,
Tied up, unable to move a single fingertip, I sank downward.
“No…! No!!! Ugh… Aaaah…!!”
I was out of breath.
The air is gone.
My lungs were burning and my whole body was crushed.
The Fed struggled, but to no avail.
At that moment when the whole world was plunged into darkness—
"Poohak!"
A breath burst out above the water.
Yeonjun's body roughly broke through the water and rose.
“Ugh... Yeonjun!!!!! Yeonjun!!!! Wake up!!! Please...!!!”
A scream mixed with crying.
There was a mixture of longing and despair in it.
It was Subin.
He was half-submerged in water, soaking wet, and was hugging and shaking Yeonjun.
“Open your eyes… Seriously… Seriously, sob….”
Yeonjun felt his eyelids grow heavy.
My vision became blurred.
In front of my eyes was Soobin's face, and—
His left hand.
What he held tightly in his hand was a single red peony.
The Fed's vision was filled with those flowers.
And then everything, quietly, disappeared.
beep-
Seol-ah was in a space covered in black smoke.
The body collapsed as if torn apart,
The grip of the evil spirit around my neck was painful to the bone.
“Ugh… Ugh… Stop…!”
“It’s too late now.
“You signed a contract with me, don’t you remember?”
Seol-ah opened her mouth, gasping for breath.
“I… just… wanted to see him… just once… aaaak…..”
“That’s why you asked me.
I beg you to lend me your face and give me a chance to go to this world.
On that condition—that I be allowed to do what I want.
“That was your promise!!!!!!!!!!!”
“…That’s because… I didn’t know you would harm Yeonjun…”
“Tsk tsk… you stupid bitch… you didn’t know who I was?
“I’m a demon who has no intention of helping someone like you.”
“…So I…”
Seol-ah looked at the evil spirit with trembling eyes.
“…I already… borrowed some peonies from the tea master.
With that... you and I... it'll be over... ugh.....”
“What…what did you say?”
“I… missed him… so I held onto you, clutching at straws… but…
If that desire....is what called you,
“I’d rather disappear…”
“……What did you just say…?”
“Contracts with demons are already forbidden...
You know it too.
It means that you borrowed the peony directly from the tea master…
You are now destined to disappear together."
“No… No!!! I said no!!!!”
The evil spirit screamed and squeezed Seol-ah.
But it was too late.
The sound of a bell coming from afar.
The presence of a messenger leading the dead.
Seol-ah closed her eyes for the last time.
“Yeonjun… live well.
That's my wish…
Beep be ...
"omg!!!"
The Fed opened its eyes.
The first thing I saw was Soobin's tear-stained face.
“Wh..what.. y... Yeonjun, y....are you awake? Choi Yeonjun!! Are you...okay?!”
The fed turned his head, gasping for breath.
“…This is… a hospital…?”
“Yaa...!!!!! I really can’t live because of you... Hehehehehehe....
ㅁ... You didn't come out of the water... I was really scared..."
“.. Seol-ah… Seol-ah…!”
“Be quiet! Still… Still talking about Seol-ah???????
What are you planning to do!!!!!! Please.......”
Soobin wiped her tears and held Yeonjun's hand tightly.
“The peonies… were floating on the water.
Strangely enough, I felt like I had to go see it…
“As I was going towards the flower… your body suddenly came to mind.”
“…Peony…?”
Yeonjun unconsciously clenched his fist as he tried to get up.
There was something in that hand.
“…This is…?”
A carefully unfolded piece of paper.
On a worn, wet note, the words were written clearly.
“Yeonjun, I love you.
Leave me alone and live well.
“That is my wish.”
The Fed sat down in the middle of the hallway.
With my mouth covered, I burst into tears.
“Hugh… Hwaak…
Seol-ahh ...
That cry was already a late greeting,
It was the last farewell.
Soobin sat quietly next to him and patted his back.
He didn't say anything.
Just, watching over Seol-ah and Yeon-jun's last moments... so that they can be buried well.
Because that was all the people around me could do.
A year later,
An ordinary commute home from work.
Yeonjun, dressed in a suit, quietly opened the door to his house.
As you enter the front door, you are greeted by quiet air and a warm scent.
And—he moves his gaze to one side of the table.
In a glass vase,
A single red peony.
The Fed carefully stroked the flower.
“…Are you doing well…?”
Yeonjun raises his head and looks outside the veranda.
The sun was setting, and the sky was turning orange.
Beyond his own reflection in the window—
Someone's shadow passed by for a brief moment.
But the Fed closed its eyes.
And then he laughed quietly.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Even if you desperately look for me [END]