Eager to ease his worries a little bit, I muttered in a blended tone.

“You’re kidding.”

“Hyung. I’m critical.”

“Yeah. Me too.”

He rolled over to the facet the place Heo-Sang was, wrinkled his nostril, and grinned.

“In actual life, I’m alive since you saved my life, so it’s a dream.”

It sounds ridiculous, even to me. He stares on the ceiling for a second, then glances over at me and sighs closely. There’s a lot I need to say, and my eyes widen, so I attempt to be extra impudent.

“How’s that. You received’t have nightmares now, will you?”

“…You’re so carefree.”

“Effectively, that’s one in every of my robust factors.”

Once I laughed, he closed his eyes and shook his head as if he had given up. However judging from the smile that unfold throughout his face, he wasn’t actually indignant. As a lot enjoyable because it was to play with him like this, there was one thing else he wanted to do in the present day.

I needed to see the circumstances of his awakening. There are some things I have to test earlier than I can use the ‘Pioneer of the Unknown’ skill.

Firstly, nobody inside 5 metres.

“This room is larger than I assumed.”

“I’ve an enormous room because of the priest’s generosity.”

And it is advisable to keep up a correspondence along with your topic.

“That’s why it’s a bit chilly.”

“…What?”

I casually lifted his quilt, then shortly went over and lay down subsequent to him. Once I lifted my head from the blanket, I noticed his face very shut, and I seen for the primary time that his black eyes shone indigo blue within the moonlight.

I forgot my goal for a second, and whereas I used to be watching, Heo-Sang cheeks turned crimson in actual time.

“What the….”

I grabbed his hand within the quilt right away.

“Hey. Why are your palms so chilly?”

It was like ice. The final time he held my hand and prayed, my physique temperature was a lot decrease after I fell into the ocean, so I didn’t count on it to be this chilly even on a traditional day. Furthermore, I discovered it unusual and cute that his face was crimson as if it was going to burst at any second, however his physique temperature was low.

“What’s unsuitable with you? …Are you pranking me once more?”

His eyes wandered this manner and that, misplaced in thought. I felt a little bit sorry for him as he was busy swallowing his dry saliva. Nevertheless it’s a course of I’ve to undergo to see the circumstances of every citadel.

“I informed you, it’s chilly.”

“It’s nonetheless autumn….”

“I get chilly simply.”

“Hyung!”

Shh, shh, shh. Everybody whispered that he may wake everybody up, so he clamped his mouth shut.

I used to be annoyed too. I had all of the circumstances, however nothing was taking place. Is there one thing lacking, or do I have to be extra persistent? There have been no such circumstances….

With the intention of attempting one thing first, I caught my face into it, nearly like a hug. I may really feel the strain in his physique via our pores and skin. It was a second when our noses have been shut sufficient to the touch.

[Triggers ‘Pioneer of the Unknown’ ( )].

[View the awakening conditions for tastemaker ‘Heo-Sang’?]

I’m enthusiastic about my newfound skill, however I’m additionally frightened that I’m going to have a tough time with the awakening requirement for Heo-Sang. I blinked in affirmation, attempting to cover my nervousness, and a brief sentence appeared.

[To suffer separation from a loved one].

Huh. An involuntary chuckle escaped me. The corners of my mouth quirked upward. I used to be imagined to act like nothing had occurred, however I couldn’t conceal my embarrassment. Because the phrases disappeared, my face contorted right into a grimace in his clear eyes.

“Are you okay?”

“Uh-huh….”

I shortly turned away, pulling the covers as much as my head in worry of being came upon.

”You’re so chilly, I can’t do that, I’m going to catch a chilly.”

“What?”

“I informed you, duvets are one of the best.”

Parting with a beloved one. I’ve blended emotions about it, glad that there’s nonetheless one thing I can do, but in addition grateful that I didn’t get up with the lack of my mother and father. I don’t need to sound immodest, however I’m the one one who meets the circumstances for Heo-Sang awakening.

This should be God giving me an opportunity to atone.

“Good night time. Sang-yi.”

Or perhaps he’s giving me the right excuse to depart his facet.

There’s a peaceable silence within the church in winter. The bushes and flowers which are so vibrant within the inexperienced season are robbed of their colors by a light-weight blanket of snow. The sky is blue, the ocean is deep, and the land is white. The top result’s a panorama of blue and white, which is usually a bit boring, however I like the monotony of winter.

Maybe that’s why I used to be so fascinated by the kid born in winter and named Seri Sang.

“They are saying it’s imagined to snow, but it surely’s simply dry.”

“I do know. There’s an indication on the mountain path by the church warning folks to watch out.”

I took a deep breath and the chilly scent of winter seeped deep into my lungs. I don’t know the way lengthy it’s been since I’ve smelled air this cool. The climate had all of a sudden cleared up after being overcast till yesterday. Right now, the silver sky gave the impression to be celebrating Heo-Sang birthday.

“So, how was your day? You had quite a bit deliberate.”

”…I’m truthfully stunned, I didn’t count on so many individuals to return and congratulate me.”

“Haha, it seems I’m not the one one who’s been eager about throwing you a shock occasion.”

Heo-sang’s birthday celebration that everybody had labored so laborious to organise had come to an finish. Seeing him have a good time with so many individuals made me really feel comfortable and bittersweet on the similar time. I wouldn’t be there for his birthday subsequent 12 months.

“Wow! Have a look at that sundown.”

I headed to the cliffs above the ocean to get a better have a look at the reddish sky. I walked boldly to the sting and all of a sudden an apparition grabbed my wrist. I don’t know the way laborious he yanked, but it surely despatched me sprawling backwards.

“Ouch,” I grunted, turning round to fulfill anxious eyes.

“Sang-yi, you’re going to mark my wrist.”

“I’m sorry, however….”

”It’s okay, you need to come over right here and have a look.”

I perceive his worry, however I nonetheless need to present him a view that may solely be seen from the cliffs. With a delicate tug on his wrist, he obediently follows. As we stood on the sting of the cliff, I may see the solar dipping beneath the horizon.

“It’s lovely, isn’t it? Each time I get an excessive amount of to consider, I come right here to clear my head.”

“…It’s too harmful.”

“Nevertheless it’s cool. I can’t see anything, simply the ocean and the sky.”

A chilly sea breeze blew in, colder than your palms. The longer we held palms, the warmer I acquired. I felt a little bit unhappy, so I glanced to the facet and our eyes met. I got here up right here to point out you the gorgeous surroundings, however you weren’t wanting on the sundown, solely at me. I laughed out loud, however my coronary heart sank.

“Keep right here for a second.”

I let go of his hand and turned to stroll away, and he adopted.

“What? The place are you going?”

“I’m simply getting into for a minute. I forgot one thing.”

“I’ll include you, then.”

“It’s okay, I’ll be proper again.”

He waved as he ran, and Heo-sang turned to mush like a pet being skilled to attend.

I hurried into the church’s widespread room earlier than I induced any pointless fear. I opened the locker within the nook and took out the paper bag I had ready. I didn’t know the way to tie a reasonably ribbon, so the knot was as tight as a sneaker lace.

“…Will he prefer it…?”

I need him to cherish it. That is my birthday current and parting reward to Heo-Sang.

I haven’t informed anybody but, however I’m leaving this place on the primary prepare at daybreak in the present day. And I’ll by no means come again. I’m chopping off all contact. Nobody will be capable of discover me anyway, as a result of everybody is aware of me by my baptismal title, John, and I haven’t listed a spot of residence. When morning comes, it will likely be as good because the fading daybreak.

I had initially meant to depart earlier. However human greed is aware of no bounds. I procrastinated and procrastinated, hoping to remain just a bit longer, only a month longer, till winter lastly arrived, and I shuddered at my very own stupidity after I noticed the morning panorama coated in pure white snow.

Now I actually should go away. Nonetheless, I need to keep away from the day when Heo-sang needs to be most comfortable, so I selected the day after his birthday. I puzzled many times if this was the correct selection. However the time for proper and unsuitable has handed. You need to make your best option, even when it’s the worst.

I used to be working in direction of the door, keen to present him his current.

Growth!

“Ouch…”

I used to be working so quick that I didn’t see the individual subsequent to me and ran into them. The tip of my nostril tingled as my face slammed into an arm, abdomen, or physique half. However, I seemed on the reward in my arms. Fortunately, the envelope wasn’t crumpled. I breathed a sigh of aid and seemed again on the individual subsequent to me, a beat too late.

“Oh, sorry about that. Are you okay?”

I don’t recognise the face. He simply stares down at me with a clean expression, at the same time as I apologise. He will need to have been a bit startled by the sudden look of a human being. Anyway, he didn’t appear to be injured, so I simply stated a chilly howdy and turned to stroll away.

Once I acquired exterior, he was standing on the road subsequent to the church.

“Sang-yi, what are you doing there?”

He was gazing one thing after which seemed again.

“Oh, I feel there’s one thing right here.”

“Huh?”

I walked in direction of it, hoping to discover a stray cat, however the highway was empty and there was nothing there. May or not it’s that he was about to comply with me into the church, however all of a sudden bumped into me and made excuses? …No, I don’t assume so.