I'M HERE ;; yeongyu ✔

❝18; it's me.

Yeonjun dried his tears as he walked away from the Cemetery. The moonlit grounds displaying shadows of the street lights along the sides. He looked up at the twinkling stars, remembering what the younger had told him.

A star can't shine without darkness, just like a person can't succeed without failing...

He smiled.

But at that moment, he heard ticking, it sounded like a clock.

Clocks don't usually tick this loud, Yeonjun thought.

He followed the source of the ticking, slowly getting nervous on where this sound would lead him. He went through very tall rows of willow tress, it's leaves swooshing from side to side; and tripping on logs and branches from time to time.

The ticking went faster and faster as he saw a very old and battered double oak doors in front of him. The doors were covered in vines; wrapping itself around it.

His eyes wandered where he was. He was in the forest.

Almost immediately, the vines untangled itself from the double doors, showing two golden door knobs.

He twisted both knobs and went inside the door. Yeonjun gasped at the meadow in front of him. In fact, it was the meadow Yeonjun and Beomgyu had had thier little picnic, the place where he last saw the younger with his imaginations.

Suddenly, a faint whisper echoed through Yeonjun's ears. He listened very closely.

It was chanting...

You have proven yourself meritorious of what lies ahead..
For you have shown great affection for your love on his death bed...
-
For what seemed like a century of waiting...
You have found his existence, not worth replacing...
-
Numerous have been given this clandestine...
But only a few have continued
their time...
-
For hereafter they've gone back...

They took it as an advantage to fill in what they lack...
-
Those who have filled their hearts with greed...
Shall perish and suffer the pain of the soul's bleed...
-
However, if what you truly seek is from deep down your heart...
You will find this not as an advantage, but a fortune for a new start...
-

Right after the chant, a piece of parchment had appeared in front of Yeonjun, floating in midair. He grabbed the parchment and read:

Everyone is given the time in the world,
It's just isn't your turn...

After he read the message, pain crowded his right arm. He looked at it and another message was engraved on it:

Well, now it's finally yours...

After reading the carving on his arm, the ticking gradually went faster and faster. Yeonjun himself got drowsier and drowsier, until his eyes finally gave in. But before he got to close it, he saw a glimpse of a large Grandfather Clock in front of him. So that's what's making the ticking. He thought.

Then, everything went black...

Yeonjun awoke feeling dizzy. He felt something warm and smooth caressing his hair.

He felt that every inch of pain crowding him left his soul, and was exchanged with the feeling of great joy and everlasting happiness as he fluttered his eyes open..

Tears started forming in his eyes as he smiled ever so brightly for the first time in three years...

A soft and sweet voice echoed through his ears...

"Hey hyung, it's me..."

▶546 words