In childhood, the darkness that once terrified me, that we called fear, with time has become my greatest comfort. When there is no one left to listen to our laughter, no one to share in our joy, the daylight begins to sting our eyes. Around me now, only the night remains, and I've grown used to living in its silence.
And yet… a light.
A light that rarely dares to step into my world.
For a moment I wondered—"Was it an illusion of my tired eyes?"
" A firefly?"
"No"… as it drew closer, I realized it was a butterfly—radiant, delicate, impossibly beautiful.
My heart urged me to reach out, and when I extended my hand, it gently landed on my fingers.
"How enchanting it was!"
" Wait…! " (smell)
"What was that scent?"
I inhaled deeply—"Ah !, Arabian Jasmine".
That soft, honeyed sweetness melting into my breath.
But before I could hold onto it, the butterfly lifted off, slipping from my fingers.
"Where are you going?" I whispered, chasing after it into the darkness.
Another butterfly… then another.
No, not just one—so many, glowing faintly, dancing ahead of me.
Curiosity sparkled in my eyes, and a smile tugged at my lips as I followed them with light steps.
The fragrance grew stronger, the air heavier with sweetness.
And then—there it was.
Before me shimmered a magical garden—Arabian Jasmine blooming everywhere, their fragrance soft and sweet.
I tucked one blossom into my hair; it matched my white dress perfectly.
A pale glow drew my gaze. The full moon hung close, silver and serene, and beneath it a Moon Lily glowed like it belonged to the sky itself.
"Breathtaking," I whispered.
My eyes drifted to another bloom—white, long, trumpet-shaped, mysterious.
The name teased my memory, then slipped away, but its beauty was enough.
"Huh?"
A sudden prickle ran down my spine, the strange feeling that someone was there.
I turned slightly, looking over my shoulder… nothing.
I exhaled and glanced to my right—again, nothing. The silence deepened, thick and watchful.
Then—
A sound.
Water. Like a fall of droplets somewhere close.
A small spark of fear flickered inside me, breaking my focus, and I turned toward the sound.
My heartbeat quickened.
Each step I took toward the sound seemed louder than it should be, like the earth was echoing my fear.
And then ....
A vast waterfall cascaded before me, the moonlight draping over it like a shimmering silver Saree. At its edge, water lilies floated gracefully on the river's surface.
I reached down, dipping my hand into the stream—so cold, so calm.
So I decided to adore the beauty as I lay upon the stones beside the waterfall, my eyes fixed on the moon above.
"Its so beautiful."
Seeing this view, a calm washed over me, and for a moment I completely forgot that lingering suspicion.
Slowly, my lashes grew heavy, and I surrendered to the stillness, drifting into dreams beneath the silver sky.....
Suddenly , I felt a darkness, as if someone had blocked the moonlight from reaching me and I felt a warm sensation on my face .
I slowly opened my eyes. My breath caught in my throat.
DARK BROWN EYES!
HEAVY LASHES!
STRANDS OF HAIR SCATTER!
IT'S COME CLOSE.
Strands of hair brushed against my temple, their warmth grazing my upper lips…...
My breath caught—stopping, faltering, as if my lungs had forgotten how to move.
"Aaaa…!"
My scream tore through the night.
I flung out my arms, shoving him back with all the strength I had, scrambling clumsily to my feet.
"Ghost! " I gasped, knees shaking, chest heaving, my voice trembling even as my heart thundered.
He steadied himself, tall and unshaken between the stones and the silver river mist.
Broad shoulders. Black suit. Black gloves.
A BIG SILVER RING on his right hand index finger.
"Look, I didn't know this was your territory… I'll leave quietly, just let me go, okay Mr.Ghost?" I tried to calm myself… to force a sound past the fear sticking in my throat.
Honestly, with a face that handsome in front of me, half of my fear was already gone."
Slowly… he turned.
The moonlight slid across his face—
Sincere. Handsome.
Could even a ghost be this handsome? A Korean ghost, no less…
A beauty that carried both strength and mystery.
Heat rushed up my cheeks, my skin aflame.
He stepped toward me, his lips parting as if to speak—
"Let's… let's talk calmly, alright?" I whispered.
But my own feet betrayed me.
The stones slipped beneath me.
And suddenly, I was falling.
"Aaaaahhh—!"
Sliding helplessly toward the deep river below.
He lunged, his hand stretching desperately for mine.
For one impossible heartbeat, our fingers nearly touched.
Nearly.
And then—
they slipped apart.
I was falling.
So this is it—trapped between a cliff and an abyss.
I just saw the most gorgeous boy of my life… and now I'm falling to my death before I even learn his name?
"Dy-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na, life is dynamite!"
My eyes flew open wide.
Wait… what?!
"Dynamite?!" I shrieked. "Seriously?! Is this really the time?!"
Heaven, are you mocking me right now? Sending me off to the afterlife with a BTS soundtrack—without even letting me attend a concert first?!
"Dy-na-na-na, na-na, na-na-na…"
"Aaaahhhh—!"
Suddenly, something hard smacked against my palm.
I blinked. My hand had slammed against my alarm clock.
Gasping, I sat up straight in bed, my body trembling. Breathless. Drenched in cold sweat. My pulse thundered in my ears.
I exhaled heavily.
"Huff… huh… huh…"
It was… just a dream.
To Be Continued...