the summer house by moe

8/14/2019 The Summer House by Moe

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The Summer Houseby Moe

Moe: I never thought Id have a main theme to any of my stories, but Im in lovewith this piece and chose it for the main theme.

Right click > !ave target as"!amuel #ahn $ % &eautiful Reminiscence

There are rules when youre alive. There are also rules when youre dead. Gofigure.

I sat aloneon the wooden porch in front of my house watching the sun set. 'hesun seemed to glare at me with its unusually large round face, as if it wasscolding me for staring at it too long. 'he sky itself sent purplish and orangestreaks shooting across the hori(on, creating a wonderful backdrop against theblooming pink blossom tree that stood in front of the house, spreading its gloriousscent along with the wind.

I stretched my hands, watching the blossom petals flutter softly onto my opened

palm.

% petal. )ne tiny petal separated from the others.

*ust like myself.

I sighed heavily, feeling my shoulders sinking in hopelessness, wondering when Igoing to get the same freedom to drift away and perhaps disappear forever +ustlike the petal.

Ive always thought that it was nice to watch the sun set. #owever, I spent thelast five years doing it alone. I have been trapped in this house for as long as Ican remember.

Today is the last day

My lonesomeness will finally be cured.

'he big factor here isnt really my lonesomeness, its actually something else.
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!omeone was coming.

% human.

&efore I start to confuse you, let me be truthful here.

et me tell you a story of a girl. % girl who was once alive. -ou see, five yearsago, she was this poor lonely, depressed soul who spent most of her time,listening to heavy metal music, walking around with her head hanging low, andalways hesitated to look people in the face because she was labeled as theoutcast, caring very little about the outlooks on life. -ou couldnt blame her. #erlife wasnt perfect in fact/her life was horrible. !he had parents who neglectedto care for her because her father was a swindler who spent most of his time in

+ail and her mother a whore, who spent most of her time in other mens bed. #erolder sister on the other hand, was the smart one. 'he moment she entered

college, she moved out without bothering to look back on her disgraceful family.!o then came a day when little$ miss$outcast decided to cheat life by allowingherself to be hit by a car. 0nfortunately, she ended up surviving it, suffering onlyminor in+uries. 'hen came a time when she tied a long red scarf to the fanpropeller attached to the ceiling and attempted to end her life, but ended upsurviving that one too. %fter two unsuccessful suicide attempts, she was placedin a psychiatric hospital. &ut only after a week of observation, she was 1uicklyreleased because the doctors root her to be too sane to be stuck in such a place.2ot long after her release, she had written a letter to her to her family andapologi(ed for her unwanted e3istence. 4ithout an, I love you, or I will missyou or a simple 'hank you, the letter only contained these e3act words"

Im sorry that I ever existed. Goodbye.

!adly, those were her words before she drowned herself in her own bathtub,never to be wakened again.

'here you have it folks, the end of a tragic life story of a girl who never had thechance to live past the age of twenty.

-ou guessed it.

'hat girl is me.

!o the real 1uestion here is"

4hat am I5

2o, Im not a ghost. %nd no, Im not a spirit. Im actually a guardian spirit. 2ot60%R7I%2 %268 but a 60%R7I%2 !9IRI'.


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2ow, now. 7ont get turned off by the name. It sounds rather lame, but youll getused to it.

%llow me to e3plain the level of orderly classes given to you after the +udgment of

death.

-our chances in becoming a guardian angel is 1uite slim thats the reason whyIm stuck being a guardian spirit. I have heard that you have to be one of theheavenly descendants to gain such a high status. 'hats what the otherstell meanyway. I dont actually know the truth myself. %ll I know is that there aredifferent classes assigned to you once you go through +udgment after death. -es,people. !uch things do e3ist.

'hink of it this way"

'here are rules when youre alive. 'here are also rules when youre dead. 6ofigure.

%fter +udgment, they either place you in the ghost class, spirit class or theguardian spirit class. &eing a ghost is the lowest of the lowest. &asically if yourea ghost, you get no privileges at all. 2ot only could the humans see your uglydead deformed body but youll be stuck in that level for all eternity, never to beallowed to cross over and your only purpose is to haunt people. Imagine yourselfin stuck in aspers shoes. -eah, its pretty sad, huh5 Its probably the biggestpunishment a dead person could suffer after death. Moving along. 'he ne3torderly class is the spirit. Its actually much better than being a ghost because

you have the option in whether or not youd like to go around haunting peopleand causing havoc, or you could always be the goodie$two$shoes and assist theguardian spirit to gain yourself a higher status.

'he best thing about it being a spirit5 'he humans dont actually see you soyoure pretty much free to do whatever you feel like. 'he worst thing about it5 2omatter how much youd like for them to see you, they never do. !o yourebasically invisible.

If youre lucky enough, and the elderspity you, youll get placed in the guardianspirit class, like myself. I became what I am now because the eldersfelt sorry forme. I never did any wrong in my past life. 2ot until the day I decided to killmyself. 'hat was the biggest mistake of all and they made me repent for myfoolish act.

Ive served my time, now it was time to do something more meaningful.

6uardian !pirits are given task and duties. 'heir +ob is simply to watch over ahuman being. Its something along the lines of babysitting. %fter achieving that


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task, youll most likely be rewarded. 'he best reward you could get out of it5Reincarnation. Its much better than winning a +ackpot, trust me.

;or the past five years, Ive been serving punishment by being trapped in 'he!ummer #ouse, never to stray far from it nor leave the premises because they

placed me inside a magical locking barrier. I was no different from a cagedanimal. I thought it was freedom when I had chosen death, but death only led meto believe that life was far more important.

&ut no longer will the summerhouse be abandoned and no longer will I be alone.

I have a visitor coming soon.

% visitor who will soon be like a client to me.

)ne that I must guard and protect.

I was given an order.

%n order to watch over this particular human.

'he only problem is, this person has become suicidal.

||Chapter One|


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Youre not afraid% he had &uestioned.

'hy should I be% I feel #rote$ted when Im here.

#e almost snorted in disbelief at his grandfathers words as he took another step

closer to get a better view of the house. 'he house had two stories and it wasbigger, more spacious than the usual summerhouse that he ever came across.&uilt with mainly glass and oak, you could catch a good view of the inside fromwhere he stood. %nd from inside it had a spectacular view of the lakeside. 'heporch was decorated with align of morning glories and chrysanthemums, givingoff a colorful variety. It made him wonder how they came to be alive since therewas no one to take care of them. #e could see his grandfathers paintingsadorning the oak walls inside, bringing house to life. In the corner of the livingroom, stood his fathers piano. #e remembered running his fingers over the keysof the piano. #e had played it for his grandfather the day he visited. #e couldhear it now, the classical piece playing faintly in his ears as he pictured his

grandfathers smiling face.

% gust of cool air came rushing at him the moment he placed his hand on the oakhandles attached to the double doors, causing him to hesitate +ust for a moment.


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#e knew his sister didnt want to tag along, but he forced her anyway. #erpartying habits were starting to get out of hand. #is mother also ordered him totake care of her while she was gone out of the country and *ae !ung didnt trustleaving his sister alone either.

#ae *in reluctantly agreed.


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the point it looked like she was wearing white makeup powder. )r was she5 #ecouldnt really tell. #er lips were pressed in a grim line as if she was pu((led byhis presence. !he had to be a teenager, no more than twenty years old and noless than si3teen. !he was frowning at him and he didnt like it at all, because herappearance alone raised goosebumps on his arms.

4hen he opened his mouth to speak, she rudely cut him off.


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*ae !ung couldnt even begin to comprehend what was going on, all he knewwas that he had to find a way to get rid of the psychotic woman.


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was epitome of perfection. %n angel. % real angel.

!he noticed that he was in the middle of reading. !ince she met him, he wasalways reading. !he often wondered what he read about about that because shesaw only blank pages.

%nd as usual, he always made her feel like the intruder.

!he cleared her throat before saying, -ine% !he thought. It wasnt fine. -oo *ae !ung saw her as a psychotic criminal.'hat was beside the point -oo *ae !ung had seen her.


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-oo #ae *in, a mere si3teen year old was eyeing her up and down like a lionwould eye its prey.


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#e was surprised by her retort. More or less, he was more surprised at howmaturely she responded to him. 'o have thought this woman was mad. 9erhaps,he had mis+udged her. learing his throat, he said,

!he heard laughter coming from within the house and peered over to see theback of a womans figure wrapped in a warm embrace with -oo *ae !ung. 'hatmade her wonder about his character. #ow could someone like -oo *ae !ung beon the verge of suicidal when he practically had everything going for him5 #e


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had a loving sister, a wonderful deceased grandfather who left the house in hiscare, and even beautiful girlfriend. !oo -oung figured she had to be beautiful

+udging from the sound of her laughter.

%fter hooking an arm around his girlfriend, *ae !ung turned her around they both

began to make their way towards her.

!oo -oungs mouth dropped opened once more. 'ears suddenly filled her eyesthe moment she recogni(ed the woman he was with.

#er sister.

||Chapter Two|

Choi Soo Youngdecided to place an invisibility spell over herself to prevent thecouple from seeing her. 4iping at the tears that stained her pale cheeks, shestood watching them like a dumbfounded dummy as they made their way to theirplaces in their seats.

-oo *ae !ung was looking happier than earlier, wore a pair of cream$coloredslacks along with a v$neck sweater overtop a crisp white button$downed shirt.#is face lit up like a lantern, revealing a happier side to him. !oo -oung neverthought a man was capable of being happy considering he was on the verge ofsuicide. 'he smile adorning his face was genuine. 'he pretty young womandressed in miniskirt with an off$the$shoulder white short sleeved shirt seated

across from him, was the reason why he smiled.

!oo -oung moved to stand behind *ae !ung so that she could see her sistersface more clearly. #er sister, whose name was hoi Min *i, used to be plain andaverage looking girl who never liked to dress up. 2ow, !oo -oung barelyrecogni(ed her anymore. !he always thought Min *is eyes were much softer,her smile much warmer and her aura oo(ed with charm. !oo -oung alwaysadmired how Min *i saw the world full of opportunities, never ceasing to graspthem.


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sight. 9lacing an elo1uent hand on top of *ae !ungs hand, she said,

#e spun around, startled by her presence.


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Thats right. There was nothing.!oo -oung gave him a smirk.


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'hey made an agreement on never to poke fun at each others fashion sense.

!oo -oung had to admit, despite his la(iness, !ung 4on was probably theclosest guardian spirit she knew. 'hey werent friends, nor were they enemies,

!ung 4on liked to consider !oo -oung as a protDgD. ;or some reason, hewanted to protect her from the moment they met. It wasnt as if !oo -oungneeded any type of protection, but !ung 4on had simply taken it upon himself tovisit her occasionally. !he had to admit, she was grateful for his company.

#e took another step toward her, and knocked the top of her head.


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#e swallowed his hurt and said nothing in return. !oo -oung saw that he wasbiting his tongue.

Min *i was doing her best to control her sobbing.


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out.

#is words stung like ice, #ae *in knew not to go against her brother.


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I $ould hurt you. 0ont underestimate me Yoo !ae "ung she wanted to shout.!he was determined for him to see her in a different aspect. If it came to thepoint where she had to use some kind of force against him, she would do itwithout a second thought.

If only she knew how much she meant to him. If only she could understand +usthow much he was suffering.

#e closed out the world by shutting his eyes. This is it !ae "ung.

'he ne3t thing he knew, he was being pulled out of the bathtub. #e sat upright,choking on a mouthful of water. )pening his eyes, he saw the face of hoi !oo-oung who was yelling at him as if she had every right to.


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2ever mind him, what was she doing in his room5


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dated ever since.


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4hat woman in the right state mind would refuse money5 9erhaps she wasnt inher right state of mind5


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0oes that mean father will $hoose for me%

Yes.

Then I wont be$ome like you%

Im afraid not.

3ut I want to be like you not like father.

Then you have to fight for it !ae "ung.

0oes that mean I have to go against fathers wishes%

Yes.

*es really mean. "ometimes Im afraid of him but other times Im not. *eseems to like "eo !in more than me. *e also likes that lady more.

'hy do you $all her that lady% "hes your mother.

,y real mother is dead. That lady will never be like my real mother even if shetries to be. "he hurts me grandfather. "he likes #in$hing me he $onfessedrolling u# his long sleeves to reveal the #ur#le dark bruises of his ste#mothersmarkings. 4ook. This is what she does to me.

*araboui will take $are of this. )ext time she tries to hurt you run away and$ome find me.

2kay.

#e was there now, inside the summer house calling for his grandfather.


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single teardrop sliding down her cheek. !he was beautiful from that angle. Morebeautiful than he could imagine.

#e wondered if the painting belonged to his grandfather. 'here was no sign ofhis signature or initials anywhere.


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*ust when he wanted to push her aside, his cell phone rang. #e mouthed her awarning before answering his phone.

@A@A@

!he was sweeping the front of the house when a sleek silver sports convertiblepulled up in the driveway with hip$hop music blasting loudly that it could causeher to go deaf if she was still alive.

'he guy stepped out of the car, wearing a black leather motocross +acket with awhite wife$beater underneath and a pair of loose faded denims. #e was looking


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stylish with the white beanie on, along with e3pensive sunglasses that only thestars could afford. #e smiled when he saw her, giving her a wave of his hand.


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#ae *in. 'he wind did it.

#ae *in gave !oo -oung the dirtiest look and fled inside.

4ell, at least someone understood her, !oo -oung thought as she turned back

to the stranger. #e held out his hand.


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thinly shape legs. !oo -oung remembered being her age once. %lthough, shenever any attempt to dress so revealingly. 4omens fashion changedtremendously in a matter of five years. #ae *in was the prime e3ample of that.

#er eyes widened in defense.


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4hen she was out of #ae *ins sight, she stopped to look through the window ofthe summer house. -oo *ae !ung and !eo *in were both standing side by side,their ga(es locked onto her and their mouths were moving.

5erha#s they were engaged in some dee# $onversation% !oo -oung noticed

how bothered *ae !ung appeared. !eo *in was the opposite. #e was smiling.Maybe even at her. !he felt like she wanted to disappear in front of their eyes.'hat if they were talking about her% !he shook her head. They $ouldnt be. "hewasnt im#ortant.

!oo -oung forced a smile and gave them both a wave of her hand inacknowledgement. 'hen she turned her back on them and pretended to payattention to the shrubs and plants that grew along the back of the house.9lucking a dead leaf from one of the plants, she e3amined it and said,


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!oo -oung pointed at her face, knowing she was going to be blamed for.


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need to talk.

!oo -oung pulled from his grasp as if his touch burned her.


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violet then purple.


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'he angel inclined his head.


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!he wasnt surprised of !ung 4ons boasting. #e always spoke the truth, ofcourse, with the e3ceptions of his little white lies.


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%nd then they both smiled.

!oo -oung knew her smile was genuine. It was the first time in a long time thatshe had offered her smile to anyone. 8ven if that person was 9ark !ung 4on,she was glad.

@A@A@

-oo *ae !ung walked out the front door, calling out her name.


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#e bit hard on his lower lip before he corrected himself. #e wondered if she deliberately asks 1uestions to annoy him.


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#e noticed that her ga(e was focused solely on !oo -oung as if she recogni(edher from somewhere. !oo -oung turned abruptly around with her back facingMin *i and then she fled the opposite direction without looking back.

Someone who has replaced you.

!oo -oung felt like stomping on *ae !ungs feet while she watched from adistance, beneath the invisibility spell. !he wasnt there to be placed in a positionwhere she could be used. !he was there to protect him and he was making itawfully hard for her.

!he watched Min *i run after *ae !ung who was about to enter the house. Min *isei(ed him by the arm to hold him back.


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Min *i pushed the door further in only to face his back. !lowly wiping her tearsaway, she spoke,


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need you, he muttered.

Min *i started to cry again when she said,

!oo -oung wanted her sister to speak the truth. !he wanted to know whetherMin *i still cared.


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!tartled, she 1uickly opened her eyes and turn to confront the person behind thevoice.

!ung 4on was back to being his usual self again, wearing the same usual smirkon his face.

!oo -oung slapped his shoulder.

!ung 4on made a good point. 'hat made her a tad bit curious regarding Min *istrue intentions.


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!he noticed the tightened +aw, his closed eyes and his stillness. 4as !ung 4onafraid to face *i 4oo5 It made her curious. !ung 4on must have said somethingor done something to get *i 4oo following him around. Meeting other spirits isnormal, but to create such a bond to the point they were following you, was

something uncommon. !pirit relationships could also occur in the spirit world.!ometimes you might meet a spirit that you feel connected to, and a bond isformed. #owever there could only be one true connection. !oo -oung wasntsure about the bonding relationships in the spirit world or whether they wereallowed to have one, but she knew that if a spirit accepted the bond,conse1uently they will be linked to each other whether or not they choose tohave it so. It could only occur if they were in the same class level. !ung 4onbeing a guardian spirit and *i 4oo being a spirit had to be working together. ?im*i 4oo was probably !ung 4ons assistant.

!oo -oung glanced at *i 4oo who was mouthing incoherent words to her.


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your games.


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#e opened his eyes at the sound of her voice.


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!oo -oung went rigid at his 1uestion. !he hoped she misheard him.


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1uestioning if Min *i was a threat to *ae !ung rather than his savior.

%ll of sudden she felt someone pull her back by the arm.


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'he time started again and *ae !ung shook his head as if he had been in somekind of trance. !oo -oung stood there looking at him.


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;aint, soothing music played in the background inside the dimly lit emptyrestaurant as a slender woman standing around five feet si3, wiped at the tables,flicking a tendril of hair back from her delicate face. 9ushing up her designerframes glasses, to rest on top of the bridge of her finely shaped nose, shecontinued to wipe at the tables as if they werent clean enough for her. !he bit on

her lower lip, while humming to the soothing tune.

#er melodic voice blended with the tune and then she decided to sing along.

;inally having enough, she stopped what she was doing and kicked off her blackheels and sat down to look at the blister was starting to show at the back of herheel.


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sky blue flower printed pa+amas. #er long hair was piled into a messy bun behindher. !he smiled at him, acting like she was his confidante. #e hadnt seen hercome in. !trange, how she was always showing up when he least e3pects her to.It was becoming customary for him.


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#e turned his head +ust enough to catch a glimpse of Min *i who was wearing hisrobe over the clothes !oo -oung had given her the night before. !he had darkcircles under her eyes, he figured she hadnt slept well either. !he moved to sitne3t to him and then placed her head against his shoulder the same way shealways did with her comforting presence.


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!he came closer to him but he held out his hand.

!he raised a pu((led brow.


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!he beckoned !oo -oung over with a wave of her hand.

Min *i wiped her eyes and looked up with a shock$filled e3pression.


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Min *i shook her head and covered her ears in response.


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!oo -oung sighed e3asperatingly, reali(ing she made a mistake by arguingback. !he had to convince him that she was well depended on, otherwise hewould fire her and shed lose her title for failure to look after her pompous +erk ofa suicidal human.


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get the feeling that it wasnt going to happen5 !he didnt know if she could standthere and watch him get hurt again. 8specially by her sister, whose true motivesare still unknown. 'he first thing that came out of his mouth was,


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%t this point, !oo -oung was confused.


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up and disappearing into thin air.

!oo -oung was still seated on the grass, thinking about the bonding she had with!ung 4on.


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strangers permission to enter rooms. !he felt cheated and angry at the sametime because she took it upon herself to bring the phone to him but as usual hehad brushed her off rudely without showing a hint of appreciation.

4ithout waiting for anything more, she turned around and e3ited the room,

shutting the door behind her. !he didnt know what bothered her more, the factthat *ae !ung was being his arrogant self or the fact that her sister refuses toacknowledge her.

@A@A@

4hat was this5 7id he assume he was forgiven after making her bond with him5

!he swiped his hand off her shoulder and turned to confront him.


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couldnt +ust/ask you to bond with me. Its wrong. 'hats like asking a girl if shewants to have s/


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'he rain suddenly came down harder. !oo -oung felt the coldness of the rain,but she did not feel cold. !ung 4on was still standing there, looking up at the skyuntouched.

!ung 4on lowered himself to her level, crouching in front of her.


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happens to every guardian spirit. Myself included.

!he felt herself crying in front of him.


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To listen to the song:Right click save as : *.? ee $ % 7ream

$$$


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#e thought about the woman he had seen that night under the moonlight.


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!eo *in smiled at the sight of him. up like a man, !eo *in. %nd then were e1ual.

!eo *in staggered on his feet and threw a surprised punch at *ae !ung.


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!eo *in ga(ed down at her and then took hold of her hand possessively.


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'he soft melody floated into his ears and he opened his eyes, staring up into theceiling, wondering if what he heard was real.

Rubbing his eyes, he got up and headed down stairs, following the melody untilhe found himself standing in the living room with !eo *in and !oo -oung.

!eo *in was hovered over !oo -oung and the piano, smiling happily as sheplayed for him. 'hey appeared as if they were a couple.

!eo *in finally looked up at him and greeted him with an inclination of his head.

!oo -oung stopped playing and cast her eyes upward to notice his presence.


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!eo *in nodded.


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!oo -oung made a disgusted face and sat down across from him.


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enough to allow someone like hoi !oo -oung to protect him.

4ithout another word, he continued to eat.

!oo -oung watched him eat with a smug look on her face.

#e knew she was watching, but he chose to ignore it anyway until he couldnttake any more of it because he was starting to feel uncomfortable.


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#e managed to snatch all the plates and dishes from her.


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mysterious entanglement. If he too were to fall in, would anyone notice5 #ewondered.

!omehow, he couldnt fight against it. #e could feel it drawing him in, beckoning,and welcoming him.

#e felt the umbrella slip from his grasp and then he felt himself slipping over theedge and finally plunging beneath the cold profound darkness.

'he coldness swallowed him, creating a heaviness in his chest which clung to hislungs.

!omewhere out there, he heard his name being called.

!ae "ung. Yoo !ae "ung/

Ignored.

#e allowed himself to slip.

'hy $ant I do what I want%

That isnt your $hoi$e !ae "ung.

'hy not% 'hy do you do this to me%

3e$ause every time I look at you. It still haunts me. 8ntil this day it still hauntsme/

You blame me for it% You blame me for her death%/

#ow much longer5

I should leave. I dont belong here. I was never your son. Im only a killer in youreyes. 6 haunting reminder. Goodbye father.

6oodbye.

'he ne3t time he opened his eyes, he was staring into hoi !oo -oungs bigeyes, feeling the wetness of the rain falling onto his face. !he was mouthingsomething and he couldnt hear her.

It had to be a dream. 2nly a dream.

!he grabbed his collar and then tapped his face to rouse him.


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%nd then he heard her voice, loud and clear.


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!he 1uickly closed her mouth and averted her ga(e.

*ae !ung appeared more sympathetic. #e said,


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||Chapter Ten|

One week later/

hoi !oo -oung kept stealing glances at *ae !ung who was on the phone withhis younger brother. !omething was bothering him. !he could tell by the way hisshoulders sunk and the way he massaged at his forehead as if he had aheadache. %nd yet she wondered why she noticed these little gestures. Its beena week since -oo *ae !ung made his last suicide attempt and they rarely spoketo each other since. 'here were days when she overheard him on the phone withMin *i, pleading for her to return to him, but as usual, Min *i hadnt return.

!oo -oung was bothered by the fact that *ae !ung was starting to appear moreand more like her, drowning himself in his own sorrows, waiting for Min *isreturn.

!oo -oung let out a small surprised gasp and covered her mouth to ask,


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behind her back.

% hint of a smile appeared in the corner of his mouth. ;or some odd reason, *ae!ung too, appeared like some nervous apprehensive teenager boy.


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'he woman smiled, pretending to understand.


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*ae !ung looked in the same direction, particularly at an attractive woman whowas kindly chatting to some of the customers and helping them with their orders.'he way she held her composure and there was something about her smile thatmade her genuine and admirable.

?ang Mi Ra.


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Ill be okay. #ome, please, she heard herself say before the blacknessswallowed her.

@A@A@

!oo -oung opened her eyes and 1uickly sat up in alertness.

-oo *ae !ung was sitting at the end of the couch, reading a book.

#e turned to regard her.


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#e shut his eyes and a single tear fell from the corner of his eye. !oo -oungcouldnt help but sense his pain. 'ears filled her own eyes because she wastouched by his concern. 'his new bonding that they shared was something newto her but it affected her in so many ways.


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2Click to listen or Right click and save as3Song *Song 4

-ears later, the same little boy sat in his piano chair and began to play in frontthe schools audience, entrancing them with his beautiful piece. !ome watched intears, others in +ealousy, and some in unwavering contentment.

'his particular boy had turned si3teen and it was his chance to show the worldwhat he was really made of.

#e stopped suddenly, throwing them off by surprise.

losing his eyes, he glided his long delicate fingers over the keys as if he meantto cast a spell on it. 'hen for the first time in front of a live audience, he opened

his mouth to sing his heart out.

#is voice immediately captured the audiences hearts and his handsautomatically began to play, leaving everyone spellbound by the end of it.

'hat particular day, he had worn his heart on his sleeves, revealing to the worldthat he trusted them with his feelings. #e wanted them to understand his feelingsthrough the music, not his talent. &ut he was left disappointed in the end.

#is foster parents had simply disregarded his talent and shunned him away.

$$

%nother two years past, a lone figure stood outside in a dark alleyway bathing inthe moonlight, his eyes sharp and unyielding as he stared off into the darkness.#e blew a wisp of smoke from the puff of his cigarette and discarded to theground. #is black leather boots crushed the unfinished cigarette, putting out thesmoke.

#e leaned back against the brick wall, crossed his arms and raised his head upto stare at the moon.

I dont $are what you do. 'hen youre old enough I want you to leave thishouse. Youre only a burden to me and my family.

'hose very words would forever change him. #e wasnt the little boy who stolesweet buns, nor was he the talented piano player that sang his heart out thatparticular day. 'o the people he thought cared for him he was only a burden andnothing more.
http://www.freewebs.com/shubox6/Lee%20J.K.%20-%20Intricate%20Heart.mp3http://www.freewebs.com/shubox6/Lee%20J.K.%20-%20Intricate%20Heart%202.mp3http://www.freewebs.com/shubox6/Lee%20J.K.%20-%20Intricate%20Heart.mp3http://www.freewebs.com/shubox6/Lee%20J.K.%20-%20Intricate%20Heart%202.mp3


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"ung 'on smiled.

Your smile is $rooked. Theres nothing wrong with your teeth. 1mon use yourfa$ial mus$les/

#e learned one thing that day. 'hat he wanted to be +ust like #an 'ae #yun.


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7espite having to look human, !oo -oung came to a reali(ation that !ung 4onswas starting to appear more attractive to her eyes. 8ither that or she was startingto lose her senses.

!ung 4ons rosy lips pursed into a smirk. Instead of looking at *ae !ung, he

saluted with a warm smile.

!oo -oung silently cursed him, wondering why !ung 4on would make such abold attempt to reveal himself. !he silently cursed at him and stopped when *ae!ung turned to look at her.

!ung 4on smiled at *ae !ung and said,


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did.

!oo -oung didnt know to respond. 'his guardian spirit that she thought sheknew was slowly opening up for the first time. #e made her understand hersituation more clearly by relating to his own past problems. 4hat she didnt

understand was why he continued to help her, knowing he was going against hisown duties.

'here was an awkward silence before Min *i came on the line again.


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#is grandfather mentioned very little about the details of the house and itshistory. #e wondered why Min *i was bringing it up all of a sudden.


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||Chapter Twel&e|

Seoul

$ The Yoos 0esidence$

'he elaborately decorated ballroom was draped in reams of white and pink satin.'he scent of lilies filled the air and the guests chattered amongst themselves.'he newly engaged couple were dressed in their own traditional engagementhanboks, greeting and sociali(ing with their guests. ?ang Mi Ra, though dressedin a fine pink and purple hanbok, looked stunning as the bride$to$be with her hairpulled back from her heart$shaped face. !eo *in on the other hand, looked morethan happy, parading around with Mi Ra by his side in a simple deep blue andyellow hanbok.

7irector -oo who was the head director of a high fashion modeling agency stood

at the far end of the room, with his elegantly dressed wife by his side, smiling andbowing to the guests as they passed by.

!oo -oung could see the uncanny resemblance between the older man and hisfirst son. 'heir eyes both held the same mystery about them.

-oo *ae !ung remained hidden in the shadows standing at the far end of theroom, dressed in a stylish cream colored opened collared tailored suit minus thetie along with a pair of e3pensive shades to cover his eyes. #is hair fell unrulyover his shades. #e was too focused staring at his father that he was oblivious tothe stares he received from all the young women at the party.

7isappointed that *ae !ung had brought her to a party in which he refuse tomake himself known, !oo -oung felt cheated and she wanted to leave. %sidefrom that, she had lost !ung 4on the moment they entered the room. !he hopedhe was around somewhere, remaining out of trouble.

0ont worry "oo Young. Im around wat$hing. You ust $ontinue doing whatyoure doing. If youre bored hanging onto him take a walk around.

!he answered him back. 'hat makes you think Im hanging onto him%

4ook at where your arm is.

!he knew he was right. 'he problem was with *ae !ung. #e hadnt let go of herarm since the moment they entered.

These humans theyre too involved with themselves.

!he looked around to notice that she too had caught some attention from some


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of the male lookers. )ne approached her and offered her a glass of champaignand she kindly declined him. *ae !ung who hadnt been paying attention to her,didnt take notice until !oo -oung removed her arm from him.


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hands on her naked shoulder and spinning her around to observe her fully.

!eo *in cut in to answer for them.


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!oo -oung couldnt help think that perhaps *ae !ung had felt the same, maybeeven worst considering his ties with his father were loose.

#e turned back to focus his attention on !oo -oung with interest.


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*ae !ung bobbed his head.


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#e hugged her back, but her smile fell the moment her eyes landed on !oo-oung who forced herself to look elsewhere.


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in defeat and regained his composure.

!oo -oung tilted her head so she could look past 7irector -oo to his wife andsaid,


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)ne moment she was smiling in appreciation and in the ne3t, the room started tospin before her. !he could feel her energy draining out of her, like blood seepingout of a deep cut. It was the same feeling she e3perienced when she was outwith *ae !ung the other day.

"ung 'on. 'here are you% 'e have to leave now.

!he lowered her ga(e and placed a hand on her head.

*ae !ung went over to take her arm.

*old on "oo Young. *old on.

Im trying "ung 'on. 3ut its diffi$ult.


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'ho are you% If you are not 1hoi "oo Young then who are you% #e wondered.

%s if reading his mind, !ung 4on 1uickly removed the earphones from his earsand said, !ung 4on smiled, and replied,


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"o you killed yourself%

I did.

Im sorry.

"he brushed it off like it was no big deal I am dead now. You dont have to feelsorry.

It never bothered the old man that she downright admitted that she was dead.0id you ever leave the #la$e%

)o. I $ant leave. )ot yet anyway. This is my #unishment "oo Young saidsadly thinking how $onfined she was roaming around the house all day.

I wonder what would ha##en to this tree if you leave "oo Young.

'hy do you think this tree has anything to do with me%

This tree s#routed on its own on the same year as your death. 6nd its been thisway ever sin$e. I think its symboli$.

"oo Young stared u# at the blossoms whi$h seem to glisten magi$ally againstthe moonlight. *mmI never really thought about it. ,aybe youre right.

||Chapter Thirteen|

!he heard a faint low humming in her head and opened her eyes to find herselfstaring up at the canopy of blossoms that shielded the diamond glittered nightsky.


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find out. It happened twice and luckily she had !ung 4on there with her.

If it wasnt for !ung 4on"


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want to harm her that way.


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go against our rules.

*i 4oo broke into a sob.


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!oo -oung turned to regard him, wondering why he felt the need to apologi(e.!he wasnt angry with him. In fact she couldnt blame him. It was ?im *i 4oowho took it upon herself to retaliate by choosing to harm her.

!he could see in his profile, that same sadness casting over him like dark grayclouds.


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!he was almost taken aback by the intensity of his ga(e.


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the fact that they were away from the house.

#urrying towards the back of the house, he entered the kitchen and she wasnowhere to be seen.

#is phone started to ring. Reaching into his pocket, he brought out the phone toanswer it.


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'here was hurt in her tone, as if she felt she couldnt be trusted.


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around here seems to understand that but me. I was probably her only friend.9erhaps her only confidante. !he fidgeted with her fingers.


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||Chapter "ourteen|

!he approached her sister, holding out her hand.

'wo men in black suits stepped out of the car.

!oo -oung clenched her fist and went over to greet them kindly.


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house. I heard she killed herself. 7o you see her5

looking over to Min *is fiancD who finally gave her a curt nod.


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!he could see his tightened +aw.


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me5

!oo -oung would have tossed him against the tree if it had been her will.#owever, she reali(ed how far she had allowed it to carry on.

!oo -oung went over to sit ne3t to the spirit.


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!oo -oung turned to the spirit.

*i 4oo rudely interrupted her.

!he stopped and waited for her mothers approaching figure. #er mother, thougha kind woman, rarely shown her any affection towards her while growing up. Itwas always towards Min *i, and no one else. Min *i, her older sister wasshowered with warmth and love while !oo -oung have always been disregarded.!he often felt unloved because even though her father paid attention to her, hewas barely around.

#er mothers scolding look appeared on her face.


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#er sister held tightly onto her hand, unwilling to let go. ;or the first time, !oo-oung felt her sisters fear. Min *i refused to let go because something botheredher that day. !he didnt know what and she never sought to ask.

$$$

Twel&e Years 5ater/

#er father slowly reached out to stroke her head as if she was the same ignorantchild she used to be. #is touch didnt matter. 'here was no warmth left in it, onlya strangers touch.

!oo -oung stood in front of the newly built house, unaffected by the tran1uility ofit.

4ith her eyes closed, she covered her mouth and cried. !he was alone now thanshe will ever be.

$$$


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#er sister, Min *i was seated ne3t to her on the couch, reaching out to pull astrand of her hair. Min *i pretended to (ip her mouth and said,


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and I was being 1uestioned like I was some witch on trial. 'hey asked me if Istudied the black arts. My gosh, these humans, theyre so gullible, naive andsuperficial.

Min *i shook her head.


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#e thought back to Min *is words.

You $ant #ossibly kee# her here. You dont even know where she $ame from.

#e thought Min *is arguments were unreasonable. It seemed as if she wasdetermined to get !oo -oung out of the house. #e knew that he would have tolet her go, but yet he couldnt bring himself to do it. 4hy does he feel so attachedtowards this !oo %h character5

!he saved your life, you bastard. #e had to remind himself.

4hen he opened the door, !oo -oung whose real name was !oo %h wasstanding there with an e3pression was full of concern. #e moved toward her andshut the door behind him so that she wouldnt see Min *i.


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0o you really think I #ity you% 0id you really think I $ould re#la$e your mother% Iam nothing like your mother. Your father doesnt seem to $are for you anymore."o why dont you go% :un away. "ee if we give a damn. 0ont you $all meumma again. You go that%/

#er words pierced right through his heart. #e knew that no matter how he lookedat her, he could only see a witch. 'o his eyes, she was an evil witch whomanaged to place some kind of loves$spell on his father and convinced him thathis son was the real enemy.

#e hated the smile she offered to his father. It was fake and conniving.

#e hated that she didnt care.

#e hated his father because he acted like he didnt care.

#e hated his mother for leaving him.

$$$

In the still of the night, he heard her faint approaching footsteps. !he came tohim, sitting on the bed and leaning over the brush his hair back. #e onlypretended to have his eyes closed and waited for her ne3t movement.

%nd then he saw her, raising a pillow over his head. &efore she could smotherhim with it, the lights came on and she 1uickly dropped the pillow ne3t to him,

pretending that she was drawing the blanket higher to his neck.


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knees. #is uniform soaked from head to toe. #e saw !eo *in, his youngerbrother, embraced by his mothers warmth, with a towel around him. 'he shakenand scared !eo *in, said nothing. #e only stared, like a lifeless manne1uin,refusing to help his older brother.

#is father pried his fingers off and backhanded him in front of wife and secondson.

#e could taste his own blood filling into his mouth like coppery li1uid. !eo *in said nothing and only he continued to stare. #is e3pression wasunreadable.

*ae !ung only wanted his younger brother to speak a word and tell them whatthey needed to hear.

;ive seconds turned into ten and ten seconds turned into a minute.

-oo *ae !ung pulled himself away from the figure of a man whom he thought heknew and began to walk away from them. ;rom all of them. 2one of themunderstood +ust how much he was suffering.

$$$

)ne -ear %fter.

#e was still standing there when the bus left, e3posed to the rain. #e saw themoving traffic and he fought a desperate urge to throw himself in front one of thecars. Initially it was the first time suicide ever crossed his mind. 4ould they carethat he left5 )o they wouldnt. % voice answered back.

0o it.

0o it.

Youre not brave enough%% voice inside his head taunted him.

%nd then suddenly his foot slid off the sidewalk and before he could moveanother inch, a hand reached out to stop him.


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!he shook her head in response.


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enough, I could feel it too. *ust like I could read your mind.

!oo -oung found herself, catching up to him and blocking his way. !he didnt likethat he was acting strange.


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#e still wasnt looking at her.


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#er eyes were suddenly filled with tears and she felt herself falling, deeper intoher own mind. % mind filled with harsh memories, which were all too painful toinvoke.

$$$

"he saw herself standing in the doorway as she wat$hed her sister get into her$ar and drive away waving her final goodbye.

"hutting the door behind her the smile &ui$kly faded and her eyes be$ameglossy. "he fell to her knees and broke into an immediate sob.

9verything shifted into another #la$e and time and she saw her sister being ledinto a brightly lit $orridor of a giganti$ house and finally $ame to a halt at the last

door. The door was wide o#ened. Gathered at the $enter of the room five

middle(aged men stared at the young inno$ent girl with a si$kening hunger intheir eyes. Their father had been standing behind her trying to $onvin$e ,in !iinside. *e was nervous and afraid almost hesitant to allow his daughter to enter.

,in !i took hold of a stranger womans hand and looked over to her father.6##a. 'ill you wait for me%

*er father whose ex#ression was barely readable re#lied 6##a will be here.6##a wont leave you. 0ont worry #um#kin. Theyll give you #lenty of toys and

dolls. !ust do as they say.

2n$e ,in !i was inside her father threw himself the floor and broke into a &uietsob $overing his mouth. Im sorry ,in !i. Im sorry.

"oo Young finally understood why ,in !i had taken her hand and refused to letgo that rainy day. "he finally understood why ,in !i seemed so unha##y with her

gifts.

'hen time shifted on$e more she found herself standing in ,in !is room. ,in !iwho was only thirteen at the time was a##lying s$arlet red li#sti$k to her li#s in

front of the full length mirror. "he wore their mothers red dress that was twosi


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herself on$e more. "he rea$hed out with her fingers and tou$hed the refle$tion.Tears seemed to naturally fall down her #ale #owdery $heeks as if she was

#erforming in front of a live audien$e. "he wi#ed her fa$e and s#oke softly to herrefle$tion. I hate you "oo Young. I hate you for making me suffer. I hate yoube$ause youre still inno$ent. I hate you "oo Young. I really really hate you.

In the blink of an eye ,in !is ex#ression be$ame distorted into shatter of glass.-ragments of glass fell like shiny flat $rystals to the floor and then she released a

#ier$ing s$ream that only #roved of her anger and #ain.

$$$

!oo -oung was catapulted back to the present, where she sat haunted by theforgotten painful memories.

!ung 4on was crouched in front of her, with his hands holding her arms.

-oung5 !oo -oung, look at me, he said, voice calm and soothing.

!oo -oung blinked twice and felt the tears streaming her face. !he felt hersisters emotion. !he knew e3actly what Min *i went through.

!he turned to him, eyes flashing angrily.


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!ung 4on moved to position himself ne3t to her.


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!he shook her head in confusion.


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4hat did #ae *in want at this time5

0nlocking the door, he opened it and watched her stumble directly into his arms.


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#e could see her lift a hand to her forehead, a gesture indicating an3iety andstress. %h.

sounds while sipping tea from a mug.

'he things she talked about made him curious in how she was before. 2o doubtshe had been lonely, but how could someone who possessed such beauty andgrace become so lonely5


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womans tears5 *ae !ung instinctively reached out and pulled her closer so that she faced him,and then wiped her tears dry with his fingers.


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dreams.

!oo -oung inclined her head and decided to take her leave. !he was halfwaydown the stairs when she met with -oo #ae *in who glared up at her from thebottom landing.


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mind was focused only on #ae *in and nothing else. )ne look at his face andshe knew how concerned he was for #ae *in.

*ae !ung already carried his sister towards the car.


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!ung 4on stole a glance at *i 4oo before walking up to !oo -oung.

!he turned to him in confusion.

4hen the door opened and Min *i walked out with a shovel in her hand, !oo-oung 1uickly stood up to greet her but she didnt acknowledged her. !oo -oung
http://www.freewebs.com/shubox6/Keane%20-%20A%20Bad%20Dream.mp3http://www.freewebs.com/shubox6/Keane%20-%20A%20Bad%20Dream.mp3


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reali(ed that she was under the invisibility spell.

Min *i walked straight to where the tree was, and the atmosphere shifted aroundher. % flash of lightning flickered across the darkened sky. !oo -oung placed herhand out and felt the dampness in the air. It was thick enough that she could

have choked on it.

'he rain began to pour in thick droplets and Min *i seemed unfa(ed by it all. !hestuck the shovel into the dirt ne3t to the tree and began to dig. !oo -oungwondered what her sister was up to and only watched in curiosity as shecontinued digging.

It was a possibility that Min *i had something buried there and she didnt wantanyone to know.

% secret perhaps.

3ut what kind%

@A@A@

'he slap on his face from his stepmother was uncalled for. -oo *ae !ung stoodthere and allowed it to happen.

#is stepmother wanted to lash out at him again but !eo *in held her back.


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*ae !ung slowly pulled Miras hand away and turned to go. 'hats all he wantedto hear. 'hat his sister would be okay. If anything happened to her, he only hadhimself to blame.

!oo -oung watched in shock and horror as she discovered her own skeletonburied si3 feet under the dirt. #er skeletal body was entangled in the roots of thetree. 'hat would e3plain why she was so attached to it. 'hat would e3plaineverything.

Min *i with a twisted e3pression on her face, said,

dead.

0nbelievable. !he was witnessing the evil in Min *i.

It had to be a nightmare. % &ad dream.

4hile she stared, she could feel her anger rising and she could feel the windanswering her, picking up its speed. 'he thunder roared like an angry giant beastand the lightning suddenly struck the tree, splitting the branches apart. &lossomscame down on them like snow in the winter.

Min *is ga(e drifted from the skeleton towards the tree and she smiled.


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'he lightning answered her final call as it struck Min *is body and splitting theentire tree apart.

!oo -oung felt herself 1uickly fading.

Min *i collapsed onto the ground in front of her.

!oo -oung cried harder until she felt she couldnt cry anymore. %ll until all was1uiet and there was nothing left. *ust the echo of her pain showing through therelentless rain.

@A@A@


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crawl up her body.

Min *i shook her head again.

!he was trembling under his grasp, not because she was cold, but afraid.


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!he didnt hold him back like he e3pected. !he stood in a stillness that surprisedhim.


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@A@A@

!he ran towards the pier and continued to call out for !ung 4ons name. !he feltno connection to him or ?im *i 4oo at all. #er powers were gone. 'here wasnothing. !he completely human.


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!ung 4on turned toward the voice to find the 4hite %ngel standing ne3t to *i4oo. #e was as always too perfect and made a habit in intruding into othersconversations. 'hough revealing little of any emotion, the angel appeared almostsympathetic when he looked over at !oo -oung.


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4hy do you think Ive chosen !oo -oung. I wanted her to help him, but I wantedher to help herself too. I wanted her to see what she has neglected to see in life.2ow, if she does not take the opportunity to resolve this, then I too have failedher as a guide.

#e called upon the wind and reached out to caress the side of her cheek. !hereached up and placed her hand on top of his.


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#e remembered the angels words. You $annot hel# her. 'here was a messagebehind that particular line. It didnt necessarily mean he couldnt allow her to seehim nor touch her, as long as he did not help her.

!hutting his own eyes, he called forth his own powers and tried to find !oo

-oungs mind. #e was going to attempt something he never did before. #eprobed deeper and tried to find her link to him. %nd then he found it, beneath aweb of dark tangled barrier which blocked him from reaching out to her. 'he webwas too strong for him. 'he web represented Min *is dark thoughts. "ooYoung. I need you to o#en your mind. I need you to let me in. 1an you hearme%

"ung 'on. Is that you%

Yes it is. I need you to destroy the barrier. I need you to break through to me.You have to $ast ,in !is tangled thoughts aside. You got that%

2kay. I think I got it.

#e waited for her to answer him.

"oo Young you still there%

"ung 'on. *er thoughts. Im afraid. Im afraid to fight it.

You have to. You have to let me in.

I think I got it. I got it/

!ung 4on searched her mind again and the darkened entangled web haddisappeared. !lowly opened his eyes to find !oo -oung staring up at him. #ereached out to wipe the tears from her face and smiled.


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!he gave him a pu((led frown.

!he pulled her head back to stare at him.


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!oo -oung could feel the tingling on her lips, but he was no longer standingthere. 9ark !ung 4on had left her for the last time. #e came to deliver her amessage and then he was gone as if he was only a figment of her imagination.!he was back being Min *i and she still had *ae !ung to deal with.

!till it hurt her to know that he was gone and she was alone.

!he felt someone grab her arm and spun her around.


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loved each other until one day a father had ruined it for them because of agambling debt. *ealousy, envy and even hate separated them. )ne of them wasabandoned while the other pursued her career. )ne of them fell in love while theother felt unloved. Meanwhile they both shared the same pain. )ne sisters painturned into hate, driving the other sister to her death.

*ae !ung said nothing while he listened and she was glad that he didnt.


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!he knew it was finally dawning on him.


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!oo -oung turned back to the house and tried to suppress the memories sheshared with all of them.

think the houseneeds it.

#is wings spread out behind him and she watched in awe as his form changedback into the tree like a white magical bird settling back into its original form. 'hebranches started to sway at her presence and the blossoms fell on her,spreading it scent across the air. !he felt the grass tickled her feet and she felthappy, knowing she was herself again.

!he turned to look at the house and started towards it.

If she were lucky enough, -oo *ae !ung would forgive her for leaving him likethat.

||Chapter .ineteen|


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-oo *ae !ung was seated in his grandfathers storage room, staring blankly atthe unfinished painting in the dark. 8verything that happened an hour ago, hetried to not to think about. #e only wanted to remember the positive things thatcame out of it. 'o him, ?im Min *i was only an illusion. 2ow he knew +ust howclose she came to being real to him. 'he woman he thought he had loved and

willing to live for had simply destroyed him with her powerful and heartbreakingwords within a single shattering moment that left his emotions crippled. #ethought about all the things that would have happened to him if Min *i had nottold him the truth about herself. #e thought about the outcome and reali(ed thatin the end, he would still be left in heartbreak. In the end, -oo *ae !ung was stillnot meant to live.

'he long unshed tears seemed to flow naturally down his sad face as he thoughtabout this history of hoi !oo -oung, the dead sister. 'he woman he would haveliked to get to know better. #e knew nothing of the stranger, and yet he feltattached to her. If she were alive, he would have made the effort to get to know

her. 'hings would have been different.

4ith all thats happened, his mind would not allow him to rest. 'he faces of Min *icontinued to taunt his mind, reminding him +ust how happy he was when he didntknow her. 'he real her. 'he only one he desperately wanted to forget.

It was over. I had to be over. !he no long remained in his heart. #e had tobelieve that.

% knock on the door suddenly drew him back to reality.


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Instead he stood still, holding onto her tightly.

took the floor.


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look more and more like a sap.

'hat automatically brought a smile on his face. #er words were powerful enoughto make him feel a sense of relief showering over him like a magical rainstorm. Itwas the first time, he felt happy and thankful that what happened to him the

previous night only made him stronger.

!lowly, he reached for her hand and held it close to his beating heart.

One Year Later


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-oo *ae !ung watched his sister run along the shore with her new puppy. #ae*in became a different person. !he was much happier than before and herwhining and tantrums and ceased considerably. #er health improved

miraculously over the year. 'hat particular day when she woke up, she was adifferent person who saw things in a new perspective. #er short hair had grownout past her shoulders and he was watching her tiptoe along the sand. #ewatched the way the wind swept her hair behind her. #e watched the way shesmiled and the way she ran while the puppy chased her close behind. 'he clearblue sky seemed to reflect her happiness. #e listened to the music created bythe sounds of the birds, falling into the rhythm of nature.

%nd then he thought of her and thought about their last parting. #e had woken upone morning alone. #e reali(ed for the first time in his life how lonely he feltwithout her. 'hat same morning, the blossoms had fallen and the tree itself stood

naked, e3posing its soul to the world. % soul which was now empty. It wase3actly how he felt that morning. #ad he seen her, he would have told her that hewanted to see her again.

%lthough it felt like apart of him was missing, he knew the emptiness he wasfeeling now only sought to be filled with something new.


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!he ignored him.

#e had to run and stand in front of her to get to stop walking. #e saw that her t$shirt had molded against her body like a second skin because he could see that

she had on flower$printed bikini top. #e had to 1uickly pry his eyes away.


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*ust spending time with *ae !ung made me reali(ed how much I wanted toprotect him or rather protect anyone. !he turned her head enough to look at!ung 4on who kept his ga(e steady on her.


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!oo -oung hurried over to his side.


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#e said nothing as he stared at his feet in shame.

the summer house by moe

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