Someday

Chapter 1

Chan Sung walked across Central Park. It was a cold chilly morning. The weather reporters had reported that in just a few days, the snow might fall. It was early for winter this year. Generally, it did not snow early in the month of October and for the almost forty-two years of him working in New York City, it was a very rare phenomenon. Yes, him working in New York City. Him living out his life for forty-two glorious years after sending off his Man Wol to the platform towards the afterlife. He sometimes thought that he might return home, back to Seoul, after the grief had subsided. But even though the memories of pain and grief became distant memories, he could not will himself to stay permanently in Seoul.

It wasn't like he was wallowing in his grief right now. He was reminiscing right now. After sending off Man Wol, he had tried to work at Four Seasons in Seoul. And he had miserably failed at it. Not that there were any complaints about his work ethic, but he just could not bear to see it, the new hotel shining tall and bright and blue. It reminded him of the time he had spent time with Man Wol and all the guests and staff of the hotel. He had gone there once, of course, and met the new owner. As he stood in front of the Moon Tree, he could feel his heart soar as well as break at the same time. This secretive world that he had found out about, was glorious and magical and real, he reminded himself. He reminded himself, that he would meet Man Wol someday in some life which might be this or the next several ones. As he stepped out of the hotel, he made the decision, he had to leave Seoul. For giving him strength and hope that one day he will meet his Man Wol. One day he will be able to hold her in his arms, someday.

As he got transferred to New York, he thought that he would love the idea. Yet, every few years, he would come back to Seoul to visit the places that he and Man Wol had eaten at. At his workplace, he did exceedingly well, so much that he was offered something more lucrative than ever: the opportunity to work at the Plaza Hotel. And of course, he could not refuse it. As he rose to the ranks in the hotel, he became the Chief Manager of the hotel at a very early age, surprising everyone. He became the first Korean to work at such a high position at such a prestigious hotel. Since then, he was offered the role of the CEO several times, but he had denied it, stating that he was happy being on his feet more than just doing paperwork at his desk. His humble attitude, strong morals, an eye for the customer's needs, and charming personality made him the stuff of legends and he was featured on Forbes several times. He still worked at the hotel in an advisory position and his former position was taken over by Yoo Na almost 6 years ago. He really had underestimated Yoo Na. After coming to work with him as an intern, she still remained by his side, a relic that reminded him that what he saw, experienced, and loved was real. Of course, he saw ghosts in New York, but still, they weren't a part of the life that he experienced with his Man Wol.

As he was going through his memories, he stopped by a tree. It was the same tree that he had found years ago after coming to New York, the one that

bloomed flowers the exact ones that bloomed on Man Wol's tree all those years ago. Now the tree was barren, but it would still flow with life at the beginning of the spring when it will sprout new leaves and spring new flowers. And he knew, like that that tree being reincarnated, he will come back as well, looking for his Man Wol. As he knelt down and sat down, ignoring the sludgy, muddy ice, he sighed. Perhaps, he should have gone back to Seoul this year, at least to visit his friends. Sanchez had found love again and married, Mi Ra and Young So had just welcomed their first granddaughter last year. They were living their lives happily and it made him happy too. Just a little sad along with happy, that he could not get the presence of Man Wol for some more time, could not enjoy her company some more. He really missed her. After coming to New York, he tried to find love again, the same way Sanchez and Yu Na found someone to stitch their hearts back together, broken yes, but still mended from the love of their partners. But how much he tried, he could not get anyone that close to his heart, so he stayed alone and his heart still broken but full of his memories for Man Wol.

He had remained positively single for the past forty-two years. Now at seventy-one, his body had become fragile and weak and he no longer was that handsome man that he was forty-two years ago. And forty-two years later, he knew that he was nearing the end of his life. He could feel it in his bones. As he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he could feel his life escaping his body. Once again, he took a deep breath. This time, instead of smelling the crispy cold wind of New York, he could feel something else. As he opened his eyes, he was back in the subway in which he had seen Man Wol for the first time. This time, he was himself not visible to anyone in the late-night crowd of people returning to their homes. He got off at the next station and came out to see Seoul in its full glory. He had made it back to Korea. He was making his way back to meeting the love of his life, but at the same time, he felt scared. Scared that he might not remember her in his next life or might not see his moon ever after all of this. As he wandered around aimlessly, he sat on a bench by the Han River, breathing in the scent of the river, and calming down his mind. As he opened his eyes, he looked to his left and saw Mago sitting beside him. The same Mago that he had seen all these years ago when he was eight, offering white flowers to the dead. She smiled at him and looked up towards the night sky. "Beautiful, isn't it, right?" she asked. To which he replied a small, "Yes." She handed him the white flower this time and he took it into his hands. Then she said, "You chose to let her go, and for that sacrifice, she'll come back to you, eventually."

This time, he strode back to the hotel. It was still blue as the one he had seen years ago, and still named Hotel Blue Moon. As he strode up the stairs, he went in and went straight ahead. He knew where he was going obviously. As he approached the front desk and completed his formalities, wishing to go to the afterlife as fast as possible. He was eager to meet Man Wol again, even if she was a bowl of noodles and he was a bowl of kimchi that went along with it. As he approached the platform, he saw the Grim Reaper standing over, waiting with a limo. As he smiled at the Reaper, the Reaper returned his smile. With a smile on his face, he got inside the car, heading towards the Samdo River. As he started crossing the bridge, with a smile on his face, he knew that he was going to meet Man Wol again. And as he reached the end of the bridge, he smiled, with the flower in his hand at a memory in his mind. Of a woman with a very beautiful face, looking at him and saying the words, "Harvard Scammer," to him. He smiled as he stepped off the bridge towards the world unknown.