Kang Chi: Beyond Life and Time

Chapter 19: Beyond Life: Another Beginning

Yeo Wool was busy assisting Han Wool with his homework when she answered her phone, so she did not bother checking who it was. She was certain it would be Jung Ju. But the deep, manly voice from the other end was somewhat unfamiliar.

"Yeoboseyo?" She asked.

"Jal jinaesseoyo?" The man asked. She checked the caller ID, but it was an unknown number.

"Nugusaeyo?"

"You already forgot? We were just together yesterday...."

Kang Cheol Daepyonim?

"Naya. I'm hope you didn't forget."

How can I forget? Every time we meet turns out to be a new embarrassing moment of my life.

"How may I be of help, Daepyonim?"

"Geulsse..." She heard him take in a deep breath before going on. "I need someone to accompany me in an important event...."

"You need a police escort? We can provide you with one, or two. Depending on how many you need...."

"I only need one."

"Then, I will relay your request to Captain So...."

"I only need you."

"Mwo...yeyo?"

"You heard me. Six in the evening, on Friday. Someone is going to pick you up."

"Jamkkanmaneyo...."

"I'll keep you posted."

Then he hung up.

Jamkkan...What was that? Is he hiring me for a job? Or did he just set up a date with me?

"Nuna, is that your Wangja?" Han Wool asked teasingly, to which she answered with a hiss. She could tell something was off from the mischievous look on her brother's face.

"Han Wool-ah...You have something to tell me?"

"Mianhaeyo, Nuna. I gave him your phone number."

Yeo Wool closed her eyes to keep calm and collected.

"He asked me for it, and I thought there's nothing wrong with it...since...he could really be your Wangja...."

"Aaagghh! Geumanhae! Jebal...."

"But Nuna...."

"Han Wool-ah...Please stop about this Wangja nonsense. There's no such thing for women like me. But it doesn't matter, because I got someone better. I got you and Abeoji. Algenni?"

Han Wool's expression showed his obvious disappointment that he failed to hide. Whether he deliberately gave him her number or was compelled to do so, she knew what was in his mind. He wanted her to give love another try, date someone, and perhaps, get married and be happy. At ten, he should not be thinking about this sort of things. It was not his concern. But apparently, he was thinking otherwise.

Long after Han Wool had gone to bed, she was still lying on the couch, staring at the night sky through the sliding glass doors of the balcony.

Wangja...There's no such thing for women like me.

It was a reality she must acknowledge. Princes only exist in fairytales, and her tale is definitely not fairy-like. The person that came into her life when she was five never came again after that first encounter. And never again had she experienced something magical after that until....

That night, when the flower bloomed right in front of her eyes, in the presence of Kang Cheol and the blue firefly-like orbs of light.

Could Kang Cheol be the man in my dreams?