𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 /GXG/

■The path I choose

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SANA YAMAZAKI
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[December 7th]

The church fills with the murmur of the faithful saying their prayers. They arrive and look for their seats.

One of the young men in the cassock prepares the altar for mass. The first takes the microphone with the stand and places it in the center. The other lights the huge thick yellow candle.

I walk around the long bench and kneel down next to Da-hye.

''Did you see it's snowing outside?'' I whisper, looking her up and down.

She turns her head towards me, keeping her hands together with a rosary wrapped around her left wrist; her lips moving in her silent prayer.

''It's the first snow of the year, I thought you'd like to know... who knows... invite your boyfriend for a romantic walk and exchange vows of love'', I continue to be serious, with my hands joined in ' amen'.

Da-hye lifts her head, looking at one of the altar boys.

His name is... I don't know... He's short, white, thin, has short black hair, and can play the piano.

''A year from now you'll be there, exchanging rings,'' I continue teasing in a low, serious tone.

''Acolyte can't date.'' Her voice is sweet with venom.

''If it weren't for that you wanted.''

She purses her lips, places her rosary around her neck, and slaps my arm. ''Respect me!''

''Ouch!'' I massage the place of the blows. ''Is the Demon in your body?'', I whisper.

''I gave you freedom when?! Why do you talk to me like that?'' she whispers and sits down on the pew.

''You harassed me, and I didn't do anything!'' I say in a low voice, coming out of my kneeling position and sitting beside her.

Her face turns red; opens her mouth, closes it again.

''Do you want to go out with me?'' I invite.

''Mom wants me to stay here and pray.''

'Oh Da-hye, will you spend your whole life singing 'Hosanna in the highest', and then you will go to heaven and sing Hosanna in the highest?''

''We're getting ready for Christmas! Not for Easter!''

''How boring you are!'' I give a tired sigh and try to look into her eyes.

''What do you want, Sana?''

''Calm! Calm down!'' I raise my hands in defense. ''Don't you want to go to my house?''

''Do what at your house?'', Da-hye asks nervously.

''It's been a while since you've been there. See my bedroom and how my bedroom decor turned out.''

She closes her eyes, losing patience.

I get up, taking her hand from the front pew, and pull her out of the church with me.

We go towards the street to escape this monotony.

Da-hye, feeling the air outside, looks amazing with the tiny snowflakes falling on her golden hair.

''It's really snowing.'' She smiles.

''I told you so,'' I say, holding out my hand for her to take so we can walk safely.

''Do you still have those Barbie dolls?'' she asks, eyeing me intently.

''Mom gave them all to a child.''