Echoes of the Rain

yohan's gift

Mr. Moo recalled Yohan’s words with a distant look.

Mr. Moo recalled Yohan’s words with a distant look. “He said, ‘If you tries to use force, the box will break, and whatever’s inside will be destroyed. But I didn’t say it wouldn’t open. It will open.’”

Yuri looked puzzled. “How?”

Mr. Moo continued, “Yohan mentioned that on your birthday, he left a note inside the box that would guide you on how to open it.”

Yuri was taken aback. “A note? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

Mr. Moo smiled gently, lost in the memory of Yohan’s instructions. “He said you would find the solution yourself. He had complete faith that you’d discover the way to open it.”

Presently, Mr. Moo looked at Yuri with a reassuring smile. “Yuri, you’re the only person who can open it. The solution is within your reach, and I’m sure you’ll find it.”

Yuri left the shop, the weight of the box heavy in her thoughts. She sat in her car, gazing at the box with a mix of sadness and frustration. Closing her eyes, she whispered, “What am I going to do with this? What did you put inside, Yohan? How am I supposed to open it? You know I’m not as clever as you.”

With a resigned sigh, she placed the box on the passenger seat and drove home. Her phone rang, jolting her from her thoughts. It was her mother-in-law.

“Hello, Mom. How can I help you?”

“Tomorrow is Yohan’s birthday. Come to the church at 8 a.m.,” her mother-in-law said curtly before hanging up.

Back at her house, Yuri placed the box on her bed and headed to the bathroom to shower. Her phone rang again, echoing through the bathroom. Wrapping herself in a towel, she rushed to answer. It was her boss, Mr.  Park yoonsoo.

“Hello, Miss Yuri. Come to the office—there’s something wrong with your presentation. Come and correct it,” Mr .Park yoosoo said before hanging up.

Yuri, frustrated, shouted, “Hello? Hello?” and then angrily threw her phone onto the bed. She quickly dressed and headed to the office.

Upon arrival, she approached the boss’s assistant. “Where is Mr. Park ?”

The assistant, noticing Yuri’s agitation, replied, “What’s wrong with you? You look furious. Calm down— boss  is very upset.”

Yuri marched to Mr. Park yoonsoo’s office and took a seat in the waiting area. She glanced at the clock, her impatience growing as she waited for her boss to arrive.

After two hours, at 7:00 p.m., Mr. Park  finally arrived at the office. He opened the door to find Yuri asleep on the waiting chair, curled up and looking exhausted. As he approached to wake her, he noticed tears streaming down her cheeks. In her sleep, she was murmuring, “Why did you leave me behind... Yohan... Please come to me... This time, I’ll be good to you... Yohan, please... Don’t leave me... Yohan.”

Moved by her distress, Mr. Park gently called out, “Miss Yuri... Wake up, Miss.”

Yuri stirred, still half-asleep, and mistook Mr. Park’s hand for Yohan’s. She clung to it, whispering, “Yohan, it’s you? I know it’s you... Please don’t leave me...”

Suddenly, a loud clatter came from the open office gate, startling Yuri awake. She looked around in shock, realizing she was holding her boss’s hand and not Yohan’s. Embarrassed, she quickly stood up and tried to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

Mr. Park, observing her distress, offered her a handkerchief. Yuri hesitated but accepted it, murmuring a quiet thank you before retreating to the bathroom to compose herself.

Yuri finished her presentation, the last slide clicking into place with a satisfying sense of completion. She sighed in relief, finally done with the work that had been weighing on her mind all day. The late afternoon light streamed through the window, casting a warm glow over her room. She carefully closed her laptop and placed it on the study table, pushing the chair back to stretch her tired muscles.

The events of the day had taken their toll on her, and all she wanted now was a moment of rest. The thought of taking a nap was irresistible, especially after the intense focus she had maintained for hours. She pulled the curtains slightly, dimming the room, and made her way to the bed.

Yuri’s nap was short-lived, her curiosity about the mysterious box and the earlier events refusing to let her fully relax. After a few minutes of restless tossing, she decided to get up and find a distraction. Her personal library, a small room adjacent to her bedroom, was the perfect place to lose herself in a good book.

The scent of aged paper greeted her as she stepped inside. The shelves, filled with books of various genres, seemed to call out to her. She ran her fingers along the spines, searching for something that would capture her interest.