::A chapter for Seo In Guk::

At the same time
In the Heavens

Unbeknownst to the Goddess, someone had been closely watching her as she played with the fate of mortals. Hidden behind a handpainted silk-screen, her youngest sister, the third Samshin Goddess (though no one could tell them apart), sighed with dismay.

She had so been rooting for that other mortal. She had really liked him in that Shopping King Louie show (Goddesses have lots of spare time, living eternally and all). She reaches out her hands and a multicolored tapestry flows through her fingers. It was the same one her sister had altered.

The Goddess looked carefully at the two threads that were now twined even more closely together. Knots could not be undone once they were made. And, anyhow, she did not want to change the fate of those two. They had something not even the Gods could disturb.

No, she was looking for something else. As she concentrated, other colored threads became obvious; weaving in and out of the lives of the two. Family, friends, chance encounters with strangers. A complex tangle of threads and knots.

Ah, that was the one she wanted. She picked up the strand for Seo In Guk as he was called in this lifetime. It was a life that had hardship, since such was the fate of humans. They suffered to atone for sufferings caused in past lives. But the Gods also gave them great reward for the good that came from mortal hearts.

Seo In Guk’s fate had been twined with the two, weaving in and out of their lives; but the thread had separated away a few years ago. Her sisters had been furious with her for meddling so she had not dared create any more encounters.

But, she had watched sadly as he suffered. Life had not been kind. The public had not forgiven him for his military exemption Though she had seen this before with other lives and the public's memory was never long. Perhaps sadder was his first love that could only remain one-sided.

Love and the human heart was beyond the control of the Gods.

However, as a Samshin she could perhaps help things along? After all, closeness could lead to love, could it not?  She reaches for another thread. This one too had weaved closely with In Guk’s. A friend. Perhaps something more? In her mind’s eyes, she could see a sweet, sunny girl. Funny, bubbly and kind.

The girl had secretly watched over him, carefully helping Seo In Guk when he had his first surgery then been there for him again when the enlistment scandal had erupted. The Goddess quickly added some more intricate patterns and smiled. This girl would be perfect for him. Even her name was perfect. Lee Soon-Kyu…  Sunny.

The Samshin looked on pleased. She was about to blow on the threads when she paused. Her sisters had laid down the law about her meddling with the other couple. But, what if she made a change with just one person from the couple?

She looked around, making sure none of her sisters could see her. Then, she picked up Seo In Guk and Ji Chang Wook’s threads and made a quick knot.

There.

She didn't know what would happen, but she hoped time would make forgiveness easier and the bonds of friendships, almost as strong as love, could heal old wounds.

She blew on the tapestry and those red threads of Fate fluttered away to weave through the lives of the mortals; bringing hope, joy, sadness and all the rich, complex entanglements of a human life.
 

My dears, live well...