Chapter Four
A Scrapbook Full Of Short Stories
People huddled around Cheondung again, wearing their best white robes. All the gods were present, with only the
most important angels standing behind them in neat rows. Seohyun, dressed in a long, nutty brown dress that
was held at her waist, held a cloth wrapped around what was most likely a dead rabbit. Beside her,
Eun-Kyung stood in a darker brown dress, and on top of her head was a crown of olive vines. She held in
her hands a small wooden bowl with its lid on, probably containing ripe olives. Soomi stood forward in her
fancier cocoa coloured dress, quietly placing a wooden box, left open to show a beautiful tiara made from
peacock feathers, next to the other two gifts. Mi-ja, too, held a wooden box, likely filled with the soil of the
great forest – the most fertile soil in heaven. Her dress was darker than the others and was embroidered
with flower petals. Last of the goddesses present was Eunbyeol. Her dress was much simpler, and in her
hands a metal sphere, most likely filled with bitter wine. Mi-ja and Soomi could be heard bickering.
“What does Yoongi need a tiara for? You have really gone insane, Soomi.” Soomi scoffed and looked at the
gods who were now preparing to place their offerings to Yoongi. She didn’t respond to the younger goddess.
As Jiwoong stepped forward, she spoke. “It’s not for Yoongi, silly.” Mi-ja widened her eyes in surprise.
“You mean-?” Soomi smiled to herself. “Soomi! This ceremony is to leave gifts for Yoongi’s afterlife.”
“Exactly. Will he not need protection? Mun can be very cruel and demanding with the newly dead.”
Mi-ja sighed, irritated. “I don’t know what you’re playing at, but I can assure you of this; Yoongi will not
need to step foot in the underworld. He is as much of an angel a human can possibly be.” My parents
ooked on at the ceremony, my mother visibly distressed and feeling burdened, but my father looked on
without a change in his cold expression. My mother clutched her hand around something, and then snook
off behind my father. She unclenched her fist and the peach wood pendant she was holding
seemed to glow beneath the sunlight peaking through the windows.
“If making sure Yoongi has the best afterlife is what would make my dear dau-” My mother looked up and
stretched her hand out to Mi-ja. “Make Yeseo happy, then I will give up my earth.” The clock chimed.
Everyone’s heads turned to face Donggeun, the god of time.
He looked up with his eyes filled with regret. “The boy…” his voice shook. “Only has a little time left.”
No! I sat upright, pain shooting through my shoulders. I wailed in agony, waking Yoongi who had fallen off of
me when I sat up. I whispered an apology and rubbed my shoulder, feeling something poking out of my back.
I felt a few feathers and gasped out loud. My wings are returning. Yoongi realised and smiled
half-heartedly. “I need to remove them again. I want to stay by your side.”
Yoongi’s smile fell as he shook his head. “You can’t. I will die and then you’ll be alone. Your family needs
you back there.” He pointed at the ceiling. I frowned in confusion. I looked at the ceiling.
“Hello?” I called out. “Are my parents hiding in the ceiling?” I had begun to climb on the sofa to reach
he ceiling when I heard Yoongi start to laugh. He clutched his stomach as he fell onto his side, laughing.
blinked in surprise. What does he find so funny? Is he – is he laughing at me?!
“Not my ceiling, angel,” My heart fluttered though it was true. “In heaven.” My mouth formed an ‘o’ shape.
“O-oh.” My cheeks flushed a deep pink. Of course that’s what he meant. “Yoongi you…”
He placed a finger to my lips, shushing me. It’s as if he knew. “How long does he bid me, the god of time?”
I opened my mouth in surprise. Yoongi didn’t really believe in angels and gods, but then again, he
believes in me, so it’s possible. “Less time that we thought. Less than three months. They don’t know
exactly when or how.” Yoongi’s mouth drew into a thin line. His forehead wrinkled in deep thought.
I knew it was best to leave him be for now. I looked outside to see the trees blowing softly in the day’s breeze.
I shut my eyes tightly and put my hand together. I rarely made a prayer to my own
kind, but now I was. Jiwoong, the god of sleep and dreams, please give Yoongi a peaceful and painful death.
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“Amber, I don’t know what to do. I’m going to lose it all.” Yoongi tries to rub his headache away.
I kept my eyes shut, not wanting to startle him. He swirled locks of my hair around his fingers.
“Do you remember him?” Suddenly I remembered all about Amber’s angel friend, Namjoon.
My heart wavered. I felt Yoongi shrug, and then quietly reply, “Who?” he’s acting clueless now.
“Namjoon.” I feel Amber’s gaze on me and I almost forget to breathe in case she knows I’m awake.
“He was the liveliest person I ever knew. I used to take him everywhere. He loved seeing the world.”
I thought he shut himself away? “It was kind of sad. He could never go to the beach
or see the bustling streets in the daytime. We always went to places at night, where no one could see us.
But then all of a sudden, he’d just shut down. He knew he couldn’t stay on Earth as he was. He was
banished, just like Yeseo. He stole a sheep from another angel because he was starving. Those times
were hard. I still remember that day he told me he was going back to heaven. I cried because
I was scared. It was the middle of the day and if anyone saw him fly up there…” Amber sniffled.
“But no, he didn’t.” I’m confused. Did she lie to me? “He showed me a gun and told me he’d miss me.
That was his way of getting to heaven. Did it work? I don’t know.” Yoongi stayed quiet.
“So what I’m trying to say is, don’t give up on life. There’s a clock over both of your heads,
and at some point all of that built up tension will make you explode and you’ll lose your way like he did.”
A tear dripped onto my cheek from Yoongi’s eye. “If I’m supposed to die…” my heart dropped.
“Then I want to die happy. And what would make me happiest is being by Yeseo’s side.”
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“I’m still afraid.” Yoongi whispered, his forehead pressed against mine. I blinked up at him.
“I’m still here.” I realised that my voice was shaking, too. “I always will be here with you, Yoongi.”
“I need to tell you something. Something important. But I want you to promise me something.”
I choked in surprise. He has something important to say? Is he giving up? “Do you pity me? Promise me
that despite all of this, you’re not staying by my side out of pity.” I shook my head furiously.
“How could you suggest such a thing? I’m staying by your side because you’re my mortal.” The edges of
Yoongi’s mouth twitched upwards. For a second, his eyes flashed with something else – bliss?
“I have grown to see you not as just a girl, or an angel, but as a woman. My feelings for you are…
stronger than I ever thought would be possible. I’m sorry I didn’t say this earlier. I could have spared you the
heartache. I’m a dying man, and my dying wish is for you to love me in return.”
My hand unconsciously cupped his cheek. He grinned and placed a hand on my waist to bring me closer.
“I wanted to tell you something too, but don’t feel sad about it.”
Yoongi’s face fell. I gasped. “No! No no no.” I curved his lips upwards with my thumbs.
“Don’t be sad, but my wings are growing back quickly. It looks like I’ll be meeting you in heaven.”
“Because…” Yoongi took a deep breath, his lips hovering over mine. “Not even death separates us now.”
I blushed, reminded of the wedding ceremonies I had watched from heaven.
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I had to roll over several times in the night because of the growing stubs that once were my wings. As I
reached around to feel them, I felt feathers poking through again. A week or two, and they would be fully
grown again, and hopefully useable. I needed to talk with the gods before Yoongi died. I had to get them
to either spare him or bless him so that he would become an angel, too. That would be the only way we
could ever be together. As long as he’s reachable and not forgotten about like some of the dead are.
The ones who had a lucky escape from Mun’s grasp. But Yoongi wouldn’t have to escape from Mun’s grasp,
he was too pure and too good of a person to ever come close to the underworld.
Only the good-hearted can be truly remembered in light, my mother used to tell me when I was a child.
And so my hand clung on tightly to Yoongi, making sure never to let go of him,
for fear of him slipping away, as he soon would. It was impossible to avoid the inevitable.
I'm baaaaaack!!
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