Jiyong sat still, taking in one of the beautiful stories of his grandmother. He looked up at his grandmother, relaxing as she continued to his rough, pink-white hair, “Do you believe in Shin Ara?” His grandmother softly smiled and nodded, holding his hands in hers, “The longer you stay in this area – in this home – the legend does not simply seem like a legend. The legend seems to be a reality. The forest sings, Jiyong, Call your old grandmother crazy but every time she speaks, the forest speaks with her.”

As his grandfather was almost finished grabbing the luggage, Jiyong looked down at his grandmother’s hand. One wish…one wish was all he could be given if this spirit of the forest was real. He sighed, “What if…What if I used that one wish to get Kiko back? Would she allow it?” His grandmother shrugged and let go of his hands, grabbing the tea mugs as she shook her head, “I don’t know. She only gives the wish she thinks would forever please you. One you want with all your life – your soul.”

His grandparents peeked outside the windows, sighing as they saw an awaiting taxi. Jiyong stood, deciding to help his grandfather get the suitcases as his grandmother cleaned the cups. As they walked out to the taxi, Jiyong quickly asked, “Grandpa, do you believe in Shin Ara?” His grandfather smiled and looked up at him, patting his back as the driver began loading the luggage, “Of course I do.”

Jiyong nodded and continued to help his grandparents get ready for their trip away to Jeju Island. They would be celebrating their 43rd anniversary at a special reserve Jiyong had gotten for them. Walking his grandmother to the taxi, he smiled, “I’ll see you two in a month.” They nodded, the three embracing each other tightly. His grandfather smiled, “Take care of the house, okay, boy?” Jiyong nodded and watched his grandfather go into the taxi, greeting the driver as if they had been friends for a long time. Well, the town was small, he couldn’t see why not.

His grandmother smiled and cupped Jiyong’s cheek once more, “Be careful, okay?” Jiyong nodded, as if getting the secret message behind her silent words. It wasn’t ‘be careful in the house’ or ‘be careful thinking of Kiko’.

It was ‘be careful finding Shin Ara’.

Saying his final goodbyes, Jiyong watched the taxi speed off the secluded road, turning back to that large home surrounded by nature. With a sigh he began walking back towards the home, deciding to explore tomorrow. Tonight would be a full moon, anyway. As he stood in front of the door, a rustling from the bushes and trees behind him made him jump. Warily, Jiyong turned to see leaves slightly moving, what seemed to be the fur of an animal turning its back to him as it entered the woods once more.

Jiyong shook his head, entering the house and picking up his luggage. He walked into the guest room, deciding to use the rest of the day unpacking and getting comfortable. He rested his hands on his hips, closing his eyes as he enjoyed the silence that he rarely heard. For once, there were no screaming fans, no blaring music he had to dance to or write lyrics for, no loud conversations from directors and managers.

It was just the beautiful silence he longed for more than half of his life.

With a sigh, Jiyong grabbed his freshly brewed coffee and headed over to the balcony. He was in a knitted long-sleeved shirt with black and white stripes, comfortable jeans, and his hair was blow-dried to the side and covering just a bit of his right eye. He even wore his black, fuzzy, soft closed toe slippers. Even on his vacation, he couldn’t help but be a little fashionable. He sat on one of the chairs of his grandparents’ balcony, crossing one leg over the other as he set his tea down on the table. Jiyong sank into his seat, sighing as the slightly cold breeze relaxed him.

If only his head wouldn’t have thought of Kiko leaving.

His eyes shot open, a wave of fresh heartbreak making his body go weak again. Raking a hand through his hair, he couldn’t help but wonder. When he got home, would his empty apartment be this quiet as well? Would everything remind him of Kiko?

Shaking his head, Jiyong sipped on his coffee and looked up at the stars and the full moon hiding behind the clouds. Though the lights of the city could be pretty, nothing could compare to the lights of the galaxy. His grandparents had perfectly picked a home secluded from society. It was the perfect escape to get away from the world – from people.

The forest that surrounded them stretched miles, and the drive to and from t