Hakyeon was taught to never look at people directly and to never touch them. “One touch, one look, and your whole life will be over, son,” That is what his father always said. See, Hakyeon lived in a completely black and white world, literally. He had no idea what the difference between blue and red and yellow or the the color those colors formed. Black and white. “It’s better this way,” His father said. “If you see colors, your full focus will be somewhere else, and I don't want that for you. It is very scary, and it can ruin you,” His father always said.

Hakyeon went along with it. His father was a wise man after all, who only wanted the best for his son, and Hakyeon only aimed to please him. The only way to see colors was by looking at the person you are meant to spend the rest of your life with, your soulmate, in the eyes or touching them. Hakyeon learned to not do that. Don’t look at a person in the eyes, looked around them. Never shake hands, bow. Easy enough, especially for someone who had been doing it all his life. Hakyeon lived. Hakyeon was fine, but Hakyeon could not ignore.

Throughout the years, Hakyeon saw any of his friends’ life turn from a monochromatic life to a life filled with colors. They always seemed to acquire a childlike happiness and a twinkle in their eyes (Hakyeon no longer feared looking into their eyes since he was not the soulmate.). Hakyeon wanted that. He wanted to know how it felt to see in colors. No matter how dangerous his father said it was. Maybe for one day. If he could only actually see for one day…

“Hakyeonie, can you come here?” His father said. He was sitting on a chair reading the local newspaper.

“Huh?”