Author's Note: Bam! I'm back with a new chapter! Sorry for the long wait! I've finished my studies at Capilano University, but I'll be attending a TESL program very soon, so I'll be busy for the whole month of May! In the meantime, I promise you that I will post more chapters for the next few months! Chapter 20 might be the last chapter, so I hope you're excited about it because we're near to the of the story! Enjoy reading! <3 

December 25, 2016

I am surprised when Yesung knocks hastily on my door at 5 am. I groggily wake up with my excited son immediately barges in. 

"Otoosan! Otoosan! You wouldn't believe this!" Yesung cries. He waves his phone in front of my half-asleep face. 

"Wh...huh...what's...going on?" I yawn.

"Kyuhyun and Ryeowook had a dream together, and something magical appeared on Ryeowook's bed!" 

"Kyuhyun and Ryeowook..." my eyes suddenly shoot open, "Were they making out?" 

Yesung freezes. He suddenly bursts out laughing. "What? No! Why would you think they do that? Ryeowook would never have till he's married, remember? And Kyuhyun knows about it too!" 

"Oh...right..." I calm down, "but...then...what's going on? Why are you waking me up at this hour?" 

"I just got a text from Kyuhyun." he explains, "He slept over at Ryeowook's place last night, and he had the same dream as Ryeowook's about the man spying on them behind the sakura tree at the park. And the man came forward to them and revealed his face, and Kyuhyun recognized his face because he bumped into that man yesterday afternoon. And then they were blinded by a bright light, and they woke up to see a couple of strange omamori that appeared out of nowhere."

"Omamori?" I raise my eyebrow. 

"These," he replies as he shows me a photo. Kyuhyun must have sent it to him. I grab my glasses from my bedside table and take a look. Sure enough, I have never seen such a transparent Japanese amulet before. So I called Mr. Lau right away. Speaking of Mr. Lau, he's currently in good health, and Henry is indeed happy to work with his dad at the Takoyaki stall. Mr. Lau answers my call three rings later, and we agree to meet up at Ryeowook's homestay place. Since we've never been to his house, it will be a chance to meet his homestay family as well. I wonder if we're bothering their Christmas morning. 

When we all arrive, Ryeowook's guardian, Leeteuk, welcomes us with open arms. His two children, Donghae and Eunhyuk, are so adorable! Ryeowook is indeed lucky to live with them! Mr. Lau tells him that we need to talk to Ryeowook and Kyuhyun privately, and Leeteuk allows us all to sit in the living room while he plays with the kids downstairs so that they won't disturb us. Now I can see why Ryeowook calls Leeteuk an angel. 

"This is fascinating! I've never seen anything like this!" Mr. Lau remarks.

"I'll say!" I agree. I catch him looking funnily at me. 

"What?"

"Are you examining a postal stamp? Why are you looking at the omamori with a magnifying glass?" 

"There might be hidden words on the fortune! You'll never know!" 

"The fortune's just a blank piece of paper, Sungmin-san!" 

"And the paper in the shape of a cherry blossom petal! Which is unique! I bet that this object has immense magic, and I have a feeling that words will appear on the paper once it's activated or something! Besides, since these appeared from Kyuhyun's and Ryeowook's dreams simultaneously, there might be a clue in these omamori." 

Kyuhyun clears his throat that catches our attention. "Sungmin Sensei. Mr. Lau. Does either of you know anything about this? Or what these are for?" 

"No idea," I shrug, "but maybe it's the spirits doing." 

"From what I assume, spring is in a few months, so maybe these omamoris are a wake-up call that the charm is about to do the final judgement." Mr. Lau chips in. 

"The final judgement?" Ryeowook asks. 

"When the day comes, the charm will judge to see whether you and Kyuhyun are a true couple." Mr. Lau explains, "The charm knows that it cannot be in its hiding place any longer, and it's watching over the spirits as well as you. The spirits choose you two because they have faith that you will convince the charm to keep the world at peace. And if it does, it'll set itself free."

"So, you're saying that the charm is a living being?" Ryeowook exclaims. 

"Well, I don't think it has eyes," I stifle a laugh, "but it's a compelling object, so it probably creates its magic to watch over the whole world." 

Our conversation is replaced by the ticking of a clock for ten seconds. Kyuhyun puts his cup of tea down. "So...when is the big day?" he asks. 

"When the cherry blossoms at Kena Sakuranomiya Park are in full bloom," I reply. 

"Can you at least tell me the exact date?" 

"I'm not a botanist, Kyuhyun. We have to keep an eye on the time." 

"And how much longer will that be?" Kyuhyun suddenly raises his voice. He glares at me with disappointment. "To tell the truth, I really wanna unlock the charm right now." 

"Kyu..." Ryeowook looks at him worriedly. 

"I've been waiting for this for so long!" Kyuhyun snaps, "How hard it can be to set it free?" 

My. Lau and I exchange glances. I answer calmly, "Remember what I told you last spring? You two should look at each other on both sides of the river so that the charm can acknowledge your feelings for each other." 

"I know! And that'll be easy because we do love each other! Nothing bad will happen to us!" 

"Don't speak too soon, kid." Mr. Lau says. 

"What do you mean?" 

"The charm is strict at making decisions. It's watching over you two. It could even be testing your feelings for each other. Even if you're confident that you love Ryeowook, the charm might not see it. We hope that the charm will see that you two are incompatible." 

"What about the spirits?" Ryeowook questions. 

"The spirits are to protect you two in case the charm is not impressed with the incompatibility. I believe that they're the ones who send these amulets to you, and they know that the time is near. You'll have to be patient, but also be prepared." 

Kyuhyun and Ryeowook look at each other for a minute. I get up on my feet and show a comforting smile. "No pressure though! I'm sure that this time, our mission will work. You're not alone, boys. The spirits are cooperating with us. The world depends on you, but we'll help you and support you. That's a promise." 

Mr. Lau smiles as well, "He's right. And speaking of time, I better get going. My family is waiting for me back home." 

"Guess I'll be going as well." I nod. 

"Thank you for dropping by, Sungmin Sensei and Mr. Lau." Ryeowook bows. 

"It's nothing!" Mr. Lau chuckles. 

"Thank you for talking this out with us, too," Kyuhyun says. 

"Well, like I've told you," I reply as I pat his shoulder, "we're always ready to help." 

Kyuhyun and Ryeowook smile in return. As Mr. Lau and I leave the house, Mr. Lau suddenly nudges me on the elbow. "So...when are you going to tell them?"

"About what?"

"I can tell in your eyes that there's something more that you want to tell them." 

"Mr.Lau..." 

"I'm serious, Sungmin-san! You haven't told them about the destined couple before them!" I sigh and stop walking. Mr. Lau turns back. "I think it's best if they know about Junwo and Hwabin." 

"I don't think it's time to tell them yet." 

"And what is the reason? You've kept this as a secret for 20 years, Sungmin-san! You know that they will find out anytime soon." 

"Mr.Lau..." I sigh, "I was going to tell them today, but after I saw the two omamoris, I know that the spirits made those as a precautionary step." I look to see Mr.Lau's emotionless face. "The spirits must have remembered about the earthquake right after Junwo saw his lover got killed in the car crash." 

He tucks his hands in his coat pockets and looks at me eagerly, "Are you saying that the charm is up to something?" 

"You know the story, Mr. Lau." I reply, "If the charm knows that Junwo and Hwabin were the chosen couple, it'll probably be planning something to stop them from breaking the spell. I think that the charm um..." My next sentence is right at the tip of my tongue, but I can't get it out. 

"What are you trying to say?" Mr. Lau raises an eyebrow impatiently. 

I take a deep breath before I resume, "I think that the charm is the one who causes the accident."

My mind flashes back to the time I encountered the older woman. She did tell me a little bit about the destined couple before Kyuhyun and Ryeowook. Junwo and Hwabin were selected by the spirits when they were Kyuhyun's and Ryeowook's age. They were students at Kansai University too. But instead of childhood best friends, they met during their first semester. They fell in love a little too fast, but they felt that they belonged to each other. They didn't care if students gave them weird looks when they held hands. Hwabin boasted that two men could fall in love with each other. Love is universal, after all. Just like what Kyuhyun said, Junwo believed that he and Hwabin would free the charm. But to his utter shock, the bus heading to Kena Sakuramoniya Park, which Hwabin was in, collided against a speeding truck. Ths bus flipped upside down, killing most of the passengers, especially Hwabin, who sat at the back. Junwo was riding on his bike, and he passed by the scene. He noticed the promise ring on Hwabin's finger and the sleeve of his faded blue sweater. When he rushed to the wrecked vehicle, all he could see was blood oozing all over. Six groups of paramedics came ten minutes later, and Junwo spotted Hwabin on a stretcher. His head was wholly coloured in crimson, and his eyes were sealed shut. Junwo hurriedly followed the paramedics to the hospital, and after about ten hours of operation, the surgeon announced that Hwabin couldn't make it. And that wasn't all. In the middle of the operation, an earthquake hit and the power cut off for an hour. Junwo felt that the world and the heavens betrayed him. He thought that Hwabin was the spirits' gift to him, but then he realized that this was all just a trick. He blamed that spirits for not letting him protect and cherish Hwabin for the rest of his life. And that was when he transformed himself into a criminal. He got jealous with he passed by smiling couples. He went outraged when gay couples were holding hands and making sweet gestures. He wanted love to be erased from the planet, so he murdered as many couples as he could. The begger hoped that Kyuhyun and Ryeowook would set the charm free, or else the charm will do anything to destroy Earth. 

"The charm may be a stubborn being," Mr. Lau says as he reads my mind, "but I'm certain that the cycle won't repeat itself. If Kyuhyun and Ryeowook fail to unlock the charm, you know that the world will be in a total mess just like before. And then the mission will be passed on to the next generation. That will be a hassle, and of course, we don't want it to repeat." 

"I know..." I nod, "I don't want Kyuhyun and Ryeowook to be separated just like Junwo and Hwabin. Junwo' s luck ran out, so I hope luck won't run out on Kyuhyun and Ryeowook."

"They won't." Mr. Lau smiles softly. "I believe in them."

"Why does this have to happen?" I sigh as I look at a distance. "A charm that doesn't want to escape, but rather to rob other people's happiness."

"I think the charm is a devil in disguise. The spirits have made a mistake. They know that they shouldn't have locked the charm up because the charm is way too powerful. And now the charm seeks for revenge, to destroy whoever wants it to escape from its prison, where it's now its only comfort zone. So now, their only hope is Kyuhyun and Ryeowook to prove the charm that love is eternal. Love can repair hate, and that's something not only the charm should know, but also Junwo." I listen to him, stunned by his words. He's right. Kyuhyun and Ryeowook are the new chosen couple, and they will do their best to help us and the spirits and even the world to set all boundaries of love soaring away, just like what we're told as messengers. If the mission is successful, then maybe Junwo will be back to normal too. It might just work! "You should tell them, Sungmin-san." Mr. Lau said, "They deserve to know before the time comes." 

"I will." I nod. 

March 30, 2017

I gaze at the fully-bloomed cherry blossom park. Yesung called his two best buddies about three times, but neither one of them picked up. 

"Where the hell are they?" he groans. 

"Be patient, son." I chuckle. 

"You said today's the day! They should be excited about it, so they should be here by now!" 

"They're probably stuck in traffic." 

"I'm texting them. If they don't reply without ten minutes, I'm outta here." 

I admire Yesung's concern for his two best friends. He sure gives so much support for them. He is always there for them whenever they need advice, and I'm happy that Kyuhyun and Ryeowook have fallen more and more in love with each other. I haven't told them about Junwo and Hwabin yet. I know...it's been three months since the talk with Mr.Lau, but I know that I have to tell the boys about it, and the time is right now. I don't know whether today is the judgement day, but the charm will leap into action anytime soon, so I have to spill the beans today. "While waiting for the lovebirds, I want to tell you something." 

"What is it, Otoosan?" 

I take a deep breath and tap my fingers on the railing of one of the fences that guards the river. "You may not know about this, but I know what will happen before the charm is released, or should I say, what the charm has planned." 

"And what do you know about it?" 

"Remember what I've told you on how I got to know the mission? From the old female begger?" Yesung nods as an answer. "She told me something else, and I've kept it from you and KyuWook for a while now." 

"There's more?" 

"Before KyuWook was chosen, there's a destined couple before them, and they failed to free the charm." 

Yesung's eyes widen. "What? Who?" 

"Junwo and Hwabin." 

"Junwo...wait...that name sounds familiar." 

"Junwo was once in a serious relationship with Hwabin. They were students from Kansai University as well, and they were chosen by the spirits to set the charm free. Unfortunately, Hwabin was killed in an accident. He was on a bus, and the bus crashed against a speeding truck. Junwo saw the aftermath, and he rushed with the paramedics to the hospital, but the surgeons couldn't save Hwabin. Junwo was heartbroken; he felt that the spirits had stolen the love of his life away from him on purpose, so he began to hate love, and killed numerous couples." 

"Could it be..." Yesung says with a gobsmacked look, "that Junwo...is the one who was after Kyuhyun and Ryeowook twice last year? That gay couple murderer? Osaka's most wanted criminal?" 

"That's the one." 

"No...way!" Yesung's jaw drops. 

"The woman believed that it's the charm which caused Hwabin to be killed. The charm is known for controlling the balance between love and hate, but because it has ultimate magical powers, the spirits couldn't take hold of it. So they trapped the charm in the core of this park so that no one can see it, but although the charm still can summon its powers without anyone knowing, it is impossible to keep the charm hidden any longer. So they chose Junwo and Hwabin to free it because they couldn't find any other way to free it. The true love of a couple is the key to break its barrier, When Hwabin died, neither Junwo nor the spirits knew that the charm would do such horrible things. There was an earthquake after the accident as a sign that the mission was a failure. The spirits now depend on the current chosen ones to put an end to this, but they've also provided extra help. One of them is the two omamoris. I have a feeling that the spirits have left another form of support too, and I think you've told me about the mysterious man in their dreams, so that might be it." 

"Oh wow..." 

"The spirits have done everything they could to protect Kyuhyun and Ryeowook from the charm's plans. And now that the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, it's time for Kyuhyun and Ryeowook to be prepared for the charm's judgement. Even if the charm is planning to destroy one of them or both, they have to make sure that they can keep themselves alive and still deeply in love, so that they can prove the charm that their love can never break them apart." 

"I never knew that this mission is dangerous." Yesung remarks. 

"It's like a novel, you know. A good story may include a twist." 

"So...Otoosan...is there anything we can do to protect KyuWook?"

"They have to know about Junwo and Hwabin, as well as the charm's plans before the judgement day comes. I bet it's not today since they're still not here. Plus, nothing tragic has happened so far." 

Yesung pulls out his phone as he receives a notification. His face suddenly went pale. "You jinxed it, Otoosan." 

"What?" 

"Ryeowook texted back." he said with a panicked expression, "Leeteuk's house is on fire." 

Sungmin (ソンミン)