"Meet me at 1004"



 

She frowned at that slightly crumpled piece of paper.
It was definitely his handwriting.

She looked around her surroundings. 
1004- it was the place belonging to the both of them.

She recalled his words.

 

(Flashback)

"Angel.." he was twirling the random grass on the ground. 
“Mm… ” you didn’t looked down at him, he was on your lap.
And both of you were lying among the fields of green, letting the clear blue skies with little fluffy clouds hover above both of you.

"Do you love me? " 
You gave a smile, and let your gaze slowly find his eyes after you let your eyes peel away from the scenic view.

"What are you talking about?" you frowned and slightly let your eyebrows met.

"Ofcourse. " you replied shortly after.

He gave a hoarse chuckle and lazily reach you with his hand. 
He was trying to reach for your cheeks. 
He wanted to show you how much he loves you too. 
But, the thing about love, is you can show it so many different ways. 
And, a warm smile could be a good starter... 
You love his smile. 

"Let me tell you a secret. " he said after he gave up trying to carresss your cheeks awkwardly.

You gave a short chuckle and nodded to probe him to tell you.
 

"I bought this hill. "
 

Your eyes widened?!

Before you could react, “This will be our place.. ”

"Wh-wh…?! "

He chuckled. 
He propped himself up and pushed himself up to press his lips on yours.
He flopped back down onto your lap after that quick kiss.

You were either in shock from the kiss, or this crazy man you love because he bought a land for both of you.

"I.. " he started. 
“had a dream..” 
He tilted his head slightly to meet your eyes.

"What dream? " you asked lovingly. 
He shares the best stories.
You always love it when he speaks.

"I had a dream that… " he let his eyes break free from the contact you had with him and lingered on the skies. 

"I will tell you the next time we meet… " he gave a short chuckle.

Just.. today may not be his story-telling day. 
 

You frowned.
“Baby you okay? ” you worriedly combed his hair slightly.

He was silent. 
He was biting the insides of his cheeks. 
He was looking at everywhere but you. 
His thoughts run as far as he could, but.. it wasn’t at a place where you were at..

 

"Baby? "
 

He broke free from his thoughts and immediately gave you a reassuring smile.
 

"Nothing. " He pushed himself up and sat upright, and slightly pulled you into an embrace.

"I just want you to know how much I love you. " he whispered to her ears. 


You gave a giggle, silly boy.

"And…, " he continued.

"I just wanted a place for the both of us. " 
He broke free of the hug. 
He looked into your eyes deeply.

"I wanted to buy a place that is worthy to keep an angel like you. I wanted to have a place, that belonged to both of us.. " 
He didn’t finished it.

He combed through your hair.

"I never want to forget I have an angel like you. "

You smiled. Whatever he was worrying, it wouldn’t happen. 
It wouldn’t.

"You never will. "

You pulled him for a hug.

But he did. 
He had forgottened. Every bit of the love he ever showed you was a painful reminder of the present.

You scrunged up the piece of paper in one hand and angrily paced your feet uphill.

When he last promised you, it was spring. The season where life reborn in every living creature or flora. 
Now. It was still spring, almost. It was still winter.
Spring wasn’t too far.
The thought that it had taken him four whole seasons to break his promise.., you gave a throaty sigh and continued uphill.

The soft pressing on the snow left pretty footprints.
Bits of the snow was stuck onto your boots.
The wind wasn’t howling, thank goodness. It would have been too cold.
You pulled your coat in closer. 
You gave a small huff and a puff of warm air escaped from your mouth. 
You rubbed your gloved hands together and tucked them tight across your chest.
Why is winter so cold?!

You groaned as you glanced up at the vertical challenge before you. 
You put a step forward.

And.. Something happened.

The snow beneath your feet was… was.. rising.
It was like forming a little cloud and raising you up.
You felt yourself being levitated.
Your arms were dangling crazily, but it wasn’t all that hard to balance.

You were awed by the magic of this, it..it was unusual. 
It… It just didn’t make sense.

That two little clouds of.. snow, each under your feet lead you uphill.
You were slowly lifted higher and the vertical challenge you sighed at previously wasn’t a challenge anymore.
You turned around and was greated by a hill of white. 
It was beautiful.

Even trees, the white snow has beautifully outlined every branch.
It was like a highlighter on lecture notes. 
Those little branches ignored normally came to your attention. 
Those little words in your lecture often skimmed through was emphasised.

You turned around… And it was extraordinary.

It wasn’t snow. 
It was still that fields of green. 
The very one both of you laid on that day.

 

"Hello. "

His voice!
It was soft and cautious. 
But it was ever charming to your ears. 
 

You turned around. And you were facing him.
He was still the same, maybe a whole lot more handsome over time.


But.. 

He… He.. 

He had wings on his back!

 

You.. couldn’t speak of a word. 
You were stunned. 
No.. You were aghast. 
No.. You were out of your mind. 
It.. It didn’t make sense. 
As no words left your mouth, he remained silent, you could see the awkwardness creeping up on him. 
He bit his lips slightly.

He has a lot to explain. 
He can't keep silent like this. 

“What… ” you gave a gulp, how can you phrase this nicer? 
“What..” you blinked furiously, 
”What are you?” you asked softly. 

Were you suppose to feel scared? 
Were you suppose to..? 
The man before you has become some extraordinary creature after he left you for four seasons. 
A flash of hurt was seen from his eyes, which you noticed instead of his usual black, it was slightly silver.
It was… shining so brilliantly.

Your heart.. it was as if holes had been bore through every bit of it.. And you felt empty.
Every bit of your heart was scraped clean and out of its position. 
The man you love, wasn’t that man anymore.

Empty. 
All gone.

He gave a nervous chuckle. “Adorable as always, I’m a human ofcourse.. Not a thing..” he ended sacarstically and softly. 
It was evident that he was hurt from your choice of word.
But you can’t be too sure, he has changed.
You don’t know what he could do, how he would react.
He has hurt you by leaving you in darkness for four seasons.
Even after his promise. He may not be the man you love anymore.

 

"Baby.." he tried to move closer to you. 
“STOP. ” You reacted immediately. Hands put between both of you. 
“Stop. “ You soften your tone. 
“Don’t come close…” 
Your voice croaked.

Crying?! Why are you crying?
This.. Is this fear that you’re feeling? 

“Don’t call me that.” you spat the four words out.

You inhaled deep breaths.
This..this is outrageous. 
You closed your eyes and silence made you deaf.
Really.. You want to leave this place now. 
You don’t mind going through all the pain to forget him now. 
First he left you alone, and now he… he.. surprised you with this..

You felt yourself lowered. 
You opened your eyes and saw your feets being slowly brought down to the grass.
It was green. It wasn’t covered in snow.
Maybe.. It was as green as the last time both of you came. 
Maybe not everything has changed.

You looked up, he tried giving you a warm smile.
You almost caught a few drops of tears threatening to spillover. 
Your heart felt pain. 
He must have been in pain going through whatever he had been through..

You bit your lips and noticed his wings.. It was extraordinary. 
It wasn’t feathered. It was leathery, yet it looks alive.
It was glowing with silver light with every inhale and exhale he took. It was like it was part of him. 
Your eyes followed through every part of the wings, the details and every curve and every of it. 
It…it was actually beautiful. 
You fearfully tried to meet his eyes.

He gave you the warmest smile. The smile you fell in love with. 
He lifted his hand and did a couple of wave. 

A small green bud peeked through.
You gasped. 
It was growing. 
It was …amazing.

You peered curiously at it as the bud unravel the leaves it hid, and the stalk was slowly reaching the desired height. You witnessed it growing and as a branch poked out from each side, it seems to be random, but with a closer look, it was alternate at a patterned part of the stalk. As the bud continued to reach closer to you… and more branches developed,…

The bud opened.

It was a cherry blossom flower. 
It was … 
Beautiful.

You looked up at him. 
He gave you a smile and gestured you to take a whiff or just take it. 
He was probably afraid to speak now.

You bit your lips and touched the exotic plant.
It wasn’t like a cherry blossom tree.
It was just a plant, with a single flower. It..It..
You can’t describe it. 

You bit your lips and tried to calm yourself down.

"How are you?" 
Your words felt so foreign from your lips.
This isn’t how you greet him, usually.
What's not unusual now?
 

He smiled seeing you’re comfortable.

"Fine, and you…? " 

 

His hesitation, you almost thought he would add sweet names for you. 
Like love, or jaki, or…what did you expect him to say after the way you react.
 

You ignored his question, “You wanted to meet me?” 
You lifted your hand that held the scrunged up paper.

He glared at that paper. 
He seems displeased.

"What? "

He chuckled slightly as he meets your eyes. 
“You had it all scrunged up. ” 

He gave you a raised eyebrow. 
“Somebody hate crumpled notes. “

You chuckled, but you kept silent. 
“People change. ” you thought.

He smiled. 
“I have a lot explaining to do. ” 
You nodded.

He waved his hands and a cave lifted from the grounds and you witness the soil rolling off as the stone cave was raised. 
It was just a cave. 
It didn't went back down into its hiding place. 
He sensed that you may be afraid so he took the step in first to assure you it was safe. 

When you have finally stopped looking around every corner of the cave and settle your eyes on his, 

He spoke first. 

"Sorry. I’m sorry" 

He looked at you in the eye and sincerely apologised.

Your angry heart had softened and felt less angry. 
He must be in as much pain as you.
Or even more.

"I told you I had a dream right? " 
He gave a soft sigh. 

"It wasn’t a dream. " he said solemnly.

You raised your eyebrow, “What-” 
He cut your words.

"I.. am not who I am used to be.." 
You gave him a I-can-totally-see-that-too look.

He chuckled to lighten the mood.
” I started having this transformation,” he gestured his wings as he explained. ” And.. I was afraid I would lose my memories.”

You kept silent.

"So I bought this place, I heard and read that if I ever go through such transformation. I may face the loss of memories. " 
He bit his lips. 

” And.. I was afraid I would lose my memories.”

You kept silent.

" If a human undergo such transformation, it would be painful, to the extent he may forget who he was. " He was searching for something in your eyes.

You weren't sure if you should ask him what has he been transformed into. 

"That day I told you, was the last day for me to hide my transformation. I.." he glanced at his wings, " I can no longer hide them anymore. " he said softly.

"So you bought this place to hide yourself?! " your voice was unknowingly fierce and loud. 

He chuckled, “No. ” 

He hesitated and glanced at your hand. He didn’t know if he could take your hand. 

He gave a soft sigh and looked away. “I place all my memories here. ” he said simply

You raised your eyebrows, “But you had forgotten about me right?! ” your tone was getting fury

"No.." he said softly.

“I never did.” he said sincerely.
"I..still love you"

You blinked and the pipe of your tear glands broke.

His eyes showed pain as he reached to wipe your falling tears.

"I really do. "

You nodded and probed him to quickly continue with explanation.

"I need to have an angel in my life to control the demonic state of me. " he said softly and eyes meeting yours.

"I was afraid I couldn’t control and hurt you during the transformation… " 

“So you ran away from me? ” you tried finishing is words.

He bit his lips. “I was protecting you. ” 

You closed your eyes. You couldn't argue. 
You barely know anything he was saying. 

"What are you? " you repeated your first words. 
Your eyes were closed, you refused to let his image ruin your judgment. 
If you could, you could still escape this. 
And go back to hiding and silently cursing him for his disappearance. 


" A demonic angel. " 

You scoffed. 

" And what does that means when you say you need an angel?  You need an angel to control your demonic state and remind you that you were once a human, and keeping me beside you was your way to stay human and .. you never thought about me?! How much burden would that put on me!? " 

He bit his lips, " I thought of you, that's why I left. " 


His words hurt. 
But it reflected the reality. 
Your parents for one, would never have done any approval or sort. 


You closed your eyes again. 

" What do I have to do?" 


Your words echoed in the silent cave. 
Its echo felt cold and bare. 
It was like your own words slicing yourself. 

" Please continue loving me, that's all I ask. " 
He was begging. 
He was begging you. 

You opened your eyes. 

Your hand, bravely reached for his cheeks. 

" I have never stopped loving you my love. " you said softly. 
A silent tear slid down. 

" But... I don't know how I should be feeling now." 
You gave a sigh. 
" I was alone for a whole year. " 
Those recallation of the memories hurt so badly. 

" I don't know if your request will leave me alone. " 

" Again. " You added. 


" I would never. " 
He immediately replied. 

" I promise. " 

You shot him a look. 

He was still the man you love. 
A relief indeed. 

You bit your lips. 

" Are you okay now? " you asked worriedly 
"Does it hurt? " 

He smiled. 
And bravely took your hand. 
" Not anymore once you're here. " 

He brought your hands to his right cheek. 
" You melted the snow up here. " 

You laughed. 

"Cheesy as always" 
You looked away embarrassedly.

After another deep breath, " What do you have to do? " 


He looked down. 
"I don't know. " 

"Anyone else knows about this? " 

"Everyone else turned into an angel too. " 

He looked fiercely in your eyes, " Demonic angels. " 

You couldn't speak. 
"Wh-where are they? " 

He looked away. 

" Do you want something to drink? " 

" JUNG DAE HYUN. " you yelled sharply. 
" Where are they?" You asked again. 

He stopped short in his tracks. 

" Gone. " He said painfully. 

" Gone?!" You whispered fearfully. 

"They can't remember their human self. They left for the wilderness. " 
He replied and carried on walking to a teeny storage area that you have never noticed its presence. 

" You mean.... "
He closed the doors. 
And looked straight into your eyes. 

" Yes. " 

" I need you. "