Bailonz Street 13

Just as I thought that rising so quickly couldn’t be good, I found myself breaking the surface, breathing in air.

“What, what, how…?”

I stammered incoherently. As I turned my head, I truly saw a beach. A place I knew.

“It’s Woljeong-ri.”

Am I really in Korea? Tears suddenly welled up at the sight of my hometown’s sea that I hadn’t seen for so long. This is grandmother’s house.

“Yes, child.”

“Eek!”

I screamed as I turned around, coming face to face with someone who shouldn’t be here.

An elderly man on a white horse was watching me, his body half-emerged from the water. The same old man who had saved me in Clara’s cave. The one Lucita’s butler had called ‘The Great Abyss’.

“Sir, how, how are you here…?”

He chuckled at my confused voice. The horse made a whinnying sound and rubbed its muzzle against my cheek. It must be recognizing me from our previous encounter.

“Oh, I’m happy to see you too. Wait, I’m not wearing a life jacket. Don’t push…”

The horse gave a small neigh, clicked its teeth, and quieted down. It seemed to understand. The old man waited until my greetings with the horse were finished before speaking.

“Didn’t I tell you to remember the sea?”

“I… I didn’t know it would be Korea’s sea.”

“You hadn’t forgotten it from when you were very young?”

“…That’s part of it too.”

The old man smiled gently at my honest admission and patted my head a couple of times. His face was warm and familiar, like a grandfather looking at his grandchild. Seeing his face always reminded me of the precious people I’d left behind in Korea. Grandfather, grandmother, mom, dad…

Come to think of it, I’d been saved again.

“Sir, why are you so kind to me?”

“Because I cherish all children.”

“I’m… twenty-four. Third year in university after taking a gap year. I’m too old to be called a child.”

“You’re still a child to me.”

The old man grabbed me by the scruff of my neck and, with surprising strength, placed me on the horse. Without a saddle, it was very uncomfortable. The thought ‘How does one keep balance like this?’ briefly crossed my mind before disappearing.

“Sir, back then, in the cave…”

“Hmm?”

“You told me remembering the sea would be my salvation.”

“That’s right.”

“What did that mean, exactly?”

The old man looked at me. His blue eyes shifted colors like the ocean itself, now reflecting sunlight with warm, clear waves.

“Because you remembered, I could help you.”

“Help me?”

“You wouldn’t want that boy to cry, would you?”

I immediately knew ‘that boy’ meant Liam.

Ah, right. I had fallen into the Thames. Liam must be crying terribly. I briefly worried that he might try to follow Romeo and Juliet’s example.

“Really now. Where does such courage come from in one who hasn’t even lived a hundred years?”

Sir, our lifespan only goes up to a hundred years…

“I just… got annoyed at letting the Black King’s will destroy the world. I can be quite stubborn, you know.”

“You foolish child, throwing yourself away like that?”

The old man scolded me sternly, pinching my cheek. Though gentle for him, it was still forceful enough to make my cheek feel like it might come off.

“I’m-I’m sorry.”

“What good does apologizing to me do?”

Then he asked me:

“You need to go back.”

I can go back?

I forgot I was on horseback and nearly jumped up in surprise, falling back into the sea with a splash. The horse showed its irritation as the old man pulled me back up with a sigh.

“Wasn’t I dead?”

“Now, now.”

“…I can go back?”

“Of course, if you wish to.”

I could return. I could see Liam again.

He must have handled everything well. He must have driven away the Black King. Even as I thought this, my heart ached remembering Liam’s crying face. I felt somewhat pathetic being happy about returning after what I’d done.

“When I go back… I won’t do anything like this again.”

“That’s well thought out.”

“And I’ll tell Liam I love him more often.”

“Good.”

The old man took the horse’s reins. With a “Hiya!”, the horse whinnied and leaped high into the air, then plunged straight toward the water’s surface.

As I screamed at this unexpected roller coaster ride, he patted my back reassuringly.

“The door still remains. Remember that.”

“Door?”

Before I could ask more, I was pulled above water.

I could breathe again. The horse and old man were gone. The cold winter air struck my face as I coughed up the brackish river water. Someone grabbed me in a desperate embrace and began muttering repeatedly.

“Dear God… Thank you…”

He must have been giving me artificial respiration while waiting after pulling me from the river. My ribs felt slightly sore. Liam kept patting my back (seemingly unconcerned that I was vomiting water on his clothes) until I had expelled all the water. I could only surrender myself to his ministrations. I caught a faint whiff of his familiar scent.

Liam Moore, it’s you.

My voice was terribly hoarse and trembling. I hadn’t been prepared to meet him so suddenly, and couldn’t help feeling flustered.

He always saves me like this, pulling me back to life. He’s surely the type who would climb down a rope after me even if I fell into some bottomless pit.

“Jane, are you conscious? Are you alright? The Black King is gone, everything’s resolved… You’re safe now.”

Liam began frantically telling me the news.

Wait, I just opened my eyes. I slowly raised my arms to hold his cheeks. Let’s set aside my surprise at my right arm moving without issue for now. Liam was looking at me, soaked with tears and river water.

“Liam…”

His lips trembling, Liam hesitated for a moment before forcing his mouth into something resembling a smile. His expression was such a mess I couldn’t tell if he was crying or laughing. Looking at this man trying to smile just to reassure me, completely unaware of how his face looked, I couldn’t think of anything else to say.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

“I’m sorry.”

I spoke with my raw voice, though my throat hurt from expelling so much water.

“Jane.”

Liam called my name in surprise. Perhaps he was shocked that someone who’d just escaped death would apologize first. But I really wanted to apologize before anything else.

“Just… I’m sorry. I did wrong. I knew I shouldn’t have done it.”

Liam closed his eyes tight and pressed his cheek against my hand. This man who was always warm felt ice-cold. What would he have done if I had already sunk to the bottom of the river? Why did he throw himself into these cold, pitch-black waters? I wondered.

“…I was so scared, Jane.”

Yes, you’ve seen my death far too many times.

I seem to have left an indelible wound on you. It’s as if I’ve taken a branding iron with my name and seared it into your heart. I threw myself away for the world’s sake, knowing I truly might not return this time. My return is pure fortune.

When I pulled him closer, he willingly fell into my embrace. This man several times my size crumpled himself up and buried his face in my shoulder. Though he was trying to appear composed, Liam’s trembling hadn’t stopped. As I gently stroked his back, I whispered:

“I won’t do anything like this again.”

“…Mm.”

“I won’t make you worry anymore.”

“Mm, alright.”

“…I love you.”

“Mm. …Mm?”

He had been responding docilely, but suddenly lifted his head in surprise. He stared at me with wide rabbit eyes, not understanding. That even this expression looked lovable to me – I must be mad, I thought.

“No, it’s just. While falling, I suddenly thought.”

“Thought what…?”

“Ah, that I should have said ‘I love you’ more often.”

Having resolved to die, these regrets only came as death approached. Now I understand why they say to live a life without regrets when you die.

Liam quietly pondered my words.

“I had the same thought.”

“About loving me?”

“That’s always true.”

Liam Moore cleared his throat. I couldn’t tell if his bright red ears were from the cold or from what he was about to say.

After much hesitation, he took both my hands and struggled to speak.

“Jane Osmond.”

What could he be building up to with such suspense?

The thought was better left unfinished. Following his words, I lost all ability to speak, my mind going blank.

“…I fell for you the moment I first saw you. You are my first love, and there will never be anyone I love more than you.”

Ah.

“Will you marry me?”

Really, you…