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"Ahjussi! Tell me a story! A story!" A young girl begged, wanting a tale to be told before her bedtime. With hopeful round eyes she grabbed his sleeves and tugged him to her bed, hopping in and making enough space for him to join her.
"Alright. Just one." Yoo Joonghyuk smiled as he tucked her in gently before settling in with her, her small frame seeming even more frail than usual against his much bigger form.
"Tell me about the one you first told me!"
"... Your father said that it was too depressing."
"Nuh uh! I didn't hear the end so we don't know!"
Something flashed over his eyes for a moment before he nodded.
"That's true.. We never know till we get to the final chapter, right?"
She nodded her head eagerly, grabbing her squid soft toy to snuggle with.
Yoo Joonghyuk opened his lips, the warm light from the lamp revealing long unforgotten scars littered on his handsome features.
• • •
There was once a boy who loved to read books, they were his only source of happiness and safety in the world that only handed him misfortune. So he read, and read, and one book was the one to stick with him for many years. Since he was a young boy till he was an office worker. He grew under its nurture and guidance, helping him to overcome hardships that fell on him.
But one day, the book he read most passionately became reality. Creatures he even found terrifying just written on the pages became real, the abilities he once longed for became a possibility.. and the characters he looked up to all appeared in front of him.
He fought alongside the protagonist and sometimes, even against him. But they were both striving for the same ending, the final scenario of the cruel world.
What was the protagonist like?
Hm. He's described as very handsome and strong.. But.. he would never truly die. He can experience death but he would always regress. He would always return to the 1st scenario as if given another chance to complete the world. And so the reader and regressor fought together against the world together, as companions..
And..
Eventually they fell in love.
an excited squeal came from the girl
The reader also gained abilities where he could return back to life with all his memories and status to the present time, and the regressor finally knew he had found an everlasting partner to be a source of stability for him.
Ah! Then they can conquer the world and live happily ever after?!
I foolishly hoped so too. But no. There came a tragedy where the reader died and the whole world reset again.. The regressor found him, back on the bridge where they first met.
But the reader had no past recollection of his life before. He didn't remember already clearing scenarios, the battles he had fought and won.. the soft private whispers from the regressor he once would have been in love with. He didn't remember any of that, no one did apart from one man.
But the regressor can tell him right? They can fall in love again!
No little one, because the regressor became afraid of the future for the first time in his life. What if the reader didn't fall in love with him again? What if he dies again and comes back with no memories? Again.. and again.. and again.. That was the repetition known to the regressor and one of his most painful experiences. He would not allow his love to go through it like him.
So.. this is a sad story..
It is not the ending just yet.
In the end, the regressor and reader finally managed to get to the final chapter of the world. They had conquered their dream together even if it was different from what they had first promised together. But they had done it.
For the first time, they could rest.
So the regressor is gonna tell him right? That they were in love before..
By then.. the reader had found a new love. Someone he could trust and confide him, a warm person who fitted well with him. The regressor was not going to force himself to break them apart because it was worth it; it was worth the pain and longing to see his smile and happiness bloom with another.
So the reader lived happily with his wife and child as the regressor moved on.
• • •
"It was a happy ending afterall." Yoo Joonghyuk said, looking at the little girl who was now almost falling asleep.
Her eyes droopy, words in a soft murmur, he almost missed the last few words before she fell into a slumber.
"Ahjussi.. I think that last sentence was a lie."
The man froze, staring at her sleeping face with an unknown expression.
"Joonghyuk-ah, did Shin-ae finally fall asleep?" Came the voice he knew so well, tenderly in his deepest memories.
"Kim Dokja." He said, carefully leaving the bedroom to the dimly lit hallway where the other man stood.
"What story did she ask for this time?" The man chuckled softly, eyes shining with happiness as he gazed at his daughter sleeping so sweetly. His eyes slowly turned to look up at Yoo Joonghyuk, curiosity filling them.
He knew he could not lie any further. Not in front of him.
"For the saddest story in the world"