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“◾️◾️“
The child would laugh. Warm, soft hands reached out and wrapped around his rough fingers.
***
“◼️◼️ looks like Joonghyuk-ssi.”
Looking down at the sleeping child, she said. A soft and gentle smile gazed upon her face.
“The forehead is high, the ears shape, eyebrows are clear, and that stubborn expression, resembles Joonghyuk-ssi a lot.”
Is it? He couldn’t tell.
As if it was the first time, his gaze wandered unfamiliarly around the child’s face. He just thought that it was too small. ◼️◼️ was really too small. The little head that fitted perfectly in one hand. The faint breath, the clenched first and the occasionally babble,
were all so small.
Amidst Lee Seolhwa’s soft voice, the child’s heart was beating. At the beat that was fainter than his own breath, Yoo Joonghyuk silently held his breath and listened.
Warm, lively and desperate.
At one point, he felt his heart beating along with the child’s beat. Thump, thump, the sound felt clearer than ever…… Oh, he also had such a beating heart like this.
“◼️◼️ resembles you more than me.”
“Really? Which part is it?”
“Warm.”
“You’re a warm person too, Joonghyuk-ssi.”
He leaned towards the friendly hands that embraced him. His body seemed like melting in the warm. Slow closing his eyes, it felt like spring was coming.
***
Kiii-!
The subway shook loudly and let out a metallic sound.
All the lights turned off.
—Announcement to all passengers….
***
Yoo Joonghyuk blinked several times and looked down at his hand.
It should have been tainted with blood, but what he saw was no scars or calluses, let alone the blood of his enemies.
The 3434 train to Bulgwang, carriage 3707, 7p.m, and the subway that stopped on Dongho bridge.
Every thing repeated again.
“.. what… What is that..!?”
“… what is happening..”
Confused voices started filling his surrounding, but Yoo Joonghyuk busted out in fierce laughter.
This situation was so unbearable funny.
Cut down the stars, kill the Demon Kings. As he stepped on the bodies of fallen returners, he still couldn’t save a single life.
The Underworld didn’t return the child’s soul. He couldn’t found a single clues on it. He didn’t know if it had been torn into pieces. He didn’t even know if it had become a meager meal for some constellations either.
… Maybe it had already disappeared.
He tried to remember the child’s face, then slowly closed his eyes.
There was no spring, he had failed again.
[The story “Hell of Eternity” has ended its storytelling.]