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This story is about the time when a young explorer ventured into white snow-covered meadows, on mountain peaks inhabited only by the wind, the sky, and a mythical secluded flower. Our brave adventurer, named Sung Hanbin, while hiking in nearby villages heard the legend of a flower that promised eternal love to whoever found it, and he didn't hesitate for a second to ask for directions so he could set out on his new quest the next morning.
The delicate flower, as white as snow, grew on the highest peaks, and the legend said it was born from a star that asked the moon to come down to earth. Moreover, it was believed by the villagers that whoever could find one and take it back with them would meet the purest and most sincere love to accompany them for the rest of their life. Given the nature of his own spirit, always on the move looking for adventure, Hanbin longed for that kind of connection; he longed to love and be loved with the intensity of someone who loses and finds themselves in another, and what is longing fed on if not hope, superstition and what ifs?
When our young explorer set off, the weather was not ideal, but this did not stop him. He had a purpose and a will of steel. Once at the top of the mountain, Hanbin had no trouble finding the flower: Edelweiss, so he gently cut it, brought it to his lips, whispered his wish, and sealed it with a kiss on its petals. That night, despite the cold and the wind blowing outside his tent, Hanbin slept with a light and excited heart.
The next day, as he descended, he lost his way and strayed from the path. Suddenly, he spotted a small, lonely cabin on the hillside and decided to stop by to ask for directions. As he approached the cabin, he began to hear a voice singing, accompanied by what sounded like a violin, while what seemed like clapping helped set the rhythm of a lively, sweet melody.
As Hanbin drew closer, mesmerized by the siren song, he began to make out a group of people among the trees beside the cabin, and when he was close enough, he could see the scene clearly: a happy, lovey-dovey couple dancing, surrounded by no more than 20 people, all dressed in white, dancing and throwing flower petals at the couple in what appeared to be a wedding celebration. In one corner, there were tables set up with food and drinks, and here and there, chairs decorated with white ribbons and flowers could be seen. But what really turned Hanbin's world upside down was the image of an almost ethereal being, playing the violin and singing with simple and exuberant beauty. The young man, who was on the other side of the sea of people, smiled in such a way that Hanbin felt envious of everyone who had seen that smiling face before him, and sang with such softness and intensity that Hanbin was sure he would never want to hear anything else for the rest of his life.
As our explorer friend had become lost in thought, mesmerized by such beauty, someone naturally noticed his presence, and as luck would have it, it was the young violinist himself who, stopping the music, talked to him from the other end of the garden as if he were accustomed to such situations:
“Good day, dear traveller. I assume you have lost your way back to the village. If you like, you can join us in our celebration, and then we will help you on your way back.”
Hanbin felt his whole body consumed by the flame of longing, but this time it was longing for someone; his wish personified. Unable to open his mouth for fear that his fluttering heart would take the opportunity to escape to the new nest that was the young man's chest, he could only nod his head. Immediately, an elderly woman approached him, showed him where to leave his backpack, and dragged him along with the rest to continue dancing. After a few minutes, the music and dancing stopped, and Hanbin took the opportunity to approach the young man.
“Sorry for intruding, my name is Hanbin, Sung Hanbin.”
“Zhang Hao, and you don't have to apologize, consider yourself my special guest,” he said with a chuckle as he poured himself a glass of wine. Up close, Hao was even more beautiful. His long, delicate fingers made Hanbin want to intertwine them with his own. He had moles painted like stars on his skin, and his lips seemed to invite Hanbin to taste forbidden fruit.
Noticing Hanbin's silence, Hao tilted his head with concern and curiosity. “Have you been lost for long?”
Hanbin's heart, quicker than his reason, answered at loud “all my life, but now I've found you.” Then, without thinking twice, he carefully took the flower that had granted him this miracle out of his chest pocket and held it out to Hao, who widened his eyes in surprise, took the flower, and then looked him straight in the eyes with a knowing smile. Hanbin then allowed himself to get lost in that gaze full of moonlight, sunshine, and starlight. Hao was his firmament; he didn't need another second to be sure. All the time he had spent travelling the world had brought him here, for even before he knew it, Hanbin was already looking for Hao.
“I know this might sound crazy, but—” Hanbin was unable to finish his sentence as Hao leaned toward him and left a soft kiss on his lips. It took Hanbin a second to register what had happened, an eternal second in which he already missed Hao's lips, a fleeting second in which he reacted by taking the man in front of him by the waist, bringing their bodies impossibly closer together, and finally, after all of his life waiting, kissing Hao.