Long before happiness exists, sadness is what comes first. And that's how amazing things come about. But unfortunately, many people doubt this and prefer to ignore that things that could have happened in an extraordinary way can often be mistaken for bad things. And this happens to many people.
In fact, the things that often make people feel scared are often avoided. It's difficult but things will happen naturally even if you try to avoid them.
“I should have known all this earlier... that I had let an asshole come in and live comfortably in my family,” Gaeul cursed.
The man just laughed. He didn't care, even with the blood that continued to flow profusely from his leaking head. As if numbed, the person just looked at his interlocutor contemptuously. “If only... if only my plan had worked. I would have taken the woman I love the most away from here.”
Gaeul gritted her teeth. A feeling of anger pervaded his heart. She felt tired as well as disappointed. She never wanted this day to happen. But... no matter how hard she tried in the end, she couldn't escape the reality.
Her heart used to be so cold. Never caring about others. But now things were definitely different. He understood what empathy was... as well as the feeling of love in the form of sincere affection from others.
“If you dare to touch my mother. I will never hesitate to kill you even if you are my uncle and my mother's younger brother!” Gaeul shouted angrily.
“I never expected... you to grow up to be like this. Gaeul remember... I raised you as well as taught you many things. Without me you would have no meaning, even your intelligence would have no meaning if it wasn't honed. Remember this role of mine is one where I take your father's place.” The person made a pleading face in front of Gaeul.
Gaeul was silent, a look of displeasure on her face. Her tears were flowing so fast. She picked up the knife that was lying not far from her. Although she hated all this... but she had to end it all. Including hurting the person she valued most in her life. The one who had always tried so hard to displace his biological father from his heart. That was his own uncle.
***
Kim Gaeul is a young man in his early 20s, who has just finished his exchange program in Germany. Being a smart and outstanding figure makes it easy for him to get a scholarship to study abroad. Even so, it doesn't necessarily make his life feel easy.
The man from South Korea is still stuck in a phase where he still cannot recognize himself. There are many things in this world that he always questions in his head. Despite having had the opportunity to see quite a lot of things and having the benefit of the intelligence he was born with, he still doesn't feel like it's enough to get satisfaction from within. There was a kind of nagging feeling just like when washing dishes and leaving a stain even after washing and rinsing under the shower.
There were still a lot of wild questions in his head that he desperately wanted to answer. And unfortunately he had to put them aside because right now his friend James called him to invite him, to have lunch together at Ms. Spice Chicken which was a small family restaurant with a fairly popular base among young people.
***
“I thought you wouldn't be interested in that?” James looked in surprise at the face of his interlocutor. “But it's true, it would be a shame if you missed this opportunity. You're smart and I feel like you still have a thirst for knowledge. No one can stop you.”
Gaeul was silent, she was a little shocked to hear the words spoken by her roommate.
James smiled a little, he then looked at Gaeul intently. “People like you will only feel satisfied when they encounter something unexpected. I guess you haven't been enjoying your life much because you can confidently guess what happens to you in the future because of your talent. However... Gaeul you should also learn what it means to be a real human being. Where when intelligence and feelings can really only be fully understood if they have reached the maximum stage. And I don't think you've reached that stage yet,” he said.
James' words were getting more and more complicated. Gaeul didn't really understand it in the sense of straight talk, but rather there was an implied and double meaning behind the words.
“Your words sound more complicated than usual. It's like you want to give me advice,” Gaeul replied while cutting her meat.
James smiled but that smile again seemed to have an important meaning that implied something there. “Sometimes I want to give you advice, it's just that I realize that I don't have as good a brain as you, so I feel reluctant to give you advice,” he said.
“If you feel something is wrong with me just say so. I don't like it when people distance themselves from me, just because the contents of my head are far more weighty than most people out there.” Gaeul somehow felt somewhat differentiated because of this advantage.
“Gaeul... you might be the type of person who hates superstitious things. But if you listen to my little nonsense this time, then I'll tell you about it.” James folded his hands in front of his chest and looked like he was trying to provoke Gaeul's curiosity.
Gaeul herself did feel that James was trying to lure her into knowing something. Although he was usually reluctant to get involved with this kind of nonsense. So, just for this time he tried to be open and chose to listen to him. After all James was her roommate as well as a close friend, so she decided to listen because she respected James.
“Okay. I want to hear it from you. Can you tell me?” he asked with a pleading face.
James laughed seeing Gaeul putting on such a facial expression. He knew that Gaeul deliberately did that just to try to honor him.
“I admit that you don't understand what empathy is. But at least I'm grateful that you can still show your sympathetic side to others,” he quipped.
Gaeul's eyebrows shot up one side. “What do you mean?”
“I don't have the right answer to give you right now. Study harder Gaeul so that you can see the wider side of the world,” James replied in a soft voice.
Gaeul nodded her head in agreement. “I accept your words. Okay but can you tell me about the superstition. Because honestly I rarely listen to things that have no logical basis in my life.”
“I'm a bit surprised, you sound like you're curious about it. But never mind if you really want to hear it.” James then asked Gaeul to come closer so that he could hear more clearly. “Yesterday while taking a walk, I met a fortune teller by the roadside. Feeling intrigued by the fortune teller, I asked her to predict me, and what do you know the fortune teller didn't predict me and instead explained someone else in her prediction instead of me who had paid her. You know how disappointed I was to hear that.” James had a wry expression on his face.
“It's just a prophecy, why do you feel disappointed as if you've been left out? Don't believe in things like that, you'll lose your confidence in the long run,” Gaeul commented.
“But you know Gaeul. I might be disappointed that I didn't get a prediction about myself. But I seem to feel confident, that the person who predicted me seems to be showing you because I feel that the fortune teller mentioned a lot of similar traits that refer to you.” James looked at Gaeul meaningfully. “I can't say that I believe it but strangely enough, I feel a little connected to the prophecy.”
Gaeul waved her hand in front of her face then replied like this, “James, I hate to insult other people's opinions the most. But I don't think you should trust people like that. I'm just afraid you'll lose out. It seems like that fortune teller is being cunning by deliberately luring you into listening to her nonsense using the person closest to you in her predictions.” Gaeul tried to refute, he disliked this kind of nonsense the most.
“I knew for sure that the direction of this conversation would end with your rebuttal. Whether you believe me or not is up to you. I just wanted to warn you, that you should be more careful in the future. Especially after this we will part ways and you will again go somewhere to learn to broaden your horizons and fulfill your desires,” James said.
Gaeul smiled slightly. “Thank you for reminding me.” The young man then looked at James closely. “But may I know a little of what the prophecy says?”
With a serious face James said like this, “Gaeul you will meet a grouchy dwarf and an annoying Casanova. And to make matters worse you will become very familiar with both of them. Well... at least that's what I can deduce with my own language for you from the fortune teller.”
“Your conclusion is too severe. Now I'm even more incredulous,” Gaeul scoffed filled with disbelief.