An Oak Pen For A Ring

'How did I die?'

Does this mean he knows something?

Did he get the same second chance that was bestowed on me?

Come to think of it,

The only thing we have in common is;

Death.

Suicide.

Homicide.

I took a quick glance at his fingers just to find the rings, but unfortunately, they were not on any of his fingers.

So,

How does he know about his own death?

Or?

"W-why are you asking me such?" I started and landed on a pause, searching for the right words to say.

I couldn't be so sure yet. I do not know any variable about this second chance.

Will I get sucked back into my future where I got stabbed if I told him what happened to him?

Will I have to relive the ferocious stab that I faced that night?

Will I have my head smashed on the bathroom wall again if I tell him?

"For some reason, I do not remember how I died, you see." He began to say turning at me and he brought out a necklace from underneath his uniform.

The rings.

I looked at my index finger and then back at him.

They were the same.

Does this mean…

"I know we both got a second chance, so don't feel pressured by that. I am one of you." He said with a smile.

One of me?

I took a deep breath, ready to tell him what I know at least.

And then, I said;

"If I tell you what happened to you, what will you do for me?"

He nodded his head a little as if he was agreeing to an agreement I was yet to draft up and he said;

"Anything."

"Why?" I continued, suddenly curious to know why he was ready to do anything I asked for.

"Because it's you." He gave his reply without hesitation and my heart struck a beat.

This is bad.

"But not now… later, in the future, I will ask you what has happened to me, but for now, tell me what you want."

What I want?

°~°~°~°

I watched him continue playing by the swing as the driver pulled off away from the park's premise. I couldn't help myself but look back continuously.

What's his deal?

I asked myself countless times.

He was never in the initial story.

What is stirring us together?

Our death?

I shook off the feeling and walked through the open door as the security guards opened them for me and Aruem. She tugged on my arm, but I didn't notice.

He was on my mind.

For no reason.

He was just there.

Sitting pretty.

Upon entering the house, I saw mom in the sitting lounge. Not just mom alone, she was with another lady who was sitting on the floor.

I read every little detail of what was happening and I could feel Aruem let go of my arm.

Tch.

Mom had brought in a shaman.

For?

"You're back, my pretty daughter." Mom smiled graciously while opening her arms widely and she let Aruem fall into them.

She slowly patted her hair with a smile widely spread on her lips.

I stood there.

And watched.

All I could do was watch.

Aruem was my mother's favorite anyway.

"Aera." Mom called after me as she noticed I was about to walk away. "Come, come seat. Let the powerful shaman read your fortune."

I scoffed.

"I had brought her in initially for Aruem. She has a test coming up soon and I have to make sure everything is perfect. Look what she made for your sister." She carefully brought out a pen that was wrapped in a talisman and she raised it towards me like some sort of treasure.

She continued.

"It's an oak pen and it brings luck to its wielder." She added with a slight chuckle and handed it over to Aruem who treasured the oak pen like a baby.

"Mom, is this really for me?" She exclaimed with excitement.

And mom nodded, patting her hair gently.

I rolled my eyes and walked away.

She believes in shamans?

Talismans?

Luck?

Tch, don't play me.

I dropped my bag and sat on my bed. I was a little exhausted.

It was my first day in school after eighteen years after all.

I still couldn't believe all these things were real.

My cute collections,

My soft plush bed,

My romance book collection,

Everything.

I smiled a little and the door swung open making me hide my smile in an instant.

Areum.

"Are you mad?" She pouted at the door before she sashayed towards me. She sat on the bed next to me comfortably and continued. "You see, I also do not believe in shamans, talismans, fortune reading and all other stuff."

"Why are you telling me this?" I shrugged, moving a bit away from her.

She smiled.

"How about this? I will give you the oak pen for our upcoming tests while you give me one of your rings." She raised an absurd suggestion.

I looked at my index finger then back at Areum.

"Why are you obsessed with my rings? Why not buy yours?"

"Tch, I have searched through online ring parlors for this type of ring, but guess what… there was nothing."

"Ah…" I mouthed enough to show her I was also in disbelief.

I hope she bites on that.

"So, what do you say? An oak pen for a ring?" She giggled, twirling her shoulders in a playful manner which was cute.

"Let's go have our bath." I dropped, getting out of bed and headed straight towards my bathroom.

I wasn't bold enough.

Just not yet.

Everytime I head towards the bathroom, I always think he would pop out of nowhere again.

And stab me!

I squeezed the doorknob a little and my mind suddenly trailed off to the park.

To him.

~°~°~°~

"Tell me, what's your name?" He had asked me with a livid smile plastered on his face.

I folded my lips in, my heart was beating really fast.

He had only asked for my name,

But it seemed he had just asked me to be his girlfriend.

"Aera." I finally replied, my voice a little soft and extremely fake.

He found it cute and he smiled.

I loved it.

His smile.

"Hyun Min." He said.

"Uh?"

"Baek Hyun Min. That's my name."

°~°~°~°

"What are you doing? Are you not washing up anymore?" Aruem scoffed, packing her hair into a bun.

Right.

When we were done having our bath, we walked out of my room to the dining hall. A maid had earlier showed up to my room while we were still in the shower busy rubbing our backs to announce to us dinner was ready.

It was going to be a pure Korean meal.

She had informed us.

To be honest, I was a little sick of western dishes since I had gotten married.

And now, a standard Korean meal dinner was just perfect.

I smiled a little as I saw my reflection in the huge mirror placed in the hall.

Aera.

Dinner was indeed ready. Father and mother were seated already and Areum gracefully sat next to mother while I took a seat next to father.

I just have to eat and leave.

And of course, the table was smiling.

The dishes were marvelous to one's sight.

Bulgogi(Thinly sliced marinated meat)

Kimchi Jjigae(Kimchi stew)

Myeolchi Bokkeum(Stir-fried anchovy)

Galbijjim(Braised short ribs)

…

And of course rice.

There were other dishes on the table, but the taste was all I craved.

As we ate in silence, I could see mom unshell a prawn for Aruem and I got a little jealous.

Yes.

I bit my chopstick a little and then said;

"Mom, do you love me?"

Everyone stopped.

Areum mounted to a halt and slowly dropped the prawn into her plate.

"Why? Because I got a shaman for Aruem?" Mom replied giving me a non bothersome look.

"You think it's only about that?" I continued shooting laser beams at her with my eyes.

The mood became palpable and everyone could suddenly feel the heat. The maids around softly cleared their throats and no one was ready to speak first.

Until…

"Mom, dad, our birthday is coming up soon, why don't you make it up to Aera then? You both get a chance to prove to her you really love her." She buzzed and dad gave her a slight nod.

He liked her idea.

He was going to do it just because he loves her dearly.

And not because it's me.

Tch.

"I will send invitations to my friends. His son is coming back from the Netherlands soon and he would be glad to meet you girls or maybe,..." He paused and turned at me a little. "Maybe get married to Aera in the future."

Huh?

Who's coming back from the Netherlands?

Wait a minute...

"Dad, dad!" Aruem called joyfully. "What's his name? Has he seen us before when we were little? Does he know we are twins?" She asked continuously and I paid a little attention.

I needed to hear his name.

For some reason,

I know who he was, but then again, I don't seem to remember clearly.

I am sure I'm going to regret forgetting him.

I just need to know his name.

"You have probably met him when you were little, but I doubt you remember what he looks like." Dad chuckled, picking an anchovy into his mouth.

"Oh, him." Mom broke in. "Hyun Woo, right?"

Fuck me!

How could I forget him?

How could I not remember him?

How could I forget my Hyun Woo?

My husband!