Chapter - 7

I threw myself on the bed, it was such a hectic day…. Usually I don't even like to step out of my sheets on a holiday but there was no such word as usual in my life these days… Unusual things kept hitting up on me. Is it really possible to escape this vicious cycle ? The way suggested by Astrea… would it really work? I don't know… Sleep took over my thoughts, Frozen winds were blowing strongly outside the window. Moon was spreading its calmness. Leaves rustled along with the wind. Suddenly my mobile vibrated and woke me up… I looked at the screen with sleepy eyes, the name displayed… Yang Hongseok…. I actually had expected him to call me but not this soon…

"Hello, Arin-ssi? I am so sorry to call this late, but you forgot your credit card on the table…"

Hearing about the credit card, my sleep just flew away!!

" What?? I forgot my card? Did you collect it or is it still lying there?" I got panicked the hell out of myself. He laughed " You think it's still lying on table? I didn't expect a scientist to be so clumsy…. Don't worry, I will return your card tomorrow…umm.. Noon 12 pm? Same place? Not in the café but in the park beside it, is it okay?" I agreed to meet him near han river. Should I try asking him tomorrow? No way… I would look so desperate… We are not even dating yet… Astrea!!!! Is this the only way to take out the core?? Whyyyyy?? I went inside my blankets with the thought of embarrassing moment I was about to put myself in next day…

Next morning 10 am

I was working inside the laboratory. I had no encounter with Double A's today since I left my house. I had informed my seniors regarding the half day. I reached the Han river park sharp at 12 pm and sat down on the bench. I waited for next 20 mins and was about to call him but stopped as I saw him running towards me from opposite side of the road.

" Sorry!! Sorry!! You had to wait here for so long… Actually I had an sudden meeting with clients" He was breathing heavily. I eyed him to sit down and offered him my water bottle.

" Its okay, anyways I never get bored sitting here, like how could anyone get bored of this scenic beauty, Han river? Hmmm?" I smiled at him.

"You are just breaking off my all prejudices about the scientists, You are quiet poetic…" He looked so puzzled.

"Why do you think all scientists are perfect? I mean if I am a scientist is it required to go around with serious face everywhere? You finance people are always like this, judging everyone!!" We laughed out loudly.

It was just our second time meeting each other but he was a kind of person with whom I became comfortable instantly. We were very similar yet very different. We talked for whole afternoon and didn't even realize until the sun was setting down in the river.

" Ohh it's 6 pm!! I really had a good conversation with a human being after so long" I said while walking near the camellia tree nearby. "Human being? Why? Perhaps you enjoy talking with ghosts" He giggled. I looked at him confusingly.

" No.. yesterday… I saw you down there near the café, you were talking with yourself, or maybe the ghost?" He was having fun teasing me.

"You saw that? That's embarrassing dude… But yeah I was talking with someone, not a ghost, but ghost-like God."

I walked few steps away from him. He ran behind me "Arin, that's not poetic okay!! That sounds like a plot from horror movie…" I turned around towards him. "Hongseok-ssi… If I say something really weird now, will you judge me and my character?"

Cold winds blew with dry leaves landing on our feet… Darkness made han river disappear… We were facing each other, He seemed really worried for me…

"Arin… let's talk inside some restaurant, it's getting too cold here…." he walked a bit but I held his hand and pulled him back. He was taken aback with my sudden actions.

"What's wrong Arin? You were so cheerful few minutes ago… What's up with this sudden seriousness?" He held my face in his hands. I looked up in his eyes… "Will you come with me to Namiseon Island? I need to visit an ancestral temple…"

" Namiseon? Ancestral temple? Did you become THAT serious just to ask this? You scared me… yah Arin-ah !! Namiseon is my native place! My Grandpa lives there, I mean we have an ancient palace there. And which temple are you talking about? ASTREA temple?" He was spitting out words excitedly.

I just kept looking at him….

Somehow I felt relived hearing those words… Finally I could expect myself setting free from this diamond core… Maybe I treasured my virginity until now just for him… Finally I felt like I've found my soulmate in this life… and that's not some Goddess who wants my soul, tempting me inside her cult…But a perfect normal human being which I ever wished of…

I was quiet happy…staring at him foolishly….listening to his never-ending talks… But at this happiest moment in my life a familiar sound echoed in my ears… Flute melody…that hauntingly beautiful tune…I shivered in fear… She was standing across the lane… Adrestia, smiling at me demonically… She moved her gaze to Hongseok… I wanted to hide him from her demonic eyes, I didn't want her to put even a finger on him, She took the flute in her hands near her lips… I didn't want Hongseok to listen that evil hypnotizing melody, I stretched out my hands near his face and closed both of his ears with my palms , Adrestia was playing the flute fiercely, I closed my eyes just to avoid that evil gaze…. Hongseok couldn't understand what was happening with me… he tried to turn his face behind where Adrestia was standing… I stopped him and pulled his face near mine… He figured out something was wrong, " It's okay Arin , Whoever it is standing there you are so feared of… I am not looking that person, I'm looking at you…so open your eyes and look in my eyes now…." His deep voice soothed me out of that melody, I opened my eyes and again, looked towards Adrestia but suddenly he pulled me towards him and placed his lips on mine….Chills went down my spine…

It was not my first kiss but it felt so spiritual… my soul felt those hands and lips, not just my body….We kissed each other passionately, even forgot that we were standing in the middle of the road… I completely forgot about Adrestia… My soul just engraved a name on itself….It was Hongseok….

After few minutes we separated from each other's arms, A realization hit me that people passing by were staring at us. I got so much flustered up that my ears and cheeks went all red. I started running away from him but came back again.

" What are you doing? Gone crazy after kiss?" He smirked at me. "When can you take a day off? We need to visit Nami island as soon as possible…" I asked him awkwardly.

"This weekend? Is it okay ?" He came closer to me. I stepped back, "Okay then… Good night, see you on weekend"

"Wait, On Weekend? Are we not meeting until then? After THIS?? You are making me awkward now…." A guilty expression started to build up on his face.

" Ahhh…No, I mean why would you get awkward? It's just that I have so many thoughts on my mind right now… And I don't want this situation to occur again, I know you won't believe but I'm just trying to protect you from someone… You might not understand it now, but you are the key for my future life." I held his hands tightly and tried to get him out of his awkwardness.

"You are seriously scaring me right now, are you some shaman or what? Hold on….Do you actually see ghosts? was that ghost behind me a while ago?" He was shooting questions on me till we reach my apartment and I kept smiling at him , staring at his pretty face. I knew that the hands I've held today I'm gonna keep holding on them forever.

I went up the staircase and opened the door. Turned the lights on and saw that Astrea was sitting on the sofa, watching T.V. ,

" Do you know my house password? Oh no…I forgot you can teleport right?" I laughed and sat beside her.

"Wow you look much relaxed today, I guess Mr. Yang agreed for the Nami island trip…And could you please call me with some respect, I'm a goddess after all." She looked outside the window. "Goddess? So what should I do then, Shower you with flowers?" I placed my hands on her shoulders.

"What made you feel so relaxed Arin? You both are visiting Namiseon this weekend and there are whole 4 days until then… You need to survive… You think Adrestia will just keep following you everywhere and play that stupid flute? She wants YOU!! YOUR SOUL!! Is this the time to get relaxed and chit chat?" Astrea again looked outside the window. My face darkened…as I saw outside the window… Adrestia was standing out there… Looking up at the Moon with blank face…Moonlight made her face more pale white… Red dress was flying on wind… Suddenly she turned her face inside the window, and all I could see was her red teary eyes… Hurt , pain, Resentment all of them flashing on me…. And all I could do was… Turn my face away from her…