Chapter 13: If My Wings Could Fly

Taesung's POV:

"Eomma (Mother), where are you? Eomma?"

I was screaming as loudly as I could. I was in the huge dark place where I couldn't see anyone. But I knew Eomma was here. Then why couldn't I find her? I was running and running and calling for Eomma. I bent down and held my knees to take breath. I was looking around me. Then all of a sudden a huge cage fell on me. It was so huge that I couldn't get out of it. I fell down and placed my head on my knees and cried. 'Eomma, where are you?' I kept crying. Suddenly Mina, the pet dog, Taemin and I had when we were kids, came to me. Appa (Father) killed her when he was drunk and had a fight with Eomma. I took Mina, placed her on my lap. I missed her. Then Mina ran away from me and went out of the cage. Then I spotted Eomma. 'She came to save me. I know. She will save me.'

"Eomma you came." But she didn't come closer to me. She turned away.

"Eomma, where are you going? Eomma! Don't leave me. Eomma! Come back. Eomma!"

I kept screaming, but she vanished in the air as if she wasn't in front me few moments ago. I fell down and hugged my knees and cried. But all of a sudden, a light fell on my face. I looked up and saw a figure walking towards me. It was luminous. Light was glowing from its skin. The closer it came, the more I could understand. It was a female. She was coming towards me. When she came closer, I saw her face. It was Noona.

"Noona?"

"Let's set you free Taesung." She smiled at me and opened the gate of the huge cage using a key. I came out of the cage. She was wearing a white knee-length gown. Her long hair touched her thigh. A flower was over her right ear. She was wearing a key as a necklace. The key looked like an antique piece. She used it to open the door of the cage. She was glowing so bright like sun that it was hurting my eyes. She smiled at me and whispered, "Fly Taesung. Fly. Open your soul. Let go of all the darkness. Be free."

Right the moment she said it I felt something tearing apart my back. I screamed in pain. I felt something growing out of my back. More pain. I couldn't bare the pain anymore and fell down on the floor. Few moments later it stopped. I slowly stood up and looked around. Noona wasn't anywhere. Instead of her there was a huge mirror. I looked in the reflection. It looked like me but was half naked, had Blonde hair, and huge, dark wings were attached on its back. I tilted my head and the reflection did the same. Then I felt like something was on my back. I looked above my head and saw the same huge, dark wings .

"These are my wings?"

I jumped on my bed. I was sweating like a sinner in the church and gasping. Nightmare. This was the same nightmare I had for my entire life. Ever since Eomma died. But there was a difference this time. Because this time, someone came to rescue me. Noona. Noona came for me. She came to set me free. This time I had wings. It was such a strange dream. I got up to drink some water. I looked at outside and noticed the sun was shining brightly just like Noona was shining in my dream.

'It's a sunny day.'

Noona was really like the sun. Bright, warm and beautiful. The most beautiful. I glanced at my wall clock. It was time to get ready for work.

"Sir, do you need anything else?" I asked the customer.

He smiled and said, "No."

I looked at the wall clock of the restaurant. It was almost 7 p.m.

'Strange.'

Noona didn't come today. She always ate her favorite Gimbap during lunchtime. But today she didn't come.

'Is she alright?'

Since this morning, after seeing her in my dream, I was desperate to see her in person. Why wasn't she coming? When I went to the front to serve a customer, I found her sitting on the corner table. She was distracted. Her eyes lingered on the window, seeing outside.

'She looks sad.'

When I was going to walk to her table, another waiter went to her to take orders. She asked for soju.

'What's wrong with her today? She never drinks. Why is she drinking? Is she that much sad?'

Her behavior put me in serious situation. I was worried that something bad had happened to her.

It was past 8 p.m. and she was still drinking. I couldn't stop her. She was an adult. Besides, I worked in the restaurant. If I stopped her from drinking, the owner wouldn't take this matter lightly. But I had to do something. I couldn't casually sit here and watch her getting drunk. She was not used to drinking. I went inside to ask the owner for early leave.

"May I come in, Sir?" My boss was counting some cash. He looked up at me and smiled.

"Come in."

I went inside and bowed to him.

"Taesung-ah, what's the matter?"

"Sir," I looked at him to understand his mood. He seemed to be in good mood. I hoped he wouldn't refuse. I cleared my throat and said, "I need to take early leave today. One of my friends is drinking here. She can't leave in this situation. Will you grant an early leave? Please?"

"Sure. You never ask for anything. Go, help her." He flashed a smile.

"Thank you, Sir." I bowed to him and left. He was a good person. He took care of me and gave me this job even after knowing the rumor of my killing. Although it was a rumor to them but truth to me.

When I came to get Noona, she wasn't in her seat. She left? In this situation? God knew what would happen to her. I rushed outside. I looked on street. But she was nowhere. Then suddenly I spotted a trembling shadow across the street. I crossed the street. Then I found her. She was trembling. I ran to her.

"Noona, what's wrong? Why did drink so much?" I grabbed both of her shoulder.

She looked at me. Her eyes were shining with tears. The yellow neon light on the street made her look even delicate. My heart twitched. She looked so sad.

"Nabil? You are alive?"

She cupped my face with her both hands. She looked at my face with so much emotion. Tears rolled down her face. Her big, round, dark eyes were staring at me. She traced my face with hands. Tears kept flowing. Then she again said the name, 'Nabil' and said something else that I couldn't understand. Probably it was her own language. I held her shoulders and softly shook her.

"Noona, it's me, Taesung."

She flinched. She looked at me with more sadness.

"You are not my Nabil?" She looked like she would burst into tears.

'My Nabil?' I felt pain in my heart. Her Nabil? Who was Nabil?

"Noona, it's me. I am Taesung. You don't remember me?"

Her pupils dilated. "Taesung? Oh, sorry, I thought you are my Nabil."

Her hands dropped from my face. She turned away and started walking. She was still trembling.

"Noona, where are you going? Noona?"

She kept walking. I couldn't leave her in this state. She could fall down anytime. I ran to her and held her hand. She looked at me. She was still crying. Then unexpectedly she put her left palm on her mouth as if she was trying to stop vomiting. I understood. She drank too much. I looked around and found a dustbin. I took her hand pulled her near to the dustbin. She threw up in the dustbin. I held her hair in my hands and rubbed her back slightly. She kept throwing up. God, she would be so exhausted. When she was done I pulled out my handkerchief out of my pocket and wiped her mouth. I felt her soft lips under the cloth. She looked so vulnerable.

'Oh Noona! What will I do with you?'

"Noona, are you feeling ill?"

"My head is spinning. I don't feel alright." I held her shoulders, hindering her body from falling. She was losing her balance. I had to carry her.

"Noona, you can't walk in this situation."

She looked at my chest to avoid eye contact. Tears was blinding her completely. Abruptly she leaned on my chest and placed her head right above my heart. My breath caught in my lungs and my heart was beating crazily. She glided her hands on my back and hugged me. A Thousand of emotions were flowing in my mind. My hands trembled. But I put my hands on her back and hugged her. She was sobbing.

'Oh Noona, my Noona! What happened?'

Her every sob was like a dagger to my heart. I couldn't bare her pain.

"Noona, don't cry. Please don't cry." She cried for few minutes.

"Calm down, Noona. Please. Calm down. Everything will be alright. I am here with you." My voice calmed her down. She was taking deep breaths. She snuggled more in my chest, inhaling my scent.

"Taesung?" Her voice is still trembling due to her crying.

"Hmm?"

"Take me home."