#129 (Final)
To determine the title for Yoo-hyun’s unreleased song, Yoo Seong-woo listened to it over and over again. Still, nothing particularly came to mind.
‘Am I just not talented at coming up with titles…?’
Yoo Seong-woo was suddenly surprised by his own thought. Of course he should have this ability. The ability to compose naturally includes the ability to title songs.
Yet why was it so difficult?
In truth, he knew the answer. Because he hadn’t composed it himself. Because this was Yoo-hyun’s song, that’s why giving it a title was so challenging.
Shaking his head, he played the music again.
On a night when stars pour down, if I place a bucket beneath the window, could I catch my share of light?
Might a lost ray of light pierce down toward me?
Hoping for such a coincidence
I’ve been waiting for you since sunset
Let’s wash ourselves under this sparkling downpour
So we won’t be sad in the next life, or the life after that
In any case, Yoo-hyun’s song remained beautiful no matter how many times he listened to it. Perhaps because of the lyrics, he imagined the dark night sky with stars dotted across it forming a musical score.
It’s said that ancient nomads created songs by observing the positions of stars. Some musicians assigned musical scales to stars.
The relationship between mathematics, stellar orbits, and harmonics had been one of humanity’s interests since ancient times. Perhaps Yoo-hyun had also been interested in astronomy.
Yoo Seong-woo closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, listening to a voice identical to his own, yet different.
***
One day in September, as the seasons began to change. On a day when Byeolbyeol Animal Hospital was closed, at a time when they would normally be leisurely preparing dinner, the two were very busy.
After rechecking the telescope, lunch boxes, mats, and other supplies loaded in the car, Yoo Seong-woo got into the passenger seat.
Waiting in the driver’s seat, Yeon Tae-soo fastened Yoo Seong-woo’s seatbelt, causing him to naturally lean toward his touch. Though the seatbelt could fasten automatically, he preferred the direct touch of his hand.
The car moved smoothly as if gliding, and the radio turned on automatically.
– Tonight, we’ll have a meteor shower for the first time in a very long time. In English, it’s called a ‘meteor shower’! Experts predict there will be a spectacular display of stars visible to the naked eye for the first time in nearly 120 years.
The reporter spoke in a bright voice. This was precisely why Yeon Tae-soo and Yoo Seong-woo had prepared thoroughly and gotten into the car.
Today was a day when a rain of stars would fall after a very long time.
“Did you know that even the universe has a lifespan?”
Yoo Seong-woo asked. The car headed toward a mountain suitable for stargazing. The ridgeline, where the sun was just beginning to set, blazed red.
“Really?”
“Yes. Although it’s been a controversial hypothesis since the Fourth Era, the idea that the universe has a lifespan has consistently emerged among scientists.”
Surprisingly, even that infinite place had a lifespan. Yoo Seong-woo continued with a slightly trembling voice.
“When you think that even the sky, which seems so vast and absolute, is finite… it often brings a simultaneous feeling of distant sadness and reassurance.”
The car began climbing the mountainside. A crowd of people, presumably coming to see the meteor shower, passed by the car and climbed the hiking trail.
Yeon Tae-soo turned the car toward the parking lot connected to the trail.
“I feel reassured too. Hearing that story.”
“…You do?”
Arriving at the parking lot, Yeon Tae-soo stopped the car. Coming around to the passenger side and opening the door, he extended his hand to Yoo Seong-woo.
“Stars are nothing. They’re just balls of fire endlessly repeating nuclear fusion.”
Yoo Seong-woo took his hand with slightly widened eyes. Not the prosthetic, but warm, soft skin enveloped his entire hand. As soon as they came outside, the grip on his hand tightened, and his upper body was suddenly pulled forward. He was embraced fully in Yeon Tae-soo’s arms.
“To me, you’re more wondrous and amazing.”
After casually uttering those embarrassing words, Yeon Tae-soo pretended to be nonchalant as he released Yoo Seong-woo and opened the trunk, but the tips of his ears had turned slightly red. Yoo Seong-woo secretly swallowed a laugh and approached his side.
The crowd they encountered on the way up the mountain did indeed seem to be those who had come to see the meteor shower tonight. Despite arriving early, the best spots for stargazing were already packed with people.
Having finally secured a spot, Yeon Tae-soo seemed even more excited than Yoo Seong-woo. His polishing of the telescope contrasted with his earlier statement that “stars are nothing.” He must be looking forward to it after all.
In truth, Yoo Seong-woo was also very excited. It would be strange not to be thrilled about seeing a shower of stars he was named after.
With a pounding heart, he took a bite of the sandwich Yeon Tae-soo had taken out of the lunch box. Moist ham and cheese filled his mouth along with buttery bread. Yeon Tae-soo’s cooking skills had been improving lately.
“By the way, I heard the release date for Yoo-hyun’s unreleased song has been set.”
Yeon Tae-soo asked. The unreleased song they had accidentally found when visiting Yoo-hyun’s room with Yeseon was going to be shared on a website where people gathered to commemorate Yoo-hyun.
“Yes. It’s not far off now.”
“Have you decided on a title?”
“I have.”
Seeing Yeon Tae-soo’s curious expression, Yoo Seong-woo smiled gently and offered him the remaining half of his sandwich. Yeon Tae-soo quickly took it with his mouth.
“Sentimental Shower.”
His brother who once asked if he dreamed of water.
Now gone, he hoped he could freely float in the vast, cozy night sky instead of dreaming of water.
For him, created as a non-human being yet burdened with depression and pain, he wished that only good memories would remain, and the rest would be washed away like a downpour.
But for himself, still alive, there was no reason to wash away depression and sadness.
He would continue to cry when sad, hurt when in pain. Just like a human.
“Nice title.”
Yeon Tae-soo said after swallowing the remaining sandwich in one gulp.
Lying diagonally on the picnic mat, he no longer wore a black formal suit. Dressed in a soft blue t-shirt with a sporty vintage watch on one wrist, he looked more comfortable than before.
Yoo Seong-woo knew that smile directed at him now had no fabrication. And he knew it was a smile shown only to him.
Looking at Yoo Seong-woo while lying down, Yeon Tae-soo suddenly wore a surprised expression and sat up abruptly.
“Seong-woo…! Over there!”
People around them simultaneously let out exclamations. Looking up, a mass of light was streaking across the sky with a long tail.
“Ah…”
An exclamation burst out involuntarily.
Before the afterimage of the shooting star could fade from his eyes, another one crossed the night sky.
“A wish, let’s quickly make a wish.”
Forgetting the telescope he had brought, Yeon Tae-soo said. With his chin resting on Yoo Seong-woo’s shoulder, looking at the same sky, he emitted a familiar scent.
Instead of turning to look at Yeon Tae-soo, he firmly grasped the hand wrapped around his waist.
Not long after, watching another falling star, Yoo Seong-woo suddenly realized. The golden light that had often shimmered like a mirage around Yeon Tae-soo resembled the light emitted by stars.
He had once believed that his soul, if it existed, had already been devastated. He believed his broken soul would scatter when he was discarded. Just as nothing remains in the universe after a star explodes. As if only darkness remembers its existence.
But now he wanted to believe. Perhaps there might be something that doesn’t disappear even after this body is discarded.
Just as fragments of exploded stars form humans, perhaps parts of him could remain somewhere too.
And perhaps some part of him already remained with Yeon Tae-soo.
After all, Yeon Tae-soo was so deeply embedded in him.
Even without making eye contact, he could feel Yeon Tae-soo with his entire body. The vast darkness spread before them felt cozy.
Another light raced toward Earth.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
