Destiny

Chapter 33

The mist is overwhelming. In this place time doesn't exist. Neither does she.

She thinks the cloaked figure is gone. All she sees for as long her eyes lets her, it's mist. Thick, endless mist.

Nayeon gets to live and if it means to be stuck here in the void forever, she's willing to do it.

"Why?" She hears the cloaked figure's voice. It's so distant, it's like a dream.

"Because I love her." She says.

"No powers in the universe is capable of changing destiny."

The cloaked figure states.

The sliver of hope she holds on to shatters. Disintegrates. Her heart beats, pounds like a hummingbird's wings.

"What do you mean?" She cries.

An ear piercing howl shreds through the mist.

Then it's silence. It's deafening. The mist, it's suffocating.

There's nothing but silence and the mist. And the emptiness that surrounds her.

"Nothing can change destiny written for someone." Another cloaked figure appears from behind the mist.

"Who are you?" Her voice shakes. "Who was the other one?"

"That was Destiny." The figure remarks in a  voice that hints at something. "They haven't lost to me in a long while."

Mina trembles. She understands nothing, all she knows is she's failed at saving Nayeon.

"You chose to sacrifice your life to give her a chance to live." The cloaked figure goes on, "And in all the universe that exists, only one power can rewrite destiny."

The mist begins to devour her at an increased pace.

"What would that be?"

"True love."

The cloaked figure hums.

Mina closes her eyes. The hope burns anew. In the deepest of her hearts she knows, believes that Nayeon gets to live. That's enough for her.

A peace and calm washes over her.

The mist disappears slowly. She feel herself disappear and disintegrate with it.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Her eyes flies open.

The very first thing she realizes is that she's back in the hospital chair.

A glance at the digital clock on the clean bleached walls of the hospital shows the time as 7.30. The date reads 1/1/2021.

No. No. No.

She can't believe she's back here again. Back in the day she has replayed over and over in her head, like a broken tape, like an endless nightmare.

Has everything been just a dream? Has she fallen asleep in the hospital chair and her mind has somehow conjure up the strangest of events in her head? Even as she thinks that, it seems beyond the bounds of possibility because she feels the love for Nayeon bubbling and flowing through her, she hears every single one of their interaction echoing in her ears, she feels every touch still tingling in her skin.

Apparently if you're lucky enough to live in someone's heart even after you're gone, you'll be up there among the stars shining down upon them.

Nayeon's voice echoes in her mind so vividly that she can almost hear it.

Yes, because they tell me a beautiful girl sometimes comes here late at night.

She sees the smile on that face as if she's standing right in front her.

How can eyes laugh Minayah?

She remembers the eyes twinkling and smiling as she asks her that.

Mesmerizing. And I have little self control.

She remembers the gasp that escaped her lips.

The sound of heavy double door opening kidnaps her from haunting thoughts.

A man in surgical clothes appear from behind them. The feeling in the pit of her stomach grows. He removes his gloves and face mask and speaks in a low voice.

"She's stable."

Mina blinks. Stares at him. She blinks again, wondering if this is a figment of her imagination.

"She should be conscious in a few hours."

Each word he utters makes her heart bang harder against her chest. Her eyes stays glued to him, to see if he's just an illusion.

"Thank you , thank you, thank you so much." Sana jumps on the startled man, lays a kiss on top of his head. He shakes his head as if amused.

"Mina?" A hand on her shoulder shakes her gently. She looks up and holds Jihyo's eyes for what feels like an eternity.

"Am I dreaming?" She swallows down the lump in her throat, covers her mouth with her hands as tears begin to stream down her face.

Jihyo shakes her head and smiles, "No, our bunny is a fighter." She sniffles between words.

Mina returns the smile with one of her own, doesn't bother wiping at her eyes.

"She's made it." Jihyo sobs, laughs, pulls her into a tight hug.

And Mina squeezes her eyes tight to keep the remainder of her tears inside, because Nayeon is alive. Her Nayeon is safe and alive.

And in all the universe that exists, only one power can rewrite destiny.

A voice sounds in her ears.

What would that be?

True love.