Chapter 90 - Chingu

"Noona didn't die in the fire. Dae Won saved her,"Jun Hyeon said simply, coming out of his painful memories and looking at his watch with tear-soaked eyes. Fortunately, Ye Rim was not there personally to see his moment of weakness and self-deprecation. Because of his selfish desires and guilt, his sister had suffered for years, until she died. 

Night had fallen and the hours had passed and Dr. Kim was freezing at the coffee table outside as he talked and talked like crazy. He was hoarse. He got up and started walking back to the hotel.  People hurried past him in the street by the lake, completely ignorants of his suffering. He looked at the phone screen, still lit.

"Ye Rim? Are you still there? Or have you slept yet?"

"I was just wondering if you were okay after talking about it."

"No, I'm not. "

"Opp..."

"Sing for me, Ye Rim," he said in a demanding tone. Letting out had been liberating but also painful. After a while in silence, she began to sing. He didn't know the song, but couldn't keep walking. He stopped where he was with the phone to his ear, listening to that voice that was the only warm and kind thing on that cold Zurich night. 

Ye Rim's voice touched his soul. Jun Hyeon felt thick, hot tears cross his face, the tightness in his chest unbearable. He clamped a fist over his mouth to stifle a sob.

Here he was, standing by Lake Zurich, weeping amid strange hurried passersby, because that voice seemed to touch his chest and cause all his defenses and locks to open and collapse at once…

His misery escaped like long-caged black birds. They were greedy, they wanted freedom.

...

Away from there, Eun Ha came toe to toe beside Ye Rim, lying on the couch. She had been standing by the door in the utmost silence, trying to find a way in unnoticed, since it was clear that Ye Rim was waiting to ambush her as soon as she entered. She took the cell phone that was about to fall from Ye Rim's hand, who had fallen asleep. There was that foolish girl, sleeping uncomfortably on the couch, squinting and frowning, as if seeing something unpleasant. 

The fairy looked at the phone screen, and widened her eyes in shock:

' A 3 hour call to Zurich ?!' Eun Ha hit the 'Finish' key angrily. 'How does this damn man get this ?! ' Carefully she deposited her friend's cell phone next to the asleep girl, and went to fetch Ye Rim another blanket. ' What am I going to have to do to get this man away from her at once? Couldn't he just stay abroad forever? It's not like we need another plastic surgeon around here. What kind of person can help me? '

Although tired and sleepy, Eun Ha also needed to re-consult Ye Rim's old mobile phonebook for a crime partner.

…

Jun Hyeon's eyes were half closed as he was in of the jacuzzi of his hotel room when 'she' arrived. He heard no footsteps but felt her presence as she leaned behind him.

Somehow he knew he should not open his eyes.

Many stupid things happen when you are in a bathtub alone in a hotel far away from your home. Jun Hyeon was not innocent of not thinking about them tonight. But he could not give in. So his eyes were closed, only with the indirect lights on. And she was there. Behind him.

He knew she was as n.a.k.e.d as he, dressed only in sheer moonlight. Somehow, with his eyes closed, he knew she was emanating the soft light of the moon on her skin.

He felt the fine hairs on his neck prickle, his skin becoming sandy and sensitive with anticipation. Jun Hyeon wanted to ask if it was really her, but after all, his throat was sore, as were his eyes.

The warmth of her body approached his back, her fingers gently touching his bare shoulders.

The touch brought a pleasurable sensation. Pleasant in many ways. Jun Hyeon's face twitched, his lips traced the beginning of a smile.

'How can you ?! '

Was it a dream? Was it a good dream? He didn't want to wake up if it was. She leaned in even more, her bare b.r.e.a.s.ts touching the top of his spine and his shoulder blades. Her arms curling around his neck, her hands resting on the center of his chest.

The shadows drifted completely from his surroundings. He was bathed in her soft, pleasant glow, like a warm sunny day.

'Hnnn, why are you like this… ?! ' he m.o.a.ned in question, slightly confused, immersed in the great feeling of that hug. He even felt her hair trailing slightly, floating like sea anemones.

"Hmmmm uhmm humm mmm" softly she murmured a strange and fascinating melody in his ear.

Just fearing that his good dream and the feeling of being held by her in this way would dissipate, he didn't open his eyes. Never.

Her satin touch rose from his chest to his face, enveloping both sides, going up through his eyes like butterflies, softly burying themselves in his dark hair. Only her touch showed that his head hurt so much that the mere contact on his sensitive scalp could hurt. 

Jun Hyeon slid his hands back, touching her body kneeling behind his. Felt her thighs, so real! She was so real! She didn't flinch or fled, just kept her ailing touch.

Her voice still whispered the soothing song in his ear, making him feel good, more than good, almost sensually good.

He m.o.a.ned, because the relief she brought begged for it. He didn't want to think, didn't want to rationalize. If it was a fantasy, it had come at a good time. The fantasy of being enveloped by her starlight glow, the fantasy of feeling freed of guilt. To think he were allowed to love.

"I'm not going anywhere, chingu," he murmured, surrendered to the healing touch and her light. The light pulsed brightly, so brightly that even with closed eyes Jun Hyeon felt his eyes sting.

Suddenly everything was back to normal.

She was gone.

…

In a place far from Zurich, the nonexistent woman opened her eyes with a great feeling.