In the falling raindrops, a melody was unfolding—
flowing softly through the air.
The night and the dark clouds had merged into one,
like lovers dissolving into each other.
The sky flashed with lightning's embrace, and amidst it all...
Sweet words, like fragrant music, were falling into my ears.
There was something in that voice—
something that pulled me away from my sorrow,
though perhaps, a trace of neem's bitterness lingered within.
In the midst of it all, I lost awareness so deeply
that even the movement of my own feet escaped me.
My foot slipped—
and I began to fall into an endless abyss.
For a moment, I felt as though, like the old woman's daughter,
my story, too, would end here—
leaving sorrow behind and passing into a realm of unknown peace.
But then...
The rhythm of someone's notes returned to me,
and from a hidden corner of my heart,
a small dream emerged—
leaving behind all worries, stepping to the front,
and it said to me—
"You must learn music. You must fulfill your dream."
Just like the hands of a clock continue to move—
spinning endlessly through the wheel of hardship
so they may fulfill their purpose, their duty—
if all the clock's hands were to pause for rest,
then time itself would halt... and the world would stop.
The very existence of those clocks would vanish.
You are one of those hands.
You too must move, rise, and shine.
I tried to grasp a branch beneath a tree nearby,
but my hand could not steady itself—
and I could only catch a few leaves.
The rain had begun to fall fiercely now,
and only the light of a lone lamp shimmered in that moment.
I felt my end was near.
Half my body was already hanging downward.
There was a tremble across my face,
and my eyes remained closed—
for I did not have the courage to look below.
The wind struck my face with force,
carrying with it the sharp sting of rain...
But in that very moment, it felt like someone had pulled me back.
Amidst the cold raindrops and the soft blowing wind, I could feel the warmth of someone's hands.
It felt as if someone had suddenly grabbed the back of my t-shirt in panic, and with their other hand, clutched my shoulder—pulling me swiftly and forcefully backward.
The weight of my own swaying body became too much to bear—like someone about to fall forward, only to be pulled back, causing both to lose balance.
Whoever had pulled me with such urgency had fallen beneath me—and I, on top of him.
My head rested on his chest, my wet hair brushed against his face, and my waist touched the firmness of his body.
I didn't fall into that endless depth ahead—but behind, I had surely fallen into someone's arms (I mean… above).
The rain kept pouring, uncaring, and the cool winds continued to blow...
I could feel the rapid pounding of his heart.
His warm breath fell softly against the tender skin of my neck.
The rain had already drenched me without mercy; my clothes were completely soaked.
I was wearing a thin fabric top, now clinging tightly to my skin.
His clothes must have been just as wet—because I could feel the warmth of his body through them.
Water dripped from his hair and splashed gently onto my face.
From the fall, I had gotten a slight ache in my foot too.
(Why do I always end up in such strange and ridiculous situations?)
Around us, the red trees swayed gently.
And then, all at once, I became aware of the position I was in.
I placed my hands on the rain-soaked ground and tried to get up.
Feeling the sting in my body, I managed to rise—but in that flustered moment, my foot accidentally landed on his...foot.
I looked in his direction — I couldn't see clearly, but one thing was certain: his face was completely blank, expressionless.
But strangely, he didn't react at all.
A sudden thought crossed my mind — "What if he's unconscious? Or… dead?"
Oh no! That couldn't be...
I quickly turned around to check, but without my glasses, everything was a blur.
I squinted, trying hard to see — still, nothing was clear.
Then, as I took a step forward—maybe in panic, just to see better—
The very next moment, I ended up falling right on top of him again...
Before I could make sense of anything, my forehead bumped into his chin — and my lips brushed against the damp skin of his neck.
I had fallen entirely on top of him.
I'm doomed, I thought.
This man saved me, but I probably knocked out whatever little breath was left in him.
But then…
I heard his heartbeat — and felt the warmth of his breathing.
So he's alive.
And then I sensed a faint movement in his face… and his hands.
So he's not unconscious either?
Then why…
Why is he not saying anything?
He took that blow without a single word — even though it does not like we are enemies .
I placed my hands on the wet ground again and tried to lift myself slightly.
Water dripped steadily from my hair — like a stream flowing down.
From my lashes, my face, my lips, my clothes — water was glistening and falling everywhere.
And when I lifted my drenched lashes just a little and looked toward the boy…
I froze.
I couldn't believe who was in front of me.
It was none other than Sean Wood.
There were water droplets gently collecting in my eyes.
I blinked a few times, trying to see more clearly —
His hair was soaked, his dusky black looking deeper, more intense.
His face was dripping with rain, and the water made his skin glow even more beautifully.
His clothes clung to his body, soaked and sticking to his skin — making him look... even more breathtaking.
I mean not for me but for others.
I looked at him—
And just then, his eyes slowly began to open… and in the very next second, they locked straight with mine.
Raindrops were still falling over us,
the wind was cool, and there was no one around—just the two of us.
The soft glow of a nearby lamp was falling on both of us.
He looked at me… and I looked back.
There was just a finger's distance between us.
As I stared into his eyes, a thought struck me—What are we even doing in this position?
I quickly tried to get up, but before I could even lift myself slightly—
He caught my left arm gently with his long fingers,
looked at me with an unreadable, intense gaze...
Then said in a , quiet voice:
"You've already put me in stretcher-level condition twice. This time, please get up carefully… I have no plans to visit the hospital."
I stared at him, surprised… but said nothing.
I got off him quickly.
And this time—I didn't fall on his hands. Or his feet.
Honestly, I should've thanked him for saving me. If he hadn't pulled me back like that… who knows…
I smiled to myself, lost in thought—
Just then, I heard a voice.
A rather dramatically fake groan:
"Ah… my head!"
I turned toward the sound—
Sean Wood was now standing.
He was a bit taller than me,
rubbing the side of his head slowly with his hand.
He looked at me.
I looked at him too.
I said hesitantly,
"Um… I'm really sorry. You got hurt because of me."
He simply asked,
"Are you okay?"
(What do you mean?
I'm a fit and fine girl!)
Yeah! I'm perfectly fine, just got a slight injury on my foot. Are you okay?"
Pushing his wet hair away from his forehead with both hands, he said,
"I'm fine... just got a little bump on my head while saving you.
Then you stepped on my foot, so that got injured too.
Then... after that, your head hit my chin, so that's hurting a little as well.
That's all. Otherwise, I'm totally fine."
I listened to his words… and looked at him.
And he… he was looking right at me.
He wasn't standing too far from me.
The rain was still falling just as hard,
and it kept pouring down on both of us…
I said,
"If you weren't unconscious, then why didn't you say something? Or get up yourself?
I thought you had passed out."
Maybe he didn't understand my words or my expressions,
because there was no emotion on his face—
but there was a certain spark in his eyes.
He replied,
"You were on top of me—so how could I get up?
I hadn't even recovered from the first hit,
and then you struck me in another spot—
the pain was so much, even my scream got swallowed."
Hearing that, I felt a little embarrassed.
But I looked at him and said,
"It was slippery because of the rain… that's why I fell.
But if you had moved yourself, you wouldn't have gotten hurt the second time."
He immediately and sharply corrected me,
"Third time!"
I didn't understand what he said.
So I asked,
"What?"
The rain had gotten heavier now.
Its sound was louder than both of our voices.
He stepped a little closer to me, and leaning in slightly, he said,
"You had already hit me twice."
His voice was so close, it felt like it went straight into my ear.
I turned toward him—
but by then, he had already stepped back a little.
I was just about to say,
"It was an accident,"
but before I could, he looked at me with a surprised expression and said,
"You… we've met here before too, haven't we?"
"The girl who feels the trees from within..."
He looked at me as if silently asking, "I'm right, aren't I?
And then he smiled to himself while glancing at me.
So… he remembered my strange little words?
How could I have said all that to someone?
At that moment, I felt like going back in time just to slap myself.
"By the way, how do you sit among trees and feel them from the inside?"
"And yeah! Lately… what were you plucking and taking away from here? …Hmm… mangoes… right?"
"You don't take them anymore… from here ?"
I looked at him.
He was clearly making fun of me—
and I definitely knew that.
But it was also true… the joke was something I myself had created.
I said to him in a sharp voice,
"First of all—'mango' slipped out of my mouth by mistake!
And second, if you want to stand here a little longer and wanted to catch a cold, go ahead.
But I'm not as strong and fool as you, so I need to leave."
The rain and wind had both picked up.
The cold had started to rise too.
A light fog had formed all around.
I was starting to feel chilly.
So, without waiting for any reply to his teasing,
I turned and began to walk away.
But after taking a few steps, I suddenly realized…
One of my shoe was missing.
And I had absolutely no idea where or when it disappeared.
I already knew where it must be.
When I was about to fall, my shoe had slipped off and gotten stuck between the thin bars of the railing.
Ugh! Now I had to go back and get it.
Through the heavy rain and the slightly cold wind, I walked toward that same corner.
In the falling rain, the city was glowing like a star.
After walking a little, I bent down—lower than my knees—to reach the railing.
Just then, I felt something…
I felt a sharp touch on my hand from behind.
Someone pulled me back so quickly that I turned around on instinct—
and once again, my eyes met Sean Wood's.
Now what does he want from me?
He helped me already, I said thank you.
That should've been the end of it.
What now?
Is he back to tease me again?
Before I could say anything—
he suddenly started saying something
"Hey, listen! Why are you trying to jump again?
Don't you care about your family?
Why are you trying to end your life?
If you're going through something, you should talk to the people close to you and try to solve it.
Trying to jump off a cliff again and again—isn't the right way!"
"I saved you once… and now you're trying to jump again?"
I was stunned by everything he said.
I mean… what was he even thinking?
Why would I jump?
I might do a lot of strange things—but suicide isn't one of them.
I looked at him.
And the more I looked into his eyes, the less I understood what was going on.
"Can you let go of my hand?" I said.
"Only if you promise you're not going to try and jump again," he said.
"Let go of me. I wasn't doing anything like that," I replied.
The rain was falling hard now, beating down with speed.
"But I've seen you jump twice with my own eyes—"
"No! Let go of me!"
"You—"
He was about to say something else, but then his eyes suddenly dropped to my feet.
He looked confused for a second, then asked with a question mark in his gaze,
"Where's your other shoe?"
Well, finally, he noticed something.
I gave a little irritated smile and nodded toward the side, pointing silently.
My sandal was just about to fall off, caught in the wind.
He looked in the direction I pointed.
Taking that moment, I slipped my hand out of his grip and caught my shoesl just before it could fall.