A Night of Waiting Under the Moonlight
I think I dreamed some vague dream on a night without you. A dream where I held someone's hand and walked together. Their hand was big and warm... it felt like I never wanted to let go.
"I... want to hold it again..."
The silver-haired girl woke from sleep and quietly gazed toward the front door. It felt like that familiar shadow would burst through any moment.
That familiar shadow would say "I'm home" and pull her into his broad, warm embrace. Just like always.
"Si-hyeon... when are you... coming...?"
But the empty room held only the girl's shadow, sitting alone.
"I'm... waiting nicely..."
A tiny flicker of anxiety tried to well up in the girl's chest, but it subsided just as quickly. He'd promised to come home early today, after all. They'd promised to share something very important together.
"We're going to... get engaged..."
They'd promised to exchange vows that bound their souls as one.
— "If you break a pinky promise, you get hit by a meteor and die. Haha."
They'd even added a magical constraint: break the promise, and you'd die by meteor.
"So... Si-hyeon will definitely come..."
Just the thought of getting engaged to Si-hyeon chased away all of Luna's anxiety. That's how important the promise was to her.
"I want to... practice..."
Instead of waiting endlessly at the door, the girl decided to rehearse engagement until he arrived.
"Si-hyeon told me... a little bit..."
Luna climbed down from the bed and settled by the window where moonlight spilled in. She propped up the rabbit doll across from her to watch the practice.
"Lulu... watch if I'm doing it right..."
The girl gently squeezed the doll's hand and continued slowly.
"Does engagement... start with holding hands...?"
Luna closed her eyes, recalling Si-hyeon's explanation.
— "Engagement is when you exchange meaningful items in a nice atmosphere and promise to marry each other."
She removed the hairpin he'd carefully pinned in her hair months ago, in anticipation of this day, and clutched it tightly. A cold metal, yet somehow warm.
Imagining Si-hyeon standing behind the doll, Luna parted her lips.
"It's a vow... binding our souls... promising to be together forever..."
A vow on their souls. A promise never to part again.
Joy swelled in Luna's chest once more. If just practicing filled her with this much emotion, how overwhelming would it be for real with Si-hyeon? How much—
"How much... would I crave you...?"
Suddenly, she longed for the feel of that hand from the dream. No, not just the dream—Si-hyeon's hand that never let her go, even when awake.
"Si-hyeon, I'll wait... until you come back..."
Luna hugged Lulu tight and carefully lay down on the moonlit floor. A bit cold against her skin.
"What if he... got lost...?"
Maybe he was a little excited about the engagement tonight too, and made a rare mistake.
But Luna trusted his promise to return soon.
"Even if he's a little late... he always comes back to my side..."
He'd never broken a promise before. So she could believe. Right...?
The girl lay in the moonlit spot, deciding to close her eyes just for a moment. Hoping that when she opened them, he'd be there.
"Luna, why are you alone tonight?"
A familiar voice tickled her ear. It looked just like Luna, but was a completely different being—the black moon embraced her as it spoke.
"Si-hyeon hasn't... come yet..."
The wall clock now pointed to 2 a.m. She'd closed her eyes under the moonlight and opened them, but Si-hyeon still hadn't returned.
"Si-hyeon... why isn't he here...?"
The girl's question scattered into the empty air, unheard by anyone.
"Luna, why do you think Si-hyeon isn't coming?"
Black energy slowly seeped in. It leaned on her shoulder, lightly brushing her hair. The motion was gentle, but an eerie chill lingered at its fingertips.
"Such a beautiful girl waiting at home—doesn't Si-hyeon feel sorry for us at all?"
"Si-hyeon... will definitely come..."
The girl murmured softly, as if reassuring herself. Telling herself to trust him, not to doubt.
"Yes, Luna trusts Si-hyeon, doesn't she? Ahh~ How pitiful and adorable you are."
The black moon spun in place, brushing past Luna. It pushed off the floor lightly with its toes, dancing lightly. The movements were cheerful, but each pass spread a strange aura.
"But Luna, what if he doesn't come back? What if he abandons us forever? What would... you do then?"
"If Si-hyeon... never comes back... forever...?"
She didn't want to think it. She couldn't imagine it.
'I can't think of it... it'll worry Si-hyeon again...'
The crimson-black energy might leak out without her realizing.
"Si-hyeon will come back... he promised...?"
Despite the black moon's whispers, Luna clung to her faith in Si-hyeon to the end. Everything he'd taught her—from how to wait to keeping promises—stood like firm pillars in her heart.
"That's right. Si-hyeon always keeps his promises. Right, Luna?"
"Yeah... that's why I like him even more..."
The black moon didn't rush. It slowly, ever so gently, echoed Luna's thoughts to comfort her. To avoid repeating past mistakes. This time, to bend her to its will.
'Slowly... seep in very slowly. Wait for the moment her heart starts to empty, bit by bit... that moment.'
Gauging Luna's reactions, the black moon circled behind and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Then Luna, waiting alone must be lonely. Shall I tell you a story?"
"A... story...?"
"Yes, a very fun old tale. You'd love it, Luna."
"No."
"Good thinking... Luna, what did you just say?"
Luna's golden eyes gleamed as she stared straight at the black moon.
"No. Old stories are what Si-hyeon tells me."
A side of Luna unlike her usual self. The girl rarely expressed like or dislike directly. She didn't fully grasp those concepts.
But now, for the first time, she felt dislike. She hated someone else mimicking what only Si-hyeon did.
"...Luna really likes Si-hyeon, huh."
The black moon faltered for a moment but quickly regained composure. Time was on its side. It had squeezed out its power for this very moment.
'A bit of a strain, but... tonight, I've fixed his fate so he can't return. If he doesn't come back tomorrow either, Luna will surely waver.'
Si-hyeon had indeed sensed something forcibly fixing the future. This night was the result of the black moon overexerting to separate them for one day.
'I can't miss this chance.'
Luna had shown strong rejection to the story offer, so the black moon swiftly changed topics.
"By the way, Luna, what were you practicing earlier?"
"Engagement... with Si-hyeon..."
"Engagement... Maybe Si-hyeon is late buying a gift for you. What else could make him this late? Right, Luna?"
"Is that... it...?"
"Of course. What other reason would there be to be late on such an important day, promising marriage to a cute, pretty girl like you?"
The black moon sat facing Luna and took her hand.
"Like this, holding hands with Si-hyeon and promising. To live for each other forever. In life and in death, for you—that's the promise we make with him."
"With Si-hyeon... forever..."
"Luna, even if he's late, Si-hyeon will come back before morning, right? We promised engagement on this beautiful moonlit night."
"Yeah... Si-hyeon will come..."
Still holding hands, the black moon toppled sideways with Luna, lying together. The two identical girls on the floor, gazing at each other under the moon—it was like a beautiful painting.
"Luna, no more worrying. Let's close our eyes together until Si-hyeon comes. When we wake from a nap, he'll smile brightly and wake us."
"Really...?"
"Of course. You're practically his bride already, aren't you? A groom never leaves his bride alone on their wedding night. He'll come back for sure. To this place where we're waiting, to your side he can't bear to leave."
"Si-hyeon's bride..."
The black moon's hand gently brushed Luna's eyelids. Careful, as if wishing her deep sleep.
"Sweet dreams, princess."
As Luna drifted into soft sleep, the black moon's expression twisted beside her.
"Haa... Ahh... Aaaah...! Finally... finally...!!"
How long had it waited for this moment? A perfect night alone with Luna, no interruptions.
"Beautiful... you're more beautiful than anyone, Luna..."
Silver hair absorbing the moonlight. Golden eyes that pierced all right and wrong.
"Even this small, unbloomed body drives me mad. Everything about you... I covet it all... all of it...!"
A thick, sticky greed. The black moon wanted Luna.
From the distant past. And now.
It wanted to claim her right then. But.
"Don't get excited... we're almost there."
Not yet. Too soon to take you.
When Luna realizes Si-hyeon isn't there in the morning, she'll crumble.
"Ahh...! My poor Luna. Even in dreams, you'll believe he's coming. But he won't. No, he can't. Because I made it so."
The black moon had twisted fate at the cost of its own flesh.
"When she learns he won't return, rain will fall in your heart, Luna. And that rain won't stop—it'll soak everything. Ahh, how... how pitiful it'll be...! You drenched in sorrow's rain, how... how sweet you'll look."
Back to that time. When only she and Luna remained.
"Handsome princes saving beautiful princesses in old tales... it's time to get tired of that. Don't you think, Lucifer?"
The black moon grinned sinisterly, praying for the morning of despair to come quickly.