Chapter 21
Whoosh-
Hanbyeol and Cha Seung-pyo appeared in a dimly lit bedroom. A man and woman lay on the bed, tightly embracing each other while holding a small picture frame. It was a family photo from when Hanbyeol was healthy. Hanbyeol's mother frowned as if plagued by nightmares, and tears welled up in her father's eyes.
Cha Seung-pyo looked at them and checked the time before speaking. "Kid, it’s better to finish this quickly. Staying too long might cause trouble for your parents."
"I want to talk to Mom and Dad... How do I do it? The uncle at the café said I could enter their dreams..."
"Go and place both hands on their foreheads."
"I tried that last time, but I couldn’t touch them."
Seeing Hanbyeol’s sullen expression, Cha Seung-pyo sighed and continued. "That uncle you mentioned gave you gifts, didn’t he? You might not feel it, but I can see them—two shining gifts."
"So... can I touch them now?"
"Go and see for yourself."
Following his instructions, Hanbyeol cautiously walked over to her parents and placed her hands on their foreheads. With a soft glow, she vanished.
Far away, in a space as dark as pitch, her parents came into view.
"Mom! Dad!"
As Hanbyeol rushed toward them, her parents turned around almost simultaneously, their faces filled with emotion at the sight of her running toward them.
"Hanbyeol!"
Her parents hugged her tightly, and she smiled brightly as she looked at their faces. With her tiny hands, she wiped away her mother’s tears and gently touched her father’s cheek.
This moment felt like it could last forever, but then Hanbyeol remembered what Cha Seung-pyo had told her: "Kid, it’s better to finish this quickly. Staying too long might cause trouble for your parents."
Hanbyeol tugged at her parents' hands. "Mom! Dad! Hurry! We don’t have much time!"
"Hanbyeol, where are you going? No, you can’t go! Don’t leave! Hanbyeol!"
"No, Mom! Come quickly!"
The dark space shifted instantly, as if someone had turned on a TV. Balloons floated everywhere under a clear blue sky with a cool breeze blowing. The theme park music tickled their ears, and people wearing mascot costumes wandered around. It was an amusement park.
They knew it was a dream. They knew Hanbyeol was no longer in this world. But wasn’t this what they had prayed for—to see her again, even if only in a dream?
The two of them felt as though Hanbyeol were alive again and wholeheartedly embraced this moment.
The merry-go-round and the dragon train, the water slides and bumper cars. Hot dogs, tornado potatoes, hamburgers, and cheese sticks. Scenes they had never imagined before were now becoming reality in their dream.
Hanbyeol was so excited that she kept running even as sweat poured down her face. She busily moved around to enjoy every ride.
"Hanbyeol, don’t run...!" Her mother tried to say that running would strain her heart but couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence. How long had it been since she last saw her daughter running like this?
The father beside her took her hand and said, "Shall we run too?"
The mother nodded instead of answering.
The family ran until they were out of breath but didn’t stop. They played as if today were their last day together and laughed as if the world were ending.
The laughter didn’t stop until the sunset painted the blue sky and the amusement park lights sparkled like stars in the night sky.
But... their time was running out.
The amusement park lights began to turn off one by one. The mascot-clad employees disappeared; the floating balloons vanished; even the twinkling stars faded away. Only the full moon in the sky shone its last light upon them.
The time for farewell was approaching.
Hanbyeol looked at her parents with flushed cheeks. Their faces were full of smiles too; they had also run so much that their faces were flushed.
Finally stopping in her tracks, Hanbyeol smiled brightly and said: "Mom, Dad. I kept my promise."
"...Huh?"
"We promised to go to the amusement park together when I got better."
"No, no, Hanbyeol. You can stay and play a little longer. Don’t go yet."
"It’s sad, but it’s time for me to go now."
As Hanbyeol spoke with a radiant smile, the joy faded from her parents’ faces.
Hanbyeol studied her mother’s expression, then suddenly raised both arms and shouted: "Rawr!"
Her mother bit her lower lip, trembling. When her father patted her mother’s shoulder, she inhaled deeply and forced a bright smile.
It was a strained smile, but to Hanbyeol, it was still precious.
Her father knelt on one knee, took Hanbyeol’s arm, and spoke softly: "Hanbyeol, should Mom and Dad follow you?"
"No, you can’t follow."
"But... What will we do when we miss you so much? Dad misses you terribly... Without you, I..."
Her father swallowed the lump in his throat and bowed his head.
Then her mother approached, stroking Hanbyeol’s hair.
"Hanbyeol."
"Yes! Mom."
"Are you... not in pain anymore?"
"Yes! I can run around without feeling any pain, and my hair has grown back like this."
Hanbyeol's mother silently stroked his head, then spoke in a trembling voice.
"Our son... our beautiful, kind son. As long as Hanbyeol isn’t in pain, that’s all that matters. That’s enough for me."
She tightly embraced Hanbyeol and closed her eyes. As tear droplets streamed down her face, his father hugged them both and said:
"We love you, Hanbyeol. Mom and Dad love you so, so... so much."
"Mm! I know. I love Mom and Dad lots too!"
Hanbyeol grinned brightly, clasping his parents' hands.
"Everything’s better now. So please don’t be too sad anymore."
"......"
"Just be a little sad, then we’ll meet again later! I hope you’ll still be my parents then."
"We’ll be your parents a hundred times, a thousand times over."
Hanbyeol stepped back with a radiant smile, waving at them.
"Heehee, I’m glad I kept my promise."
"Hanbyeol......"
"Mom, Dad – no more crying! If you cry again, I’ll roar like this – RAWR!"
"Hanbyeol......!"
His parents choked back their grief as they called his name. Hanbyeol’s form gradually dissolved into light, his smile pure as he whispered:
"Thank you for loving me. I love you both so, so much."
Whoosh—
When Hanbyeol materialized in the dim room, Cha Seung-pyo checked his watch.
"Finished saying everything, squirt?"
"Yes! I still don’t want to go... but thanks to Uncle at the café, I told Mom and Dad everything."
"Feel lighter now?"
"Heehee, yeah!"
The boy’s body emitted a soft glow. Cha Seung-pyo smiled approvingly.
"Time to return."
"Am I... going to heaven now?"
"Shouldn’t we thank the café uncle first?"
"Oh! Right! I need to thank Uncle too!"
As Hanbyeol facepalmed, Cha Seung-pyo chuckled and took his hand.
Whoosh—
In the empty room they left behind, Hanbyeol’s parents lay sleeping. Though tear tracks glistened on their faces, peaceful smiles graced their lips. Their breathing flowed calmer than before, wrapped in quiet acceptance.
Whoosh—
Jeong Jik-han nearly dropped his teacup when Cha Seung-pyo and Hanbyeol reappeared in the Café of the Departed.
"Back already?"
"Quick trip."
"Wasn’t that too brief?"
"By living standards. The kid experienced a full dream-day."
Cha Seung-pyo mussed Hanbyeol’s hair as the boy’s glow intensified. Jeong Jik-han’s smile widened at the sight.
"Told them everything, Hanbyeol?"
"Yep! Mom and Dad really love me heaps!"
"That’s wonderful."
"Heehee! When they kept crying, I went RAWR! Like this!"
"Ha! Perfect timing. Your roar dried up Uncle’s tears too."
Jeong Jik-han prepared the long-promised green tea.
"Here’s that special blend you wanted."
"Can I drink it now?"
"Whenever you’re ready."
"But... what happens after?"
When Jeong Jik-han glanced helplessly at Cha Seung-pyo, the grim reaper coughed:
"It’ll take you... to a world where every wish comes true."
Hanbyeol’s lips formed a perfect O before he gulped the tea. Light exploded from his body, coalescing into a radiant sphere.
"Uncle Jeong Jik-han!"
His fading voice echoed through the café.
"Yes, Hanbyeol?"
"Thank yooou!"
[Story of the Departed: Lee Hanbyeol concluded. 10 Gil awarded.]
[Ding!]
[Lee Hanbyeol has attained peace.]
[800 Gil awarded to Jeong Jik-han (KarMa Entertainment) for assistance.]
As golden dust settled, Jeong Jik-han whispered a prayer: May you smile forever in a painless world.
Cha Seung-pyo inhaled deeply, breaking the silence.
"Since I helped today... refill my coffee?"
"Of course. Though... will this deduct my Gil?"
"Naturally. I’m not among the living either." Cha Seung-pyo arched an eyebrow. "Regretting it?"
"Never!" Jeong Jik-han waved frantically. "Ask anytime! I’ll always brew more!"
[1 Gil transferred from Jeong Jik-han to Reaper Cha Seung-pyo.]
As Cha Seung-pyo sipped his fresh americano, his gaze drifted to the entrance. Watching Hanbyeol’s departure seemed to stir unspoken thoughts.
"Jeong Jik-han."
"Yes, Team Leader?"
"What... defines a meaningful life?"
"I’m... still figuring that out."
Cha Seung-pyo sipped slowly before reciting:
"Enter life crying alone while the world rejoices. Leave life smiling alone while the world mourns – that’s a life well-lived."
Jeong Jik-han pondered the words. A life where many grieve your passing...
"Beautiful quote."
"Right?"
"What did you feel... reading that?"
The reaper’s bitter smile deepened.
"I wonder... what kind of person I was."
Media claimed grim reapers’ memories were erased – apparently true.
Seeing Cha Seung-pyo’s expression, Jeong Jik-han offered:
"Don’t worry. You must’ve been good."
"You can’t know that."
"Had I not chosen this café, I’d be your colleague. That proves something."
A faint smile surfaced.
"True enough."
Cha Seung-pyo exhaled heavily.
"I’m glad... you’re here at this café."
The quiet between them lingered, filled with unasked questions and the steam rising from their cups.
