Junho really was at home last night. He could still witness firsthand how his family mourned.
While they were sleeping together, Junho came to them. His hand gently stroked the crown of Kris's head. His face was clean and pale, with a smile on it. Perhaps it was all a dream to Kris, which was why he could say such a thing.
“Don’t make things up!” Luna said.
“But it’s true! Weeee...”
Luna was entering her teenage years and had begun to truly understand the meaning of loss. The regret was there, but someone who had already left could never return. So she changed her way of thinking, deciding that her little brother was dreaming because he missed Junho so terribly.
Maya took a week off. The hospital had kindly given her some leeway. It was rare to be able to take such a long leave. While she was at her in-laws’ house, they tried to talk to her.
“About what, Dad?” Maya asked as she packed her husband’s books from his desk.
“About Junho’s last wish.”
Maya’s memory returned to the night of the incident at the hospital. “It seems Junho wanted someone to accompany you soon.” Maya’s hands stopped moving, and her gaze went blank as she thought in silence.
“Lay is a good young man, isn’t he?” Junho’s father asked. “It seems he loves my grandchildren very much, too,” he added.
“Dad, we haven’t even been mourning for seven full days. Junho’s body isn’t even cold yet.”
Apparently, the subject made Maya sensitive. Her father-in-law was being very careful, but discussing something this risky still couldn’t be taken lightly.
“I know. This is also my son’s dying wish.” Maya raised her head and looked at her father-in-law.
“Marry that man.”
“Dad?” Junho’s mother admonished him.
“This is what my son wanted. I saw it with my own eyes.”
Junho’s mother supported Maya. It was taboo to discuss unusual matters while they were still mourning.
Maya was reluctant to comment, so she let her in-laws judge one another. “Think about it, Maya. I’ll give you until tomorrow.”
Maya’s face instantly hardened, and her eyes filled with tears. Did everything really have to change so quickly?
Lay began his morning with coffee and a sandwich from the refrigerator that only needed to be reheated. Nothing weighed heavily on his mind, and he looked perfectly ordinary. Junho’s departure wasn’t a major problem. After all, Junho had returned to his side, even if no one else could see him.
When Lay arrived at the office, he received a call from Junho’s father, who invited him to meet at a café. Lay was polite enough to bring several gifts.
“Sir, is there something I can help you with?”
Junho’s father didn’t answer right away. His expression was calm and accepting. “This is about my son’s last wish.”
Lay had never imagined that Junho had a last wish he didn’t know about.
“Marry my daughter-in-law,” he said simply.
Lay had just taken a sip of water when he suddenly choked. “Sir, did you really mean to say that?”
“I saw it myself. That was what my son wanted to say. One more thing—do you have any business with Mr. Anton?”
Hearing the name of Junho’s lawyer, Lay glanced around. He lied and said he didn’t know him. But Junho’s father revealed that he had seen Lay meeting with Anton that night.
“We’re just acquaintances, sir. We talked a little, that’s all.”
“Whatever your reason, please fulfill my son’s last wish. I don’t care what happens afterward, but please try to understand.”
After speaking only briefly with Junho’s father, the young man named Lay took his leave. Back in the car, he grumbled again, “The father and son are both out of their minds.”
That was how strong the bond between father and son was. Lay couldn’t make this decision on his own. He needed to discuss it with Maya.
Lay took the initiative and went to see Dr. Maya. At first, he sent her a message, but when she failed to reply, Lay decided to come to her house. Maya was busy in her husband’s study. She claimed she was tidying up, but in truth, she was remembering all the time she had spent with her beloved husband.
If only the chairs, desk, books, and sofa could speak, perhaps they would keep reminding her of what those memories were and how they had been created.
“Junho, you left me so soon. I’ll never forget you, even if I get married again,” she whispered, her sobs constricting her chest.
Lay arrived at the house and was greeted by Junho’s mother. That afternoon happened to coincide perfectly with the arrival of Junho’s two children.
“How are you all?”
“We’re fine, Uncle,” they answered weakly, except for Kris.
“Come in, Uncle. Mom’s in Dad’s study.”
“Tell her I’m waiting,” he instructed, holding a bar of Belgian chocolate that made the children’s eyes light up.
“Do you understand that someone who has died can come back?”