The Love That Remains

The waiting room for the Greed domain has checkered paint on four walls. The ceiling and the floor are pained blood red. Unlike the other rooms, this room is decorated with a giant chandelier, a luxurious green couch, and a table made of gold. On the table, I see cups made of gold and a wine bottle.

Okay. Someone is rich.

"We need more people." The teen girl with curly blonde hair and blue eyes sigh. "I am tired of waiting."

"Woof!" The humanoid dog wearing a printed shirt and blue trousers respond. I don't speak or understand the dog language. I look at Min Ho for answers.

"His master taught him cultivation around five hundred years ago. He can't speak human yet. It will take another five hundred years." He frowns at the dog. "His master sent him here to test the hell route to immortality. If he passes through the hell successfully, his master will also take this route."

When I think that life cannot surprise me anymore, it throws a cultivating dog.

"Your master is a selfish %$@#." He glares at me when I say those words. I give him a shrug and look at Min Ho. "Let's go now."

"Where are you going?" The blonde girl asks.

"To the next domain." I go to the checkered wall and whisper the spell. "[Reveal]"

A black door emerges.

"Whoa!" The blonde girl exclaims in surprise. "How did you do that?"

"Woof!!!" The humanoid dog walks to my side. "Woof!!! Woof...Wooooof."

I look at Min Ho.

"He is saying that he is grateful to you." Min Ho shakes his head. "He has been waiting here for a hundred years. He misses his master. He hopes to see him again as soon as possible. Also, his girlfriend and pups are waiting for him on earth"

"..." I don't have any word to say. I turn the knob and open the door to a red glowing room. I can't see anything from here. I turn to the humanoid dog and the blonde girl. "Go inside. It is better if you hold hands."

The blonde girl looks uncomfortable by the idea. She shakes her head and runs into the room. Well, I warned her. The humanoid dog gives me a look with tears in his eyes.

"Woof~" He disappears into the red light.

"He thanked you," Min Ho tells me.

"Mhm." I take Min Ho's hand. "Let's go."

"Yes, Noona." We are about to walk into the room when I hear Sung Jun calling my name. I stop and turn around to look, but there is no one behind me.

"What's wrong, Noona?"

"I heard something." I am sure that it was his voice. I will never mistake his voice. I look everywhere. There is no one other than me and Min Ho.

"Noona?"

***

When Sung Jun walks into the checkered room, he sees one other person. It is not Fang Aisa.

"Oh, hello." The old man in a tuxedo greets him. He is holding a classic gun. His beard is reaching his belly. He is wearing a red bow. "Finally, someone is here. My name is Richard Johnson. I am from Dublin. My rank is a knight. Can you tell me what year it is in the human world?"

Sung Jun barely gives him a glance and looks around. This room is different from Limbo domain. Rather than one, it is multiple dimensions existing at the same time. He can sense Fang Aisa here. She is close to him. He taps into his heaven's energy and tries to find her using the marriage bond.

'Where are you, Aisa?'

He feels her. Right there. In front of her. She is talking to someone. He can't hear her words. She is about to walk into the red light.

"Aisa..." He reaches for her. His hand passes through her arm. She turns around and looks at him for a moment.

"Fang Aisa..." Tears run down his cheek. How long has it been? It feels like decades. He realizes that he is finally alive after seeing her. He longs to hold her in his arms and hear her voice again. "Forgive me."

She looks away from him. She seems to be searching for something. Her eyes linger around.

"Where are you looking? I am here." He tries to caress her cheek. But, he can't touch her. They are not in the same space. So close, yet so far.

"I guess, I am missing him a lot." Fang Aisa is looking at someone whom he can't see. "Min Ho, do you know the meaning of Saudade?"

After a pause, she says in a sad voice, "A feeling of longing for someone...missing someone. I used to feel like that in my past life. I am feeling like that right now."

Another pause. "You are right. If I will get out of this place, I will see him again."

Sung Jun smiles when he listens to her.

She scowls. "Why are you still going on about that? It was a moment of temptation... No, I don't love dumplings more than him. I am sure as hell...What? Okay, maybe I will... I told you... No... Kid, your mouth is big. I won't give up my husband for food. I hope that you find someone who loves food more than you... Yeah, right. No. I am greedy for his love. I am sure that the greed domain doesn't have Sung Jun. He is one of his kind. Now, move."

Sung Jun watches her disappear into the red light. He can't stop his tears when he watches her disappear again.