The Love That Remains

Reis is sprawled on the top of the wall, sunbathing in the winter. He has not been visiting Fang Aisa sneakily recently. So far, she is living happily without him. Sometimes, he thinks about the days that they have spent. Those 8 years. He wonders if he ever had a chance. Maybe not. She has always been love with Sung Jun. She has never seen him as more than a friend. He's happy watching his person living a happy life.

"I found you." Bae Ri Na smiles at the cat. It's been two decades years since she has met him. After going through her uncle's hellish training, she has finally tracked the cat.

Reis opens his mismatched eyes and looks at the girl. Cats are famous these days. Random humans are always cooing at him because he's a handsome cat. He decides to ignore her and go back to sleep.

"It's you." She bends down on her one knee and opens the box. "Marry me. I have fallen in love with you since the day you scratched my hand and made me bleed. I love your face the most. You are exceptionally handsome. You are also kind. You healed my hand before you left. I didn't even get a scar."

Reis opens his eyes, bothered by what he has just heard. He eyes the box with indifference. There is a cat collar with studded diamonds. There are different types of humans. But, this one is a lunatic.

"I am the god of time," He tells her with a warning tone. "Human, I will let you off because you are someone who is important to her."

She presses her lips together. There is a short silence. Then, she says, "Rene Reis, isn't it time to get over my married aunt? You are acting like a creep. It's been decades. How long are you going to stay single? Marry me. I will make you happy. I am cute too."

Reis doesn't find her cute. He finds her the most annoying human at this moment. "Watch your words."

He will kill her if he stays here for one more moment. He gets up and disappears. He reappears somewhere in the tropical forest. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. He won't go back and kill that human. No, he won't. She's someone important to -

"Reis." The girl suddenly materializes behind him. "I will tell you the benefits of marrying me. Wait... where are you going?"

He vanishes again. She keeps following him everywhere around the globe.

She yells as she runs behind him. "I am cute. I know how to cook. My figure is top-notch. I have a good academic record. I am the third youngest cultivator to reach the highest rank. I am sure that I can become a minor god if I go for the test."

Reis isn't even listening to her crap. He jumps from branch to branch. For 3 years, she chases him around. Not letting him rest for a moment. One day, she drops to the ground in exhaustion. Reis watches the girl from afar. He waits for a few hours. When she makes no movement, he walks to her cautiously. He lowers his head to sense her breathing. This girl has been relentlessly pursuing him. Wherever he goes, she appears. Who taught her to track a god? Sung Jun. It must be that shaman's work.

He changes to his human form. He should take this girl and drop her at Fang Aisa's home. He can't leave her here in the wild to become someone else' food. Suddenly, She snaps her eyes open and grabs his neck. She smooches his lips. He is too shocked to react.

"Kissing you for real is better than imagining it." She glances at the collar on his neck. "I have put it on. You are mine."

She passes out again. Reis resists the urge to choke her right then. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. It takes everything in him to resist killing her.

Later, she's found by Sung Jun in front of the door of his house.

***

Bae Ri Na isn't someone who will give up especially after tasting his lips and confirming her feelings. She keeps chasing him everywhere. After a few more years, Reis is too exhausted to run from her. He decides to just ignore her existence.

At the beach, Reis has sunglasses on and lying on the warm sand on the beach. Arius, the god of death, studies the human girl who is shamelessly clicking pictures of Reis. He has seen her following his brother around. Reis ignores her and she ignores him. Arius wonders why she is still alive.

It's probably because she is related to that woman.

Then, he must have some fun. "Bae Ri Naaaa~"

Bae Ri Na gets goosebumps in her body. She glances at the god of death. Her eyes become big and round in shock. There are two Reis in front of her. Same mismatched eyes. Same abs. Same skin tone. Even the curl of the hair is the same. Still, she can recognize her Reis easily.

"Why do you keep chasing that cold fish?" Arius asks her with a warm voice. "Come to me. I am better than he is."

Reis clicks his tongue in annoyance, but he says nothing.

"How do I know if you are better than the original?" She scratches her chin thoughtfully. "I need to check."

That ticks him off. Reis stares at her. "Human, it is obvious that I am better than him. You say that you are in love with me and you don't even know if I am better than him."

"How do I know?" She looks at him innocently. "I need to check and see which goods are better."

Arius also wants to see how far she can go. "I don't have any problem. You should check and tell us which one of us is better."

Reis shrugs his shoulder dismissively. Since he didn't say anything, Arius and Bae Ri Na assume that he is also okay with the test. She goes to Reis who doesn't move away when she comes closer. She massages her fingers on his scalp. For a long time. When she doesn't stop, he glances at her aloofly.

"The original one's hair is better than the fake." She moves her hands on his body. Touching his shoulders. Chest. Back. Abs. Her eyes glow with lasciviously as she feels his body with her hands. Arius clears his throat when her hands begin to go down. Reis grasps her wrist. "Isn't it enough?"

She backs away and acts as nothing happened at all. Her face is burning red. Both men can guess what's going inside her head. "It's time to check the copy."

Arius is ready. More than ready. He stands up with excitement to feel her hands on his torso. He leans closer and whispers to her, "You can go down. I won't mind."

The smile on her face cracks. She pokes his head with her index finger. The touch lasts less than a millisecond. She takes ten steps away from Arius.

"I will announce the result now." She speaks quickly, "The original is billion times better than the copy. Bye."

She fades into the air before the men could say anything. The corners of Reis' smile curl up into a slight smile. Seeing that, Arius asks his brother, "Brother, I wonder if she is the perverted one to molest you or are you the perverted one who let her molest you?"

Reis doesn't answer him. He gazes into the sea, deep in thought.