The Padlock of Destiny
Namsan Tower

It has been a year since the shooting of Hyora, and a year since the girl was bedridden. His face was much more gaunt compared to the initial photo they took before parting to carry out the cursed mission. The doctors Kyuhyun called to check on all said that his body was fine, his vitals were working well, his brain scans showed no faults either. The girl just couldn't get up. As they surrendered, Kyuhyun no longer trusted them.

Eunhyuk came back to drag Kyuhyun away. He said that he was their brother and would risk his life to take care of him. The remark made Kyuhyun fixated, He felt that he had heard the same thing. All like de javu for his repetition over the past year.

Kyuhyun runs his car aimlessly after completing his shopping list. Unknowingly his car had already driven towards the city before stopping. His eyes looked at the area, after making sure nothing was suspicious, he put on his mask and got out of the car. The weather looks clear even though the temperature is below 15 degrees. The man chose to walk on foot following the path in front of him.

He walked past several shops to look around for interesting merchandise to buy. Her girl likes pretty trinkets like accessories and paintings. The voice of many visitors who were not inferior to the roadside merchants sounded buzzing in his head as his mind returned towards Hyora.

His footsteps stopped when he saw a merchant peddling some unique souvenirs. Ahjumma was too old to sell, especially under this cold weather.

Kyuhyun couldn't possibly ask him to stop selling here, his hands moved faster than his mind, but he took off the red scarf he was wearing and put it on the ahjumma.

“It is very cold, if not careful ahjumma can hurt.” He said he put a scarf carefully, He hoped it could help dispel the air even if only a little.

“Gwencana, I'm used to it.. What are you doing on a new year's night like this? Why not bring your lover?” The ahjumma said kindly, her lips smiling making the frown on her face even clearer.

“I'm looking for a miracle. Oh, how could ahjumma know I already have a lover?” Asked Kyuhyun, his smile did not reach his eyes upon hearing the souvenir seller's light question. Yeah why not bring it? Because the girl is still fast asleep.

“Aiyo! A good and handsome name like you can't be single.” The old woman's reply stunned him for a moment.

“Nde? Ah, I am indeed handsome.. Ahjumma is good at praising, what does ahjumma sell?”

“This is just a regular souvenir, grab one!” The old lady said excitedly.

“I couldn't have taken it for free.” Kyuhyun rejected it subtly before grabbing the wallet in his jacket pocket.

“No, no, no need to pay for it, just assume I paid for the scarf you gave me, this... Take one!” Clearly the ahjumma, his hand held out a small padlock before saying, “This is the padlock of fate, according to the story. Looking up, it was Namsan Tower which was only two kilos meters away from here. Put it on the wall and the magic you're looking for will happen!”

Kyuhyun stared doubtfully at the towering tower in the distance. He had never been there, unfortunately it was almost dark. He had to return home soon to his apartment, but the old woman's mysterious smile intrigued him.

“Go, be careful when you return!” Speak the ahjumma in a loud voice.

Kyuhyun lowered his head in gratitude before walking towards his car park. He tells Eunhyuk to have dinner first because he might be coming home late.

“...Namsan Tower.” Kyuhyun replied doubtfully. They should have closed the entrance to the tower according to the operational schedule, but the entrance was still wide open in front of him.

“Damn it! What are you doing in Namsan Tower? You didn't intend to commit suicide, did you?!” Pekik Eunhyuk, his imagination continues to play on Kyuhyun's face which is getting worse lately.

“Omong empty what are you saying?! If I want to kill myself I won't go this far.” Kyuhyun exasperatedly said before closing the call without concern for Eunhyuk's curse.

Kyuhyun stared at the top of the tower adorned with lights of various colors, his eyes sweeping the surroundings before stepping into the top of the tower.

The more it climbed to the top, the more strange Kyuhyun felt. No one in this building, not even the cleaning or security officers who are supposed to guard the tower. His feet stepped closer to the row of guardrails that had been installed hundreds or even thousands of padlocks.

With a padlock in his hand, he walked to find an empty place to put it. After finding it, he only realized that the ahjumma did not give him the key to the pair of padlocks. Luckily the arch had not been firmly fixed, he pulled it a little before installing it on the fence wall of Namsan Tower. His eyes dimmed when he saw the padlock, perhaps because of the ahjumma suggestion earlier, he felt that a miracle would really happen. Not sure what got into him, he suddenly grabbed a permanent marker pen in his jacket pocket and wrote something down before turning away. Right now, he just wants to see his lover.

As Kyuhyun suspected, there was a severe traffic jam on the main street of the city. He was busy circling around looking for the quickest route back to his apartment. The clock showed at two in the morning when he arrived.

Eunhyuk had fallen asleep in the living room wrapped in a thick blanket. Kyuhyun feels guilty, tomorrow morning he will call him hyung and make breakfast to make him happy.

Kyuhyun walked into his room and saw Hyora's figure that was still like this morning. He checked the humidifier and heating temperature before removing his thick jacket. His eyes were already sleepy, but he forced himself to enter the bathroom and clean himself. The man returned with a wet towel that had been soaked in warm water to wipe Hyora's face, legs, hands and feet. When he finished, he lay down to sleep by his side.

“Second chance” soft whispers of ahjumma carried by the night wind faintly heard in the sleepy middle of Kyuhyun, He heard it but thought that it was just his imagination.

“Hmm, good night.” His murmur kissed the girl's forehead gently and closed her eyes.

Tik Tok's.... Tik Tok's...

The needle that showed the number two slowly but surely began to walk backwards, the drips of the infusion that fell and flowed into Hyora's arms again rose one by one, the droplets of the infusion that fell and flowed into Hyora's arms back up one by one, dates on the calendar also move backwards as time changes. The flower pot that Kyuhyun had repaired a year ago began to return to its original state, the cracks on its surface disappearing on their own.

“Time spins to the past!” Ahjumma whispered in surprise.

Tbc.