The choice was easy. Her heart whispered an answer.
The next moment, she found herself in a waking vision. No longer was she on a battlefield, surrounded by the dead and injured. Now she was walking on a mountain path that she recognized as the road back to the Diamond Mountains. It was a beautiful summer day and the clear water creek rushed past in full capacity. Up ahead she made out the outline of the beautiful golden bridge that led to the Nine Dragons Waterfall. She spotted someone on the path ahead of her. She would know that tall, lean form anywhere. Her heart beating fiercely, she chased after him.
Before she could call his name, Jaewon let out a cry of delight and ran for the bridge. On the other side was a young boy, jumping and waving his arms, an expression of great happiness and excitement on his young face.
“Hyun! Hyun!” the young boy shouted, calling him older brother. “You’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you for so long!”
Jaewon had reached the bridge and was now turned sideways. Kira saw his expression of disbelief turn to happiness.
“Jaeho! Is that really you? I’ve missed you so much!”
Something told her that if Jaewon reached the other side, it would be too late. Running, she shouted at the top of her voice. “Kim Jaewon! Wait! Please don’t go! Please don’t leave me!”
Jaewon stopped halfway over the bridge and turned his head, startled to see her there.
“Kira, what are you doing here?” he asked.
“You have to stop, please don’t cross that bridge,” she begged.
“No, Hyun! Don’t listen to that bad girl!” Jaeho demanded from the other side. “You must come to me! I’ve been waiting for you for so long. Please, Hyun!”
Jaewon looked torn between his two desires—one to be with his brother again and the other to be with his true love.
Kira ran as close as she could to the bridge but did not touch it. There was a shimmer in the air between her and the bridge. She was not allowed to pass. On the other side, Jaeho was also stuck, unable to reach his older brother and begging for him to cross. After a moment of indecision, Jaewon turned around to face her, concern etched on his face.
“Kang Kira, you shouldn’t be here,” he said. “Don’t you need to be by the prince’s side?”
“He is fine,” Kira said, trying to keep her tears from falling. “Because of you, he is alive and will be king.”
Jaewon’s expression softened. “That is wonderful news. I’m so happy for you both.” He shifted his body as he heard his brother’s entreaties to come to him.
“I’m so glad you came,” he said. “It is good to see you one last time.”
He turned to continue over the bridge but Kira slammed her hand on the bridge and cried out in pain.
Alarmed, Jaewon started to head back to her. “Are you all right? Please don’t touch the bridge! You cannot cross here, it isn’t safe for you.”
Kira shook her head. “I don’t want you to leave me.”
He froze, uncertain. He took several more steps toward her, ignoring the pleas of his brother.
“It’s too late,” he said. “I can’t be in your world anymore. I must move on.”
“No! I don’t believe it! I don’t believe you’re supposed to leave me!” Kira was crying. “I wouldn’t be here. I couldn’t be here. They told me I had a choice and I chose you. Now you must choose! You can choose to come back to me.”
Jaewon shook his head. “How can I? I’m already dead.”
Suddenly, a golden rope appeared and a figure floated down from the heavens. Kira was not surprised to see Lady Mina smiling at her from the other side of the bridge.
“Kim Jaewon, you do have a choice,” she said. “You can join your brother in heaven or you may return to the living world with Kang Kira. It is up to you.”
Jaeho whimpered at her side. “I want my big brother,” he cried.
Jaewon stood still, his expression torn with longing for two different people.
“He needs me,” Jaewon said. “And I owe him my life.”
With a reluctant glance back at Kira, he headed toward his brother.
“No, don’t! Jaewon! I need you more!” Kira shouted. She turned her attention to Jaeho and dropped to her knees.
“Please, Jaeho, please let him come back to me,” Kira pleaded. “I know you miss him, but I need him too. He’s my best friend. I don’t know how I can go on without him in my life bothering me and teasing me.”
At her words, Jaewon stopped and faced her with hope brightening his face.
“I thought you hated my teasing,” he said.
“I don’t hate it, I’ve never hated it. It made me feel like a normal person. You’re my friend. You’ve never made me feel like I was a monster that didn’t belong here. I might get mad at you, but it never lasts, because I love you,” she said.
Jaewon turned to fully face her, and slowly began to walk toward her end of the bridge.
“You said they gave you a choice,” he said. “What was it?”