"Yoon Yoon!" Beomgyu caught up with her from behind and clung his arm with hers.

"What is it, Beom?" Yoon Min replied without looking back at him.

They decided to call each other by cute nicknames. The idea belonged to Beomgyu and Yoon Min liked it.

"I still can't believe you let your chance go in drain."

"I told you I kept it for later."

"Speaking of which, what did you wish for?" Yoon Min asked with curiosity in her eyes.

Beomgyu tried to hold back his chuckle by putting his lips in a straight line. There was this undescribable expression in his face that seemed so unique. His smile reached his ears as if he was asked the happiest question of his life.

"Not gonna tell you." he replied at the end. "At least, not now."

Yoon Min pushed him away from her, being disappointed. She is the one who told both Seokjin and Beomgyu about what she did with her wish. But neither of them told her. What is the matter with them? Unlikely, he again rested his arm around his crush's shoulder like a best friend and continued to stroll around here and there, talking, laughing.

When the sun was starting to dive into the west sky, Yoon Min's watch beeped again. Probably the last call of the day.

"I'll be off now. See you later, Beom."

"Okay, I'll wait for you!"

And like that, she touched her watch and disappeared.

The moment she opened her eyes, she wished she didn't.

A girl was just going to stand on a chair, preparing to take the rope to tie around her neck. A V.I.P Soul...

Yoon Min gasped in shock; her hands reached her mouth. She lost control of her body limbs, her eyes didn't blink, her breathing got stuck. Thousands of thoughts ran across her mind as she saw the girl crying bitterly.

Kang Mirae; an adopted daughter of two gay men. She was meant to be born in the Earth to receive hatred from the society. Abused and bullied by her classmates and neighbours, she struggled so hard to live till today. Her parents love her. But she was blinded by everyone's hate; as a result she hated those two men who raised her. Wherever the family moved, the abuse or the bullying never stopped. The mention of having parents as gays weren't something you come across everyday.

But it was alright. Mirae accepted everything. Though she held grudges against her parents, she supported them by every mean.

Until things got out of hands recently.

A boy of her class appeared to be different and became friends with her. Mirae never had friends in her whole life. Being overwhelmed by this amazing power called Friendship, she began to have hopes, dreams she never had. And these small encounters, words, touches gave butterflies inside her; eventually she ended up having feelings for the boy.

One day, the boy wanted to come over and she was more than glad. Her parents were out of the house during that time so it was quite the opportunity. Mirae only thought they would talk, watch TV, eat, play games...maybe confess too.

But her expectations turned out to be her worst nightmare.

The boy brought his male friends and together, they took away her innocence, her virtue cruelly against her wish. She was bruised and marked everywhere on her body, even the boy took a sharp knife and cut her skin mercilessly; imprinting a word that hurt her all her life. Gay's Baby.

It seemed like it happened recently since her marks, bruises were still clear. Yoon Min was staring at her arm where the cut was done. How can a human act like an animal?

Mirae never thought her life will be betrayed like this. She lost her pride as a woman and she lost her respect. Who would want to live after this?

"No! Kang Mirae, Stop!" Yoon Min raised her voice.

She was gripping the rope tightly; still crying and unable to come to a decision. She looked so weak and pale and so broken. As if, she was a doll and the creator hit her many times without any reason.

"Kang Mirae, step down. You do not deserve to die. You did nothing wrong. Killing yourself won't give you the peace you are seeking. Do not do this."

Her feet was shivering. Yoon Min noticed how badly she was wrecked. It seemed the boys didn't show a single amount of mercy.

Yoon Min being careful with her words proceeded, "There are still things you can do. Things you can do to get everything back. The boy will not regret or feel guilt after your death, if that's what you're thinking. This is not the right choice. You are ending your young life permanently because of false misconceptions. Step down from the chair now."

Her voice was echoing inside Mirae's mind over and over.

"Just...think about yourself. Do you deserve this? You are the victim here! It is him who should die in your hands. Why do you have to be the one to bear the pain, the fault? Kang Mirae, whatever you are thinking to do, you are very wrong in it. Please..."

"Do not take your own life. It is not the thing you must do now."

Mirae opened her wet eyes. Shaking her head and still continuing her final desicion, she took the rope and tied it around her neck.

"No, Stop! Don't do this!"

Yoon Min never had to say this much. This proved it was indeed a V.I.P soul. If she managed to save this one, she will be a Senior Guardian. She will earn a Love Badge.

"Mirae-ah, life is already too short for anyone to live as much as they wish. You cannot kill yourself like this!You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it. If you hate your life, then change your way of living. Live like you want to. Who's stopping you?"

Her words were working on Mirae's but she was going back and forth with her choice. The tears never stopped rolling down her cheeks neither did her helpless cries.

"Killing your soul won't end the chances of your life getting much worse. Rather, it will eliminate the possibility of your life ever getting better. I know you want to wake up from this nightmare but for that, you need to have the determination to make everything better. Kang Mirae, please do not let your fragile mind be distracted by misconceptions. You are going to have a better life. Trust yourself for once in your life!"

Yoon Min didn't realize when her own eyes were flooding in tears. She wanted to hug the human in front of her and let her cry with her. How much sorrows this girl had to face? Millions of problems occur in our life daily. We feel frustrated, confused about them. At one point, we even think why it had to be us. But the thought of suicide doesn't come in our minds at all. So, when a person is trying to commit suicide, you have to understand she had gone through a lot to come to this point of her dreadful life.

If she could, she would reach out her hand to embrace Mirae. But guardians cannot touch any humans unfortunately. They could only help them through words.

Mirae didn't do anything. Neither did she pull the rope out or push the chair down. It was as if she was in the middle of her thoughts. Half of her mind told her to do it while the rest said not to. Which part she should listen? There might be a chance to be happy if she lives.

"Do Not Do This, Kang Mirae..." Yoon Min warned her carefully with every word.

The next thing Mirae did was to cry harder in the loudest way and pushed the chair down, letting her whole body hanging in the air.

"NO! NO NO NO! KANG MIRAE! NO" Yoon Min cried out in a piercing tone and dropped to her knees slowly. Her voice got stuck in her throat. Every feeling inside her died in that moment. Waves of tears took away her determination slowly. Her lips trembled in fear and shock as she couldn't blink or move at all.

She watched as the innocent girl in front of her slowly departed the world with injustice and unbearable pain; leaving a trace of her behind to show the others she took her own life because nobody cared.

There raised roaring currents inside Yoon Min's body. A different feeling. A feeling that was neither warm or cold. It was suffocating her. She felt each part, each organ of her body breaking her down without pity. Everything was disowning her.

She failed to save a human.

"No, no, what did I do..oh no...what did I just do...I-I--"

With a strangled, piercing cry, her emotions finally overflowed as she lost her mind, her strength right there. Why? How? She was so sure. She was so sure she would not fail one single human. How could she do this? Her chest filled with heavy guilts and sadness. She was unable to see since tears were blocking her sight. There was nothing inside her. Nothing but painful regrets. How could she fail so easily?

"No, no....this can't be happening... Please no....please give me one more chance to save her. I can do this...please just one more...How could...I-I?" she was begging to no one specifically. She never ever felt like this before. The burden of a person who died because of hee.

Tears of regret kept falling, reminding her every second of her sin. Her unforgivable sin. She couldn't save a human as a guardian.

Yoon Min didn't realize when her fingers found her watch and unknowingly, she pressed it. She was so mad, so hurt. She was so ashamed of herself.

Slowly, she felt herself disappearing from the Earth and returning to her home.

"Song Yoon Min, what happened?"

Opening her teary eyes, she saw Beomgyu staring at her, confused and concerned. Seeing him made her burst into sobbing more. With another muffled cry, she fell to the ground and hid her face inside her palms, continuing her cries.

"Yah, why are you crying? What happened? Yoon Min, what is it? What hurt you?" Beomgyu kneeled down and held her close. He tried looking at her to understand her but she was just crying miserably.

"Tell me, what is it? What happened?"

Yoon Min shook her head and then finally confessed, "B-Beomgyu-ah, what should I do? I couldn't save her... "

-------------

The whole universe eventually found out what happened. It happened usually. When a guardian failed to save a human, Love Universe filled with deadly silence and sadness. Though it was one guardian who failed but all guardians somehow feel her pain. And every element of the universe absorbed their beauty hidden to show sympathy.

Princess Aereum was notified as well. However, she never scolded or said anything to the guardians regarding this matter. Rather, she sent a message to them to try harder next time. She knew it wasn't their fault.

This night looked so different to Yoon Min. She never saw the universe like this before. Gray clouds, indigo sky, trees dry like in winter, cold air...Was it because of her? Yes, it was. The universe was sad because she couldn't save a human. She disappointed everyone.

"It's alright, Yoon. See, even Princess Aereum said it was not your fault. No one blames you. You saved so many humans, right? It's okay to fail once." Beomgyu was the one who stayed with her every minute since then. Never did he left her side or stopped consoling her. As if he knew...how she felt.

Both of them were sitting under the same tree they met months ago and watching the new sky the universe provided. To be honest, it looked gloomy and scary.

It's been 5 minutes since she finally stopped crying. Her wailings were echoing everywhere. It's a good thing she stopped. At least, for Beomgyu's ears.

Myeong Jo was watching them from far, crossing her arms above her chest. She and the others went to empathize and cheer her up. Yoon Min told all of them to leave her alone so that she could stand up on her own. But Beomgyu refused as obvious so he stuck with her against her wish. The others went back to their chambers after being pushed off so many times. But she decided to be with her from a distance for a little longer.

That's when, she heard someone talking beside her,

"What's wrong with the Universe? Who failed to save a human?"

Turning back, it was Seok Jin.

Myeong Jo raised her eyebrows, "Where have you been all day, Seonbae?"

"I was out saving humans. Now tell me, who is the Guardian?" he looked totally unaware of anything. Well, it was clear since if he knew it was Yoon Min then...

She sighed deeply and then replied, "It was Yoon Min. She failed to save a V.I.P soul."

Seokjin was blank for a few minutes. He was just staring her creepily. Was he that surprised? His eyes grew wider second by second. And his skin turned a bit more white.

"S-song Yoon Min?" he asked again to be sure.

Myeong Jo nodded and then looked at the tree. Seokjin followed her gaze and saw Yoon Min and Beomgyu sitting under it. She definitely didn't look happy.

"What happened?" he asked; still not fully believing it was Yoon Min; the guardian who was so passionate, energetic and strong at saving humans, actually failed too.

"She said it was a girl who was an adopted daughter of two gay men and she was raped by someone she really trusted."

Seokjin furrowed his eyebrows, "My God, that is such a hard case! How do you expect a girl like Yoon Min to handle it?"

"I know. Cases like this usually are handled by the Senior Guardians or the experienced ones. She coincidentally received this task. Of course, she will fail. She hasn't learned how to save humans from LGBTQ yet." Myeong Jo was highly on her friend's side.

Seokjin became sad, seeing his junior failing. He licked his lips and mumbled, "I need to talk to her. She must be so hurt."

"Don't bother. We tried a lot but she is still crying. Ella tried 100 tricks to cheer her up but failed. Beomgyu is staying with her so let him be."

He looked at her, "Why Choi Beomgyu out of all people?"

"Hey, this is not the time for your jealousy, Senior Guardian. Think how to make her happy again."

Seokjin scoffed at her comment, "Yah, Guardian Myeong Jo, who said I was jealous? Stop getting ahead of yourself."

"Beomgyu, can you please go now? I need some time alone."

He pretended he didn't hear her.

"Please Just Go." Yoon Min shouted slightly.

"I told you I won't leave. And that's final!" he fought back.

She sighed and rested her head on her knees again. She's been in this curling position since ever. It let her feel she was safe and sound.

Beomgyu said, "How much more are you gonna cry? Your eyes are gonna fall off."

She didn't laugh.

"What did the calculator say to the other calculator?" he paused in case she is curious. "You can always count on me!"

She still didn't show any response.

"Song Yoon Min...it's really not your fault. You tried, right? That's more important."

She raised her head and directly looked at Beomgyu. Her eyes were red and pouffy. Her cheeks were showing dried paths of tears which caused light black marks on her face. Boy, she was mad.

"You know, everyone is saying it is not my fault. Then whose fault it is that she died? What is the reason if not me?"

Deep down, she was right in some points. And he understood it too. Beomgyu put his lips in a straight line and avoided her innocent stare.

Yoon Min sighed again, this time her fingers went through her hair.

"Beomgyu, I'll be fine. Please go to sleep. You shouldn't be here. Please leave."

He changed his gaze towards her. Of course, he didn't want to leave. But he felt something different. That his presence was irritating her. Maybe he wasn't good at consoling others.

"Are you sure, Yoon Min? I want to stay but--"

She didn't let him continue as she hid her face once again. Maybe sometimes it's better to be alone; to understand yourself and to talk to your inner mind by yourself.

He sighed this time and slowly got up. Taking his jacket, he gave a pat on her shoulder lastly and left the area slowly.

Yoon Min sensed someone sitting beside her again. Sighing, she raised her head and was about to yell, "Choi Beo--" but got interrupted when she saw it was completely another man.

"J-jin Seonbae..."

He grinned at her as if nothing happened. "You look pretty when you cry."

Yoon Min immediately blushed even though the situation she was in. But no matter how hard she tried, her smile never appeared again. She just avoided his eyes and hung her head low.

"I heard about you." he softly said, not wanting to discomfort her.

She bit her lips and became embarrassed of herself. Seokjin must've never thought she would fail to save humans. After all, she was his student and he taught her. Wasn’t her fail bound to make him sad as well?

“I-I'm sorry...” she softly let out along with a tear.

Unexpectedly, Seokjin didn’t say anything. The others usually said that it wasn’t her fault. But why was he silent? Was he really disappointed in her? Mad, upset at her? Oh no...

But she found her judgement wrong when she heard him saying,

“There's this place I go whenever I feel lonely or I feel down. Do you want to go there with me?”

Yoon Min glanced at him innocently.

“You won't regret it.” he smiled again.

To be honest, Yoon Min didn’t want to be with people. She was ashamed to face everyone. She did a crime, a sin. Because of her, a human died. The world lost another child. Just because of her. If she only tried more...

She didn’t answer him as she was thinking about all this.

Seokjin noticing her delay understood she wasn’t feeling good. But he just couldn't see her down like this.

“Come on, I'll take you there.” he held her arm and dragged her up with slight force. She gasped at the sudden touch and eventually began following him.

“S-seonbae--” she hesitated while they were walking.

Seokjin ignored her and said to calm her, “Trust me like you always did.”

Yoon Min smiled for the first time today after the incident. Holding his hand more tightly, she decided to let her absorbed feelings out. She couldn’t stay depressed forever, right? She let him take her wherever he wanted to. As long as he was with her.

“At least, tell me where we are going.”

Seokjin chuckled, sensing her curiosity. He was more excited how she would react when they will arrive there. So giving her a tiny bit of spoiler might calm her down beforehand.

“To the Moon.”

----------------

I just want to say I wholeheartedly respect LGBTQ community. Please do not be offended as it was only for the book's purpose.

Dynamite has passed 1B finally! Congratulations ARMYs!