The night air was chilled, the Ambangeg Trail winding its way upward, silent except for the sound of my labored breaths. Four months earlier, news of Halley's Comet had captured my attention, igniting a spark of hope within me. They said it would grant wishes to those who dared to believe.

Fast forward to that cold night on Mount Pulag, where tourists and hikers buzzed with anticipation. I stood among them, the poem dedicated to the comet etched in my mind, ready to cast my wish upon the stars.

I took out the piece of paper where I had written the poem. I looked up at the comet as it continued to sail across the sea of darkness. I stood up and closed my eyes. I started to recite the poem.

"Star light, star bright..." The chatter of the people around me seems to fade into silence.

"...First star I see tonight..." The wind stopped as if Mother Nature held her breath as I continued to recite the remaining lines.

"...I wish I may, I wish I might..." I took a deep breath and recited the final line.

"...Have this wish I wish tonight," I said with finality.

I opened my eyes and looked up at the comet that still burns endlessly.

"I wish for a companion in life. Someone who cares by my side, who gives me chances when I fail and feel hopeless. Someone who always gives me love."

I continuously looked at the comet for any signs, but it just blazed eternally just like the stars. I looked down, looking defeated. I sat back down and just waited for the sunrise to arrive.

Disheartened, I returned home, the memory of the comet still burning bright in the recesses of my mind. Days passed, and life went on, until one fateful evening when a mysterious figure appeared in my living room.

I blinked and shook my head, half expecting the figure to vanish into thin air, but the figure remained. Overwhelmed with emotions, my heart raced, and a sudden wave of dizziness overcame me, I suddenly passed out. I caught a glimpse of the handsome man before blacking out.

The next morning, I awoke to the enticing aroma of bacon, waffles, and eggs. Someone was cooking, which was an unusual occurrence. Curiosity drove me to investigate.

Peeking from my doorway, I spotted a familiar figure in the kitchen. His distinctive hair triggered a sense of recognition. Stealthily, I seized my umbrella and charged at him, letting out a startled cry.

Startled, he raised his hands in surrender. "Who are you?" I demanded.

"Okay, I'll tell you," he replied calmly. "But put that thing away first."

Reluctantly, I lowered the umbrella as he invited me to sit and eat. Over fried rice, he sensed my questions. "I know you're curious," he said. "Ask away."

I asked, "Who are you?"

He smiled warmly. "I'm Halley."

His name stirred a faint memory. "Halley? Like the comet?"

He chuckled. "Indeed."

The realization hit me. Halley, the renowned comet, shared breakfast in my condo. "Why are you here?" I asked in awe.

"You wished upon me, Aster," he explained mysteriously. "And sometimes, wishes come true unexpectedly."

Perplexed, I asked how. He simply smiled, mentioning the mysteries of the universe.

Later, in the living room, I pressed further. "Can you grant wishes? Is there someone for me?"

Halley's smile grew. "Yes, Aster. Someone is meant for you."

Overwhelmed, I asked for the plan. "Come with me," he said, taking my hand as we left.

I let him drag me to a café across my condo. He let me find a seat as he ordered our coffees. I sat near the window and waited for Halley. A few minutes later, he came to our table with two coffees and two pastries. He handed me a hot cup of Spanish latte and a plate of Choco mousse cake, both were my favorites. At this point I wasn't surprised, seeing the fact that he was a comet. Meanwhile, he had a cold matcha latte and a blueberry cheesecake.

"What are we doing here?" I asked as he sipped his latte.

"We're here to see the person destined for you."

"How do you know he's going to be here?" I asked, which was stupid considering he knows all.

He gave me a knowing smile and proceeded to eat the cheesecake. A few moments later Halley tapped my hand to get my attention.

"Hmm?"

"Look behind you and look at the man wearing a green bonnet."

I slowly turned around and looked for the man he was talking about. There, at the counter, was a man wearing a green bonnet. He looked like a typical South Korean man, because of his elongated and narrow eyes. He wore a red checkered jacket over a sunflower yellow plain t-shirt. He paired it with black camo pants and black rubber shoes.

As I sized him up, I felt something tug at my belly, as if there was something I needed to remember. Somehow I knew that person, but I couldn't place who. Like a light bulb, something flashed on my mind.

I looked back at Halley and gave him a questioning look. His smile faded as he processed what was happening.

"What? I told you, he's the one destined for you."

I looked back at my alleged soulmate, who was now walking towards the table near us. I immediately looked away and pretended to eat my cake. I would steal glances at him from time to time. Meanwhile, Halley was trying hard not to laugh. After a while, the man stood up and went to the bathroom. I took this chance to confer with Halley.

"So what's the plan?"

Halley ate the remaining cheesecake before he spoke. "You must make him fall in love with you."

I gave him a puzzling look. "How do I do that?"

He gave me a wide smile, wide enough to see the pieces of blueberries stuck between his teeth.

"Don't worry! I'll guide you through this." He then gave me a reassuring smile.

Halley leaned in, his voice hushed with excitement. "First, we need to find out more about him. Where he frequents, what he likes, and how we can naturally intersect your paths."

I nodded, intrigued by his suggestion. "But how do we do that without being too obvious?"

Halley tapped his chin thoughtfully. "We observe. We pay attention to his habits, his preferences, and the places he visits. And then, we create opportunities for you to meet him organically."

It sounded simple enough, but the idea of orchestrating chance encounters with someone I barely knew felt daunting. Yet, with Halley's guidance, I felt a flicker of hope stirring within me.

"Alright," I said, mustering determination. "Let's do this."

Over the following days, Halley and I embarked on our mission to unravel the mystery of my soulmate's identity. We staked out cafes, parks, and local hangouts, discreetly observing his comings and goings, noting his favorite foods, his preferred activities, and the company he kept. With each passing day, we gleaned valuable insights into his world, piecing together fragments of his life like a cosmic puzzle.

Days turned into weeks, and our efforts bore fruit as we discovered more about him. His name was Minho, a young architect with a passion for art and literature.

Armed with this knowledge, Halley and I devised a plan to subtly insert myself into his world. We frequented the café at strategic times, hoping to cross paths with him naturally.

One afternoon, as I approached the counter to order my usual latte, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins as Minho stood beside me, his eyes alight with curiosity.

"Excuse me," he said, his voice gentle yet filled with warmth. "I couldn't help but notice you're a regular here. Do you have any recommendations for a good read?"

I smiled, my heart racing as I seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation. "I just finished reading 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen. It's a classic, but timeless in its portrayal of love and society."

To my delight, Minho's eyes lit up with interest as he eagerly accepted my recommendation. As we exchanged book titles and literary insights, I felt a connection blossoming between us, like two stars dancing in the night sky.

But amidst the blossoming romance, doubts lingered in the depths of my mind. Was this truly meant to be, or were we merely pawns in the cosmic dance of fate?

One evening, as I perched upon the balcony of my apartment, the city below twinkling like a sea of stars, Halley approached me with a thoughtful expression.

"Aster," he began, his voice tinged with a hint of solemnity, "there's something I must confess."

I turned to him, curiosity piqued by the gravity of his tone. He hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed upon the horizon as if searching for the right words. "Since the moment I first beheld your radiant spirit, I knew that you were destined to play a special role in my journey."

I listened intently, captivated by the sincerity in his voice.

"My feelings for you go beyond what I ever expected. It's like we have a connection that defies time and space. You mean a lot to me."

His words washed over me like a gentle tide, stirring echoes of longing and possibility within my heart. "Halley," I whispered, overcome by the depth of emotion in his confession, "I never imagined that our journey would lead us to this moment."

He reached out, his hand enveloping mine in a tender embrace. "Nor I, Aster. But as we stand on the precipice of the unknown, I find solace in the knowledge that our love is a guiding light, illuminating the path ahead with its radiant glow."

I leaned into his touch, the warmth of his presence enveloping me like a comforting embrace. "Together, we shall navigate the currents of fate, bound by the unbreakable bonds of love and destiny."

As the days melted into nights and the seasons danced their endless waltz, Halley and I embraced the fleeting beauty of our shared journey, cherishing each moment as if it were our last. With each passing moment, I cherished them in my heart until the day of his departure.

On the eve of his departure, we stood on the balcony, the stars shimmering overhead like silent witnesses to our farewell. Halley's gaze was fixed upon the heavens, his expression a mosaic of longing and resignation.

"Aster," he said softly, his voice tinged with a melancholy that echoed the depths of the cosmos, "the time has come for me to return to the endless expanse of the universe, to resume my eternal journey among the stars."

I nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of impending separation. "I understand, Halley. But that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye."

He reached out, his touch a gentle caress against my cheek. "Our love transcends the confines of time and space, Aster. Though I may journey far beyond the reaches of your sight, know that my heart will remain tethered to yours, bound by the unbreakable bonds of love and destiny."

Tears welled in my eyes, a silent testament to the depth of our connection. "I will wait for you, Halley," I whispered, my voice trembling with emotion. "For as long as it takes, I will hold your memory close, a beacon of light to guide me through the darkness."

As the first light of dawn painted the sky in hues of gold and crimson, Halley and I shared one final embrace. Halley vanished into the vast expanse of the cosmos, his luminous trail fading into the depths of space.

But as fate would have it, the universe had one final surprise in store, a twist of destiny that would bring me face to face-with a familiar stranger.

Years later, on a crisp autumn afternoon, the air was tinged with the scent of fallen leaves and nostalgia. I found myself wandering the bustling streets of Seoul, lost in a sea of faces and forgotten dreams. As I meandered through the labyrinth of alleyways and hidden passages, a voice from the past stirred within the depths of my consciousness, a whisper of recognition that set my heart ablaze with longing.

And there, amidst the throng of humanity, I caught sight of him - a figure bathed in the soft glow of twilight, his eyes a reflection of the stars that once guided our paths.

Minho.

Time stood still as our gazes locked. In that moment, the years melted away, and we were once again the architects of our shared destiny, bound by the threads of fate that wove our lives together.

With trembling hands and bated breath, I stepped forward, my heart a symphony of hope and possibility. "Minho," I whispered, the name a prayer upon my lips, "it's been so long."

He smiled a beacon of warmth amidst the chill of autumn's embrace. "Aster," he said softly, his voice a melody that stirred memories long forgotten, "I never thought I'd see you again."

Beneath the fading daylight, our words lingered like stars in the night sky, echoing love's enduring strength and the chance for renewal. Guided by fate and Halley's Comet's timeless magic, we embarked on a journey of rediscovery. Love, the guiding light, illuminated our universe, promising endless beginnings. Embraced under the stars, we knew our love would endure, a testament to the human heart's boundless depths.

Fin