A tightening feeling seemed to squeeze Jin as he sensed the futility of his request. The resolution in the God of Time's voice held such finality that he could feel it deep within him not to challenge their decision. It would be impossible for him his wish to get fulfilled.
But then Bro…will I have to let him go just like this? I-Is this how everything will end?
A flicker of mixed emotions flashed in his sorrowful gaze. He tightly held onto Jun's soul, not wanting him to pass on when he didn't even get the chance to he happy. All because he snatched it away from his brother.
If I get just one chance then, I won't ever let the dreadful past repeat! I won't ever let Bro and Shui drift away from each other.
Just one chance…
The God of Fate leaned towards the God of Time and whispered. "Hey, do you think that brat has given up?"
The God of Time heared the question but was keenly fixated at Jin's soul. "It seems that is far from the truth."
It was then that Jin's unwavering voice resonated in the time-space realm. "There has to be a way for fulfilling my wish," he met those Godly figures with an equally unyielding gaze, "If I could break through the cycle of my next birth's chain and become a soul that gained my consciousness strong enough to remain on earth and hold Bro's soul back from passing on - all of which were impossible events to begin with according to you, then I know that there must be a way to turn time back. And…" his lips quivered, "I want you to give a second chance to my brother and…this woman too."
Silence descended in the realm.
The God of Death amusingly whistled. "He did use some head over there. Looks like he is adamant to defy death by all possible means."
The God of Fate was clearly not impressed. "He will increase my workload if we ever happen to fulfill his wish. Just look at how many fates will go through a drastic change! Does he want me to die? The audacity of a measly human soul to torture a God!"
The God of Death yawned. "Can you think something other than your workload for once?"
"Then how about you take over!"
The God of Time left them be and instead zeroed in her concentration on Jin. "Why do you wish for the woman too?"
He lowered his gaze with a perplexing emotion that swirled in his eyes. It was difficult to articulate how he felt.
"Honestly…I don't like her."
"You have never met her before."
"That's why it stings even more. A woman who Bro never met in his life managed to bring a smile on his lips for the first time…" a lump formed in his throat as his voice shook, "f-for the first time in five years. Something that I couldn't do despite being the closest to him. I really, really…wanted to see Bro happy. I thought that by letting go of Shui, I was doing just that. Even so, I failed. I wanted to see him smile again. Laugh again. And strangely…this woman was able to do it."
He exhaled a shaky breath. "That's why I don't like her because I feel she snatched something away from me that I was supposed to do but…at the same time…I am grateful to her for bringing peace into my brother's life even if it was just for a few moments…
I don't know who she is or why she died. But I had seen her bereaved eyes too. I think someone who could make an expression like that…cannot be a bad person. So if she could get another chance too, I think she won't have to die so miserably by falling off a terrace."
The three Gods exchanged mysterious glances and after a moment, The God of Time spoke again,
"Do you realize what you are asking? I told you before. Trying to change fate is going against nature's laws. It is not something allowed to happen and…if you are so desperate, then are you willing to sacrifice something equal in exchange? There will be a price. You need to understand that you aren't just changing your brother and the woman's fates but whatever other fates are interlinked to them will also get changed. You are not taking the responsibility of just their destinies but of many others too. It's like a domino effect."
"I will pay any price I have to in exchange!" Jin didn't take even a second's pause to think over or hesitated for even a moment. "I…I don't care what price I have to pay. I don't give a damn about the sacrifice. I just want Bro to get the happiness that he always wanted!"
"Even if the sacrifice is to give up on your happy future instead? If you want to give a blissful future to your brother and that woman, then you must give up on your future in exchange. A life lacking companionship and an eternal forever with the one you love."
"The one I love…" a wry chuckle escaped his lips, "that future was already bleak the moment I let go of Shui. I don't have any happy future. I never expected one either."
"Because you had spent only a few years when you decided to sacrifice your feelings. I govern time, my dear. There is a big difference between remaining alone for some years and being alone for your lifetime until the day you breathe your last," it's voice quietened with a heavy ring of sadness laced in it, "Loneliness is crippling."
As it gazed at Jin, it thought of his other elder brother, Liu Nian - he who chose to remain single for the rest of his life.
And he who secretly and desperately yearned for a happy future just like Jian and Nuo had. He never showed it from the outside, but the utter pain of being alone had made him hollow from the inside. Jin was choosing the same path for him now.
"That's why, I urge. Think very carefully."
"I don't have to think," once again, Jin didn't take any moment to contemplate, "This is what I wish. If you have to take my future away, then do so. But give my brother and the woman their future back."
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