Ethereal

The journey of Ethereal continues in this second volume, picking up where the first left off-unbroken, unbound.

Chapters resume at Two, as the story flows like a single breath through time.

For those newly arriving, we gently suggest beginning where the first light touched the page- Volume One.

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Jia and her father stood silently in the courtyard of Suren's house. The night was cold, but Jia’s sorrow burned hotter than anything else.

With a trembling voice, she finally spoke:

"Why did he choose her over me? I was always there for him…"

Her father let out a deep sigh, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"My daughter… sometimes the one you love makes choices you’ll never understand. But that doesn’t mean your story ends here…"

But Jia wasn’t listening. Her eyes, filled with tears, now held a dangerous spark—burning with jealousy, pain, and something darker.

And then—

A gunshot.

The sharp crack shattered the night. The sound of breaking glass echoed as the bullet tore through Suren's house, aimed directly inside.

Everything froze.

Time slowed.

Mira's eyes locked onto the bullet heading for Suren.

Her heart stopped.

She didn’t think—she just moved.

With all her strength, she pushed Suren backward.

And she stood.

Right in the path of the bullet.

From the courtyard, Jia spoke with a voice that was both shaky and cruel:

"I want to turn off his moon… so I’ll take his star away."

The bullet struck.

---

Everything happened in just a few seconds… but for Soren, time had stretched into chains of agony. The echo of the gunshot still rang in his ears. Everyone was frozen in shock—breaths held, feet rooted, eyes wide with disbelief.

And then...

“MYYYY MOON!!”

Soren’s scream tore through the heavy silence.

He threw himself next to Mira, his whole body trembling, heart pounding so violently it felt like it would burst from his chest.

Mira lay on the ground, lips pale, gaze half-closed, blood slowly soaking through her black dress—the same dress that mirrored her sadness… now dyed deeper by crimson.

"No... not this time... I’m not losing you again..."

His voice cracked, thick with panic and pain, as tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

He held Mira’s bloodied face in his hands, trembling but full of love.

"Why does my moon always have to suffer? I promised I’d protect you… Why was I late again?!"

A faint whisper came from Mira’s lips:

"Soren… don’t be scared… It’s just a little nap…"

Soren cried out,

"No, my love... don’t sleep… I just got you back… You can’t leave now... We haven’t laughed enough yet… If you go, my nights will go dark again..."

He held her tightly in his arms, as if fearing that even the wind might steal her away.

"Stay… for this love, for us… You used to say your star would be lost without its moon… Then don’t let my moon fade…"

The distant wail of an ambulance siren began to rise. But to Soren, nothing else mattered—only the fading light of the one who had lit up his world.

---

---

As Mira lay bleeding, her body weakening, consciousness slipping away like the light of a setting moon, she looked into Soren’s teary eyes and whispered with trembling lips:

“Don’t be afraid… your moon isn’t going anywhere. Maybe I won’t shine again… but your star must live. It must shine brighter than ever…”

Her fingers lightly touched his cheek, her breath becoming shallow.

“Remember what I said? That one day, I would stand between you and the shattered mirror of pain you fear so much… And I did. I kept my promise. I won’t let anything break you.”

A weak smile curled on her lips as her voice faded.

“So promise me… you’ll live… you’ll be happy… even without me…”

Her eyes slowly fluttered closed, and her body fell limp in his arms.

“I love you… always…”

She lost consciousness.

Soren screamed her name, voice raw with agony, as the sound of the ambulance sirens grew louder.

Paramedics rushed in and pulled Mira from his trembling arms, blood staining his clothes and hands like a cruel reminder. They placed her on a stretcher and hurried her into the ambulance.

Moments later, the police arrived—and so did another ambulance.

Jia was standing nearby, frozen… then suddenly, as the officers grabbed her arms and began reading her rights, she burst out laughing. Loud, twisted, almost unrecognizable.

“I killed her moon!” she shouted, her face contorted with madness.

“It won't shine anymore! She won't glow! She's gone!”

The officers dragged her away as she kept laughing, her voice echoing into the night like a broken record of jealousy and hatred.

Suddenly, Mr. Bang, overwhelmed by the horror of the moment, clutched his chest and collapsed. Another ambulance had to be called to rush him to the hospital.

The house that moments ago was full of warmth, dinner, and laughter… had turned into a storm of tragedy. And Soren? He stood there, blood on his hands, heart shattered, whispering to the moonless sky:

"Don’t take her from me…"

---

---

Soren stood in the hospital hallway, just outside the operating room, his eyes swollen and his face soaked with tears. His cries had echoed through the corridor just moments earlier, and now his breathing was shallow and shaky. His hands trembled as he leaned helplessly against the cold wall.

“No... no… my moon... don’t go… please don’t go…”

Each word left his mouth like it was being torn from deep inside his soul.

The rest of the group had arrived at the hospital shortly after and stood silently, shocked and speechless. No one dared to speak until Ravi, the group’s leader, slowly approached and gently said:

“Soren… you need to calm down. Mira was strong because of you. She’s still fighting—for you. If she sees you falling apart like this…”

Soren lifted his head, looking straight into Ravi’s eyes, his voice choked with sobs:

“You think I don’t know?! You think I don’t know she stood in front of that bullet for me?! She just pushed me aside and stood there… like some damn hero! Why? Why did she leave me?”

Teo, who was usually the one to ease tension with humor, stepped forward with a soft voice:

“Because she probably doesn’t know we ordered so much food, expecting her to survive and eat all of it when she wakes up.”

Despite his joking tone, his voice cracked slightly at the end.

Jungwoo rested a hand on Soren’s shoulder:

“Soren... Mira is fighting. You have to fight too. You’re her anchor now… if you fall apart, she’ll fall too.”

Soren struggled to breathe, his shoulders rising and falling quickly like someone gasping for air. The monitor sounds coming from inside the operating room only made his heart pound harder.

“I can’t lose her again... she already left once... I won’t survive it a second time.”

Hyun spoke up with a firm voice:

“Then don’t fall apart. Fight. Fight like she is. As long as she’s in there alive, you stay alive out here. For her.”

And in that tense silence of the hospital hallway, the only thing that could be heard was Soren’s ragged breathing as he collapsed into the arms of his teammates, whispering through his tears:

“My moon… come back… I’m still lost without your light…”

---

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Six months passed...

Six long months had gone by since that night.

Neither the vibrant spring of Paris nor the old paintings they once cherished could bring peace to Soren’s heart.

He never returned home—not even once.

The hospital became his home.

The chair beside Mira’s bed became his pillow. The cold hospital lights became his moonlight.

Every night, he wrote letters to her.

Every day, he spoke to her.

Every week, he brought her new clothes, as if she might wake up the very next day.

Everyone else had grown tired.

But Soren never gave up.

Not for a second.

---

Today marked six full months.

Like every morning, Soren quietly entered the hospital room.

He sat beside her, gently took Mira’s delicate hand in his, and leaned closer, whispering the words he always did:

– “My moon...

You promised not to fade...

Not to disappear again...

Not to grow quiet again...

You promised to smile, always smile...

If the moon disappears, how is a star supposed to shine?”

He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against her hand.

Then, he felt the slightest movement in her fingers.

He froze. Lifted his head.

Eyes that had been closed for six months… slowly fluttered open.

And then, in a soft, trembling but warm voice, she spoke:

– “Don’t be afraid... Your moon still shines...

I was just... asleep for a while…”

Soren couldn’t breathe. Tears welled up in his eyes.

He smiled, this time from the deepest part of his soul.

– “Welcome back… my moon.”

---

---

Soren was still holding her hand tightly, as if he was afraid everything might disappear again.

But when he saw that faint, real smile on Mira’s lips, he knew this time—it was real.

Just then, Mira, her voice soft but mischievous, said:

— "So... I heard you saying if this moon goes dark, you’d find yourself a new one?"

She narrowed her eyes playfully and added:

— "Well? Did you? Or are you still missing this one?"

Soren blinked in surprise, then laughed through the tears he had barely wiped away.

— "No... I only want this moon. The one that went dark out of stubbornness, but still has the most beautiful light."

— "The one that lives in the sky of my heart... even when there are no stars around."

Mira chuckled.

— "God, you turned into a poet while I was out, huh?"

— "Six months and you’ve been practicing?"

Soren grinned, resting his head gently on her hand.

— "I wasn’t writing poetry... I was just writing what my heart felt."

Mira softly ran her fingers through his messy hair, her touch gentle and full of affection.

— "No more crying, okay? Promise me. I’m back now. I won’t go dark again."

Soren’s voice trembled.

— "I promise... as long as you promise not to leave me again. My moon."

And in that quiet hospital room, filled with the warmth of two hearts that had found each other again, everything felt whole—at last.

---

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Just as Mira was teasing Soren and they were both laughing softly, the door to the hospital room suddenly burst open.

— “🎶 Cause baby you're a firework...”

The whole group barged in, singing loudly and off-key, holding balloons and a tiny speaker blasting upbeat music. Laughter echoed through the room as Soren and Mira looked up in surprise.

Kai, dramatically holding a fake microphone, pointed to Mira.

— “There she is! The Sleeping Beauty! Took you long enough to wake up, princess.”

Jin added with a grin, “We were this close to auditioning a new moon for Soren. He was getting moody.”

Mira laughed, rolling her eyes.

— “Please! Like anyone could handle his dramatic midnight poetry.”

Yoona handed her a small stuffed star plushie.

— “This is to remind you that your star squad never left your sky.”

Soren was trying not to laugh, failing miserably.

— “You see what I’ve been dealing with?”

Mira smirked.

— “I love it.”

The room filled with warmth, light, and familiar energy again. After all the pain and silence, it was music, laughter, and love that brought the brightest light back into the moon’s sky.

---

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The members gathered around Mira’s hospital bed, their laughter echoing through the room. Each of them took turns teasing her, sharing stories from the past six months, and telling her how much they missed her smile. They tried everything to bring back the spark in her eyes — and it was working.

Mira, still a little pale but glowing with life, laughed along with them, her voice soft but full of warmth. Her laughter filled the room like a melody, one that slowly began to heal the cracks in Soren’s heart.

He stood quietly in the corner, leaning against the wall, his hair slightly messy, and his eyes red — not from pain anymore, but from relief. After months of tears, his gaze now held peace.

He didn’t speak. He just watched.

He smiled — silently, lovingly — as if to say:

“My moon, you’re shining again... just like you promised.”

And just then, Mira’s eyes met his.

For a moment, everything else faded away — the laughter, the noise, the teasing. Time seemed to pause as their eyes locked.

Between them, there was no need for words.

There was only a quiet understanding — a light shared between a star and his moon.

---

As the night gently settled over the hospital, the last of the group members said their cheerful goodbyes and slipped out of the room, leaving behind the warm echo of laughter. A peaceful silence took their place.

Mira lay back against her pillow, hugging it loosely as she looked at Sooren, who sat quietly by the window. The soft light from the lamp cast a gentle glow over his tired face.

His eyes were still a little damp, but a faint, unintentional smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

With a playful glint in her eyes, Mira smirked and said,

“So… is this the same star who was ready to find a new moon if this one stopped shining?”

She raised an eyebrow, pretending to be serious.

“I mean, if I stayed unconscious for another week, would you be out there serenading some other moon?”

Sooren looked up in surprise, then chuckled softly.

“If only you knew… that next moon was just a ceiling lamp that kept flickering.”

Mira laughed, light and teasing.

“Alright, alright… if you’re that loyal, then come here. I don’t want my star sitting in the corner looking all sad and dramatic.”

Sooren slowly stood and walked over to her, gently taking her warm hands into his.

“I promise… my eyes won’t even glance at another sky. My moon is right here, smiling just like the day she stole my heart.”

Mira winked.

“And with the same strength that stood in front of a bullet, huh?”

Sooren exhaled quietly, then rested his forehead on her hands.

“Just keep smiling… I’ll take care of the rest.”

—

---

Mira gently tightened her fingers around Sooren’s hand, her voice soft, barely louder than a whisper.

“You know… when everything went dark… the only thing I could think of was your voice calling me back.”

She looked up at him, her eyes glassy with emotion.

“I was so scared I’d never see your face again.”

Sooren leaned closer, his thumb brushing over her knuckles with trembling care.

“I kept thinking… what if I had lost you for good this time?”

His voice cracked slightly.

“I don’t know if I could survive a world without your light in it.”

Mira swallowed hard, her heart aching.

“You didn’t lose me… not really. I was always trying to come back to you. I just needed to follow your voice… your love.”

Sooren cupped her face gently, his gaze locking with hers.

“I should’ve protected you better. I should’ve held you tighter and never let go that night in Paris…”

Mira smiled sadly, her thumb tracing a line along his wrist.

“We can’t change what happened, Sooren. But we’re here. Still under the same sky.”

She gave a soft laugh. “Still too dramatic for our own good.”

He chuckled, then leaned his forehead against hers.

“I wake up every day thanking the universe that I didn’t lose my moon.”

She whispered against his lips,

“And I thank the stars that my star never stopped shining for me.”

He kissed her softly, a lingering kiss filled with fear, longing, and hope — as if to remind both of them that love, even after the darkest night, always finds its way back.

---

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Mira was still sitting up in bed, smiling faintly, her tired eyes glowing softly. Soren, who had been silent for a while, slowly pulled a small velvet box from his jacket pocket. His hands trembled slightly, and for a moment, he just stared at the box, as if gathering the courage to open it.

With a gentle, low voice, he said:

“You told me not to be afraid… you said your moon still shines. But there's still one thing I fear, Mira. That without this, we’ll never truly be complete.”

He opened the box and revealed a delicate ring — a design of a crescent moon cradling a tiny star. It was the same motif from Mira’s pendant, the one she always wore. But this version was even more detailed, even more meaningful — a permanent bond between moon and star.

Mira’s eyes widened, her lips trembling:

“This… is it the one? The design you always said no one but one person in the world was allowed to see?”

Soren nodded slowly, lowering himself to one knee beside the bed. He took her hand in his and spoke with a shaky, but sincere voice:

“There’s only ever been one person who owned my heart. You — my moon.

I made this ring a long time ago, before I even realized how close I could come to losing you.

And now that you're back… I want you to stay. Forever.

Let’s never let the darkness come between us again.

Mira, my moon… will you stay with your star for the rest of our lives?”

Tears streamed down Mira’s cheeks as she smiled, her voice soft but unwavering:

“If there's a moon meant to shine forever for one star… then yes. With all of my heart.

I choose you, Soren. Over and over again. Even if the world goes dark again… I’ll always find my way back to you.”

Soren gently slid the ring onto her finger, their foreheads touching, breath becoming one.

And just like that, the moon and its star found their sky again, shining brighter than ever after the longest night.

---

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Soren gently slid the ring onto Mira’s finger. In the soft hospital light, the silver glimmered as if the moon itself had rested on her hand. Without saying a word, he brought each of her delicate fingers to his lips and kissed them one by one—with the kind of reverence only a heart that has known deep fear and longing could express.

Then he pulled her into his arms—softly, warmly, carefully.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, one so light and hesitant, as if any pressure might awaken the pain she still carried.

Mira smiled softly and whispered teasingly,

"My dear koala… You’re holding me like I’m made of glass. I’m not that fragile, you know.”

His breath caught. His eyes shimmered with tears he could no longer hold back.

Mira reached up, brushing his cheek with her thumb.

“You said your moon has come back, right? Then let me shine on you… Don’t be afraid. Your arms are the only place my wounds forget how to hurt.”

This time, their kiss deepened. Warmer. Slower. Their breaths tangled in the air between them, as though they were learning to breathe again—through each other.

Soren’s hand moved up slowly, parting her long, wavy hair with care. He pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder, then lower… to where her wound remained—still healing, still tender.

Each kiss he left there was joined by a silent tear.

Mira, sensing his emotion, cradled him gently and whispered,

“These scars… they used to carry pain. But now, with your touch… all I feel is love.”

Soren’s voice trembled, rough with emotion.

“This body… this breath… this heartbeat—it’s finally mine. I prayed so long for this moment. And now, with the scent of your skin, I know God answered me. I won’t let even a breeze harm you.”

Mira held him tighter, and their foreheads touched, breaths warm and mingling.

Their kiss returned—longer, deeper.

In the stillness of the room, nothing else mattered.

Only the sound of lips meeting lips, of two souls melting into one.

Their language was no longer words, but sighs, kisses, and silent promises.

Soren wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his forehead against hers, eyes locked in that close, trembling distance.

“You’re my moon, Mira… and I swear this time, I’ll orbit you forever.”

Tears slipped down Mira’s cheek—tears of joy, of finally reaching home.

She whispered,

“Then hold your moon tightly… Because I only shine for you.”

---

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Final Scene – "To the Moon and Back"

Mira stood up slowly, ready to change her clothes—because today, she was finally being discharged. Her eyes fell on the wardrobe, filled with rows of delicate white dresses.

She turned around, surprised.

"You bought all of these?" she asked, her voice full of wonder.

Soren smiled, leaning on the doorframe.

"Yeah. I wanted you to have a white dress for every day you choose to shine again."

They both laughed softly at how many there were. Mira picked one, hugged it, and walked toward the changing room.

But before she could enter, Soren gently pulled her into a hug from behind.

"My little koala… Do you really have to go in?" he whispered against her neck.

Mira giggled. "If you let go, maybe I could change in peace."

Soren’s voice cracked, just a little.

"Just… don’t disappear again. Don’t walk in and never come out."

Mira turned to face him and cupped his cheek.

"I’m right here. Your moon isn’t going anywhere."

She went inside to change, and Soren sat outside the door, gently tapping it with his fingers.

"My moon… you okay in there? Still glowing?"

From behind the door came Mira’s voice, laughing.

"Still here. But... I need help."

Soren jumped to his feet, heart racing, and flung the door open.

"What is it?!"

Mira turned around, her dress half-buttoned.

"Calm down, Mr. Drama. Just help me close the back."

Chuckling, Soren moved behind her and closed the dress gently, planting a kiss on her bare shoulder.

"My moon… You look beautiful. I still can’t believe the universe let me have you."

She leaned into him.

"You don’t have me. We have each other."

They returned home—Soren’s home.

As he pushed the door open, he shouted with joy,

"Welcome home, lady of the house!"

But Mira paused. Her eyes fell on the shards of broken glass still on the floor.

"...Looks like you never came back here after that day."

Soren frowned, stepping toward her.

"I… couldn’t. I didn’t want to clean away what was left of you."

Tears welled in her eyes.

"My blood is still here… on the floor."

Soren pulled her close, kissing her forehead.

"I’ll clean everything. But your light… your light stays."

She bent down to pick up a shard, but blood stained her bandage again.

"Mira! Don’t! You’re not supposed to lift anything!"

"I just wanted our home to look okay..." she whispered.

Soren knelt and kissed her hand gently.

"From now on, this home is your palace. You're the queen here. No chores. Only dreams."

She pouted.

"Then why are you scolding your queen?"

He chuckled.

"Forgive me, your majesty. How can I make it up to you?"

She tapped her lips playfully.

"I want a teddy bear… like you. Clingy, sweet, dramatic, and a little in love."

Soren laughed.

"Just a little? I nearly dragged the moon down for you!"

She teased, "But I am your moon, right?"

He kissed the top of her head and whispered,

"My one and only moon... and now, you’re finally back in my arms."

Soren handed her one of his childhood teddy bears.

"What’s his name?" she asked.

"He never had one."

"Then… I’ll name him Guardian. He’ll watch over me when you’re not around."

Soren snatched it back playfully.

"No way! No teddy bear is taking my place!"

Mira laughed.

"Jealous of a bear? I didn’t know you could be so cute."

"Hey, Guardian," Soren said to the teddy bear, "stay out of her arms. She’s mine."

Mira grabbed the bear and darted away.

Soren chased her gently, worried again when he saw her side hurting.

"Lie down. You need to rest."

She curled up on the bed, holding the bear.

"He’s just for nap time. But I know who my real Guardian is."

Soren slid into bed beside her, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her shoulder again.

"Don’t ever forget... I’m the guardian of your moonlight."

As laughter echoed through their home once again, the air shimmered with peace, light, and love.

And this time, it stayed.

---

Mira (with a soft smile):

“If you made it this far, then you’re one of our stars too. Don’t forget... the moon keeps shining as long as there's one heart to light it.”

Sooren (gently):

“Take care of your heart... one day, someone like my moon might find a home in it.”

___

“If you walked all the way with Mira and Sooren, then you’re now a part of their story too.

You were the one who saw the moon dim, but never feared the darkness.

The one who believed that even after blood, tears, fear, and distance — love still breathes.

Thank you — not just for reading this story, but for living it.

For crying with it, laughing with it, and falling in love alongside it.

This story now belongs to your heart, too.”