“How about this ring?”

The dark clouds were raging in the sky, taking a form you had never seen. It feels like they were trying to say something to you.

“I must say you have a great eye for unique designs sir”.

The weather was not supposed to be like this today but then again, since you had landed in Korea the clouds were like this. Neither raining nor disappearing from sight.

“What do you think about it honey?”

A gentle shake on your shoulder made you flinch and you turned around from the window. There was a diamond ring in front of your eyes.

“It's perfect isn't it?” Your fiance chirped excitedly and you blinked at the shining diamond ring before nodding your head with a smile.

A forced smile.

You were about to get married in two weeks after so many difficulties. You were happy. You were supposed to be happy right now by seeing this ring which you would be wearing at the altar on your wedding day but watching it made you feel like there's a heavy stone in your chest.

Was it because you were still jet lagged?

“Perfect, then we will take this?” Jiwon said to the seller.

“Right away sir”.

“Do you think we should have gone for a larger diamond?” Your fiance asked and you honestly didn't know how to respond. This one was still big enough. Probably cost an entire city.

“It's fine” You assured him. The fact that you were finally getting married was enough for you.

“If you say so, anyways after this we need to go to the hotel and pack our bags. Grandfather ordered us to be there as soon as possible”.

You gulped at the mention of his grandfather. The only person who opposed your marriage from the start but had agreed to it if only you two got married in their ancestral home in Korea. You didn't know why they would bother with this when everyone in their family was either settled in Seoul or in different parts of the world. Was it even that important that he arranged a grand wedding for you when all you just wanted was a simple wedding in London. Probably it's one of the perks that came with marrying a chaebol whose family could probably spend a country's GDP in a single wedding.

Jiwon did not give the typical chaebol vibes which was the main reason why I

you fell in love with him. 

“Our luggage is packed anyways” You answered him as you watched the sales person wrapping the diamond ring with so much care.

Something did not sit right with you.

“Here is your order sir, Thank you for choosing us for your special day. We congratulate you wholeheartedly for your wedding and your upcoming married life”.

They were being polite just because you were rich. They were not honest but they needed to sound sincere to please the elite people so they could survive.

Even if they have to wish people with a robotic tone.

“Thank you” but Jiwon did not mind any of this. He took the package and swiped his black card on the counter with a polite smile.

The sky had darkened by the time you left the shop. Small drops of rain had started to fall from the sky.

“It's like our college days” Jiwon said as he intertwined his fingers together and you made a run for the shelter beside the store. You would probably get soaked in the rain if you ran to the car. 

There were so many things needed to be done because of your wedding and it all felt exhausting at some point. You should have done things like you had originally planned but Jiwon said he had no option but to follow his family traditions for his grandparents sake. 

You have already met his parents several times during the time you were dating each other since college but never his grandparents. They were busy people. But at one point they did refuse him to marry you. You still didn't understand why.

Jiwon and you loved each other, and wanted to spend your lives together.

Wasn't that enough of a reason?

“It doesn't seem like it will stop soon” Jiwon frowned, looking at the black sky with a displeased expression. He ran his fingers through his hair as he glanced left and right. 

The constant rain was bothersome. Only two weeks left till the wedding and so many things were to be done. You still have to try to impress his family when you meet them today. Your family was supposed to arrive before the wedding so you could only rely on Jiwon this whole time while living with his family.

You knew you would get along, since his parents were good afterall.

“I think we have to leave now, I don't think the rain is going to stop any sooner. You wait here and I will bring the car here, okay” Jiwon said as he handed you the small bag that had the ring.

“Okay fine, be careful on the road” You told him as he nodded, shielding his head with his hands as he went towards the parking lot.

Rain in the midst of the spring was something nobody had seen coming and what surprised the nation was that it was constant. No cyclone, no typhoon at sight. Even weather reports could not tell from where this sudden rain had come.

You looked around, finding other people being disturbed by the rain too.

“My mother had warned me, I should have brought the umbrella” A high school student grumbled to her friends to which her friends just laughed. It must be quite the experience to have days like this with your friends.

“This is why you should always listen to your elders but children nowadays act like they know everything” An old woman commented who was slumped against the dirty wall. She had this creepy yet friendly look on her that made the people standing there look at her twice.

“Oh! What do we do? Grandmother you must be cold” one of the girls exclaimed, and honestly that woman did look pitiful to you.

You wondered why an old woman like her would be out in this bizarre weather.

“I am not weak like you children” She barked with annoyance which made the high schoolers giggle.

“Yes, grandmother is very strong unlike us”.

“You are right”.

“By the way Grandmother did you eat something? You can have my lunch box”.

“Here, take mine too”.

You smiled at the sweet gesture of these children.

But the old woman was a difficult nut to crack. 

“I don't want your lunch” She seethed "I am not a beggar, I earn my food by selling my stuff”.

“What are you selling Grandmother?” One of the high schoolers asked with curiosity.

“Yes, tell us”.

“I want to see what she is selling”.

“Me too”.

“Grandmother show us”.

“You punks are so noisy, here, see yourself” She seemed to be annoyed by their request but then she took out a middle size box and placed it in front of the curious high schoolers.“I make jewelleries”.

“Wah!!! This is so cool. Grandmother, I want to buy these earrings from you”.

“And I want this ring”.

“I want these clips”.

“Hey! Find something for me too”.

The students excitedly picked through the items and made pleasing comments about it. Enough to make the other people curious too. At this rate all her items would be sold and she did not have to go empty handed.

You turned your head away from them to look ahead. Jiwon was still nowhere to see, maybe he was stuck too because of the rain. 

While waiting you suddenly felt something against your legs, something soft and moving. You frowned and looked down only to find a soaked crow staring at you.

It was such an unusual sight that you were taken aback. Of course, there were crows but you had never seen one from so close, or being stared at by one like it was staring at your soul. As if it was trying to find something within you. It was not a big deal but it was creepy indeed. Because why this crow had to be just near you and why it was not moving at all. It was making you uncomfortable.

You tightened your grip against your handbag and looked ahead. It is best if you just avoid looking at it. 

The rain seemed to have gotten heavier. The downpour had wrapped itself around Seoul like it was swallowing it whole. Everything seemed so hazy that it was becoming impossible to see ahead clearly and the noises around you were now replaced with heavy sound of rain.

Even Seoul had never witnessed such a downpour before.

It seemed maddening. 

Just when you were trying to relax yourself a little the sudden sound of the thunder made you flinch. Your body jerked backward in shock but instead of a wall your back seemed to meet something warm. A gasp left from your mouth and you slowly turned around. But there was nothing instead of darkness. It could not understand if you were just tired or the weather was bad enough but everything about this situation felt strange. 

You turned your head to look at those high schoolers but to your surprise you could not spot anyone. Everything around you had submerged in darkness. 

You couldn't understand what you were seeing right now was reality or an illusion?

‘The crow must be here right?’ You thought as you looked down but the scenario that greeted you was far worse than you had imagined.

There was not just one crow, but several. They were all staring at you without any movement. 

“What the hell?” You tried to scream but it came out as a whisper as you tried to move backwards. But the crows followed soon, they kept coming closer until you were against a smoke wall, hard enough to press your back against it. You had no idea what was happening anymore. You were terrified of this bizarre situation. So much that tears ran down from your eyes but you couldn't lift your hand to wipe them away from your face.

What was even happening?

Was it a nightmare?

Just now you were waiting for Jiwon and suddenly you had no idea where you were. Everything around you was dark, the weather was gloomy, the crows were just staring at you. 

It felt like death.

Were you about to die?

You did not know.

But whatever it was, it made you scared.

You let out a sob but did not dare make a sound. Your vision was getting blurry with smoke and the strangeness of the situation heightened when you felt a warm breath near your neck.

Someone was there.

Right behind you.

Close enough to feel your body and you could also feel their breath against your skin.

You gulped in fear but did not turn around. 

It had to be a fucking nightmare. You closed your eyes in desperation, hoping whatever it was it would just disappear. You could hear your loud breathing as you tried to calm yourself.

‘Forget about it, it's a nightmare’.

‘it has to be a nightmare’.

‘It is a nightmare’.

‘A nightmare’.

‘Nightmare’.

‘It is a night—’ You flinched as you felt someone shaking your body violently.

“Hey, are you okay?” That voice, it was so familiar.

Jiwon?

You slowly opened your eyes to find Jiwon in front of you, staring at you with so much concern.

“Jiwon” You whispered his name in surprise. You looked around the place and there was no darkness trying to swallow you, nor the heavy downpour that was about to drown you, and neither there was any crow near you. The people were still chatting, the high schoolers were still making fuss about which jewellery they wanted. Everything was normal except for you. 

“You are sweating so much, are you okay?” Jiwon pulled out his handkerchief and wiped away your sweat as you just stood silently, trying to understand what just happened.

“I am so sorry i left you alone, i should have known you were scared of the thunder” He apologised but you could not form any word.

“You know what we will just delay our journey, you should rest today at the hotel.” He said as he put his hand on your waist, slowly guiding you towards the car.

It was strange.

The rain had stopped.

But just a few minutes ago it felt like it might consume you.

It was probably a hallucination. 

You shook your head not wanting to think about it more.

The old woman watched you leave, her expression strange as she saw the black feathers that were on the ground where you stood just now.