I sit on the curb of the street running off of the ballroom.

Slow footsteps walk closer to me and Sunwoo sits next to me on the floor.

"I said I would come back for you." He says. I glance at him. He has bleeding cuts running down his cheek and bruises on his knuckles.

"... you left in the first place." I say.

"It's not so simple, babe. That hard drive was-"

"I know. It makes sense. You have something really valuable on there that would eventually cause more damage to more people. I get it." I say. "But I'm realizing Sashaa was right. You'll always choose success. It's just who you are."

"I am so sorry." Sunwoo rests his head in his hands. "It won't happen again."

"You don't know that." I say.

We spot Jacob leaning against the building a distance away from us.

"Are you really leaving with him?" Sunwoo asks.

"I don't really have a choice here. If I stay here I might... I- who knows!" I say. "All I know is that the one reason I would consider staying in this world just betrayed my trust. And I might go insane knowing that."

"And.. and what if you do go back? Do you think that will ensure you a happy life?" Sunwoo asks

"Frankly yes! How this is going... whatever this is, I can't see it ending well for either of us. There's too much on the line." I point out.

"And what about when your family and friends and strangers all see that you're an angel without wings? Hm? What are they gonna say? Are they gonna welcome you with open arms when you literally went to hell and back??" Sunwoo asks, bringing back Changmin's point earlier.

I pause. I've seen angels without wings in books and stories. They lived a life of discrimination because what's an angel without wings? Nothing. I would be useless. absolutely nothing. Not to mention they threw me out of there because I'm a criminal in their eyes.

"For what it's worth... there's so many worse things in this world, so nobody gives a fuck if you don't have wings. You are still worth so much more." Sunwoo says. He's sitting a foot away but just his voice alone is like a comforting hug. "You know how I know? Because your dress is backless. And nobody said anything about your beautiful scars."

I furrow my eyebrows. A minute ago I was so sure that this place was not for me. And that going with Jacob back home would be the only way I could be safe and happy.

But looking back on it... this world feels like home now. The people do what they want and they feel real. You always know when kindness is real whereas in the light world it was a given.

"But I..." I trail off. "Me staying here is just so, unrealistic. We were so ready to send me back as soon as we could."

"So? That was then. This is now. A lot has changed since then." Sunwoo says. "I know for a fact that when you first came here you didn't trust me. And look at us now.... We- I mean I thought our relationship might be enough to keep you here."

"What if we don't last? What if- if we break up and I'm stuck here alone. You're the only reason I would stay." I say, blinking away tears.

"If you're so worried about losing me, why are you so eager to leave?" Sunwoo asks.

"I'm just... if anyone saw us they would say we wouldn't last. That we were a doomed couple to begin with, I mean an Angel and a vampire. Really?" I say.

"You mean if anyone from your world saw us that's what they would think. Changmin knows, and he doesn't give a shit. Nobody here gives a shit. You're afraid of your own people." Sunwoo says.

"... I'm just scared. There's so much that could go wrong here." I say.

Jacob walks over to us, looming over like a shadow.

"It's your choice Iseul." Jacob interferes. "All I can say is, I can assist you back to our world for sure, but I can't live the rest of your life with you because I'm gone already. You have to live for yourself."

I look from the faded angel to Sunwoo. The angel in disguise.

"Look..." Sunwoo says, and I can see his eyes becoming shiny with tears. "I can't promise you a perfect life, or -or one without pain. But I can promise that I'll do everything in our power so that I'm always here for you. I'll always be right next to you. And I'll make sure as hell that you know your value."

It's a long silence and me staring out at the cold air. This world that never sees a sunny day or strangers that don't bicker with each other.

Why am I so attached to this literal hell of a world?

Sunwoo rests a hand on my shoulder, just watching me.

That's why. He's the only person in any world that can make me feel like it'll be okay even in moments like this.

"I'm staying here." I tell Jacob.

Jacob gives a small smile and a nod.

"I'm so sorry. You sacrificed so much for me." I tell the brown haired boy.

"All I wanted to see was that you were okay." Jacob motions to Sunwoo and me. "My wish was granted. So thank you, for showing me."

"You'll be going back?" I ask him.

"Oh yes. This place is... not for me." Jacob grins. "But Iseul just know, that our two worlds are not so different from each other. But I've never seen your eyes shine brighter than when you're here. Because here, you can be free, just like you always wanted."

We watch as he disappears down the street. A second chance that I denied.

"Regret your choice?" Sunwoo cuts through the silence as he helps me stand up.

"No." I say confidently. "He's right. Every second I was in the light world I complained about being restricted. And even though I have no wings, this world has shown me more freedom than I ever had before."

Sunwoo finally lets himself relax and he smiles at me. "I knew you'd pick staying here."

"Why?"

"You couldn't last one day without my kisses." He pecks my cheek.

"You're wrong." I laugh, pulling away from him.

"Oh now it's gonna be like this?" He grins.

"I'm kidding." I lean into his chest. "You're right. I couldn't last a day without you."

"You know what are the chances?" Sunwoo says suddenly.

"Of what?"

"Of a wingless angel being dropped into the dark world, and us falling in love." Sunwoo says. "I guess we were always destined to meet."

"I have no doubt about that." I say.

"Where is Jacob going anyway? To heaven? What does that look like?" Sunwoo asks.

I intertwine our hands. "It looks like this."

< night >

"Be honest." Sunwoo says once we're lying in bed. "Did you choose me because I can bite you and take away your pain?"

I laugh in the darkness. "No."

Sunwoo traces his finger over the scars on my shoulder blades.

"Because you didn't judge me from the start. You never even knew me when I had wings, and you didn't even care what I looked like then." I say.

My wings used to be my only way of freedom, and my only source of happiness.

"I love you, Isa." Sunwoo presses his lips on the side of my neck.

And now I have a different source of happiness. One that I found in the most unlikely of places.

But then again, does it really matter where in the world you're from?

Hell no.

< fin >