"Yeah, you're right. I'll talk to Grandpa about this," Arashi finally said to Ren. "Besides… I've never really spoken to him properly."
Ren nodded. "Then let's go. He should be in his room right now."
The two cousins walked quietly down the hall until they reached Grandpa's door. Before going in, they peeked through the half-open crack, checking if anyone else was there. But the room was empty—except for Grandpa, lying on his bed.
Beside him were piles of medicines, bottles, and all sorts of medical supplies.
Arashi's chest tightened at the sight. A strange heaviness washed over him. He had never noticed before how fragile Grandpa looked, how much his body had endured. For the first time, he truly felt the weight of his condition.
Ren gently whispered, "Come on, let's go in. He's all alone right now—better we talk before anyone else comes."
With that, the two stepped into the room together.
Arashi stepped inside and softly called, "Grandpa…"
The moment Grandpa heard his voice, he sat up with surprising energy. His eyes lit up, and he beckoned Arashi closer. "Arashi! Come here, quickly."
Seeing his grandfather after so long filled Arashi with warmth. He rushed over, and Grandpa pulled him into a hug.
"My boy, how are you? You've grown so much—I could hardly recognize you. What's this? Have you forgotten your old Grandpa already?"
Arashi shook his head quickly. "No, Grandpa. I've missed you a lot. I could never forget you. Tell me, how are you feeling now? Are you doing better?"
Grandpa smiled faintly. "Ah, son… old age brings its share of sickness. Don't worry about me. Just give me a few days, and I'll be fine again. Instead, tell me—what can I do for you?"
Arashi's throat tightened. He wanted to tell Grandpa everything about the dream girl—but the words wouldn't come out. His heart pounded. What if he laughs? What if he thinks I'm crazy, just like Ren did? For so long, Arashi had carried this secret in silence, and trusting someone with it felt like standing on the edge of a cliff.
Ren noticed his cousin's hesitation. Without wasting a second, he jumped in. "Grandpa, remember you once asked me if I'd ever had strange dreams? I told you no. But Arashi… he does get them. Really weird ones."
Grandpa's eyebrows rose with interest.
Ren continued, "Every month, in his dreams, a girl appears to him. A dream girl. She never shows her full face, but she tells him things—what to do, what not to do. And once, she even told him… that she loved him."
Grandpa leaned back slowly, his eyes fixed on Arashi. "So that's why you were hesitating, isn't it?"
Arashi froze. He hadn't expected his grandfather to notice.
"You were scared," Grandpa said gently. "Afraid that if you spoke about this, people would laugh at you. That they wouldn't understand. Am I right?"
Arashi's lips parted, but no words came. He could only nod faintly.
Grandpa gave a small, knowing smile. "You should have told me earlier, son. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Because this… this isn't just any dream."
Arashi's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Grandpa whispered under his breath, almost as if talking to himself. "So, this time, it has chosen you…"
"Chosen me?" Arashi repeated, shocked.
Grandpa's gaze sharpened. "Yes. In our bloodline, every generation, one person is marked by these dreams. They are not ordinary—they're a curse, passed down like a shadow we can't escape. The last time, it was me. No one else. I asked your uncles, your aunts, even my own brothers and sisters… but none of them had seen what I had. Only me."
Arashi's heartbeat thundered in his chest. "So… now it's me?"
Grandpa nodded. "The curse has left me… and now, it rests on your shoulders."
Ren's jaw dropped, his earlier playful smirk completely gone.
Grandpa leaned forward, his voice serious. "Tell me everything, Arashi. Don't leave out a single detail."
With hesitation but also relief, Arashi finally spoke. He described it all—the faceless girl shrouded in light, her glowing smile, her words of love, her warnings to control his emotions, the endless wheat field, the way her voice lingered in his mind even when he was awake.
Grandpa listened silently, his hands tightening around the blanket with every word. By the time Arashi finished, his expression had shifted from curiosity to shock.
He exhaled heavily. "Incredible… and terrifying. You and I are having the same dream. The same place. But the girl isn't the same girl there are a few differences."
Arashi's breath caught in his throat. "What?! Grandpa, how is that possible? The girl appeared to you too?"
Grandpa's eyes darkened, the weight of his years heavy in his gaze. "Yes."
Arashi's voice cracked. "I don't understand. What kind of curse is this? And why would the same girl haunt us?"
The room fell silent, the air thick with a fear neither Ren nor Arashi had ever felt before. For the first time, Arashi realized this was only the beginning—and the answers might be far darker than the questions.
Grandpa cleared his throat, his eyes distant as if he were pulling memories from deep within. "I once heard the same story from your grandmother," he said softly. "She told me that long ago, she too had dreams like these. But in her dreams, it wasn't a girl—it was a boy. And she told me the story behind the curse."
Arashi leaned forward, listening with all his focus.
Grandpa continued, "Many, many years ago, there was a great kingdom. The king and queen had only one child—a daughter. She was beautiful, but also strong-willed, not like other noble girls. In the same palace lived an ordinary boy. He wasn't rich, he wasn't of noble blood. He worked under the queen's service, doing simple tasks. But he was… different."
Grandpa's voice grew softer, almost thoughtful. "He was honest. No matter how small the job, he gave it his full effort. He was kind—even to servants others ignored. He respected everyone equally, whether rich or poor. And he had a habit of listening—really listening—to people, something rare in the palace. He never chased wealth, never cared for status. Instead, he valued truth, loyalty, and hard work. These simple habits made him shine brighter than any prince."
Ren's eyes widened. "So the princess fell for him?"
Grandpa nodded. "Yes. The queen's daughter began to notice him. At first, it was his honesty. Then his courage. And slowly, without realizing, she fell deeply in love. Soon, they both started talking and boy too could not resist her kindness and gentle nature. Their love grew stronger, until one day, they made a decision: they would marry."
Arashi's heart raced. "But… the king and queen?"
"That," Grandpa said gravely, "was the problem. The boy knew his family would agree easily. But the king and queen? Never. When the two of them finally confessed their love, the rulers were furious. They said, 'You are royalty. You can only marry someone of your own class. If you marry this boy, our honor will be destroyed. The people will laugh at us.'"
The room fell still as Grandpa's voice lowered.
"But the princess did not back down. She looked her parents in the eye and said, 'You say he is ordinary and unworthy, but how is he any different from the prince you wish me to marry? They both breathe the same air, they both bleed when cut, they both dream, laugh, and fear. The only difference is wealth. But wealth does not change a man's heart, nor his soul. I love him, and I can see him in a way you cannot. Try to understand that. Do you really think people will stop talking if I marry the prince you chose? They will always talk, no matter what you do. The only thing that matters is the truth of the heart, and I choose him.'"
The princess turned and left, her head held high. Anger surged through the king as he watched her go. "Take that boy and throw him in prison!" he shouted. His orders were carried out immediately, and the boy was subjected to severe torture. They demanded that he should leave the princess alone, but he refused to give in.
Finally, the king decided that the boy must be sent far away—somewhere he knew no one, not even the roads, and no one would recognize him. Meanwhile, the queen's daughter was forced into marriage with the prince she did not love. Both of them prayed fervently that they would meet each other and be able to speak to one another.
Their prayers were answered. In a dream, they finally met. The queen confided everything to the boy—the marriage had taken place, but she was unhappy. She told him, "You should also get married. Let us pray that if we couldn't be together, our future generations will find each other, meeting both in their dreams and in real life."
And so, the curse began. This story, whether true or false, is unknown—but it feels real. Grandpa looked at Arashi and said, "Don't worry, son. Just as she stopped appearing in my dreams after my marriage, she has helped me greatly. Even now, I still love her."