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The camera slowly pans, following my gaze, the music swelling as it reaches Minjee as Danbi. We’re both in our uniforms and look like normal high school students despite the fact that we just helped win a war against a powerful sorcerer. A secret smile is playing on my lips, and my eyes are shining with happiness and love. As I watch myself, I realize I wasn’t acting at all in that scene. That’s genuinely how I look when I’m with Minjee.
It feels bizarre, like an almost out-of-body experience. Eventhough I’d seen myself on-screen lots of times, I’ve never had a moment when I distinctly knew I wasn’t really acting on camera.
Sora and Danbi walk along the beach, the same beach that I was once on with Bryan for one of the previous episodes. The joyful music continues to play, blending nicely with the ebb and flow of the waves. As Sora slips her hand into Danbi’s, Sora says quietly, “It took a long time for us to finally be together, didn’t it?”
“Yes,” Danbi replies. “But everything leading up to this moment was worth it.”
Just before the camera fades to black, Sora leans forward and gives Danbi a kiss on her forehead. It’s not much, but it’s enough for now.
When the closing credits start playing, everyone stands up and claps.
“And we’re done!” exclaims Bryan. “Yay, us!”
Minjee, Bryan, and I get into a group hug. My parents take pictures to capture the moment.
“Congratulations!” Mom says.
She hugs me while Dad gives Bryan a pat on the back, just before Claude wraps him into a tight hug. Both Bryan and Claude get this intense look in their eyes, and I’m almost afraid they’re going to make out right in front of my parents when they burst into nervous laughter.
“I am so proud of you,” Mom tells me. “Your first show as a lead actress.”
“Yes,” Dad agrees. “It was a great finish. Congrats to all of you.”
Almost immediately, our phones start buzzing with notifications. I check social media and see that we’re trending #1 in the Korean entertainment news.
Fated DestinyDelivers Unexpected Twist in Final Episode
Fated to Be Without a Prince? Recapping the Last Episode ofFated Destiny
What Happened to Bryan? A Discussion on How a Show’s Top Star Didn’t End Up with Either of the Girls, and How This May Be the Better, Braver Choice
Aside from the news, the audience’s reactions are pure chaos. People are either screaming about “history being made” or bemoaning what they see as a sign of the end of the world.
Bryan laughs at some of the reactions. “Well, it looks like we did it. Everyone’s rocked to the core about the ending.”
“Hey, buzz is buzz,” I say, repeating the words Sophia told me a long time ago. “Good or bad, the studio will get the viewership numbers they want.”
In the end, that argument is how I convinced the higher-ups to get on board with the idea in the first place. I still can’t believe we managed to pull it off. While I was growing up, I only saw Korean dramas and movies where queer people suffered or even sometimes died a tragic death. But that didn’thappen today. And I can hardly believe that I was part of this positive change.
“We really did it,” says Minjee, echoing my thoughts. From her awed expression, I can tell she’s thinking the same things as I was. “So many kudos for coming up with the idea, Hana.”
Everyone claps for me.
“Thanks,” I reply when it quiets down. “But none of this would have been possible without you.”
Minjee and I look into each other’s eyes. NowMinjee and Iare the ones that are about to make out right in front of my parents.
Bryan loudly coughs.
“And you, Bryan,” I add, low-key grateful for the interruption. “And you.”
Everyone laughs. I pull my friends into a hug.
“No, but seriously. Thanks. Both of you. Without you guys backing me up, we probably wouldn’t have been able to convince everyone to change the script.”
“No problem,” Bryan says.
Minjee gives me a thumbs-up.
