orchid

She's very good at it. Not so clumsy like me.

Sorry, Orchid. I caught a cold a couple days ago. If it wasn't for that, I would've helped you out.

Here are the laces you asked for. I got them from back home. They're all handmade and easy on the skin. Not too prickly.

They feel very different to the touch. Thanks.

Oh, right, I have a question I want to ask you. Let's say I wanted to add some elements of papercutting to the design. How would you trim the dress?

Do you have a design drawing? Let me see...

Here you go. Thanks for your help.

Saturday

*Cough*... Jerry sold the house to pay for my treatment...

I wonder... how the garden is doing... *cough*. Without anyone taking care of the flowers, they probably all withered.

The days we spent cutting paper together... were quiet and carefree. Too bad... those days are behind us...

Back then... we would even play games... *cough*...

*Cough*... Jerry didn't know how to play very well, so I helped him...

What a dummy I was... *cough*... Who'll play with him now...?

(Why did I accept his proposal...?)

The hydrangea patch on the chest... there we go. Sew it on... perfect.

The dip dyed skirt... Hm... is this too light of a shade? Let me take a look from a little farther away.

No, this is just the right shade of blue.

Man, this skirt looks just like a hollowed-out papercutting. Bibeak's a genius.

Okay, darling... I'm quite fond of you.

I hope Penny will like you, too.

Monday

Right now, slowly...

Thank you, Orchid.

Phew... Okay. It's a good thing I made it with buttons up front instead of fastening in the back.

It's beautiful... Thank you. Just looking at it... it brings back so many memories.

(Fondles the dress feebly)

I love it... Thank you, Orchid. You seem... exhausted.

Thank you... so much.

Don't mention it. After you try it on today, I'll bring it back and work on the collar with some laces. It'll be finished soon.

Tomorrow, you'll wear it and marry Jerry.

That's great... but I'm sorry. I can't... I can't wear it.

Don't be silly. This dress was made for you and for that moment.

Tomorrow, with everyone's blessings, Jerry and you will become husband and wife while you wear this dress.

You'll have a champagne tower, a balloon arch, and cookies all day long. When everyone walks past you tomorrow, they'll gasp in admiration: Oh, what a beautiful bride.

I'm sorry, Orchid...

Right from the start, I never expected you to finish it... I thought that... I wouldn't have to turn him down again if you didn't finish.

I turned him down... so many times. I couldn't bring myself to do it again.

What you said is so beautiful... If only we could bring everything to a stop then... but I... I can't be so selfish.

I... I'm very thankful for your work, but please... please don't finish this dress. I can't marry him... I can't.

I know how you feel. All brides feel like this before a wedding.

But you can't back down in the face of those emotions. You two love each other deeply, don't you?

This isn't backing down...

Orchid... I love papercutting... but... I don't like making the final snip.

If I mess it up... It can't be fixed. If I can't bear the responsibility... then I should set the scissors down... and stop.

(Holds the girl's hands) Penny... You're wrong. You want to see it finished, don't you? If you quit now, it will never be finished.

It won't be finished, but there will still be a future. Whether it's good or bad... I don't know, but it's enough. There's still time. He can still find someone else.

Jerry will regret this the rest of his life. All because you're giving up now, Penny.

Right, it'll really weigh on him... but he won't be bound by our vows. He'll get better in the end... I hope he will.

Have you made up your mind?

Yes. Please help me. I... I can't bring myself to turn him down myself... and see him that sad.

Alright, Penny.

That night...

Darling, I have some bad news. Penny never wanted to see you finished.

Does she like you? Yes, she does. Does she want you, though? No, she doesn't.

Looks like I've wasted a lot of energy on something that I should never have gotten myself mixed up in.

I could finish you and keep you... and no one would know...

But what point is there in doing that?

Phew—

(Picks up the pair of scissors on the desk)

That's why... I'm sorry, my darling.

Under the moonlight, a cold ray of light is reflected on the pair of scissors held high. Just like a cruel, merciless bolt from the blue, it tears the beautiful wedding dress on the hanger asunder, splitting it into two halves.

I can't finish you.

Two weeks later...

No, how could you cut it up?!

I've already done it. Another glass of whisky, Joe? Thanks.

I really regretted doing this, especially when Jerry found out the next day that I didn't finish the dress.

Was he mad about it?

I wish he was, but he wasn't.

Did he say anything?

Not a thing. All he did was nod and leave.

Well, that sounds terrible.

You know what made it worse? Penny passed away on the day the wedding was supposed to be held. I didn't go to her funeral, because I didn't know if I could stand to look Jerry in the eye.

But that was over two weeks ago. Why are you here drowning your sorrows now?

Because Jerry paid me a visit this morning.

What did he say?

That he's leaving.

Before he left, he gave me a pair of scissors. He said it was a present Penny once gave him. He wanted to give them to me at the funeral, but I didn't show, and I'd been avoiding him since, so...

He had no choice but to drop in on you.

Sure enough. Hmm, this glass is all gone too. Get me another?

I think you're drinking a little too much.

You know how well I hold my liquor.

When we said our goodbyes, I tried to comfort the boy and tell him to get back on his feet. It's what Penny would've wanted.

But he said to me...

But, Orchid... When the sun sets on someone, it doesn't matter how many stars there are in the sky. They can't help him out of this long night.

That filled me with regret. I shouldn't have cut the dress up. I should've pushed Penny to go ahead with the wedding. Then maybe Jerry would've felt better.

But you didn't do that.

Because I wanted to run away, again, and Penny gave me a good excuse to do it.

The truth is, every moment I spent with Penny tormented me. I never felt so clearly just how life slips away from somebody, bit by bit.

(Trembling) It scares me... I tried to hold it in and to act normal in front of people.

But I can't help but wonder when I'm alone: What if that was me in the bed?

I have Oripathy, too!

(Holds Orchid's hand)

So, once again, I crumbled. Once again, I ran away. Once again, I didn't see things through.

Another glass for you, Orchid?

Thanks.

(Raises glass)

To Jerry and Penny, to dreams and failure, to that stinking old bastard Boyd...

To life and death.

(Finishes in a single gulp)