Wishing for Love
(A SaiDa AU one-shot)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was an old and large fountain in a park at the east side of town where Minatozaki Sana lived. Even with its simple style, the fountain was still one of a kind and one of the things to marvel in the small town.

It wasn't just any fountain, though, because some of the townspeople called it the Magic Fountain. Though others also called it as the Wishing Fountain.

It was believed that when a person tossed a coin into the water and make a wish, the statue of Tyche--the Greek goddess of fortune, providence, fate, and chance--on top of the fountain (her mouth being the water distributor) would grant it.

But, like the Magic Lamp, the Magic Fountain could only grant three wishes.

Sana was included among the people who believed, because two of her wishes had already come true: the first and second were to graduate high school and college with flying colors. Of course, she knew she'd done her best to achieve them, but she couldn't help thanking the fountain for the successes she'd gained.

After two of her wishes had come true, she made the Magic Fountain one of her inspirations for her artwork. It was like saying that the wishing powers of the fountain were indeed real. This was also the reason why she wanted to stay here and not work in a city, and the rural life suited Sana best.

Every Saturday, Sana would come to the fountain area to paint, since it was her day off from her work as a digital graphic artist. Painting was always her passion.

Sometimes people would come near her to check out the painting she was working on and then congratulate her for a job well done, causing her to become somewhat famous in their peaceful town. Sana would say thanks with a beaming smile; making people happy with her works was already an achievement for her.

Because, after all, art is for everyone and should be enjoyed by everyone.

This Saturday afternoon, while the sun was setting--the clouds turning into a marvelous bluish orange--there were only a few people around, so the place wasn't that lively, which was a rare occasion for Sana.

When she turned her head to the left while sitting on a wooden bench beside a mahogany tree, someone caught her eye: a pale woman who was wearing flats and a dress. She was standing beside the fountain, gazing at its clear waters with a soft smile on her flawless face.

The mysterious woman had ginger hair and angelic features. Sana couldn't clearly see the color of her eyes, though, because of the distance between them. This was just a small town, and Sana was sure this was the first time she'd seen her.

And, for some unknown reason, just by looking at her, everything felt right.

Then Sana realized she was gaping at the woman like an idiot. Snapping herself from her daze, Sana immediately closed her mouth, prepared her art utensils, and then started painting the beautiful and serene scene with the woman before her on the canvas, before she'd turn and walk away. The Japanese girl guessed that she was making a wish.

Sana emphasized the painting mostly on the woman and the fountain. What she was doing was still a draft, because she was afraid she'd go any second now. She'd already memorized the scenery in her mind, but she wanted seeing the woman's face while she still could. She just hoped she didn't look like a stalker or something.

But to Sana's dismay, the woman already left when she looked up from her art canvas again. She let out a disappointed sigh, but couldn't do anything about it, anyway, except to continue painting.

⛲❤️⛲

It was already evening when Sana was finished with her work. Before leaving, she went to the Magic Fountain, gazed longingly at the statue of Tyche, at the water, then realized something--she still had her third wish.

Pursing her lips, Sana pondered if this was the right time to use it.

After a full minute of silence debating with herself, Sana fished a coin from her pocket, tossed it into the water, and then made her third wish.

I wish to see that pale woman again.

⛲❤️⛲

It had already been two months, but the pale woman didn't come back to the Magic Fountain anymore. Maybe she went there but not on a Saturday. Sana was crestfallen, but didn't lose hope. She always brought the special painting with her, just in case they'd see each other again.

She finished her new painting (which was an acai bowl because she was craving for one) at seven o'clock in the evening while sitting on a bench beside the lighted lamp post. After fixing her art tools and putting them into her art portfolio case carry bag, she trudged toward the fountain to sit on its side. Sana didn't know why, but she felt not going home yet. There were only a few people passing by at this hour, so it was like only her and the fountain were there. Hearing the calming sound of the water splashing was all she needed at the moment.

The fountain was illuminated by yellowish lights, seeing the coins glittering on the bottom and different colors of roses floating on the water, making it more admirable to gaze at.

Sighing, Sana looked up and saw the moon and stars shining grandly in the sky; there weren't any clouds to be seen. She gave a soft smile while closing her dark-brown eyes, relishing the moment.

A few minutes went by (or so she thought) when Sana heard footsteps coming toward the fountain. Another person who wanted to make a wish at this time, maybe?

The Japanese just sat there, still not opening her eyes. Then, she heard the footsteps stop in front of her, making Sana freeze on the spot.

I hope the person in front of me isn't a serial killer or something much worse, thought Sana nervously. Or maybe it's just a policeman, who's about to tell me it's time to go home. Scratch that--it's still early in the evening!

Sana heard a woman's voice softly say, "Hello. May I sit beside you?"

She willed her eyes to open, and then she was stunned. The person standing before her wasn't just any woman.

It was the pale woman! She was wearing a casual white sleeve dress and white high heels.

My third wish came true! Help! SOS!

"S-sure," Sana answered with a stutter, then gulped nervously.

"Thanks." The woman gave her a smile that it almost made Sana's heart melt, then sat to her left.

Should she start a conversation to pass the uncomfortable (for her) silence? Maybe the woman would think she was a weirdo or something, and it'd scare her away. Sana didn't want that to happen, but she was starting to get awkward now. She could even feel sweat forming on her forehead and palms, even though it was a cool evening.

"I hope I didn't disturb you or anything."

The Japanese wasn't expecting a sentence from the mysterious woman, so she couldn't help jumping a little from where she was sitting. "N-no. You d-didn't," she assured her.

The woman giggled, and she just noticed how her voice sounded so melodious. "Sorry for startling you. It's just...it's so quiet. Except for the fountain, of course."

Running a hand through her light brown hair, Sana sheepishly asked, "It's okay. Um, so why are you here, if I may ask?" Sana was staring straight ahead at a random tree, since she was shy to look at her.

This was new to Minatozaki Sana, because from what she could remember, she never stutter and it was rare for her to be shy--being an extrovert and all.

"Just to pass time, I guess," she replied, shrugging. "Work's been stressful lately, and I just wanted to sit back and relax at a peaceful area where I can talk to someone." Sana felt the woman staring at her. "I'm glad someone's already here before I came."

"And that's me?"

"No. Your shadow."

Sana got to laugh at that, now starting to feel at ease toward her. Even the woman joined in.

After their laughing subsided, she asked, "What's your name, painter?"

She gazed down at her lap, then answered while bowing slightly, "Minatozaki Sana. You can call me Sana." She now had the guts to look at her again and finally saw the color of her eyes, which was gray. Not the stormy kind of gray, though; more like the calm type of gray. "Yours?"

Blinking her eyes, the other girl cried, "OMG! You mean, the famous artist Minatozaki Sana that I've been hearing from the townspeople?"

Her cry made Sana flinch. "Eh-he-he, I'm not famous."

"Nonsense! I'm so lucky I got to meet you in person. And my name's Kim Dahyun. Feel free to call me Dahyun," she replied and bowed her head with a smile, making Sana's heart beat in a fast motion, and she hoped the sound of the fountain was loud enough to cover its thumping noise. "I think I saw you before...while I was making my first wish two months ago."

So my hunch was right.

"I'm here almost every Saturday," Sana told her. "This fountain is my most favorite subject to paint, because my three wishes came true. I paint the fountain as a form of thanks to it or something, and to tell people that its wishing powers are really real." She chuckled. "I hope you don't find that weird."

"Don't worry, Sana, it's not weird for me," the Korean assured her, and Sana loved how she said her name. "In fact, I find it nice. And I'm so happy that your wishes already came true. Mind telling me what they were?"

"Not at all!" Sana beamed. "The first and second were to graduate high school and college successfully, and then the thi--" She suddenly stopped mid-sentence, remembering what her last wish was.

Oh, no. Dahyun might think I'm a creep if I tell her what my last wish was!

"What was your third wish, Sana?" Dahyun encouraged her to continue.

Sana rubbed the back of her neck nervously. "If I tell you, Dahyun, maybe you'll run away from here in an instant."

Dahyun furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "Don't tell me you wished that the FBI won't catch you using illegal drugs?"

Her jaw dropped to the ground, her eyes wide.

"Kidding!" she said while laughing. "Just looking at you, Sana, I already know you're not that kind of person. Can you tell me what that wish of yours was? I promise I'll tell you mine, too." Then Dahyun waved her hands in a sheepish manner. "But it's all right if you don't wanna tell me; I don't wanna make you feel uncomfortable or anything."

"No, it's okay." Sana turned to her shyly. "But promise me that you won't laugh...?"

"I promise. Pinky swear?" Dahyun said with a nod.

They did the pinky swear while chuckling.

Exhaling audibly, Sana then told Dahyun, "I wished that I'd see you again. Your presence caught my attention on the day I saw you making a wish, so I painted you with the fountain. I can't explain why, but...okay, this may sound cliché, but there's something in you that makes me feel...um, right."

Dear Lord, I sounded lame back there.

Dahyun blinked three times, shock written on her face. "Um, what?"

I knew it. Any time now and she's gonna think I'm a creep. Or worse--a psycho stalker, Sana thought sadly, mentally slapping herself.

But before she could scold herself for her action and jump off a cliff, Dahyun smiled warmly at her.

Wait, am I in heaven?

"Sana, that was so sweet," Dahyun said, now grinning widely, her monolid eyes turning into crescents. "Say, did you bring that painting?"

"Y-yeah." She carefully pulled out said painting from her art carrying case bag and handed it to Dahyun--the one where she was standing beside the fountain, gazing at it with wonder, with the sun setting as her background.

"Do you bring this every time you come here?" she asked curiously.

"Y-y-yeah," Sana said again.

"Whoa! This is so majestic! Perfection! Not that I'm biased." Dahyun's small hand hovered above the image of the fountain. She paused while gazing at it with a soft smile, then told Sana, "You know, this is one of the sweetest things someone has ever done for me."

"I didn't regret painting that." Sana grinned in return. "You can keep it, if you like."

Scowling, Dahyun told her, "But I'm sure this is worth a fortune! I'm willing to pay--"

"Dahyun," Sana gently interrupted her, "consider it as my gift to you instead."

The Korean looked conflicted, but with Sana's pleading eyes (who can say no to that?), she sighed in defeat. "Fine, since you insisted. Thank you so much for this lovely gift." Dahyun grinned back. "You know, after meeting you, I want to be friends with you."

It was Sana's turn to blink. "W-what? Really?" Was this really happening to her right now?

"Yeah, silly," Dahyun said with a laugh. "I don't know why, too, but I feel comfortable when I'm with you, even though we just met. That's not weird, is it?"

"No, it isn't. Let's be friends, Dahyun!" Sana smiled widely at her, thankful that Dahyun thought the same thing, then suddenly remembered something. "Hey! You haven't told me your wish yet."

She looked back at the fountain. "At first, I didn't believe the wishing myth. But now..."

Sana just continued staring at her in curiosity, waiting for Dahyun to finish her sentence.

Dahyun was still smiling. "I'm going to believe it."

Sana just kept silent, not wanting to disturb Dahyun, but she was killing her with suspense.

Letting out a light giggle, Dahyun said, now gazing into Sana's dark-brown eyes:

"I wished for love."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Theme song: "The Most Amazing of You" by Duan Aojuan.

Please don't mind the Pokémon in the GIFs haha! Credits to the owner, of course. And I hope you enjoyed reading this one-shot!