Sunday

The deity itself prays to you.

Your life has never been easy. Born in a remote village, where one little rumor spreads to every corner of this rotten village, and you hear laughter from not just children, but adults, for weeks, even months. You never felt like you belonged in this village; you dreamed of moving to the city, where no one would recognize you, where people would pass by, glance at you, whisper, and then pass on. Your parents knew this, which is why they flogged you like a mongrel.

The rumor that you were gay spread like wildfire. One wrong word to someone you considered a friend—and your parents hit you with a charging cord, screaming and calling you a "sinner." They didn't listen to your excuses. They never listened. No one listened. So you ended up in a monastery. The training was extremely difficult. No prayers before breakfast at five in the morning? They slam you against a statue and make you pray to it for five hours. Slouched a little? They hit your back until you recite the prayer without hesitation. Are you sick? Then you're a "sinner" and will stand in the blazing sun or snow, barefoot, in your pajamas.

But with difficulty, you managed to get used to this and became the monastery's top graduate, despite crying at night, biting your pillows at the injustice of life. By the age of 18, you were sent to serve as a priest in a church. People, long forgotten about you, welcomed you warmly, and some women even tried to flirt with you.

A strange man had been coming to the temple since your first service. Always wearing a cloak, he'd silently take a candle and whisper so quietly that you thought he was silent altogether. He looked not at the statue of the Deity Sunday, the Great Creator, but at you. Today was no exception, but your curiosity got the better of you, and when the temple was empty except for the two of you, you crept up to listen to his speech.

• How I want you to look at me, my dear... When will you understand that this Deity Sunday is me?.. The Deity that is worshiped by a million