A piercing scream was heard in the distance.
“Look at them screaming. A ghost will come out soon.”
“I know, in front…”
I panicked at the model that suddenly popped out and dodged to the side. Then something squishy touched my leg. I asked in a trembling voice.
“Hey, guys. I just stepped on something squishy and warm, what do you think it is?”
“Is it soft by any chance?”
“Maybe?”
“It’s a person.”
As soon as Cho-yeon finished speaking, a staff member dressed as a ghost grabbed my ankle. I was so surprised that I couldn’t even scream and just froze, opening and closing my mouth. While I was so shocked I couldn’t speak properly, I slowly removed the staff member’s hand. Then I belatedly screamed and ran away.
“I shouldn’t have said that ominous thing about it being cleaner inside than expected.”
I stood there in a daze, my soul having left me. As I stood still, somehow finding me even in the darkness, In-sae grabbed my arm and went ahead.
“In-sae, aren’t you scared?”
“Yeah, I’m not scared.”
“But earlier you said you were scared. It was a lie after all, wasn’t it?”
In-sae laughed quietly. I shifted my gaze to In-sae’s hand holding my arm. I wondered whether to shake it off since it felt awkward and uncomfortable. But somehow it felt like a waste to do that, so I didn’t. I called Hee-ae and Cho-yeon, who were far away from us.
“Hee-ae, Cho-yeon. Where are you? Come quickly.”
I felt the two of them approaching. I felt relieved at my friends’ presence but somehow also became anxious.
***
“My throat is going to give out tomorrow. I’m never looking at a haunted house again.”
I cleared my throat to soothe my hoarse voice. I didn’t know I was so weak to horror. Hee-ae pointed to the right and shouted.
“Lee Seung is over there. What’s he doing at the table?”
“Should we go? We walked around so much and we’re only now meeting someone from our class.”
In-sae went ahead first. I also followed In-sae and approached Lee Seung.
“Hi, what are you doing? Why are you drinking tea?”
“Originally, if you’re an Aseon High School student, you should have drinking tea as a hobby. It’s even written in the school rules…”
“There’s no such thing.”
In-sae sharply cut off Lee Seung’s words and answered. When Lee Seung put down his teacup, a clinking sound rang out. He looked behind me and asked politely.
“So Ban Eun-gyeol-nim wants an Americano?”
“The Five Great Kings-nim were here too?”
“Oh my, oh my, were you all there?”
The Five Great Kings appeared from behind us. Cho-yeon wrinkled his face and showed his displeasure. The Five Great Kings asked in a cringeworthy tone.
“You. I have something to ask.”
“Me? Compared to the Five Great Kings-nim, I’m an existence not even worth a mere carpet, but you have something to ask such a lowly insignificant creature?”
The Five Great Kings seemed flustered by my answer and there was a brief silence. My praising skills are working hard again today. The Five Great Kings looked straight at me and said.
“Go go! Choegang is eternal.”
The surrounding air turned cold. I was careful not to look at the Five Great Kings with pity. Did something happen? Suddenly spouting incomprehensible words and making a fuss.
“I guess not.”
The Five Great Kings said, trying to hide their awkward expression with a dignified attitude. Their dignity was already shattered long ago anyway. I turned my attention to Lee Seung.
“Oh right, I have something to say. I ran into Fake Hwi the other day. And he said his friend is coming to turn Aseon High upside down.”
“Is that true?”
The Five Great Kings butted in and whispered among themselves while pondering something. Lee Seung carefully observed In-sae, Hee-ae, Cho-yeon, and me.
“Yu Shi-dan.”
Lee Seung called my name and grabbed my hand. It seems like he’s trying to experiment with something, but I don’t know what. I stared blankly at Lee Seung. Hee-ae glared at Lee Seung and snatched my hand away.
I was surprised and pulled my hand away from Hee-ae. Then I wiggled my fingers and made excuses.
“Sorry, I was flustered.”
“It’s okay. That can happen.”
“What. Yu Shi-dan, are you conscious of Nam Hee-ae? You had no reaction to me.”
“Was this for an experiment?”
I tried to calm my surprised heart. Hee-ae’s face brightened at the words asking if I was conscious of him. I was caught up in subtle feelings and smiled awkwardly.
“What? Why are they giving balloons and leaving?”
Cho-yeon went somewhere briefly and came back holding 4 balloons, speaking half-heartedly. A passing fan club member must have given them as a gift. He pressed one red balloon into my hand.
“Thanks. The balloon is pretty.”
“There’s still more to ask. Since both of them are gathered, let me ask, Han Cho-yeon. Do you like that kid?”
It’s content I eavesdropped on before, and since I’ve already received confessions, it’s not a particularly surprising question. My mischievous side emerged and I exaggeratedly placed one hand on my chest and said.
“Actually, I’m Han Cho-yeon-nim’s stan. That’s why we’ve been hanging out together recently, and now we’ve been caught.”
I was looking forward to seeing how Cho-yeon would react. Cho-yeon’s reactions are always fun to tease, so what will he do this time?
“I told you to be careful.”
“I didn’t expect you to return it like that.”
What, Cho-yeon, give me back your reaction. I was at a loss for words because Cho-yeon calmly returned it without showing any sign of being flustered. I backed away quite a bit and explained.
“It was a joke. I’m not a stan. Just…”
I don’t know what to say. I looked at In-sae, Hee-ae, and Cho-yeon beside me. It’s ambiguous to call them friends, but it’s also strange to say it differently.
“It’s ambiguous.”
“Are you dating those two after all?”
“That’s not it.”
I immediately answered the Five Great Kings’ question. Lee Seung moved his gaze from me to In-sae, from In-sae to Hee-ae and Cho-yeon, and asked.
“Yu Shi-dan. Do you know what those two, no, add one more person, so three people think of you?”
I hesitated to answer. Cho-yeon gestured as if telling me to answer honestly. Hee-ae muttered quietly.
“Shi-dan, you know.”
“…Yeah. I know. I know too well.”
“As expected, that kid likes Cho-yeon! Hmph.”
The Five Great Kings spoke as if they knew it. When Lee Seung looked surprised, Hee-ae put on a polite smile.
“I should go. There’s nothing more to do here, and, um. Want to go over there?”
Feeling uncomfortable in this situation, I pointed anywhere and suggested. In-sae walked in the direction I pointed without saying anything.
We walked on an outer road with few people. The rides sprayed light painfully bright. Later, there were gradually fewer people until only we were left on the road.
Being lost in thought and spacing out for a moment, the strength left my hand. The balloon slipped from my hand and flew upward.
“Wait, I dropped the balloon.”
I shouted loudly to the kids and reached out, but I missed it by a hair’s breadth. The red balloon rose high into the sky and later became invisible. I sighed and made a displeased expression.
I turned around with a regretful expression. No wonder there was no sign of anyone, the kids had disappeared. Since there’s only one road, they probably went ahead around that corner. I looked blankly ahead in confusion.
“…It’s suddenly quiet.”
I walked down the road with a forced smile. It’s even scarier because it happens to be a road with no people. As I walked slowly, many thoughts came to mind. Don’t tell me I’ve returned to the original world again? What if I can’t find the kids at all?
“Guys. What if you leave me behind?”
I tried talking to myself for no reason, but it’s still quiet. I barely moved my feet, which wouldn’t fall from fear. It’s scary because it’s too quiet. I muttered anything in a crawling voice.
“I shouldn’t have gone to catch the balloon.”
I hesitated before turning the corner. What should I do if there’s no one even after turning the corner? Just as I was hesitating, In-sae popped out.
“Shi-dan.”
I let out a deep sigh and relaxed at the welcome voice. It hasn’t even been a few seconds since I was separated from the kids, but it feels like more than 5 minutes. I lost my strength and crouched down for a moment. In-sae walked over and checked on me.
“You weren’t behind us, so I thought you got lost. I found you quickly.”
“Yu Shi-dan! What were you thinking, suddenly disappearing?”
Cho-yeon shouted in a clear voice, as if surprised. It couldn’t have been even 10 seconds since I disappeared, so I don’t know why such an intense reaction.
“I think you said something but I couldn’t hear it well. But when I looked back later, no one was there…”
Hee-ae, who came closer, said in a dejected voice. Then he shook his head alone and blamed himself. I said I spoke loudly, but I guess my voice was small. No one heard it? In-sae extended his hand to me, who was still crouching.
“Grab it.”
I hesitated, then grabbed In-sae’s hand and stood up again. I made such a fuss over getting lost for a moment. Looking at me feeling embarrassed, In-sae said quietly.
“Shi-dan, remember when someone kicked your shoes and left last summer?”
“Yeah, vaguely.”
“When you heard the cicada sounds then, you had the exact same face as now.”
I didn’t answer and held In-sae’s hand tightly. In-sae has his usual indifferent expression today too. I was glad In-sae had that expression. I felt a little relieved because it seemed like I had safely returned to everyday life.
***
“The sun is already setting. What time do we have to gather?”
“8:30. This school is so irresponsible. Leaving kids alone like this until then.”
Cho-yeon answered with a tired complexion. Then a man and woman next to us were talking and came over to speak to us.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
Hi, when will this section be free?
Thanks