episode_0116

Horror.

Intense fear that persists regarding specific objects or situations.

When I first heard about the event centered around that theme, the ‘Horror Festival,’ I honestly didn’t have high expectations.

I must apologize to the organizers, but it was inevitable.

As I mentioned before, the hurdle to feeling fear had become quite high.

It didn’t seem like a big event like a comic con, so it didn’t look like there would be much to enjoy.

Betrayal is when you fall for it because you had expectations in the first place.

So, I didn’t have any expectations and searched for information related to the event.

“…Hmm, maybe it’s worth checking out?”

After confirming that the content was much more substantial than I had thought, I decided to participate.

The first-floor set looked more elaborately decorated than a haunted house at most amusement parks.

Even if the various missions for escape didn’t turn out to be fun, spending a pleasant time watching classic horror movies with Jaehyuk on the second floor at the cinema would be worth it.

“Ah… but wait, the weekend is already here? Why does time seem to pass so quickly these days…?”

Unlike the busy last week, this week passed by smoothly and peacefully.

Thanks to the threefold increase in prices by the boss, which seemed to have had an effect as the number of customers decreased significantly.

In between the moments of leisure, I had looked up detailed information about the ‘Horror Festival.’

“Jaehyuk seemed interested in costumes, right?”

The content I focused on the most was, of course, related to ghost costumes.

The thought of standing in front of Jaehyuk in a costume made me so embarrassed that my body trembled, but the only option I had was to dress up.

…How could I say I couldn’t do it when he was expecting it so much?

If I had to do it, then I wanted to make Jaehyuk excited by preparing meticulously rather than just making a sloppy and shabby attempt.

After confirming that I could prepare the costume in advance, I started to think about what kind of ghost I should dress up as.

“…This is tricky.”

The dilemma was really long.

I had no idea what kind of ghost I should dress up as because there were too many options.

“There are… too many choices!”

Should I dress up as a ghost bride and whisper sweet nothings as if it were a real wedding?

Or should I dress up as a wicked witch and play mischievous pranks on Jaehyuk?

Or should I just tempt Jaehyuk as a noble and elegant vampire, true to my vampire lineage?

All of these options were equally appealing.

At this rate, I was worried that I would end up standing in front of Jaehyuk in a way that was neither here nor there.

The dilemma that took up the whole day ended abruptly, leaving me feeling quite empty.

[Are you there?]

[It’s okay if you’re not!]

[I’ve already messed up~]_3:12 AM

[???]

[Long time no see, Clara]

(A soft rice cake emoji shaking hands vigorously)

[But what did you mess up…?]_3:18 AM

[Secret!]

[It’s 7:30 PM in Italy right now, so it’s 3:30 AM in Korea, right?]

[You’ll probably find out around tomorrow evening!]

[Please let me know when you confirm?]_3:30 AM

(July 25, 2020)

(A picture of a package filled with clothes)

“Hey, Clara?”

“Why do you have so many clothes…?”_6:21 PM

…Arachne, who had been busy for a while, hadn’t contacted me.

She suddenly sent me clothes without any prior notice.

As the head designer of a famous fashion brand.

Considering her status, the gifts she sent couldn’t just be ordinary clothes.

Receiving what I got in May was already enough, so I tried to send it back, unable to overcome the burden.

As I was putting back the things I had taken out of the box, she sent me a message.

[Ahaha]

[Is this a token of gratitude for the help in May?]

[Thanks to you, I had some fun for a while.] _6:27 PM

[Oh, by the way, just in case, please don’t send it back?]

[Compared to what I received.]

[What you received doesn’t even compare to a speck of dust.] _6:28 PM

I rejected the rejection first, but it would be disrespectful to refuse a gift giver by insisting on not accepting it.

I expressed my gratitude and left a message saying that I would treat her well when she comes to Korea, then started checking each piece of clothing.

And.

“…What’s this?”

I could tell.

I had to dress up as some kind of ghost for the horror festival in front of Jaehyuk.

Although the outfit looked quite provocative at first glance, there was no other way.

It was practically impossible to find better clothes in a short time than this.

“I hope Jaehyuk likes it.”

Ziik –

The dawn was breaking slowly.

With the clothes packed in my bag, I came out of the room and lay down on the bed next to Jaehyuk.

And then, I fell asleep, embracing the one who was already lying down, as if it were natural.

—–

Six days passed in the blink of an eye, and the holiday came unexpectedly.

Unlike usual, we quickly prepared a simple meal and went outside to enjoy our planned date, heading towards the event venue.

Jiwoo, carrying a backpack on his back, as if he had prepared something.

After walking for a while, I became curious and cautiously revealed my curiosity by looking at him intently.

“Why do you have a backpack on a date? Are you planning to stay somewhere for a day?”

“No? It’s for the event. You’ll find out what it is in a little while, hehe.”

“…I’m curious, can’t you tell me now?”

“No way, it’ll be no fun if I do. Trust me.”

What could he have prepared that made him so embarrassed yet excited?

Although I was eager to open the backpack and see, I restrained the desire and changed the topic of conversation.

…It would be a sure failure to try, and I didn’t want to ruin this good atmosphere.

“Oh, by the way, July is slowly coming to an end now. It was quite a tumultuous month, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah, it was. I don’t think there will be a more confusing month in the future.”

“What if someone who always says they don’t know what will happen in life suddenly becomes certain? Do you know what I mean? Will there be a more confusing month than this?”

“Oh, come on, it won’t be like that, right? If it gets worse than this… No, I shouldn’t jinx it.”

Was it a strange imagination?

Jiwoo suddenly blushed, shook his head vigorously, and then started talking about August, coughing awkwardly.

“By the way, how will August unfold? Since the number of unexpected guests has decreased, it should be better than July, right?”

“Who knows? But what about going back to school? Are you really not going to?”

“Yeah, honestly, I can’t feel any reason to continue studying. I’ll take a break and think about it slowly.”

“Is it because you don’t feel like going back to school at all?”

“Burying bones at midnight isn’t so bad. Honestly, if I graduate and become a civil servant, I won’t even get half of the salary I’m getting now.”

If the workload increases significantly but the pay is cut in half, I wouldn’t feel like doing it either.

A realistic conversation we haven’t had in a while.

So engrossed in conversation, we found ourselves standing in front of the event hall before we knew it.

To escape the scorching heat of midsummer, we immediately showed our tickets to the guide dressed as a ghost and entered the building.

“Jaehyuk?”

“Yeah? What’s up?”

“I received an urgent call, can you wait here for a moment?”

“Take your time. I’ll wait as long as you need.”

With an apologetic expression, Jiwoo asked for understanding and suddenly disappeared somewhere.

What’s going on?

I looked around suspiciously at the spot where he vanished, scratching my head.

“…I’m sure he’s up to something with what he’s got in his backpack, but what exactly did he prepare?”

Waiting anxiously, trying to guess for 20 minutes.

When will he come back? Exhausted from waiting, someone quietly tapped my shoulder.

“You’re here…no, who are you?”

Thinking it was Jiwoo, I turned around, only to see a guide in a creepy clown costume.

With a sinister laugh, he pointed to the entrance with his finger.

“Are you here to enter?”

I nodded –

“Sorry, can you wait a little longer? My companions haven’t arrived yet.”

“…Companions, inside.”

“Oh, thank you. I’ll enter right away.”

When did he enter alone again?

Thanking the clown guide, he moved to another location, and I immediately entered the experience hall to meet Jiwoo.

“It’s dark, it would have been nice to have at least one candle.”

As I entered the experience hall, I was greeted by darkness where nothing could be seen.

Feeling fear slowly creeping up, I began to move cautiously.

“Hey, Han Jiwoo! Where are you!”

I shouted for no reason, but all that returned was eerie air and silent stillness.

It’s so creepy, should I run away now?

As I pondered seriously, a hand suddenly shot out and grabbed my arm tightly.

“Ah, ahh!”

A reflexive strong resistance.

But as if mocking me, the figure easily subdued me, pushing me against the wall.

And then.

“Shh, be quiet.”

Demanding silence with a mesmerizing voice, she brought her index finger to my lips.

Only then did the figure of the villain come into view.

In the dizzying spectacle unfolding under the dim light.

I couldn’t help but attack her.