Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: FILE 2. Ghost Reception
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Long ago, there was a being who slipped free from the laws of the earthly realm and came dragging its tail to this land.
Gazing out over the horizon, he committed one mistake. He looked down at his feet. His eyes met those of a finite soul wandering the surface below.
Why was that a mistake?
He fell in love. Cursed as it was.
How many years had passed already? It was back when he was a student. An autumn night when a pleasant breeze tousled his hair.
Haewon lay on the rooftop floor in his school uniform. The sun had set not long before. Though the surroundings had darkened, the sky still held a faint blue hue.
In a city night where neon signs outshone the stars, a few salt-grain stars still dotted the heavens.
He traced the Big Dipper with his eyes. Cheonchu, Cheonseon... Haewon didn't particularly like his mother, but she had taught him how to read the stars. That much, at least, he appreciated.
Let's see. The brightest star gleamed right above his head like a nail driven into the sky. Even someone ignorant of the stars would recognize it. Venus.
Then a slender shadow fell, blocking the space between the night sky and Haewon.
"Why are you lying on the floor? You'll ruin your uniform."
A neatly trimmed bob reaching her shoulders. A girl with eyes that shone like Venus.
She wore a school uniform like Haewon, but from a different school. Her name tag read 'Park Saetbyeol.' Hearing it, Haewon didn't sit up—he just grinned up at her.
"Lie down too. The stars are great."
Saetbyeol tilted her head without responding for a moment. When Haewon didn't budge, she seemed to change her mind and slowly lay down right beside him.
"What? Where are these stars?"
"I can see them fine."
"Call me Saetbyeol again and you're dead."
"Wanna see that constellation that looks like a little bird up there?"
Hearing that, Saetbyeol burst into quiet giggles without getting up. Then she turned to look at him. Their eyes met.
"I have no idea what we're doing on an academy rooftop."
"What's wrong with it? Classes are over."
"Not going home?"
Haewon hesitated for a second before flashing a grin.
"Just ten more minutes."
He paused a bit awkwardly. A line had just come to mind, but he lacked the shameless experience to say it outright. After wrestling with it, though, he finally blurted it out.
"The stars are pretty."
"......"
If the listener had been a bit older, she might have openly cringed. But under that serene night sky, nothing of the sort happened. Saetbyeol just hid her slightly flushed face.
Ten minutes was more than enough. That day on the rooftop, Haewon kissed Saetbyeol for the first time.
They slipped out of the academy building right on time. Instructors were prepping for the next class, but no one spotted them. Not that it would have mattered much if they had. Giggling like they'd pulled off some grand escape, they stepped into the night streets.
Their steps drew closer, swaying gently. Their hands swung exaggeratedly in the space between. Awkward even after kissing, neither could quite manage to hold hands.
Then their fingers brushed—one or two at first. Before either knew who started it, their hands clasped tight.
Saetbyeol shuddered like she'd chugged a whole glass of soda, then laughed and asked,
"Haewon. What do you wanna do after college?"
"Dunno... Never thought about it specifically. I'm busy enough as it is."
"What about after graduation? Any ideas on a job?"
"Well......"
Haewon's expression stiffened awkwardly. An utterly ordinary topic, an everyday conversation. But Haewon wanted no part of it.
Because there was someone who wouldn't respect whatever he wanted. These talks inevitably led straight to thoughts of her.
"Hey. I heard a rumor... about your mom......"
Saetbyeol ventured hesitantly. Haewon caught on. She'd been eyeing him carefully, wanting to ask from the start.
"I'd rather not talk about that."
Seeing Haewon's face harden, Saetbyeol shut her mouth. The softness had already vanished from his features. Clearly, his mother was a topic he truly wished to avoid.
"Oh, got it. Sorry. I just......"
Seeing her stammer, Haewon softened a little, feeling guilty too. He forced a smile and spoke gently.
"Later... I'll tell you later. Caught me off guard, that's all......"
As Haewon soothed her, Saetbyeol's smile slowly returned. But it somehow differed from her radiant grin moments before. Shadowed, like it concealed a great deal...
Looking back on that day, that's how it felt. Her smile even seemed to foreknow what was coming next.
"......"
Before he knew it, they'd reached the main road. A bustling intersection lined with shops. Pedestrians hurried to their destinations as the traffic lights changed.
Night had fully deepened, early stars fading away.
This crossing would split their paths. Haewon wanted to walk slower, but Saetbyeol had surged ahead.
She turned in the middle of the crosswalk, hands clasped behind her back.
Haewon thought it was the prettiest, most lovable smile he'd ever seen. Like Saetbyeol herself. Truly like a morning star.
That was when it happened.
Screeeeech!
It happened too suddenly. Right before Haewon's eyes, Saetbyeol vanished. In her place loomed a massive dump truck. He saw it plain as day, yet couldn't grasp what was unfolding.
The truck filled his vision completely. Whatever had befallen the driver, it had veered wildly into the lane on a not-so-busy road. It slammed head-on into a bus stopped at the light.
Boom!
And standing between those two vehicles was Saetbyeol.
"......"
Haewon slowly turned his head toward the crash site. The fronts of both massive vehicles were utterly crushed and mangled. The devastation made it clear neither driver had survived.
Let alone anyone caught in between.
His gaze drifted to the pool of blood soaking the asphalt. The pulverized body bore no trace of its former humanity. Save for one pitiful arm outstretched from where the vehicles met.
"Ah......"
Even that arm soon flopped to the ground. Thud. It rolled across the blood.
He still couldn't comprehend what had happened. Lights flickered chaotically. The whole world unraveled into billions of threads, surging like waves.
Screams, footsteps, alarms, retching, skid marks, streetlights, swirling dust, wind, blood stench, oil reek, sirens, curses,
starlight.
FILE 2. Ghost Reception
"...Oppa? Haewon oppa?"
Haewon snapped to his senses. He was an adult now. Sitting at a two-top window table in the Flower Mugwort Tea House. A cup of herbal tea sat before him, cooling— he couldn't recall ordering it.
He glanced at the sunlit floor-to-ceiling windows, then turned toward the voice.
Ibi, in hanbok, was calling him. White fabric embroidered with red thread. Not traditional—sleeves narrowed for ease, the tea house's uniform.
"Nah, just... lost in thought."
Ibi had called because he seemed so spaced out. He hadn't touched the tea she'd brought.
"Oh? Thinking about an ex?"
Haewon was a bit dumbfounded by her sudden mischievous glint. Guess she'd gotten comfy around him.
No normal folks in the Ghost Bridge Society anyway. Haewon shrugged it off breezily.
"Not that."
It was a little true, but nothing he cared to discuss.
Haewon glanced around vaguely, changing the subject.
"That outfit suits you now. How long you been working here?"
"Lemme see... Exactly a week."
"You've adapted fast. Felt like a month to me."
Ibi tilted her head with a small nod. Getting this job had been sudden and unplanned, but she'd settled in.
She'd been on leave, part-timing at a cafe anyway— not a huge shift. Life plans could wait... This place gathered oddballs, but they were the ones who'd saved her.
Per Nati, nothing guaranteed it wouldn't happen again. The Hollow Man was still out there, watching her. And they knew next to nothing about him.
Plus, the uniform was cute...
"Nati's been scarce lately, huh?"
Haewon smiled faintly at that.
"He's not one to show his face often. Last time was urgent because of you."
"Hmm......"
It didn't feel bad, knowing he'd cared enough. Still, she wasn't fully convinced he was a good guy.
"Anyway, I'll head out. Might swing back later. Work hard."
Haewon cleared his spot and stood. Ibi waved goodbye, then circled the shop.
It was a slow hour, no customers crowding. Nothing pressing caught her eye. Returning to Haewon's table to tidy, she spotted a few sheets of paper on the chair corner.
What’s this? She reached for them. Their nature was clear at once.
A letter.