Chapter 13
I poured carbonated soda into the fish tank where the fish lived, pulled off that bizarre stunt, and bolted from the aquarium like a fugitive. My mind was total chaos!
Is it gonna be okay?!
If those were fish that only live in pristine water, they'd die 100 percent. Even if not, wouldn't the sticky sugar clog their gills and make breathing tough? I wasn't a fish ecologist or vet, so that only made me more uneasy.
I kept glancing back sneakily. It'll be fine, right? It has to be...
I prayed the fish that drank the soda would be okay.
"What're you doing?"
Song Seon-yeong shot me a weird look as we walked side by side through the women's section of the department store, lined with famous clothing brands.
"Just checking if anyone's chasing us."
I kept looking back like a petty thief scared of getting caught.
"You know it's fine, right?"
"I know, but..."
Even knowing time would rewind and erase it all, I couldn't shake the anxiety.
"Moon-soo. What do you think of this?"
She stopped walking and flapped a triangular scrap of fabric in front of me.
"Looks good."
"Say it after actually looking."
"Ahem! I looked, but I don't really get it."
I felt wronged. How was I, a guy, supposed to know about women's underwear!
"Does it suit me?"
"Yeah, it suits you."
"......"
"......"
Sudden silence crashed down.
What did I mess up?
Cold sweat trickled down my forehead and back.
"You've been looking behind you nonstop."
"That's..."
"Forget the aquarium. If someone chases us complaining, so what? They won't even remember soon."
"True."
She was spot on.
"Listen up. What human Kang Moon-soo should worry about isn't the aquarium staff or the fish—it's me, Song Seon-yeong's mood. Even if we go back, I won't forget."
"Ah..."
That was true too.
"One last chance. Look properly."
"Okay. I will."
I focused hard, eyes straining.
"...I didn't mean stare so blatantly, but it's way better than before."
"Good now?"
"No. Hold it up close and tell me what you think."
"Huh? Hold it up close...? What do you—gasp!"
I'd barely asked when I sucked in a sharp breath. With her other hand, she'd lifted her school uniform skirt and was actually holding the fabric against herself.
"What do you think?"
"Y-you're insane?! Put it down! What if people see?!"
"...I asked what you think. And so what if they do? They won't remember—"
"I get it, just put it down first! Then I'll tell you! Hurry~!"
"Fine."
She casually dropped the skirt back down.
"Phew..."
"Answer quick. Or I'll do it again?"
"It's really pretty! My heart's pounding so hard I can feel it!"
This was sincere. I was so shocked my heart felt like it'd burst out.
"Your heart?"
"Yeah! My heart!"
"...Same as me. Mine's pounding too."
"Yeah."
How can she act so casual after that? That's not normal!
For some reason, I felt relieved.
"Let's go now."
Click. Her face brightened as she hung the underwear back and started walking.
"Weren't you gonna buy it 'cause you liked it?"
"Nah. Even if I do, it'll vanish quick."
"Yeah... true."
The sun had set before we knew it, and the sky was dark. Time flew...
The department store, quiet when we started wandering, was now packed with rush-hour office workers.
"Dinner?"
"Eh... feels like cops or teachers might barge in mid-meal."
Even with my phone off, it was like surveillance cams everywhere and card statements were tracking us.
Better safe.
This wasn't our usual sports uni pool, so maybe they wouldn't catch us quick—but it could go the other way too.
"Guess we can't. Getting caught would suck."
"Smart thinking."
"Rooftop."
"Elevator's that way."
We didn't head back to school or home. No need.
Ding!
We skipped the floors we hadn't seen via elevator and shot straight to the department store rooftop.
"Not locked."
"They use it as an outdoor parking lot."
"You picked this place knowing from the start?"
"Duh."
Some buildings block rooftop access, but this one used the open space for parking.
"Railing's high."
"Bend over. I'll step on your back to climb."
"Okay."
"...Pervert if you peek at my underwear."
"Won't."
She shows it herself sometimes?
Impossible to predict.
Whoosh! Her weight on my back as she climbed was brief.
"Look forward to later."
"To what?"
"Secret~♪"
She said it brightly, not like someone about to suicide, then jumped off the rooftop.
1 second, 2, 3, 4, 5...
"...What?"
Song Seon-yeong was definitely dead. No way to survive that height.
By gravity acceleration, five seconds after jumping, the view should've switched to the classroom.
"......"
I waited.
Ten seconds already...?
Way past regression time, but the clock kept ticking endlessly.
"......"
Still waited.
"......"
I waited calmly.
"...This is weird."
Calm shattered.
Thump thump! No occult activation no matter how long.
If time keeps going like this...?
"No, no...!"
No one would believe a girl happily shopping committed suicide. Only option left: murder by a third party!
And I'd been with her the whole time.
"God..."
Terror hit. Me as a killer? And never seeing her again? Despair wrapped around me.
I should've stopped her!
Too late for regrets.
In this nightmare, what could I rely on?
"Please!"
Ironically, only the occult.
"Please...!"
Thud! I dropped to my knees, wailing.
God!
I prayed to a god I didn't even believe in.
"Student Kang Moon-soo. Come up and solve problem 3 on page 338."
"Please...!"
"Please?"
"Ah!"
Was it just my imagination? Occult triggered.
Thump thump! My shocked heart still raced.
"Student Kang Moon-soo?"
"...Teacher, sorry. Emergency—I gotta go."
I jumped out the classroom window again, thinking: Thank god!
Relieved for a chance without regrets.
* * *
While kids my age studied in school, I hung out with a pretty girl, no money worries. After Dad died, my grim, wretched life— this had to be its happiest moment!
That said...
"She's late."
I always hit the pool first, but this time it took forever.
Something wrong?
No way, I was sure—but her recent odd behavior made me uneasy.
"Whatever."
I'd learned all the theory. She still caught my unconscious slips, but critiques were dropping.
Soon...
Day I'd beat her at swimming was near.
"Moon-soo."
Song Seon-yeong's voice called me, floating aimlessly on the water. I turned toward where she should be.
"Why so la—huh?"
"What do you think?"
She appeared near closing time, spinning in place.
"......"
"Cat got your tongue?"
"Uh... bikini?"
Not her usual one-piece. A dizzying design that screamed disaster at speed! One tug on the thin strap up top, and it'd all come off.
"I asked what you think."
"Pretty."
"That's it?"
"Really pretty! You could model swimsuits!"
Her chest looked bigger, but probably my imagination.
"...Boring reaction."
Splash~ Pouting like she wasn't thrilled with my take, she eased into the water feet-first.
"Can we race like that?"
"Obviously not."
"......"
No clue what she was thinking in that risky swimsuit.
"Moon-soo."
"Yeah?"
"Hanging out with you, spending freely—no worries—made me realize."
"What?"
"I've been so stupid. Aptitude doesn't matter at all."
"What brought this on?"
"Think about it. We can read stocks like palms. Sports betting? We nail wins safe. Right?"
"Yeah, spot on."
I knew the fantasy novel trope, but couldn't control occult, so gave up. Stocks'd vanish on regress anyway!
But she could control hers—different from me.
"See?"
"Yeah."
"If we want, we're rich in seconds."
"Probably."
"No need to work with money? Aptitude's just hobby, not survival."
"......"
She was totally right. Loaded? Aptitudes become hobbies, not cutthroat tools.
"You don't have to be a shaman you hate."
Her persuasive voice tempted like a devil's whisper.
"I..."
Hate shaman. Not for clear reasons like her—just no good/bad metric.
Forced reason? Exorcism ain't lucrative—vague bias.
"I like it."
"What—?"
"I like you."
"......"
I'd sensed her acting weird lately, but this confession? Zero guess.
Her flushed cheeks puffed as she urged: "Answer quick! Don't make me the weirdo!"
"...Why?"
"Idiot! That's your answer?!"
"Sorry."
Lame, even by my standards.
"Thought you liked Choi Kang-hun."
"That sophomore? Just tested 'cause he's popular. Wasn't real. Killed myself right after meeting him."
"Ah..."
Confessed to Choi Kang-hun, rejected, pride hurt—regressed. Poof, no confession.
"But you're different."
She gazed seriously.
"You're the only one who seems human. A man."
"What...?"
"Others are mannequins stuck in place."
"......"
"They repeat same lines, actions on regress—like machines. Head knows, heart rejects. You?"
"...Same."
I'd bolted mid-class, ignored attendance. Phone off to dodge worried teachers.
Ignoring bonds I'd built, societal rules!
Yeah. Abnormal.
At some point, I stopped seeing others as equals too—like her.
"Only man in world? Gotta like you."
"...Yeah."
Like Adam and Eve, stranded couple.
Hurt male pride, but got why she was drawn—only option.
"You? Only woman to you?"
"...Yeah."
Splash~ Our gaze locked, distance closing.
"......"
"......"
Closer, lips almost—
Beep~!
"Customer! Session's almost— ahem! Don't stay too late."
The lifeguard pulled whistle from lips, quietly left.
Thanks, coach!
I'll repay—even if you forget. We'll remember forever.
"Seon-yeong."
"Yeah?"
Her flushed, moist eyes met mine.
"Seon-yeong."
"I said yeah."
"Sorry."
"Huh?"
Perplexed—not the answer she hoped for.
My joyful soul squeezed my chest painfully.
But...
Couldn't stop here. Only I could rein her in.
"Race me."
"......"
I hated myself for the harsh words.