Chapter 16
Even though I'd won that crucial match with the world's fate hanging in the balance, I didn't think it was all over just like that. If I didn't stick by Song Seon-yeong's side to make sure she kept her promise not to kill herself, wouldn't that be irresponsible? Keeping our distance like strangers until now had been my own way of being considerate.
'Though I'm a little worried if she saw it that way!'
I'd thought monitoring her to check if she kept her promise would come off as treating her like she couldn't be trusted. But now that she'd asked for my help like this, it was time to roll up my sleeves. If only to prove I hadn't just been standing by indifferently.
As a first step, I told her, "From now on, I'll wait for you in front of the classroom during every break."
"To keep an eye on me?"
"Yeah."
With the aptitude test over and the last winter break approaching, classes had gotten pretty lax. If not for that, there'd be too many gaps in my watch for it to mean anything.
"Even the bathroom?"
"I'll let that one slide..."
I didn't need to be by her side every second. Family, friends, classmates, teachers... even a total stranger with enough sense of justice to talk a girl down from jumping off the roof would be enough.
"Everyone's gonna see you though?"
"Can't be helped."
For the greater good, a little side effect was a price worth paying. The fate of the world was in my hands, after all!
* * *
Ding-a-ling~♬
"Thank you! Come again!"
The fate of the world might be resting in that one girl's palm, but I couldn't ignore the rent and living expenses staring me right in the face.
"You're really hustling."
Song Seon-yeong, who'd followed me all the way to my convenience store part-time gig, was looking around with wide-eyed curiosity. In her hands were a drink and some bread the boss had handed her before heading out to play computer games.
'He never gave me any!'
Taking care of a girl he'd never met before over his loyal weekend warrior employee? Unbelievable.
"Moon-soo."
"Yeah?"
"Doesn't it get boring just standing at the register?"
"So when there are no customers, I kill time with this and that."
"Like what?"
"Homework from school."
"...Standing still sounds better than that, even if it's boring."
"I do other stuff too. Like reading those magazines over there."
"Whoa... lots of science stuff."
"It's a free monthly from a publishing house run by the boss's friend."
"Anyone actually read it?"
"Plenty use it to prop up cup ramen shelves."
We passed the time trading idle chit-chat like that.
Ding-a-ling~♬
"Welcome!"
Whenever a customer came in, our conversation would pause...
"Is the girl next to you an employee too?"
"Nope."
A fair number of guys snuck peeks at Song Seon-yeong, who was sitting with her legs crossed, showing off those killer thighs under her short uniform skirt.
Some took it further: "Miss, here's my business card." A guy handing over a fancy gold-trimmed card.
"Your number...?" Offering his smartphone for her to input it.
"Got a boyfriend?" Completely ignoring me standing right there.
And more, and more... It was endless.
"You're popular."
"I know."
She brushed it off like it was routine, her tone flat. The gold-trimmed card was already trash-bound in the recycling bin. Phone numbers? Flat-out rejected. Boyfriend questions got, "What, are your eyes just for show?"
"Asking if a customer's blind is kinda..."
His crumpled expression was satisfying, but my heart sank too.
"I'm a customer too, y'know?"
"Oh, right."
If it'd been me, I'd have called the boss in a heartbeat.
"...Gonna hit the bathroom."
"I'll come with."
"You have to watch the store."
"It's fine."
If she headed to the roof instead of the bathroom, that'd be disaster. Better than just standing around waiting.
"I don't want you getting in trouble because of me."
"Boss yells if I leave the store empty too much, but this is okay. It's the slow graveyard shift anyway."
"If you say so..."
Still, her expression didn't brighten.
"The bathroom?"
"...I'll hold it. When does this shift end anyway? You still gotta go to school."
"I'm more shocked your parents haven't called. Don't they worry?"
"Nah."
Her curt tone shut that down. I didn't push.
"Almost done. Next guy's due soon."
"Yaaawn! When do you even sleep?"
She covered her mouth wide, emphasizing how sleepy she was.
"About an hour from now."
"You even human?"
"I thought I'd never pull it off at first. But you get used to it. What about you?"
"You know the answer."
"Right. I'll walk you home at least."
She might bolt straight to the roof once we parted. Had to check till the end.
"What're you talking about? I'm obviously going to your place."
"My place? You too?"
"Mom and Dad are too busy fighting whenever they see each other to care about me. They wouldn't even notice if I vanished."
"...Guess can't be helped then."
Words about not following her home died on my tongue.
* * *
I got seriously lucky. The day before, our homeroom teacher had stopped by and helped clean up my pigsty of a place.
Song Seon-yeong took in my single-room apartment in the commercial building and shared her thoughts.
"Independent already?"
"Kinda."
Good thing she didn't realize my parents were completely out of the picture.
"Jealous. But I don't wanna live off part-time gigs like you."
"This year's my last anyway. Once I graduate, I'll have time. Gotta prep for a real job."
"No college, huh."
"What's a shaman gonna do there?"
No university in this country teaches how to see ghosts. Rumor has it there's a full-on occult academy on the other side of the planet, though.
"Shaman suits you, I guess."
"That's my aptitude."
"Oh, right."
"But I'll look into non-shaman stuff. I don't have the confidence to make bank on TV like Yuil-am."
"Jobs are tough without matching aptitude."
"Gotta try anyway."
Hiring mismatches is rare. Efficiency tanks. Doctors doctor. Nurses nurse. Pharmacists pharmacist. Everyone sticks to their lane.
Like putting a president-aptitude guy in charge of a company smaller than a nation? Disaster. Lucky if he doesn't pick fights with investors over dumb politics.
"Other jobs..."
"Why not look into something else too, Seon-yeong?"
"...Think I could?"
"Easier than going to the Olympics for a medal, right?"
It was a superhuman war, where freaks who barely seemed human battled every four years just to scrape into the top four for glory.
"I got nothing special besides swimming."
"...How about modeling?"
"Modeling?"
"You're pretty now, but in that swimsuit? Couldn't look away."
"Bikini?"
"Yeah."
"...I don't like people ogling my body like it's merchandise."
"Hmm..."
Aptitude doesn't lie. If she could shrug off stares, the test would've spat out something else.
"I'm sleepy. Let's crash."
"You take the bed. I can do floor with blankets."
"Oh? Looking out for the girl?"
"Yeah."
"Suspicious... That's the bed you use every day. What if I get pregnant?"
"Won't happen!"
A guy's sperm lasts three days on average, seven if super healthy. But still.
"You sure?"
"...Can't guarantee."
Confidence dipped.
"If you touch me while I'm asleep, you're dead."
"Then go home and sleep."
"Can I?"
"No, sorry. Bad joke. Please stay here..."
Reason I'd let her into my secret hideout? Monitoring. Had to stick to it.
"Night."
"You too."
One impulsive night was doable, but living together long-term? Unrealistic.
"...Asleep?"
"......"
"Seon-yeong."
"......"
Off to dreamland already? No response.
'Plan for tomorrow later.'
To wake before her and keep watch, I needed sleep now. Focused on that.
"......"
"......"
Bzzzzt— My smartphone's vibration jolted me awake.
"Who the hell calls at this hour... Huh?!"
Caller: Song Seon-yeong
I whipped around in bed like my neck might snap. She was gone! Song Seon-yeong had vanished!
Beep.
"Where are you!"
My voice shook as I hit call. Pure terror. Fear I'd never see her again.
(Come to the roof.)
"Stay put!"
If she planned to die, she wouldn't have called. Clinging to that faint hope, I bolted to the building's rooftop.
* * *
"Seon-yeong!"
"Shaman. Come on over."
She was perched on the roof's railing.
"Dangerous. Get down first."
"Stop."
I froze mid-step at her sharp warning.
"Seon-yeong. This isn't you."
"Sorry. Can't keep the promise."
"......"
Wanted to rush and grab her slender frame, but one more step and she'd jump. She'd had me from the moment I dozed off feeling safe.
'Should've known it was too much.'
I'm human too—can't watch 24/7.
"I knew all along. No matter what, aptitude doesn't change. But I wanted it to."
"I know. How bad you wanted it."
Better than anyone.
"Thanks. For playing along with my nonsense."
"I'll keep playing along. So come down."
"Can't."
"......"
"I called you here for my last words."
"Last words...?"
"Like you feared, I might die for real this time. If we never meet again, it'd be too sad."
"You know that and still—"
"Can't take it anymore."
She writhed like in drug withdrawal.
"Calm down."
"Moon-soo. Last time—just once more. If it works, you won't be rich, but I can make decent money. I've been checking stocks on the side while you work."
"Seon-yeong..."
I'd watched her struggle because of our promise. At school, the store, streets, home... I knew how hard she'd tried.
"We'll meet again smiling."
"Wait."
"......"
"Not urgent, right? This might be our last talk."
"...Say it from there."
Last chance. No great actor, but I said it with conviction.
"You're gonna die."
"Might not."
"Don't cling to shaky hope. I'm a shaman. Occult expert."
Who'd have thought I'd thank my aptitude one day!
"Shaman..."
"You kept your memories—that proves it. I can say it confidently: this time, you die for sure."
"...Then these are my last words."
"Seon-yeong!"
"Sorry."
She leaned back just enough—precarious, ready to plummet! But she didn't jump right away.
'Scared maybe?'
Hesitation from the girl who'd offed herself casually before. This was it. Final shot!
I lied to her once more.
"I guarantee it. You'll succeed as a model."
"Told you, can't."
"Treat everyone like mannequins."
"Mannequins...?"
"You said it first. Everyone but me looks like mannequins. Even in the department store underwear—"
"Don't bring that up."
"Got it."
We locked eyes like a staring contest. Her pupils wavered. Conflict clear.
"Past-you couldn't model. But now? You've got experience no P aptitude test can measure."
"......"
"Treat 'em all like mannequins—no shame. Right?"
"Yeah."
"You'll crush modeling. I guarantee."
"......"
"Seon-ye—"
"...I'll try. Modeling."
"Seon-yeong!"
She stepped down. I lunged in one bound and—whoosh!
"Ow, that hurts!"
"Thank you!"
Hugged her tight, never letting go.
"What... No, I'm the thankful one. For real."
"Seon-yeong. Got something to say."
"Hold on. Me first. I really, really li—"
* * *
"Ah...?"
I was warming her chilled body—heart and all.
'What's this?'
She hadn't jumped, but my view shifted. And, 'Not school?'
Lying in a soft bed in crisp white patient garb, IV in my wrist. Hospital?
"Ugh!"
Wanted to lift my head and look around, but my waterlogged-cotton body wouldn't budge.
'What the hell...'
Definitely not the past—no memory of being admitted. Someone explain...
"Oh! Doctor! Doctor! The patient's awake!"
"What?! Really?!"
"Yes! Kang Moon-soo, who was in a coma, woke up after ten days!"
"Oh! Such a miracle...!"
"......"
Thanks for the explanation.