Chapter 126: Awakening (8)
Let me sort out the current situation again. If I don't do at least this much, I'm gonna lose my mind.
I need to keep reminding myself that I'm the normal one here, and the world around me is the crazy part.
Anyway. Right now, I'm locked up in the gym storage room, limbs bound on a dusty mat.
My sisters are out there searching for their missing little brother.
And the kidnapper who snatched me...
"This teddy bear costume is so adorable!"
"……"
"Oppa, can't you wear it for me sometimes too?"
"...It's hot."
"You wear it in front of that Yuri bitch or whatever... prancing around like it's nothing, but not for me? Do you want me to die of jealousy?"
She was hugging the teddy bear costume I'd brought and spouting dangerous nonsense. Separate from her jealousy toward Yuyeong, she seemed genuinely into the outfit.
"You sure you can afford to be this chill?"
My sisters had definitely come all the way to the middle school building. It was only a matter of time before they found us.
But Eunbi just smiled leisurely.
"See? Even though you're saying that, you're worried those girls might interrupt us, huh, Oppa."
"Never worried."
"Hehe, I love seeing you get more honest about your feelings bit by bit."
Honest my ass! I'm still glancing around while talking to you!!
Ha... is there really no other way?
There is one method I've been saving as a last resort because it creeps me out so much.
But using it would provoke this yandere stalker big time.
She might go full psycho and try to kill me later, or if she records it, I could end up in legal trouble.
But if I just sit here with my hands tied, the next lockup spot'll probably be her house.
Hoo~ After a deep breath to steel myself, I carefully opened my mouth.
"Yeah. You're right, Eunbi."
"Huh?"
"I just realized it myself. I really do... want to be with you, Eunbi."
"Oppa..."
Eunbi gazed at me with touched, emotional eyes.
"Thank you so much, Eunbi. For making me see it."
"No, no. It's just what a girlfriend would do."
"I'm so grateful... You're so lovable, I wanna pat your head."
"Hehe, I'll pat yours instead."
Her hand gently stroked my hair.
"Eunbi, can't I pat you too?"
"Here."
Eunbi shoved her head right up to my bound hand on one side.
"This is kinda awkward... Eunbi, could you untie this just for a sec so I can pat you properly?"
"Heehee, don't try any tricks, Oppa."
Tch, busted?
"What're you talking about? You doubting this oppas love right now?"
"Looks like you haven't snapped out of the brainwashing yet. Gotta treat you some more."
"What nonsense! I like you, Eunbi!"
Eunbi stared at me intently for a moment.
"You mean it?"
"...Yeah, so untie me first. You really don't trust me?"
Eunbi still didn't untie me. Instead, she rummaged through her big bag and pulled out a camera.
"Whatcha gonna do with that?"
Filming this would only backfire on you.
But what came out of Eunbi's mouth was shocking.
"If you're sincere, Oppa... let's record it. As proof of our 'love.'"
"Fuck!! My bad!! It was all lies!!! I'm still brainwashed, so stop!!!"
Don't casually drop the most dangerous ideas!!!
I thrashed around, begging her not to come closer.
"Hehe, liars gotta get punished~"
Ignoring my struggles, Eunbi approached with the camcorder on.
And then...
"Okay, now Oppa and Eunbi are gonna sweetly cuddle all happy."
Mwah~
"Mmph..."
"Heehee, got it perfectly. I'll send it to your phone too, Oppa!"
Phew~ Luckily, she stopped at just a light peck and backed off satisfied.
Thank god Eunbi's still kinda innocent.
Wait, is this innocent?
I'm starting to lose track of what's normal anymore.
Anyway, gotta brush twice when I get out today.
"Ahh, pure bliss~... Huh? Why are the drones acting up?"
"Something serious?"
"Hold on."
I heard nothing but laptop keys clacking for a bit, then Eunbi grumbled.
"Says they smashed every last one? Why do those drone club losers only have junk?"
I could practically hear the drone club's hearts shattering from here.
No, my nose is the one in deep shit right now.
If my sisters smashed the drones, they know how serious this is.
Even if I get out of this kidnapping unscathed, I'm toast.
"Gahee, Yuyeong."
"Unni!"
"Iri, have you found Taeyang yet?"
"Not yet... Doesn't seem to be in the main middle school building."
After taking out all the drones, the three met up on the sports field.
"No drones chasing you either, Iri-unni?"
"What? You guys too?"
"Think someone's messing with us on purpose?"
"Feels like it. And... there's at least one person tailing us."
Iri glanced sideways, and Yuyeong followed her gaze.
Her otaku instincts kicked in, spotting the hidden figure too.
Someone had definitely kidnapped Taeyang on purpose.
"Stick together for now. Safer that way."
"Yeah, it'll take longer, but okay."
"Shall we check the gym storage? Foot traffic's low, perfect spot to pull something off."
Lee Yuyeong, who'd spent years fantasizing battle manga scenarios set at Pullyip Middle School, was an expert at this.
She knew every spot in the school where a terrorist might hide or stash a hostage.
And their guess was spot on.
The foreign man watching from afar urgently radioed in.
Having received orders to keep them away from the gym storage at all costs, he stretched and approached.
"Hey."
"Finally showing your true colors."
Like a line from one of Yuyeong's dramas, the burly white guy in a black suit shed his jacket.
His thick arms, sleeves rolled up on a white shirt, were covered in scars from battling countless mafiosi.
No ordinary high school girl could take him in hand-to-hand.
Which is why...
"I'll handle him."
Iri stepped up first.
"What? Iri, just call the cops."
"You sure you're okay with that?"
"Cops would take too long. We gotta hit the gym storage now. Cover me."
Never imagined they'd prep this much for kidnapping Taeyang.
Maybe even planning to flee Korea.
Worst case, crime syndicate ties flashed through her mind.
Iri had entered Yandere Stage 2.
"While I hold him off, go!!"
There might be more guys. Gotta move fast.
"Unni!! We'll come back for you!!"
"Iri, be careful!"
As Gahee and Yuyeong ran, the foreigner lunged to grab them.
"Your opponent's right here!"
Iri's spinning kick flew in; he raised his guard quick.
BAM!!!
Min Iri's 'Superhuman'
Transcending human limits, Min Iri was more than a match for an Italian mafia legend.
Gahee spotted the gym storage as she ran.
"Huff..."
Please... let Taeyang be in there.
"Unni, watch out!"
Yuyeong tackled Gahee aside.
"Ugh..."
Whirrr~
A drone that had charged where Gahee stood moments ago looped back for another attack.
"One more drone left?"
"This one's... different from the others we took out."
As Yuyeong said, its shape and movements differed from the earlier ones.
Timing its loop, Yuyeong hurled a dart arrow.
"Dodged?"
The drone nimbly evaded like it was mocking her and kept charging.
Then it circled rapidly near Choi Gahee and Lee Yuyeong, blocking their path.
Tch, circling Gahee-unni means I can't risk a dart shot.
Even a crack shot wouldn't shoot near a person.
Yuyeong fumed but switched tactics.
As she dashed forward, the drone barreled straight at her.
"Yuyeong!"
"Unni! I'll stop it—go to the storage!!"
Smashing face-first into the drone, Yuyeong ignored the cuts, grabbed it, and rolled.
Clutching the thrashing drone that didn't break on impact, she yelled.
"Hurry!! You're the only one who can go, Unni!!"
Gahee bit her lip hard.
But she couldn't waste her friends' sacrifices.
And time was running out in this crisis, so Gahee ran.
Inside the gym storage.
"We gotta leave now!"
Eunbi's situation had turned against her.
She rushed to pack and came over.
"Oppa... don't worry. I won't let those bitches have you. I'll protect you to the end."
"……"
Watching nearby CCTV on her laptop with her, I thought quietly.
Just call the damn cops already.
Phones aren't decorations—why's everyone playing out some shonen battle manga?
Yuyeong's one thing, but Gahee-noona and Iri-noona too...
I can't comprehend yandere logic at all.
"Car's almost here! We'll move somewhere else, so hang in there!"
"Wait, move? By yourself?"
She gonna untie me?
Eunbi glanced around, biting her nail.
Searching for a way to transport me.
"Ugh... Pablo's tied up with the stalker..."
Suddenly, her eyes locked on something.
She snatched the drink she'd offered me earlier.
"Drink this first."
"It really has sleeping pills in it!!"
I knew it, but damn, right on cue!
Whether I freaked or not, Eunbi twisted off the cap and shoved it at my mouth.
Bang! Bang! Bang!!
"Taeyang!! You in there!!!"
"Gahee-noona!!!!!!!"
I yelled at the top of my lungs in case she couldn't hear.
I'd deal with Iri later—first, escape Eunbi.
"Taeyang! Hold on, Noona's coming to save you!"
But the gym storage door was locked tight.
"No use pounding—it won't open!"
But after a few knocks...
A lock-picking sound, and the door swung open easily.
"Huh?"
Both Eunbi and I were equally stunned.
How'd Gahee-noona...
And the one stepping in wasn't just Gahee-noona alone.