Omniscient Victim's Perspective (4)
[Sorry. I was too nervous earlier and couldn't speak properly]
[I like you much more than I said before]
I like you much more than I said before
“……”
Roll roll
Roll roll
I need to sleep. Time to sleep for real.
…
I like you much more than I said before
“……”
Roll roll
Roll roll
No. I really need to sleep now. Stop looking.
…
…Last time.
I like you much more than I said before
“……Me too.”
Sleep came crashing over me. I woke up. The phone I'd been clutching had run out of battery.
*
Swish
As the curtains parted, the pansies filling the room gleamed with a blue sheen.
I liked that.
*
Whirrr
“Does my hair look weird? Is parting it to the left really bad? Does it make my face look bigger?”
“It's the same as before.”
“No, the texture's different. Look properly.”
Click. The hair dryer's warm air cut off.
“…It's the same. You've just switched left to right fifty times.”
“Should I add waves? No, doesn't that look too heavy? Bangs? See-through bangs? Ah, too much.”
“I'll add waves. They'll suit you.”
“No. Just bangs. Bangs only.”
“Bangs then? Are you really decided now?”
She curled the ends of her hair, then let them fall.
“How's the lipstick shade? Too pink? I don't want to look childish. The last one was like I'd eaten a mouse, and this one's too fiery.”
“Miss. I have a question.”
“Speak.”
“…Why is someone who never bothered with makeup before spending two hours wrestling with the mirror?”
“Hey, doesn't my face look a bit puffy? Look here. Ah, this sucks.”
“You're not listening to me.”
“Aah, if you hadn't tempted me with tteokbokki yesterday… I really didn't want to eat it.”
“Says the one who dipped my fritters in the broth and ate them all.”
“Wait! No bangs after all. Undo it now. Make it see-through.”
“Ah.”
Good. Prep complete.
“I'll get back to work now, Miss.”
“Thanks for the help.”
“Miss.”
“Yeah?”
“Eolleri kolleri.”
“……What? It's not like that? Not at all. Not even a little?”
“Eolleri kolleri.”
The tissue I tossed hit the hastily shut door and fell.
She's mocking her master like that?
“……”
Sigh…
“……Shall I go?”
I crossed the room and paused in front of the mirror.
The nameplate read Seo Seon-ha.
The name of the girl determined to turn into a fool starting today.
“……Looks good.”
Before leaving, I glanced back inside.
Pansies everywhere, covering every surface.
I picked one.
“……”
I like this scent.
Because it brings your face to mind right away.
*
I walked to school. Felt like it.
Clack clack
'Huh?'
Was there a photo booth there?
-Hey. You sulking because I said I hate photo booths?
-No.
-Are you spiking my drink with sleeping pills to take pics with me?
Maybe after school today. He'd love it.
Clack clack
'There it is.'
The tteokbokki place I ordered from yesterday.
Order something super spicy today.
-Ughhh…
-Eating spicy food has nothing to do with being macho…
How much bluffing would he do?
Clack clack
…Instant love hotel? Demon's lair. No place for a bipedal intelligent being. …B-26 zone, huh.
Clack clack
…
I stopped in front of a dingy stationery store. An old paper fortune teller stood out front. With a 100-won slot.
'Draw a four-leaf clover and… your wish comes true?'
…Come on.
Who believes that crap and wastes allowance money these days…? No way some silly kid falls for that scam.
…
I went in and changed a bill for coins.
-Can you change this to 100-won coins?
-A million-won bill…? Kid… You hate this old man that much?
Came out with the coins.
Look around
Hiked up my skirt and crouched.
Clink
Inserted a coin, turned the lever. A capsule dropped into the tray.
Opened it.
'…Three leaves.'
Invalid.
Clink
…Invalid.
Clink.
Invalid.
Clink clink clink clink clink clink clink clink clink clink
“Oh my.”
Four-leaf clover.
'…'
…Well.
Since I drew it.
Ahem.
…
“…Please let that person stay in this world every day from now on.”
Forever. Forever. Without ever getting bored.
Me. This world.
'…'
I've turned into a total fool.
Resumed walking.
Clack clack
…
Were there always so many things on this street?
I never knew.
*
Arrived at school.
Waved to a few kids. They bowed back, looking dazed.
Walked the halls.
Idle chatter drifted into my ears. Who likes who. Ghosts at school spots. Tried the new cafeteria bread?
…
So that's what life was like all this time.
'Childish.'
…
…Maybe check out the ghost spot. Obviously with someone in tow. How much would he freak?
'……'
A grin crept up.
Clack clack
Entered the classroom. He was already there.
Sat next to him as he stared at the blackboard.
'He looks frozen solid.'
Hid the ringed finger behind my back.
-You can answer by tomorrow…
He's probably agonizing over my reply right now.
“……Pfft…”
Ahh, what do I do. Keeps making me laugh. Play it cool for now. Then flash the ring finger. He'll be shocked for sure. Might even cry.
“Yeon-woo, hi.”
His head snapped around unnaturally at my voice.
“………?”
Why's he shocked already?
With a face I've never seen before.
*
“S…Seon…ha…?”
“…Yes?”
“Don't talk to me anymore.”
“Yes?”
“Leave me alone.”
“……Yes…”
…
What kind of prank is this?
Did he sense I was about to tease him and turn the tables?
“…” “…”
Placed my ringed hand on the desk.
Didn't look his way.
“…” “…”
This day.
He didn't say a word to me.
“…” “…”
First time. The day he didn't give me pansies.
The day dragged on forever.
*
Day two, still silent.
'…'
Mad at me?
Hmm, what? The teasing act? Holding off on the confession reply? Or something I don't know?
“Yeon-woo…”
“…”
“Wanna go take photos after school?”
“No.”
…
Came home. Spent three hours agonizing in front of my phone. Tapped out a message.
He's still a kid… I'll approach first and smooth it over.
“Haa…”
Sending it lifted a weight off my chest.
“Seriously… this is the last time.”
Hugged the phone to my chest and lay down.
Waited happily for his reply.
Planned to sleep after reading it.
…
Couldn't sleep.
*
Next day.
“Sorry.”
Apologized to him.
One fear gnawed at me.
-What'd you do wrong?
Afraid he'd ask that.
I don't even know.
His bloodshot gaze skimmed past my face.
“Sorry. I…”
Scrape
Yeon-woo stood from his seat.
Thud thud
Swapped seats with another kid.
-Please, anyone but next to Seon-ha. Please.
I'd prayed that every seat swap time.
*
Day four, he looked haggard. As much as me.
“Can we talk?”
“……Sorry. Not in the mood right now. And I can't talk to you anymore.”
“Just a bit. Step out for a sec…”
Grabbed his hand.
“!!”
Knew he was a guy then.
From the brute strength shaking off my hand.
The desk crash drew eyes.
“……S-sorry… so don't come near.”
He left the classroom, breathing raggedly.
Didn't come back.
I went home and cried quietly.
*
Day five, I cried again.
This time at school.
I'd become a child.
“…Sorry. T-tell me. I'll f-fix anything. I d-did wrong. I did wrong.”
“…”
He'd called me out.
I followed instantly. Cafeteria.
Sobbing, but honestly thrilled.
Aaaah, thank goodness.
I'm a sly human.
Should've cried sooner.
He would've comforted me right away.
No four days of no-talk loss.
“…Sniff…”
…A little
A little excited.
What face would he make comforting his beloved crying girl.
He handed me a drink and said he didn't want to see me anymore.
Sorry until now.
Then vanished.
It was a drink I hate.
…
Felt half my soul ripped out.
…Came home.
Opened the door.
Wilted pansy field greeted me.
No new blooms in this room anymore.
My staggering legs tossed me into the chair.
Bang
Door flew open, no knock.
Yu-ri with a trash bag.
“Miss, I'm throwing them all out today for sure.”
“………I said don't.”
“They wilted ages ago. Wilted flowers aren't flowers. Trash…”
“I said don't throw them out.”
“Miss. Look in the mirror.”
“Don't care.”
…
The bag trembled.
Her hand gripping it trembled.
Breathing harder than me.
…
“Sorry. I'll disobey. Give me the lowest rating. Fire me if you want. I can't watch you like this for another five days.”
She opened the bag.
Roughly swept the flowers in with bare hands.
“Don't!”
Every pass of her arm cleared the lifeless stems.
“What are you doing!”
Grabbed her arm as she scooped indifferently.
No strength left.
“…Mine. I'll handle it. Yeon-woo gave them to me.”
Yu-ri bit her lower lip.
Could feel her anger at a cereal-eater skipping even cereal.
“…Yeon-woo? You still call him that? You're way smarter than me—why don't you get it? That guy's using you—”
“Don't badmouth him.”
“No. I have to. His feelings were fake. Your romance with him is probably fodder for some hero tale somewhere…”
His feelings were fake. Rage boiled at those words from her.
“What do you know…? You're the fake one—!”
—Ah—
—Beeeeep—
Clamped my ears shut.
Noise flooded the world. The words I'd been about to say vanished from existence.
Tremble tremble…
“Miss!”
It happened before. Years ago. When I learned the world's secret and tried sharing with Yu-ri. Never want to relive that.