Reverse Prank on the Ghosts
The lights went out even in the waiting area on the first floor of the abandoned school. The eerie atmosphere of the sturdy, deserted building standing firm in the darkness grew thicker as the night deepened.
"We'll send you in at five-minute intervals."
"Then Jae-young's team goes first."
"We just go in, find our item, and come right back out, right?"
"Yes. There's a box with each person's name on it. But if you can't find it, you can't come out."
"Can't come out?"
"Dropping out midway means a penalty."
With ten participants total, split into teams of two, Moo-young and Doo-seok had to wait nearly 30 minutes straight. Doo-seok kept pressing the back of his neck, as if a cold draft was creeping up.
"Argh. Already stiff."
Waiting was just as grueling as going in. Moo-young grinned and lightly kneaded Doo-seok's nape for him.
Action cams attached to helmets were placed in front of the cast. They all looked puzzled.
"No VJs inside?"
"That's right. It's dark, so be careful. Here's a flashlight."
"Hey, come on! Is that something you say?"
Doo-seok, who'd been listening quietly, jumped up in shock. Infrared cameras were meticulously set up everywhere, so filming wouldn't be an issue. The problem was his guts.
"Hey! Hong-tae! Kim Hong-tae!"
"If those waiting want, we can pipe in the audio from inside via mics. You might pick up some useful info that way."
Like a grim reaper calling the departed, Doo-seok kept hollering the PD's name. Funny thing was, he never said it three times.
"Wanna go with me, Kim Hong-tae?"
"Yep! Alright, first team, you're up."
The PD brushed off his antics like a squash and hurried them along.
The first team dragged their feet, reluctant to go. Doo-seok paced in circles, letting out low groans.
"We skipping the first floor?"
"Yes. Just floors two through five."
"Why such a huge area?"
Crackle— Kyaaah! Euaaa! Eua—! Eua!
Moo-young crouched down next to the sound supervisor, listening together. Vivid screams. Sound effects of dying in terror amid wails exploded left and right.
"Guess we have to go all the way to the fifth floor then."
"Please! Everyone, fail to find yours!"
The closer items would obviously go to the earlier teams. They'd probably have to wander to the top floor's end.
"...Haa."
Just then, Jen from Ppusik looked pale as a ghost, fidgeting with his hands. Glancing around nervously, he seemed on the verge of breaking down.
"Hey, you okay?"
Moo-young whispered softly.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah. Fine."
Jen mumbled evasively. His forced smile looked awkward.
Then MC Doo-seok glanced at the camera, snapped to attention, and filled the audio.
"But Jen says he's not scared of this stuff."
"His charisma's no joke, right? For real?"
"Yeah. As the leader, he's got that total macho vibe. Doesn't flinch easy. Fits their werewolf album concept perfectly."
Ppusik's teammate Toyori answered for him. Jen just smiled silently. Obvious at a glance. They'd nailed the image: stoic, serious macho charisma leader and bubbly, chatty maknae.
"Oh! Let's see a quick Ppusik intermission stage then."
"Ooh—yeah!"
"Go, Ppusik!"
The two did a short dance and song in werewolf cosplay on the abandoned school's dirt floor. That was probably their real reason for showing up.
"Next, second team, head in."
"We're off."
Ppusik's Toyori went in, and time kept ticking mercilessly. Moo-young stuck close to Doo-seok, keeping the audio filled with chatter and responses to maintain the shoot.
"Next, Jen-Lulu team."
"Got it."
He stood like it was no big deal, but Moo-young caught it: Jen's hands trembling like leaves.
Yeah. Even a regular school at night is scary. But an abandoned one, just the two of them, knowing staff in ghost makeup lurked inside? Tense was an understatement.
"Moo-young, you're so calm."
"Ghosts don't scare me."
"What does then?"
"Hm. Not sure."
He caught bugs fine too. Living in the semi-basement, cockroaches were routine, plus centipedes, spiders, even rats.
"Alright, Moo-young-Doo-seok team!"
"Yes. Heading out! Teacher, shall we?"
Moo-young bounced up like a spring. Tired of waiting, he was pumped. Doo-seok's steps dragged like he wore shackles.
Not like an abandoned school has actual ghosts.
Not a death-adjacent hospital or haunted site with a backstory... Moo-young eyed the school in the dark, checking his camera.
"This place is a famous haunted spot."
"Really?"
"Ugh, gonna lose it. How many teams out so far?"
"Everyone except Jen's. Here's your flashlight."
"We're off—!"
Moo-young strode right in. Doo-seok's hands busied themselves with heart-massaging pats, and the crew watched them go, glancing at the clock.
"But seriously, why isn't Jen's team out yet?"
"Running late, probably."
"Nothing wrong, right?"
"No weird noises on audio."
"Okay, then we're good."
Meanwhile, the Moo-young-Doo-seok team followed the single beam of flashlight down the straight hall.
"Moo-young! Stick together."
"Teacher, the spots with cameras are probably promising, right?"
Unlike Doo-seok shuffling tensely, Moo-young scanned the ceiling for camera angles. Glow-in-the-dark tape made it easy enough.
Rattle—!
"Eek!"
Gulp!
Just opening a classroom door, and Doo-seok flinched back. No sign of humans. Scattered desks and junk created a gloomy vibe.
"Gonna go mad."
Click.
"Waaah!"
"Uwaaah!"
As Moo-young groped a desk, a ghost-makeup staffer burst from the cabinet behind. Classic, childish tactic, but it worked on Doo-seok.
"Teacher?"
Crash—!
Doo-seok bolted out without looking back. The ghost, mission accomplished, turned to Moo-young with a grin and shut the drawer.
"Seen our boxes with our names?"
"Ughhh..."
"Nope. But we're last, so no need to hide in cabinets anymore. Hot in there, right?"
No reaction like that? The ghost approached, then awkwardly turned back.
"Teaaacher—"
Wonder how far Doo-seok flew. Probably fled outside in terror. Moo-young briskly patrolled halls, thoroughly searching spots.
Then he reached the third-floor hallway bathroom. A faint presence made him pause.
Tap-tap.
"Anyone there?"
Weird. Only this spot felt off. No glow tape, so probably not key.
"Whoa."
Inside was a sight: three or four legless ghosts dangling from stall tops, peering down like they'd found something hilarious.
"Who's there?"
"Uwaaaah!"
"Ah, startled me."
A familiar scream, and a stall door flew open. Jen. Legs wobbling, he grabbed Moo-young's arm, trembling like an aspen.
"You okay?"
"M-mic and camera... off..."
"Huh? This?"
Turn them off? No clue why, but Moo-young obliged. As the red lights died, the dangling ghosts turned away.
"Found your box? What're you doing here?"
"L-Lulu sunbae ditched me, can't move. Hngaa..."
Sudden sobs made Moo-young blink. What? No wonder he wanted cams off, hiding in a bathroom...
"You pee yourself?"
"Not yet, but gonna."
Moo-young dead serious, Jen answering straight. He wiped his tear-streaked face, sniffling nonstop. Moonlight through the window faintly lit his form.
"Then GG and bail."
"Can't... ever."
Image reasons. Idol barely building his. Fans fed on fantasy and love, pushing 'beast idol' charisma.
"Sobbing on the brink? Ruins everything. Hngaa—gonna go nuts! Fuck!"
"Oh ho, mouth like a beast idol, sure enough."
"Fuck, didn't wanna come. But Otherworldly Smile, no choice."
"Just ask to edit it!"
"Hate rumors, and company'll chew me out. 'Why make a fuss?' Hic, fuck my fate."
Big guy bawling buckets. Fans'd be shocked. Moo-young scratched his chin, glancing at the rear ghosts. Mention them, he'd faint for real.
"Then tag with me. Lost Teacher Doo-seok too, solo here. Cams back on, quit crying."
He felt for the buttons by touch. Red REC dots returned. Moo-young clapped casually for the camera, acting natural. Gave an edit point.
Clap!
"Phew. Weird thing just happened. Cams and mic cut out suddenly... But ran into Jen here. No idea where Teacher went... Did he ditch me...?"
Variety solo mutter? Essential. Infrared hid Jen's blotchy face well. He caught his breath, waved at Moo-young's camera.
"Where'd you search?"
"Third floor, mid-hall."
"Aha. Past there then."
As Moo-young and Jen moved, ghosts trailed excitedly. First fun in ages.
"Hm?"
"W-why?"
"Nah..."
One ghost plastered to a corner, hands up high. Emitting a creepy wail.
Uwoooo—
"Something's gonna jump from there."
"Haa..."
Moo-young signaled Jen to hush with a finger. Then crept up silently, minimizing noise. Stuck to the corner—and suddenly—
"Waaah!"
"Uwaaaah!"
Thrust his face out yelling. The hider toppled backward in shock.
"Hahaha. Whoops, scared ya. You good?"
"H-how'd you know?"
"Eh? Can't say."
"U-uwu..."
Staff snapped to role, retreating awkwardly. Moo-young beckoned Jen to follow.
"Lemme see. Music room next."
Cute little ghosts. School spirits? Pure intentions, innocently playful. Fussing to help find their boxes.
Click—
'Here?'
Ghosts hovered by the teacher's desk. Moo-young feigned ignorance, coolly opened drawers.
"Oh, found it."
"You did?"
"Mine though."
"Y-you're not leaving, right?"
"Nah, keep looking together."
Fear of abandonment, Jen clung with anxious voice.
"Oh? Teacher's too."
"Watch the ceiling. Might dump something."
"Waaah! Hahaha!"
"Ghost nim! What if the ghosts get more scared?"
Moo-young roamed the school like his own home. Spotting traps, pranking hidden ghosts—reverse tourism multiple times.
"Jen! Got yours!"
"Heok! Thanks!"
"Time to head out. Aw, shame. Was fun."
Fun? Jen stared like he was an alien species.
Outside, staff clustered waiting.
"Teacher! Where'd you go?"
"Uh, yeah. I forfeit. Penalty time."
"Bagged all the leftovers. Ta-da—"
Boxes dumped on the ground. Camera director tilted his head at the producer.
"What agency is that kid? Tell us locations?"
"Nah. Don't even tell Doo-seok hyung."
"Weirdest footage in this special's history. Ghost reverse prank."
Everyone but Moo-young was sweat-drenched like post-shower. Scores tallied, PD announced the winner.
"Talk score plus adventure score: first place... Moo-young-Doo-seok team. Congrats."
"Woohoo! Thanks!"
"But Doo-seok forfeited midway, so penalty."
"Knew it. Shoulda just followed Moo-young."
"Water bombs prepped!"
Moo-young threw a V-sign for camera, basking in closing glory. Doo-seok took water diaper hits behind.
Splash—!
"Uwaa—cold."
"Good work!"
"Thanks, everyone!"
Moo-young bowed politely to staff and hosts, wrapping the shoot.
And two weeks later.
After Otherworldly Smile aired, unprecedented YouTube reactions exploded.
Not content with rampaging the abandoned school laughing, Moo-young's segment pranking hidden staff... aired a whopping 15 minutes.