Chapter 52
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: END?
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Chapter. 2 - END?
“She’s not here.”
Dayeon stared at the empty seat at the front of the classroom with a sullen, displeased look.
It was Ju-hee’s seat. Ju-hee, who always arrived at 7:30, was nowhere to be seen, even as the morning bell was about to ring.
“Is she late?”
“She’s not the type to be late.”
Ju-hee was the model student, through and through.
A meticulous planner who followed her set schedule without a single deviation.
She’d once said something about how simply being late could have a negative impact on others.
Having been subjected to an hour-long lecture for being ten minutes late, I knew this better than anyone.
For someone like her to be late? Something was seriously wrong.
This wasn't something to be taken lightly.
I had to find out what was going on with Ju-hee.
“I’ll have to ask her when she gets here.”
But Ju-hee didn’t show up, even after the morning classes began.
Even after fourth period ended and lunchtime arrived, there was still no word from her.
“I’m hungry.”
“Is that really the problem right now?”
Ju-hee’s seat remained empty. There was still no sign of her.
I wanted to ask why she wasn't at school, but I had no way to contact her.
Should I ask someone else?
My eyes scanned the classroom and landed on the girl sitting next to Ju-hee’s desk.
Was her name Do-yeon? She was Ju-hee’s best friend, always seen with her.
She might know where Ju-hee was. But when I thought about actually asking her, I hesitated. I quickly grabbed my shield.
“Alright, let’s go ask.”
“So when are we going to the cafeteria?”
“Just hold on, we’ll go after this.”
With Dayeon leading the way, I approached Do-yeon. She was looking at her phone, chattering away noisily.
But there was no one else around her. It was a strange sight.
I tried to think of something to say, but Do-yeon's uniquely bright atmosphere completely drained my confidence.
It was like… an unapproachable aura. A feeling that made my own existence shrink into nothing.
Thanks to that, even approaching her was a challenge. My lips felt sealed shut.
If I forced myself to talk to her now, I’d definitely just stammer like a loser.
I was just hovering nearby, unable to make a move.
“What’s up?”
Dayeon took the lead and spoke to Do-yeon, who answered brightly, though a bit puzzled.
“I’m filming a vlog! Want to come say hi?”
When Do-yeon pointed the camera at her, Dayeon, without knowing what was going on, made a V-sign with her fingers.
“Hello.”
“Aah! That came out great! I’ll definitely use this scene! And subscribe to my channel! The name is…”
Do-yeon talked without a pause.
Seriously, her social skills were insane.
The fact that she could talk to someone she barely knew like that was amazing in itself.
Is that what it takes to be a popular kid?
Or is she like that because she's a popular kid?
Whatever the case, she had a personality I didn't particularly want to get involved with.
“You’re the transfer student, right? Was your name Dayeon? I heard about you from Ju-hee!”
“Heh, perfect timing.”
Dayeon subtly backed away and quickly hid behind me.
I guess it was my turn now…
The pressure was suffocating.
Do-yeon stared at me blankly before speaking awkwardly.
“Sorry, what was your name again?”
“…It’s Lee Hyeon.”
“Right, Lee Hyeon! I’ve heard about you from Ju-hee!”
She remembered Dayeon’s name, who had transferred just a few days ago, but hadn’t even bothered to store mine in her brain.
And it’s been a month since school started…
Anyway, that was enough for introductions.
I got straight to the point to find out where Ju-hee was.
“Hey, there’s something I need to ask you.”
“Wow! So cool. This is the first time I’ve heard your voice.”
“…”
Her cheerful voice stabbed me in the gut.
It was a pure, unintentional attack. But to me, it was a critical hit.
Her words were a knife that plunged into my chest.
I barely held onto my throbbing, dizzying consciousness and continued speaking.
“Do you know why Han Ju-hee is absent today?”
“Ju-hee? Why the sudden question?”
“We’re in the same group, and she didn’t show up today.”
Do-yeon paused for a moment, then shook her head.
“Sorry, I don’t know either… She’s not answering her phone. Do you think something happened to her?”
Even Do-yeon, my best hope, didn’t know where Ju-hee was. At this rate, there was no way to find her.
Still, just in case, maybe I should get her number.
Thinking I’d try calling her later, I asked Do-yeon for Ju-hee's number. At that, Do-yeon’s expression changed strangely. Then she said something completely absurd.
“Are you asking for another girl’s number while your girlfriend is watching?”
“…What?”
Girlfriend?
What kind of nonsense was this? Don’t tell me she got some weird idea about Dayeon… I shut it down firmly before things got out of hand.
“It’s not like that.”
“No use denying it! I can just ask her myself!”
But Do-yeon didn’t listen to my explanation at all and slyly leaned toward Dayeon.
“Dayeon! What’s your relationship with Lee Hyeon?”
“Hmm…”
Dayeon drew out the word, looking at me. A faint smile spread across her face.
Of course, it wasn’t a good sign. It was the kind of expression she made when she was about to pull a prank on me.
A sense of unease washed over me. Soon after, Dayeon threw her arms around mine and answered.
“You could say we spent a night together?”
…Technically, she wasn’t wrong. But everything except the literal meaning was.
“Really?!”
Do-yeon’s eyes lit up as she pounced on the topic.
“You haven’t even been here a week and you’re already…! How fast are you two moving!?”
A high school girl in the throes of puberty, deeply interested in relationships, muttered nonstop.
From the looks of it, she wouldn't have listened to a word I said, no matter what.
“It’s a misunderstanding, so please just tell her it’s not true…”
“Hm? But it is true, isn’t it?”
Dayeon smiled bewitchingly. As if she had been waiting for this exact situation.
And so, Do-yeon’s misunderstanding grew with every passing moment, and the conversation ended just like that. There was no room for me to intervene.
We trudged back to our seats. Feeling a gaze on me, I turned around to see Do-yeon smiling meaningfully and waving.
The sight made my head spin. Still, I had managed to get Ju-hee’s number from her.
But the unsettling feeling wouldn't go away. It felt like I had lost too much just to get a single phone number.
“Still, the result was good, so isn't that okay?”
“Is that really something you should be saying…?”
I was just worried that some weird rumor would spread throughout the entire school.
Shaking off the ominous thought, I checked my phone. Ju-hee’s contact, the number I just got from Do-yeon, was saved.
Would she pick up if I called now?
I carefully pressed the call button.
*Ring, ring.*
*Ring, ring, ring, ring.*
The dial tone echoed endlessly. There was no sign that she would answer.
[The person you are trying to reach is unavailable. Please leave a message after the beep—]
Ju-hee didn’t answer. I had no choice but to put my phone down.
Even with her number, it was useless if she didn't pick up. I was back at square one.
“Let’s just get some food and think about it.”
“Fine…”
Having accomplished nothing, we left the classroom.
“What’s for lunch today?”
“Bulgogi.”
“Oh.”
No matter how tough things got, you still had to eat. We were heading to the cafeteria before lunchtime ended.
I saw someone standing in the middle of the hallway. The silhouette was strangely familiar.
“…Han Ju-hee?”
For a moment, I doubted my eyes. But it was unmistakably Ju-hee standing before us.
After not answering her phone and giving no sign of life, she had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
But something about her was off.
Her hair, always neatly arranged, was a complete mess. And the glasses she always wore were now gone.
…It was as if she had become a different person.
I cautiously tried to talk to her.
“Are you… feeling sick?”
“…”
Ju-hee remained silent. Her messy bangs covered her face, hiding her expression.
She just stood there motionlessly, blocking our path. Moreover, she was holding a rather awkward posture.
It was like…
She was hiding something in her arms.
What could be in there that she had to hide it like that? It was puzzling.
“I asked if you’re okay. Why were you late?”
I slowly approached to check on her. Even as I drew closer, Ju-hee maintained the same posture.
Finally, I was right in front of her. I placed a hand on her shoulder. But she remained still as a statue, without the slightest twitch.
“If you can hear me, just say something—”
*Thump.*
Ju-hee shifted her posture. She took out what she was hiding in her arms and thrust it into my abdomen.
…It was a kitchen knife.
“Cough!”
I scrambled backward.
But it was too late.
A warm liquid seeped from my lower body. Blood flowed endlessly, soaking my clothes.
It became difficult to even stand. I collapsed to the floor.
“Huh? Why are you lying here…?”
Just then, Do-yeon opened the classroom door to go to lunch and witnessed the scene.
Her face slowly contorted in horror, and a piercing scream echoed through the hall.
“KYAAAAAAH!!”
Hearing the scream, students began to pour into the hallway. Of course, every single one of them reacted just like Do-yeon.
The once peaceful school had turned into a scene of chaos.
“Damn it…”
I couldn’t feel my lower abdomen. On top of that, all the strength drained from my body. I lay there, unable to even lift a finger.
Blood trickled from my mouth. At this point, I couldn't help but sense that death was near.
I desperately held onto my fading consciousness and forced my head up.
I saw Ju-hee. She was standing still, a blood-drenched kitchen knife in her right hand.
But her expression was different from before.
She was smiling so wide it looked like her mouth would rip.
The corners of her mouth were turned up so high, they far surpassed what a human was capable of.
Blood poured from the corners of her lips. It was getting harder to hold on to my sanity.
I barely managed to lift my head and meet Ju-hee’s gaze. Beyond her disheveled bangs, I saw her bloodshot eyes.
Ju-hee was glaring at me fiercely. And for some reason, that gaze was…
…like she was looking at a devil.
[END – BAD]
【Grudge】
[Congratulations! You have reached an ending for the first time! A reward will be given.]
【Reward – Ghost Story Coin x3】
[However, you have not cleared Chapter 2.]
[Restarting from the checkpoint.]
**
When I came to my senses, it was morning.
Today’s morning.
“…A dream?”
I numbly pinched my cheek, and a sharp pain followed. Of course, it wasn’t a dream.
My memory of it was too vivid to be a dream.
Besides, I had already experienced a scene just like that one at school.
“Don’t tell me…”
I carefully took out my phone. I entered the number I had gotten from Do-yeon earlier.
*Ring, ring, ring.*
The dial tone rang. But it wasn't as long as last time.
*Click.*
The call finally connected.
The phone that had been completely unresponsive just moments ago was now connected.
“Hello?”
I spoke quietly. But no answer came back.
“Hello? If you can hear me, please answer.”
“…”
How much time passed like that?
After a brief silence, I heard a faint sobbing sound.
—H-Help me…!
The voice was quiet, but I recognized it instantly. It was none other than Ju-hee’s.