Moonlit Confessions
Gu Jun-hyeok's mother had been hospitalized in a mental institution for several years now. But on the day of the appointment ceremony, she attempted suicide. Fortunately, she survived, but discovery came too late, leaving her in critical condition. She's currently been transferred to a university hospital for treatment.
"He only told me she was hospitalized. I had no idea she was in a psych ward... Yeah, anyway, that's the story."
I suddenly remembered asking where his house was, and the awkward, evasive look on Gu Jun-hyeok's face as he changed the subject. Come to think of it, he never went straight home after school. He'd head to the gym or vanish without a word about his destination.
Gu Jun-hyeok probably went straight to the hospital to visit his mother after classes.
"But is it okay for you to tell me this?"
Hearing such heavy news stirred my mind uncomfortably, and I wondered if it was right to hear it secondhand like this.
Jeong In-ah gave a faint smile and nodded.
"He asked me to tell you himself. Said he's sorry he couldn't visit."
"Ah... How's your mom doing?"
"She's conscious, but... how do I put this..."
Jeong In-ah trailed off, lowering her head and mumbling to herself for a long while. It seemed like a delicate topic; she was taking forever to choose her words, carefully sifting through them.
"Um, Jun-hyeok said... she doesn't recognize his face."
"..."
"Don't take it too seriously, he said. Just hear it with a light heart... but it's not exactly light, is it."
Jeong In-ah let out a hollow laugh. As she said, it wasn't something to take lightly.
How must Gu Jun-hyeok feel, nursing a mother who can't recognize her own son?
What if I finally reached the underground prison and met my mother, only for her not to know my face? What if she recoiled in disgust, saying she didn't know me...?
Just imagining it made my stomach churn.
"Oh, right. Did you see that guy?"
Jeong In-ah forcibly lightened the mood, changing the subject with forced cheer.
That guy? No idea who she meant.
"That guy?"
"During the Basar Shopping Mall fire, apparently one of our school students was putting out fires and rescuing people. Pretending to be an apprentice paladin, even using Central Knight Order gear. Thought maybe you saw him."
"...Not sure."
"Really? Everyone at Basar said they saw him. Figured you did too."
Jeong In-ah tilted her head. I mirrored her, tilting mine.
Her words raised more questions than answers.
"...How'd I end up hospitalized again?"
I probed casually, and Jeong In-ah's eyes widened in surprise.
"You—you've got amnesia—?!"
"No, I remember. Just wondering how you knew."
"Oh, come on. Weren't you at Basar? Teachers said so."
I nodded silently. Technically, not wrong. I had been at Basar Shopping Mall.
But the school apparently didn't know it was me pretending to be an apprentice paladin and saving people. The teachers knew, but not the students. Probably figured no need to spread it.
Whether I'd saved people or not, impersonating an apprentice paladin and illegally using Knight Order gear was undeniable.
Florence Academy had a strong tendency to withhold controversial info entirely.
After that, Jeong In-ah chatted about trivial things until the sun fully set, then stood.
"Take care of yourself. Text when you're out. Promise."
"Too much hassle."
I teased, and she pouted.
"Hassle? Am I a hassle?"
"Yep."
"...Don't be a punk. Text me, or I'll beat you. For real."
Jeong In-ah glared with a clenched fist, then suddenly giggled. I laughed along.
She left the room after.
Alone now, the room was filled with gifts from Kang Ji-a and Jeong In-ah. The air smelled of apples.
*
That night after their visits, sleep wouldn't come. Moonlight poured through the window, filling the room. It was cold, tinged with a subtle blue. Mystical.
Recreation spells depend on knowledge and imagination. In that sense, your grandfather and first cult leader, Do Jun-gil, was a man of vast knowledge and brilliant imagination.
Staring at the moonlight, I listened to Legba's lecture. Title: "The First Cult Leader's Achievements and Understanding Recreation Spells." I just made that up.
But you lack Do Jun-gil's knowledge and imagination. Even after the inheritance ritual, you can only use 'some' of his talents.
Recreation spells fundamentally require understanding ancient Voodoo. As the name implies, they 'recreate' weapons or tools from ancient Voodoo.
But after the Holy War, all ancient Voodoo texts burned.
Your father must have hidden some... but even I don't know where. Thought they were in the box.
"Hm."
My father's bequeathed box had no theses on spells or ancient Voodoo texts. Just his grandfather's bone dust.
It got me out of a pinch, but yeah, a bit disappointing. Would've been nice with papers too.
Do Myeong-jun was always odd. Instead of gathering them, he'd scatter everything like a treasure hunt. Perverted bastard.
I nodded at Legba's words.
Long ago, for my birthday, Dad gave me a puzzle as a 'gift.' Said the real present came after solving it. Never got it. It was a 5,000-piece monster, too vast for a kid like me.
Actually, I did finish it. But by then, Dad was dead.
Puzzle solved, no one to give the gift to. Nothing pleasant in reminiscing.
You're similar. All three generations of Dos are weirdos.
"Nah, that's an exaggeration."
I've never exaggerated once.
Knock knock.
Mid-chit-chat with Legba, a knock sounded. He went silent. I did too.
It was around 12:10 a.m. Too late for visitors; the night felt impossibly deep.
Creeeak...
The door opened. I closed my eyes, pretending to sleep. In case they'd overheard Legba. I'd claim sleep-talking if asked.
She strode to my bedside, staring blankly at my 'sleeping' form.
"Pretending to sleep?"
She poked my arm. Chills hit hard. Ice down my spine.
Caught already; no point continuing.
"...How'd you know?"
I opened my eyes, looking at her.
"Can tell just by looking."
"Really...? Impressive."
"Who you trying to fool."
Kim Jin-seo said. Her eyes held an oddly vacant gaze as she continued.
"Don't try fooling me. Not from now on."
Her lips curved in a faint, clear smile. Blue moonlight draped her like mist. Her shoulder-length hair shimmered deep navy in it.
The sight felt strangely mystical to me.
I nodded silently, and she gazed intently.
Silence fell.
"And don't die."
She said from the moonlight. The smile gone. Dead serious.
"...Not like I can control that."
I suppressed a laugh.
"I'll make sure you don't."
"What if I get hit by a car?"
"I'll save you."
Kim Jin-seo said, more earnest than ever. The words were serious, but so childish I burst out laughing.
She tilted her head at me.
"Why laugh?"
"Can't trust it?"
She'd never been the one saving me. Not in the Go Jun-min incident, nor now. Hard to buy it suddenly.
She tilted her head, staring piercingly, then flushed as understanding hit.
"Until now... From now on, I will."
"Sure, sure."
"I'm serious."
"Got it."
I grinned; she narrowed her eyes, glaring slyly.
"Not listening properly."
"I am."
"No, you're not. Half-assing it now."
"Listening properly, I swear."
Honestly, half-assing it. Nodding along vaguely.
Kim Jin-seo eyed me suspiciously.
Moment of silence—then moonlight faded. Darkness came.
Just the moon vanishing plunged the room into black. Kim Jin-seo on the bed's edge was a mere silhouette. Her face hidden.
"...Sudden thought."
Kim Jin-seo tilted her head, gazing at the moonlight as she spoke.
"You two get along."
Her voice from the dark, clear as a whisper in my ear. Unexplained chill.
Wind through the window felt unnaturally cold. I sensed her faint eyes on me.
"Who?"
"In-ah."
"Oh, yeah. Why?"
"Look close. She visited today."
"...So?"
"Just saying."
Clouds parted; moon reemerged. Light slowly filled the room. Darkness lifted, revealing her face.
Her usual clear, subtle, beautiful smile.
"Why so flustered. What'd you do at In-ah's house."
In-ah's house? How'd she know I went there? More importantly, Kim Jin-seo's vibe was off.
"What're you... talking about."
I stammered. Moonlight outside shook chaotically.
Pure dark or light made her face readable. But shaking light blurred it—angry? Smiling? Impossible to tell.
Curtains fluttered lightly with the breeze.
"Told you not to fool me."
Her scolding whisper ice-cold. Body frozen like sleep paralysis. Fingers barely twitched.
Shaking moonlight steadied. Cold blue light refilled the room.
"Why so scared. Just kidding."
"..."
She smiled innocently, childlike. Smile gleaming in moonlight.
I stared, lips tight. What was the joke?
"Gotta go. Too late."
Kim Jin-seo glanced at the wall clock, hopping up. My body still wouldn't move.
Still smiling, eyes narrowed, she gazed.
"Sleep well."
She left, and drowsiness hit naturally. Eyes closed, instant sleep. No dreams.
*
Next day, discharge procedures. Doctor said too early, but various reasons sped it up. I hate long hospital stays anyway.
Kim Jin-seo helped breeze through paperwork. Her father, Chairman Kim Chang-won, covered bills. Hospital's Florence Foundation-owned, after all.
"Why stare?"
Heading out post-procedures, Kim Jin-seo asked. I'd been staring unconsciously.
Obviously, that bizarre night—dream or real?
"You last night..."
"Last night?"
I stopped, scanning her face. Utterly calm, clueless. Sharp eyes looking up as usual. Faint smile, but not chilling like before.
"...Never mind."
"What about last night?"
She tilted her head. I recalled it: too vivid for dream, too surreal for reality. Moonlight blurring boundaries.
Kim Jin-seo entering and talking? Definitely real.
But when clouds hid the moon, darkness fell... after that, dream or reality? Unclear.
Moonlight had smeared the line between.
"Ah, sir."
Walking with her, we reached the parking lot. Her driver waited.
She hopped in the back, lowered the window, poked her head out.
"Where's your house—?"
Vrooom!
Before she finished, the car peeled out. Dangerously fast, vanishing from sight in seconds.
Driver hates you, seems.
"Didn't do anything to hate."
You attract hate just existing.
Legba teased. I chuckled, heading to the Underground Chapel.
No welcoming committee. Hadn't told anyone about discharge. Expected.
Next day at school, classroom empty.
(To be continued)