An Unexpected Favor
"Sorry for calling you out of the blue. I got your number from Assistant Manager Kim."
"It's alright. I should have reached out first. Thank you for contacting me."
Yeo-won took a deep breath and continued.
"I'm truly sorry about today. My nephew is a bit shy around strangers, so... ah, but that's not an excuse. I mean, well......"
Searching for the right words, Yeo-won eventually fell silent. Anything she said would sound like an excuse.
"I'm really sorry. I'll apologize with all my heart......"
Yeo-won bowed her head deeply, as if Jae-young were standing right in front of her. Even though she knew he couldn't see it, her head lowered on its own.
"And if there are any medical bills or anything else you need, please tell me. I'll cover every expense related to the treatment."
If she had been better with words, she could have infused her apology with more sincerity. Instead, she felt pathetic for not even being able to apologize properly.
A brief silence settled over the line. Yeo-won squeezed her eyes shut, imagining what he might say next.
She expected scolding—how could she have run away in that situation, or that she had no shame after he'd helped her before. Those were perfectly fair things to say, and she was prepared to accept them calmly.
She steeled herself and waited for his response, but what came instead was an unexpected laugh.
"Senior, you're apologizing so much that now I feel sorry. It's okay. If anything, I'm the one who should apologize for trying to touch without asking."
"No, why are you apologizing? It was my fault."
"Aw, how is that your fault, senior? It was just an accident."
Jae-young's apology was completely unexpected. While Yeo-won sat there flustered, he continued.
"I called because I figured you'd be overthinking it, knowing your personality. You seemed really startled. Are you okay?"
"Ah... I'm fine. But what about you? You got hurt pretty badly. Did you go to the hospital?"
She knew it was shameless, but she couldn't help asking. She heard him chuckle softly over the phone.
"Ah, it wasn't bad enough to need a hospital. It bled a bit, but after I wiped it, it was fine."
"I'm asking because I'm worried and sorry. You'll need to disinfect it every day, so I'll pay for everything. Please make sure you go to the—"
"Senior."
Jae-young cut her off firmly. After a thoughtful hum, he laughed awkwardly and said, "Are you rich, by any chance?"
"...Pardon?"
At the sudden question, Yeo-won asked back in bewilderment. He added hastily, sounding flustered, "Ah! I'm not being sarcastic. It's just that last time and now, you keep offering to give me money. If you're not rich, I wondered if maybe you were just bothered by it, haha..."
As his voice grew smaller, Yeo-won's face turned pale. She hadn't meant it that way at all. But she could see how it might have come across like that.
"...If I made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."
She had thought it was the obvious thing to do. Apart from the apology, she had to pay the medical costs. But to someone listening, it might have sounded like she was trying to buy her way out of it.
Then what should she have said? As her doubts deepened, Jae-young's cautious voice came through the line.
"Um, the money is fine, but... could I ask you for one favor?"
"...What favor?"
The word "favor" sounded suspicious, so she asked again. Jae-young hummed once more, drawing out his answer. It might have been a habit, or perhaps he was enjoying her troubled reaction.
"It's a bit awkward to say over the phone. Let's talk in person. I'll decide on the date and place and text you."
"Wait, at least give me a rough idea of what it—"
"Oh, someone's calling me. I have to go! I'll text you!"
The call ended with a click. Her unfinished question hung in the empty air.
What kind of favor required meeting in person? A familiar unease washed over her.
Yeo-won glared at her phone, its screen now completely dark.
While she sat there, Cheong-sil shamelessly dragged over a doll. It was so worn she couldn't imagine where he'd found it.
He dropped the doll in front of her hand with a plop and panted, grinning.
Yeo-won quietly picked up the doll and wiggled her fingers. Recognizing the gesture, Cheong-sil tilted his head and trotted right up to her.
Yeo-won looked down at his innocent face with disapproval, then plucked several strands of his fluffy orange tail fur.
"Kyaaang!"
Cheong-sil licked the plucked spot and shot her a sharp glare.
"You little troublemaker. Seriously."
She gave him a look that said what are you going to do about it? then scattered the fur onto the floor.
The next morning, a text arrived from Jae-young.
The cheerfulness radiating from the message drew a sigh from her lips.
Of all places, City Hall Station...
It was the most crowded spot in the area. And crowded places inevitably meant more ghosts. She usually avoided the vicinity if at all possible.
On top of that, today was Friday. The thought of it being packed to the point of bursting filled her with fatigue from the moment she woke up.
Should I tell him I can't make it today?
She considered it briefly, but eventually replied that she would be there. Delaying wouldn't change anything. It was better to get the scolding over with first. Things like this were best handled as quickly as possible.
When she rose from the bed to wash up, she saw Cheong-sil sleeping soundly beside her.
He was smacking his lips, grinning broadly. It looked like he was having a wonderful dream. Come to think of it, Cheong-sil had been sleeping more often lately. Back when they stayed at Shin-wol's palace, she had never once seen him sleep.
Well, he could just be tired.
Dismissing the thought, she got up. The moment she yanked the curtains open, Cheong-sil whined and covered his eyes against the bright light.
6:35.
Yeo-won glanced at her watch and looked around. Since she had arrived early, Jae-young was nowhere in sight yet. Still, early was better than late.
"Haah..."
Tension kept pulling sighs from her throat.
When she brushed back the hair falling over her face, she noticed orange fur clinging to the inside of her arm.
Removing it brought back the memory of Cheong-sil throwing a tantrum right before she left, crying and clinging to her clothes.
Even after she firmly told him no, Cheong-sil had transformed into his human form. When she still refused, he started howling. In a panic, Yeo-won had clamped a hand over his mouth.
Our building doesn't allow pets!
To the fiercely shaking, irritated Cheong-sil, Yeo-won had resorted to extreme measures. The moment she turned on a children's program, he fell silent as if nothing had happened.
Leaving the TV-entranced Cheong-sil behind, she told him she was stepping out to the convenience store and quietly slipped outside. Even as the door closed, he remained glued to the screen.
So this was why parents showed their children YouTube.
She had barely managed to leave him behind, but her worries refused to settle.
It would be one thing if he only trashed the house in anger, but Cheong-sil was no ordinary animal.
What if he really figures out how to open the door and follows me?
Maybe she should have asked Jae-young for permission to bring him along. But what if Cheong-sil caused an incident? Then again, an incident in plain sight might be better than one out of sight.
Lost in worry, Yeo-won chewed her lip. In her anxious state, she checked her watch again.
6:45.
While she glared at the second hand that still had fifteen minutes left, a sudden chill crawled up her spine.
The killing intent was so sharp it prickled her skin. Her body jerked. Before she could even process the ominous energy radiating from behind her, someone grabbed her shoulder.
"Senior. You're early."
At the familiar voice, she turned. Jae-young stood there.
"......"
She quickly scanned her surroundings, but saw nothing.
It had definitely been there—a sinister, ominous presence. Yet the area now felt so peaceful that the sensation seemed like a lie.
"Senior?"
"Ah, sorry."
Her mind had been so distracted that Jae-young had faded into the background. When Yeo-won apologized hastily, he asked with concern, "You don't look well. Are you feeling sick?"
"...No. You're early too, Jae-young."
Yeo-won smiled as naturally as she could. To hide her trembling, she gestured with exaggerated cheer toward a chain café across the street.
"It's awkward to talk while standing. Shall we go into the café?"
"No, not the café."
"Then is there somewhere else you'd like to go?"
At her question, Jae-young grinned. The smile held some meaning she couldn't read, so Yeo-won tilted her head.
"Yes, there is."
Jae-young grabbed her hand without warning. She reflexively tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.
The place he led her to was the basement of an old building a short distance from the station.
As they descended, the light grew dimmer. Yeo-won's breath caught. She didn't have full-blown claustrophobia, but she hated dark places.
Ghosts usually hid in darkness, and unlike bright areas, it was harder to spot them in time to react.
Yeo-won kept her gaze fixed on the floor and followed where Jae-young led. Soon he announced they had arrived. When she looked up, she could only doubt her own eyes.
"Jae-young, is this really the place you wanted to come to?"
"Yes. I like this place."
He smiled brightly and headed for the counter. Yeo-won could only stare after him, dumbfounded.
As she slowly looked around, dozens of LEDs flashed painfully bright, accompanied by music that thumped against her eardrums. Her head spun.
Good heavens. The place he had brought her to was none other than a bowling alley.