Season one, chapter three

"The art of eye contact"

THEA TOOK A moment to take a deep breath when they were outside the restaurant before grasping the door handle with her hand. Upon opening the door, the bell above emitted a slight noise, indicating her gesture as she held it open for Mun to enter the establishment.

"We're here" Thea announced to the group giving Mun a smile as he expressed gratitude for her assistance in holding the door open. As soon as Ms. Chu caught sight of the two adolescents, she swiftly rose from her chair, giving the impression that she had been anxiously anticipating their arrival

Mun greeted with a bow as he said "Hello"

"What?" Mo-tak expressed in disbelief as he observed Mun from head to toe skeptically "He's a high school kid?"

"Hey, you're offending me, I'm supposed to be in high school too, remember?" Thea voiced her discontent, feeling insulted by Mo-tak's comment

"Sorry" Mo-tak apologized, raising his eyebrows, before resuming with his previous task as the two teenagers approached. Thea glared at him disapprovingly, feeling unsatisfied with his insincere apology, yet decided to disregard it

"Anyways, I gave him a brief overview of the afterlife" Thea expressed wearily, sensing that her legs were on the verge of failing, prompting her to take a seat in a nearby chair next to Mo-tak

"Great job. You finished doing the hard part" With a slight smile on her face, Ms. Chu commended Thea, who accepted the recognition and nodded. Thea was feeling fatigued as a result of several nights without sleep after those frightening incidents

"What part?" Mun, filled with confusion, gazed at Thea in quest for clarification. Nonetheless, she countered by offering him a pure smile and deliberately evading his gaze, which left him unable to speak and utterly perplexed

"Hey, take a seat right here" Ms. Chu invited Mun to sit down as he approached her "It must've been quite a journey. Here, drink this. It's must've been tough" She handed him a glass of water

"Thank you" He expressed gratitude, folding his walking stick, directing his gaze towards Mo-tak who was closely examining him with a serious expression, as if searching for something within him

Meanwhile, Thea couldn't help but almost burst into laughter upon seeing Mun's smile, which appeared more like a frown.

"May I speak casually with you?" Inquired Ms. Chu, redirecting Mun's attention towards her. Despite Mo-tak's unwavering stare at Mun, Ms. Chu's query persisted

"Sure" Mun confirmed, bringing a smile of satisfaction to Ms Chu's face as she proceeded to examine the name tag attached to his school uniform

"Your name is So Mun? That's one of a kind. Are you sure it's not moon?" Ms. Chu attempted to make a playful remark, yet no one in the restaurant found it amusing, intensifying the already uncomfortable atmosphere "We are... a group of people who do business for the afterlife" she disclosed, coughing to regain composure, prompting Mun to scrutinize each team member in search of any indication of deception

"'Business for the afterlife?'" Mun echoed after discovering no trace of deceit within the group

"Yes, something like the Grim Reaper" Thea exclaimed, placing her hands firmly on the table. Mun carefully watched her, although he wasn't entirely convinced by what she said, he still decided to agree with it anyway. Even though Thea already knew what he was thinking, she also decided to act as if she were unaware

"Like taking dead people to the other side?" Mun inquired, gesturing towards the ceiling

"Precisely" Thea nodded in agreement, leading Mun to question whether this was actually a straightforward truth or a prank orchestrated by the group

"You're going to join our team and do the same thing" Ms. Chu included which left Mun completely bewildered as he stared at her with wide open eyes

"What?"

"Spirits that scape from the afterlife tend to be very strong. That's why we always train ourselves like this guy right here..." Ms. Chu remarked, pointing towards the man seated opposite her. Mo-tak, visibly offended, locked eyes with her for several moments

"You see, this is part of our training" Thea explained, letting out a slightly nervous laugh "So, yes, we get trained"

"You look awfully wimpy right now..." Ms. Chu remarked, causing Mun to gaze at her with a pained look "I mean, a little weak. But you'll become very powerful from now on"

Mun let out a tired sigh, certainly convinced that everything happening was nothing more than a mere joke. He found it hard to trust any of their words.

Mo-tak, who was still unsure, asked "We're really going to work with this kid?" He then inquired looking towards Mun "Hey, can you do it?"

"Quiet. Don't scare him" Ms. Chu cautioned under her breath

"I'm the one who's scared. How can we work with him? He looks so wimpy..." Mun experienced a feeling of shame and lowered his gaze, causing Thea to feel a warm fondness towards him. She quietly pondered whether it would be inappropriate to express her desire to playfully pinch his cheeks. To avoid any potential future regret, she clenched her lower lip, refraining from impulsive actions. Meanwhile, Mo-tak narrowed his eyes, carefully scrutinizing the boy seated in front of him "Wait, why does this little punk seem so familiar?" He stood up and leaned towards Mun, asking "You. Do you know me?"

"No" Mun responded, shaking his head, stating that he had never encountered this individual at any point in his entire existence

"Good. We never knew each other, so let's keep it that way" Mo-tak stated in a frigid tone. Thea sighed, vexed by the demeanor of the man next to her

"Ga Mo-tak. Don't you remember what Jangmul said?" Thea asked, rising from her seat, leaning towards the elder with a cold expression "He said we need this kid"

"Why are you asking me..." Mo-tak leaned closer to Thea, with an irritated expression. It was evident to him that Thea had never shown him the same level of respect as she did to Ms. Chu

"Excuse me. Please don't get into a fight" Mun interjected, causing Mo-tak to cast an irritated glance at Thea before settling back in his chair. Thea and Mun exchanged a brief gaze, which led Thea to avert her eyes shortly after "I came here because of these" he revealed his hand, exhibiting the tiny marks on the ends of his fingertips "She said she'll tell me what these are" He included pointing at Thea

"Oh, certainly," Thea spoke as she moved around the table, eventually positioning herself next to Mun, who gazed at her as though she held an undeniable power. She tightly grasped the boy's hand, resulting in Mun feeling immediate tension and becoming overwhelmed by nerves "These marks are the door to the afterlife"

"What?" Mun inquired, observing the remaining individuals in the team. Following this, Ms. Chu extended her hand towards him and motioned for Mo-tak to do the same. Nonetheless, Mo-tak unintentionally displayed his other hand instead

"It's not that hand" Afterwards, Mo-tak offered his other hand, and Hana followed suit, grabbing everyone's attention "All right, now, Mun. Go visit the afterlife" she instructed

"What?" Mun gazed at her with a perplexed expression

"Quiet. Put your hand over your heart" Ms. Chu instructed, guiding the boy's hand to his heart "Close your eyes, and stay there for more than three seconds"

"No, I'm not here to do..." However, Ms. Chu silenced him

"Come on" Mun skeptically glanced at everyone present, with some hesitation

"I know. It sounds crazy. But give it a try" Thea assured him warmly while smiling

"You won't lose anything" Hana asserted, her arms folded across her chest as she gazed at him

Mun observed Hana momentarily before shifting his gaze to Thea, who emitted a soothing and reassuring presence. Her nod in his direction convinced him that things would be fine, leaving him with no choice but to comply. Consequently, he let out a sigh before shutting his eyes.

"If you decide to join us, I'll fix your leg" Ms. Chu proposed causing Mun to immediately widen his eyes in complete astonishment

"What?"

"Three seconds you punk. Three seconds" Mo-tak signaled him with three raised fingers, prompting Mun to close his eyes once more

"One..." He began to count "Two... three are we good now?" Thea quickly placed her hands on the table to prevent Mun's head from hitting the solid surface as his speech faded away

When the boy's head touched her soft hands, her friends turned their focus to her, and she felt a soothing warmth spreading in her chest. She couldn't help but smile gently as she was enchanted by the sight of the boy's vulnerability in that very moment.

The group had doubts about her, but they decided to stay quiet because the girl consistently showed kindness to others, even to those who didn't deserve it.

"Do you think he'll agree to do it?" Thea asked on her knees, holding the boy's head gently shifting a few locks of his dark hair aside

"Without a doubt, nobody would decline such an opportunity," Ms. Chu confidently exclaimed, fully believing that Mun would unquestionably accept

The group observed the dark-haired boy, who was currently conscious, with their eyes fully open, as they were astonished by the response he had provided them upon awakening.

"You aren't going to do it?" Mo-tak emphasized not really believing what his ears were hearing

Mun replied with a simple "No."

"How can you come to such a conclusion?" Ms. Chu asked in surprise disregarding her previous statements when the boy declined the job offer

"Are you really not going to do it?" Hana inquired, her reluctant gaze fixed upon him, prompting him to shake his head in reply

The boy's response surprised and slightly disappointed everyone, though they had no choice but to respect it. The response also made a deep impression on Thea as she fully grasped the boy's perspective.

"I get it" Thea acknowledged, to the dismayed gazes of everyone. It appeared as if they felt she had betrayed them by siding with Mun "I mean, we got our lives back because she came to see us when we were in a coma. But he doesn't get anything out of this"

"Right" All three of them exclaimed together, acknowledging their comprehension of why the boy had declined the job

Ms. Chu attempted to persuade him into accepting the job by suggesting "Then why don't you try asking for something else?"

Hana inquired with a raised eyebrow, asking, "What did Wi-gen say?"

"She wants to meet again after I get a week to think" Mun elucidated, causing the group to gasp with astonishment

"She told you to think about it?" Ms. Chu questioned the truthfulness of his words, finding herself surprised by this unexpected revelation

"Yes, but I can't do this anyway" Mun replied, shaking his head as he continued to decline the job offer

"Why not?"

"I heard... I might die while doing this" Mun responded, gazing at Thea for a brief moment before replying, as though he had an inclination to stay for a particular brown-haired girl positioned a few meters away from him

"You we're already as good as dead, so... Oh, right. You weren't in a coma" Ms. Chu corrected herself after recalling Jangmul's explanation regarding the boy

"Why did Wi-gen go into his body and make everything complicated?" Mo-tak inquired growing increasingly frustrated

"So why can't you do this?" Hana inquired once more, gazing at him attentively as he let out a sigh

"I can't die before my grandma and grandpa. Never. I could never do that to them. I don't want to give them that much pain again" Mun clarified, rendering everyone speechless, while Thea somehow comprehended his reasoning for not wanting to do so "I had fun" he declared, breaking the prolonged silence with a faint smile on his countenance, prior to standing up from his chair, prepared to depart

"What?" Mo-tak inquired as the group observed Mun walking by them

"Oh right, what time do I have to be here to try your noodles?" Mun inquired, to which Mo-tak responded with a disinterested look

"Is that what you want to know right now?" Mo-tak inquired, wearing a solemn demeanor

"Yes," Mun unabashedly chuckled "I'll come back next time" He pivoted and made his way towards the exit, only to be unexpectedly intercepted by the collective

"Hey wait"

"You know, shouldn't we erase his memory? He knows that this is our hideout, and he knows who we are too" Hana walked towards Mun, preparing for her next action

"You can erase memories?" Mun asked taken aback

"Hey, Hana, wait a second" Ms. Chu urgently interrupted the pair "You have a week to think about this, so think it over carefully"

"Okay" Mun responded before turning his attention towards Hana. Her captivating brown eyes made him slightly uneasy, he thought she was attractive "I won't tell anyone. Don't worry"

"Okay"

"Goodbye" Mun bid farewell, gazing at each and every individual present, until his gaze settled upon Thea, implying that his words were mainly intended for her. In his lifetime, he had never seen a girl as stunning as her

"Bye" Thea bid farewell to him, keeping eye contact, as he walked away without any interruption from others this time

The group observed the boy departing from the location, proceeding through the dim and chilly night, and inexplicably, Thea couldn't avoid feeling a slight sense of remorse for allowing the boy to go back home unaccompanied.

"What should we do?"

"That punk. It's kind of disappointing to hear him say no" Mo-tak observed the boy from behind the glass door, expressing his thoughts. Ms. Chu let out a sigh in response "Is he...playing hard to get?"

Everyone observed with bewilderment as the young boy suddenly halted in the middle of the street before swiftly changing his course in a different direction.

"Where is he going? Is he going home?"Ms. Chu asked, feeling perplexed

"He's on his way to get beaten up again" Thea said worriedly, as she spoke, the group turned their attention to her, mirroring her worried expression "I didn't know he liked to get into so much trouble"

As she was speaking, the entire group, except for Hana, began gathering their things, getting ready to trail after the boy with black hair. This scene made her smile, and she looked at Hana briefly before nodding and then turning around to take the lead, with the trio right behind her.

Author's note;

I feel uncomfortable whenever I read my own writing, so I really hope that you all don't experience the same feeling because it would be extremely stressful for me 😭

At times, when I read fanfics written by others, I am impressed by how well they describe the scenes and it inspires me to continue writing. However, when I revisit my own stories, I realize that I am not as skilled as others, and this realization makes me cringe and even cry 💀

I apologize if the quality of my writing is not up to par, but I always strive to give my utmost best. Despite having written for many years, I can assure you that I have significantly improved over time. Trust me, you wouldn't want to read what I wrote years ago, haha.😂

In any case, remember to cast your vote, follow my account, and provide comments. Enjoy your reading, everyone! 💋

This chapter was edited: 12/8/23 ☑️