Season one, chapter thirteen

"Your smile"

The day at the restaurant had passed too quickly, a blur of movement and conversation that barely registered for Thea. Lately, time seemed to slip through her fingers like sand, days vanishing in the blink of an eye. When she finally made it to her soft bed each night, exhaustion weighed her down like a heavy blanket. Yet, sleep eluded her, and insomnia took its toll. On most nights, she was lucky to manage two hours, and anyone could tell how worn out she was. The dark circles under her eyes and her constant yawning painted a picture of someone desperately in need of rest.

Now, as the last customers filed out of the restaurant, Thea worked to clean one of the empty tables, struggling to keep her eyes open. She wiped the surface in slow, deliberate motions, her arms heavy with fatigue. Outside, Mun swept the entrance of the restaurant with an energy that felt contagious, enthusiastically waving goodbye to the departing patrons.

From the counter, Ms. Chu observed the boy, her gaze soft but shadowed with concern. "Gosh. Mun, that poor thing," she said, her voice low as if speaking to herself. Her eyes lingered on him as he worked. "One day, he'll find out that his parents were murdered. How is he going to live with that?"

Thea sighed, her heart aching at the thought. She paused in her cleaning to glance at Mun, who was cheerfully focused on his task outside. He looked so carefree, so blissfully unaware of the heavy truth hanging over him like an unseen storm cloud.

"Shouldn't we tell him?" Thea asked, her voice quiet but filled with guilt. She looked at Ms. Chu, her brows knit in worry. "It feels wrong to keep this from him. He's part of the family now."

"Don't be so rash," Ms. Chu replied sharply, though her tone was undercut by her own uncertainty. "Mo-tak said he'd look into it. Let's tell him after we find something. After we find the murderer. That's when. Let's tell him then, okay?" Her serious gaze locked onto Thea, waiting for agreement.

Thea hesitated before nodding. Her chest tightened with the weight of the decision. "You're right," she said softly. But the ache in her heart didn't go away. If she were in Mun's position, she would have wanted to know, no matter how painful the truth might be.

Mo-tak, who had been quietly listening as he cleared a nearby table, spoke up, his voice calm but pointed. "You told me not to," he reminded Ms. Chu.

"Yes, you're right," Ms. Chu muttered, shaking her head in frustration. "We can't. No, we can't. Goodness, it's such a dilemma." She tossed the cloth she was holding onto the table, her shoulders sagging.

Thea nodded again, though her heart remained conflicted. She turned back to the window, her gaze instinctively searching for Mun. Her eyes widened when she noticed what he was doing outside the restaurant. "Oh my god," she gasped, her voice breaking the tension in the room.

Hana, who had been wiping down a nearby table, followed Thea's gaze. Her expression mirrored Thea's, her lips parting in surprise. "What is he doing?" she whispered, moving closer to the window.

Mun stood outside, his broom momentarily abandoned as he reached out and touched the colorful lights of their territory. The glowing threads shimmered under his fingers as if they were alive, bending and dancing to his touch. The lights, invisible to ordinary humans and untouchable even by Counters, responded to him as though he commanded them.

Inside, Ms. Chu continued speaking, unaware of what was happening just outside. "You can't do it, Mo-tak. Forget what's right. This is a matter of keeping order. It's about the boundaries and order of afterlife and death," she reasoned.

"Right or wrong, order or not," Mo-tak said, his voice firm as he collected a stack of plates. "I wouldn't care if this were your business. Even more so if it were Hana's or Thea's."

"Hey, why do you make me seem so cheap?" Ms. Chu snapped, tossing her hands up in frustration.

"You only say we're family," Mo-tak retorted, his tone sharp as he turned toward another table. But his next step faltered, and his eyes locked on Mun. He froze, plates in hand, as the realization hit him. "What's he doing? How is he doing that?"

Ms. Chu turned toward the window, her mouth falling open as she finally noticed Mun. Thea and Hana had already moved closer, their faces pressed to the glass as they watched in awe.

"Our territory opened up!" Mun called out excitedly, his voice carrying through the air as he waved at them.

"What's with him?"

The group remained frozen for a moment, staring in stunned silence. Mun looked up at them through the window, his grin wide and proud. He pointed to the ground where the territory had briefly shimmered before fading. "It just opened up!" he repeated, his voice brimming with excitement.

Ms. Chu and Mo-tak wasted no time. They hurried outside, their expressions a mix of shock and urgency. Ms. Chu grabbed Mun by the collar of his shirt, dragging him back inside with surprising speed. The boy stumbled as she pushed him into a chair, his confusion plain as he looked up at the four of them, all now gathered around him.

"How did you just do that?" Ms. Chu demanded, her voice sharp and filled with disbelief.

"Do what?" Mun asked, his gaze darting between them.

"You touched and played with our territory," Thea exclaimed, her voice trembling with surprise.

"So what?" Mun asked, frowning. "Am I not supposed to do that?"

"It's not that we aren't allowed to," Mo-tak said, leaning forward with a serious expression. "We can't."

Mun blinked, his confusion only growing. "Is it such a big deal?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

"So this is why you were specially appointed," Ms. Chu murmured, more to herself than anyone else. Her eyes lit up with the sudden realization.

"I think he can summon the Yung territory," Hana said, stepping forward. Her hand rested thoughtfully under her chin.

"Summon?" the group repeated in unison, their collective surprise palpable.

"Did you summon the territory when you fought those kids?" Hana pressed, her gaze narrowing as she studied Mun's reaction.

"Oh, that day?" Mun exclaimed, realization dawning on him.

"How can you summon that? That's nonsense!" Mo-tak burst out, pointing a finger at the boy.

"Well, I also thought it was kind of weird," Mun admitted, his head tilting slightly to the side.

"So you really opened up the territory?" Thea asked, her voice barely a whisper. She couldn't believe she hadn't realized it sooner.

"I'm not 100 percent sure," Mun replied, his tone hesitant. He glanced at Thea before Ms. Chu grabbed his arm.

"Hey, go get changed," Ms. Chu said urgently, already pulling him to his feet. "Let's try this. Come on inside."

She pushed him toward the back as Mo-tak walked over to lock the restaurant door. "Get changed," he muttered, the gravity of the moment settling over the group as they followed Ms. Chu and Mun into the back room.

Thea's gaze stayed on Mun as he shifted uneasily on the black boxing mat in the basement of the restaurant. The usually cheerful boy looked out of place, weighed down by the unspoken expectations from the group surrounding him. His shoulders hunched, his hands fidgeting with the strings of his hoodie, and his eyes darting nervously. The pressure in the room was palpable, almost tangible, and it was clear that it was eating away at him.

The basement, their designated training ground, felt colder than usual. The walls, lined with worn punching bags and stacks of weights, seemed to echo the tension in the air. The team stood in their standard red tracksuits, the iconic uniform of the Counters, but their attention was squarely on Mun, who seemed smaller than ever under their scrutinizing eyes.

"Do it," Hana ordered from her position on the edge of the mat, her arms crossed as she looked at him. Her voice was firm, bordering on impatient, as Mun continued to fiddle with his hoodie.

"Mun," Ms. Chu interjected, stepping forward and placing her hands on his shoulders. Her tone was serious, yet there was an undercurrent of encouragement. "If you can summon the Yung territory at will, we'll never have to get hurt or die," she explained, looking him directly in the eyes.

Mo-tak joined in, an eager grin lighting up his face. "We can pop out those evil spirits like a vending machine and send them straight to the afterlife," he added, his excitement nearly infectious.

But for Mun, their enthusiasm only added to the unbearable pressure. He stepped back instinctively, his frown deepening as he muttered, "So much pressure."

"What's 'pressure'?" Mo-tak asked, his head tilting in confusion. His gaze flicked to Thea and Hana, silently asking for clarification.

"You idiot," Ms. Chu snapped, pushing him lightly aside. She turned her attention back to Mun, gripping his shoulders once more with a gentle firmness. "It's all right. It's okay," she soothed, her voice softening.

Thea stepped forward, her expression calm as she rested a hand on Mun's arm. "Don't feel burdened," she said gently, her smile kind and reassuring. "Relax. Relax and try it out. No one's rushing you."

Mun nodded, her words giving him a small measure of confidence. "I'll give it a try," he said, letting out a deep sigh before closing his eyes.

The room went silent as they all waited. Thea felt her breath hitch as she watched Mun steady himself, his face tightening with focus. And then, out of nowhere, Mun let out a loud, sharp "Ba!"

The sound was so sudden and unexpected that the entire team flinched, their startled reactions varying from gasps to wide-eyed stares. Mo-tak stumbled back a step, Hana blinked rapidly, and even Ms. Chu looked momentarily taken aback.

Thea's eyes darted around the basement, half-expecting the familiar glow of the Yung territory to burst forth in all its vibrant brilliance. But the room remained dark and ordinary. No trace of their territory appeared.

"Was that it?" Hana finally asked, breaking the silence. Her voice was flat, tinged with boredom, as her gaze swept the room.

Mun, meanwhile, had started moving his hands to the sides, waving them awkwardly as if trying to channel some hidden energy. He let out another series of strange, guttural sounds, his face scrunching in concentration.

Hana sighed and turned away. "Who wants ice cream?" she asked, clearly done with the exercise.

"I want a popsicle," Thea replied without hesitation, her brow furrowed as she followed Hana toward the stairs.

"Yeah, me too," Mo-tak chimed in, throwing up his hands as he trailed after the two women.

Left behind, Mun lowered his arms with an embarrassed sigh. His head dropped slightly, and he tugged the hood of his jacket over his head as though to shield himself from the lingering disappointment. "I have no idea how I did it," he admitted, his voice small.

Ms. Chu, ever the nurturing figure, patted him on the back reassuringly. "It's okay," she said gently, her motherly tone softening his embarrassment. She smiled warmly at him. "Do you want ice cream?"

Mun hesitated, then nodded, his lips forming a small pout. "Yes," he answered quietly, almost like a scolded child.

"All right. Let's go, pumpkin," Ms. Chu said affectionately, guiding him toward the stairs.

But as they walked, Mun suddenly started making those strange sounds again, his arms flailing slightly as if he was trying to summon the territory once more. Ms. Chu halted abruptly, her hand darting out to smack him lightly on the back of the head.

"My gosh. Goodness, you punk," she scolded, though her tone lacked any real anger. "I'm sorry. It's a habit," she added, half-apologizing for the reflex.

Mun winced, rubbing his head. "Why... Heal me," he grumbled, his pout returning.

Ms. Chu rolled her eyes but reached out to pat his head gently. "Okay. You'll be fine," she reassured him with a fond smile, guiding him up the stairs where the rest of the group awaited their well-deserved treat.

Thea sat quietly on the small wooden bench outside the restaurant, licking her purple popsicle as its chilled sweetness melted on her tongue. The cold was sharp, almost biting, and the popsicle's condensation had turned the tips of her fingers a raw red. Sticky streaks of melted liquid ran down her hand, but she didn't mind. The quiet moments like this, shared with her team, were rare and oddly comforting despite the circumstances.

The bench, however, was undeniably cramped, and Thea couldn't help but notice how close she was to Mun. On her left, he sat with an ease that belied the tension coursing through her. His leg pressed lightly against hers, his arm occasionally brushing hers when he raised his own treat to his lips. On her right, Hana occupied the edge of the bench. Her usual stoic demeanor masked her discomfort at being physically close to the others, a trait Thea understood well. Hana trusted only her, and Thea knew the fear of her memories being read was the reason Hana kept her distance from the others.

Thea shifted slightly, clearing her throat as the icy chill of the popsicle sent a sharp sensation to her brain. It was strange but oddly satisfying. Still, she was acutely aware of the proximity to Mun, his unbothered presence making her own discomfort feel exaggerated.

"Wait. What is this?" Mun suddenly questioned, his voice breaking through the quiet as he frowned at something unseen.

"That's enough," Ms. Chu said, giving him a gentle tap on the shoulder as if to calm his rising energy.

"We stepped on one," Hana announced suddenly, her tone sharp and matter-of-fact.

"Jungjin Department Store," Mun said, standing up from the bench with a sense of urgency that made Thea sit straighter.

"You caught that, too?" Hana asked, mimicking his action as she rose to her feet. Her sharp gaze locked onto his.

"Am I right? No way! Man, I caught—" Mun's excitement spilled over, but before he could finish, Mo-tak shushed him, raising a hand to keep the volume down.

"What's its level?" Hana asked, tilting her head slightly. Her face remained unreadable, but Thea could sense her unease.

"I wouldn't know that," Mun admitted, shaking his head. The frustration of not understanding his growing abilities was evident.

"Level three. Remember that feeling," Hana explained, her voice clipped but calm as she focused on teaching him.

"Three?"

"Level three?"

Hana nodded, her expression darkening. Thea could feel the shift in the air around them, the lighthearted moment dissipating under the weight of what that meant. A memory stirred in the back of her mind, one of their fallen comrade, Cheol-Jung—a victim of a level three evil spirit.

"The one that killed Cheol-Jung was level three," Ms. Chu reminded, her voice heavy with the gravity of the past.

Thea felt a pang in her chest at the mention of his name. The memory of their loss, the image of his smiling face replaced by the violence of his death, was still raw for all of them.

"I won't get worked up. I'll do a good job," Mun said with sudden determination, his jaw tightening as he tried to mask the nervousness flickering in his eyes.

"We'll have to travel by car," Ms. Chu commented, moving into action. Beside her, Hana unzipped her sweatshirt, her movements precise and efficient.

"I hope she shops there for a while," Mo-tak added, his tone laced with grim resolve.

"Get changed," Ms. Chu ordered, already heading toward the restaurant's entrance.

Thea followed close behind, her heart racing as her thoughts spiraled. She darted towards her room, quickly unzipping her red tracksuit top and tossing it onto the nearby chair. The chill of the room bit at her skin, but her mind was too clouded to notice.

What if someone else dies? The question hung over her like a storm cloud, dark and unyielding. What if she died? Her hands trembled slightly as she slipped out of her pants and pulled on her some normal clothes, the ritual of preparation doing little to calm her.

Her thoughts drifted to her team—the family that had adopted her when she was just fifteen. They had taken her in without hesitation, providing her with a home, food, and a love she hadn't known she needed. They had become her everything, and the thought of losing even one of them was unbearable.

But what terrified her more was the thought of them losing her. If she couldn't protect them—her family, the people who had given her a second chance—what was her purpose?

She clenched her fists, steeling herself as she zipped up her jacket. No one was dying tonight. She would make sure of it, even if it meant putting herself in harm's way.

Because that's what family did, wasn't it? They protected one another. They stood together against whatever darkness came their way.

And she would give her life—gladly, without hesitation—if it meant keeping them safe.

Never again, she thought, her resolve hardening as she stepped out of the changing room to rejoin her team. Never again would she lose someone she loved.

Author's note;

This chapter is shorter than all the others, but I didn't want to make it so long, so from now on I'll try not to make them too long 😭

Question of the day: Team SuHo or Team Mun? ✨

See y'all in the next chapter!💕

Edited: 11/22/24 ✔️