Chapter 25
‘Why, why?’
I couldn’t bring myself to ask.
If the answer that came back was that Machohae had died, and that was why they couldn’t bring him…
Then what kind of heart would I need to keep living with?
My lips just opened and closed uselessly.
I didn’t know what to say, wasting time doing nothing.
[… ]
Fortunately, the call didn’t disconnect.
How much time passed?
Right, probably about five minutes.
“…Can I ask a different question?”
[Yes.]
I took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
“If you can’t bring him here… then is the reverse possible?”
[Please give an example.]
“Me.”
My lips were completely dry.
“Can you take me to where my little brother is?”
Quick services can deliver things, but they can also send them, right?
If it’s possible to bring someone here—
‘Then maybe it’s possible for me to go there too.’
I didn’t know where “there” was, and that scared me.
Just in case, I had packed a small dagger in my crossbody bag. I wasn’t sure if it would work against ghosts, but…
It had a kind of charm-like meaning for me.
[Checking.]
The same flat voice continued.
Please.
If it turns out to be impossible again, will they at least tell me if my brother is alive or not?
[Verification complete.]
This time, maybe—!
[It’s possible.]
Thud.
My heart pounded wildly.
‘You mean… I can see Chohae?’
[Would you like to use the quick service?]
“Yes, yes!”
My answer came out all jumbled in my rush. Worried they hadn’t heard, I quickly said again,
“I’ll use it!”
[Thank you for using our service.]
The call ended.
There was no mention of payment, or where they would come to pick me up.
4:33 a.m.
Had it gotten that late already?
The conversation itself wasn’t that long, but maybe the long silences made it feel like it was.
‘Are they coming to pick me up by 4:44?’
If anyone else heard this, they’d say I was insane.
How could I follow something I didn’t even understand, not knowing what awaited me at the end?
My heart thudded.
Even now, I wasn’t sure this was the right thing to do.
I opened my bag and gripped the dagger lightly.
‘…It’s not coming out.’
I’d hoped that maybe the blond ghost would appear, so I could ask something—but of course, ghosts don’t just show up whenever you want them to.
I waited anxiously until—
Footsteps.
‘Don’t tell me the quick service is already here?’
I jerked my head up.
There was no car or motorcycle at the end of the alley.
Just… a man.
‘Who?’
His face was hidden in the shadows.
I could only tell he was tall, and instinctively I shrank back.
What if he’s dangerous?
A criminal… or a creep?
I took a step back in a different kind of fear—when the man spoke.
“What exactly did you say you were using?”
That voice… familiar.
“…Don’t tell me—Dan Seo-hyuk?”
“You can’t tell just by looking?”
“What are you even doing here?!”
My voice rose, and I realized how it echoed through the empty alley. I quickly lowered it.
If I wanted a ghost to appear, I couldn’t draw human attention.
“You look like you’ve just seen something you shouldn’t have.”
Seo-hyuk approached slowly.
“Like you just saw a ghost.”
That tone—he was mocking me on purpose.
My face twisted.
Was the big guy from the café earlier… him?
“Were you following me?”
“When you tell such obvious lies, who’s gonna believe you?”
“No matter what—”
“Did they threaten to hurt you if you told anyone?”
Flinch.
He hit the mark exactly.
I couldn’t help but twitch, which basically told him everything.
Seo-hyuk sighed deeply.
“Ha… hey, peanut.”
“Look, I was just worried you guys were in danger. Can you not look at me like I’m pathetic?”
“Whether you’re careful or not—”
He raised a hand.
As I stared at his long fingers, he tapped my forehead with his index finger.
“No matter how much you use that tiny brain of yours, ghosts are smarter and more cunning than you can imagine. They’ll use anything they can.”
“Still, there’s no harm in being careful…! They said if I told anyone, you’d be in danger.”
“Then don’t tell anyone.”
“What?”
“I’ll follow you myself.”
He crossed his arms, looking down at me with a slanted glare.
“When I look at you, I can tell what you’re thinking just by your face.”
Is this concern or sarcasm?
I was too stunned to answer. Seo-hyuk looked toward the alley entrance again.
“Since you asked to be taken to your brother, I guess this ghost uses taxis or public transport.”
“That’s not—!”
“Do you even know where it’s taking you? You’re not even scared?”
Yep, definitely sarcasm.
Grinding my teeth, I glared at him.
Why was he even sneaking around here at this hour instead of sleeping?
Still, I knew this was how he showed concern—awkwardly and indirectly.
At least, that’s what I told myself to avoid exploding.
I took a breath and said,
“It’s not a taxi or a bus, okay?”
“Then what is it?”
“Why don’t you follow me and find out yourself?”
Vroooom—
Just then, an engine sound.
Seo-hyuk frowned.
“A motorcycle?”
I’d worried it might not show up with someone else here—but—
[… ]
A motorbike stopped at the mouth of the alley.
The rider just stared at us silently.
As we looked back, the engine revved again, and the wheels began to move.
The bike rolled up to me and stopped.
[Did you call for the quick service?]
My reflection showed in the black visor of a bright pink helmet.
A small four-leaf-clover keychain dangled from the handlebar, swaying in the breeze.
“Yes, that’s me!”
It was the same voice I’d heard over the phone.
4:44.
Exactly the time the internet ghost had said.
‘It’s the quick service ghost.’
I couldn’t see any face inside the dark visor. Was there even a head in there?
I hesitated, then—
[Please get on.]
There was space for one passenger behind.
I slipped my phone into my hoodie pocket, checked my bag again, and took a step forward—
“Hey.”
Seo-hyuk grabbed my wrist.
“Are you out of your mind? How can you trust that?”
“They said they’d take me to Chohae.”
“And you believe that? Is this what that internet ghost told you to do?”
His face twisted with anger.
“Cancel it. Now.”
“What?”
“Cancel your request to be taken there.”
“No. I asked them to bring Chohae, but they said it was impossible.”
I tightened my grip on my bag strap.
“I want to know what that means.”
What had happened to Machohae that made it “impossible”? Was he in danger?
Whatever it was, they couldn’t bring him here—but they could take me to him.
“I’m his guardian.”
At least I knew this was a horror story.
But Machohae didn’t. If he ran into a ghost, how terrified would he be?
He’s always hated ghosts.
“You’re really going to keep acting without thinking?”
“And you’re so good at thinking things through, huh?”
“Ma Choyeon.”
“Stop calling me reckless or thoughtless.”
I yanked my wrist free.
The rider was still waiting silently.
“We both care about our loved ones. We just have different ways of showing it.”
There’s no single right answer in life.
If this led to saving Machohae, then my choice would have been the right one.
If you don’t know the result, you have to at least try something.
“I’m the kind of person who acts first and regrets later.”
Before he could stop me again, I glared at Seo-hyuk and climbed onto the motorcycle.
I grabbed the rider’s jacket tightly and looked up.
“You do things your way.”
At least I’ve never called your way stupid.
With that, the motorcycle started smoothly.
The speed picked up quickly, but it didn’t shake at all.
As the engine roared, Seo-hyuk’s shocked face grew smaller and smaller.
“Don’t do anything stupid! Wait there—I’ll find a way to follow you…!!”
His voice echoed faintly behind me.
‘Is he yelling at me again?’
I couldn’t hear clearly, but I was pretty sure he was mad because I wasn’t accepting his concern properly.
‘I know this is reckless.’
Of course I knew.
I knew better than anyone how much Seo-hyuk had helped me—and I was grateful.
[Checking safety of transported item.]
My vision blurred.
Startled, I blinked—and felt something unfamiliar.
A helmet.
One I hadn’t been wearing before, now snug on my head.
The rider glanced back at me, then nodded, seemingly satisfied.
[Delivery commencing.]
Even so, if the same situation came again,
I’d make the same choice.
‘Chohae… please, be safe.’
Because there was nothing in the world more important than family.
