ULAS 11

Chapter 11

‘In the end I took it with me.’

I nervously fiddled with the dagger I’d shoved into the hood pocket of my hoodie.

‘But if I’d left it there, that ghost might’ve shown up again.’

Still — why would that unknown ghost want to give me a dagger? I shivered at the thought that it might be some cursed object like the keyring had been.

It didn’t give me the same uneasy feeling I’d had when I saw the keyring that Jang Hyun-woo had, but I was still scared.

‘If a teacher or anyone sees me with something dangerous like a knife, I’m in big trouble!’

I hurried back to the classroom and hugged my bag to my chest. I thought I’d slip to the bathroom and put the dagger deep inside my bag where no one would notice.

“Choyeon.”

Yoo Chae-song called me.

“Hmm?”

Of all people.

It was late afternoon and the classroom was crowded. Fortunately the ghost wasn’t under Jang Hyun-woo’s desk or under Chae-song’s desk either, but I was trying to avoid looking around in case I ran into it — and of course Chae-song was the one who spoke to me first.

‘Of course it’s not her fault!’ I thought, trembling, and glanced over my shoulder. What if the ghost was attached to her? What if it was right behind her?

“Are you leaving early? Are you sick?”

Luckily, there was nothing behind Chae-song.

“No, I’m just going to the bathroom for a minute.”

“Then why are you taking your bag?”

“Because of pads… I forgot to put them in my pouch.”

“Ohhh.”

Chae-song nodded as if she understood. Then, as if getting up slowly…

“Why—why are you standing up?”

“…? I’m going to the bathroom too.”

She looked like she was wondering why I was asking. Of course we’d always gone to the bathroom together, but—

‘You’re way too scary right now!’

It wasn’t Chae-song — it was the ghost that could appear anytime beside her!

“Let’s go quick. There’s not much break time left.”

“Okay.”

“I texted Hyun-woo to see if he’s okay but he didn’t check. He said it was just a broken leg.”

Just a broken leg?

Her tone was openly full of complaint, and I glanced at her to try to figure out what she meant. I couldn’t tell what Chae-song’s intention was.

“Maybe I’ll go visit him at the hospital tonight.”

“But the teacher said you couldn’t earlier, right?”

“Not right after school. At night.”

Going to the hospital at night with a ghost in tow?

I hurried into the bathroom and grabbed the door. Thankfully there were other students inside. I exhaled in relief — at least I wasn’t alone in the stall.

“The hospital won’t have a bodyguard on the room or anything, so what does it matter.”

“But Hyun-woo might be sleeping.”

“Then we’ll just peek at his face for a bit.”

Since when were they so tender with one another?

I wasn’t going to say that out loud. I went into the stall with Chae-song right behind me.

‘Could she be going to steal the keyring?’

If Chae-song were bewitched by the keyring ghost, that was entirely possible. Maybe that was why she kept staring at Hyun-woo’s bag when the teacher carried it away.

‘What should I do? Maybe I should tell Dan Seohyeok later.’

“Do you want to come with me?”

My foot paused as I opened the empty stall door. I couldn’t bring myself to look back.

“Huh? Where?”

Playing dumb, I answered.

“To see Hyun-woo.”

Not a hospital visit — it’s a fun night outing with a ghost!!

I quickly shut the stall door and locked it, pretending I urgently needed to use the toilet with exaggerated movements.

“I’ll pass. I’m so tired today I want to sleep early.”

“Really? Well, can’t be helped then.”

I heard Chae-song’s voice outside and opened my bag. I took the dagger from my hoodie pocket and hid it in the deepest part of the bag. I made sure to cover it with other belongings so no one would see if they opened the bag.

“Too bad.”

Chae-song’s voice came again from outside. The conversation from a moment ago wasn’t finished.

Why didn’t she go into the stall when she said she was going to the bathroom? I tilted my head as I closed the bag.

“I wish we could go together.”

There was something off about that voice…?

‘What is that? It sounds like metal scraping…?’

It didn’t sound like the Chae-song I knew.

The bathroom light flickered.

A bad omen — like the lights that always threaten to go out just before something terrible happens in horror movies.

Still, hoping for the best, I asked, “Is anyone else in there with you?”

“Why?”

“Um — my stomach hurts all of a sudden… so it’d be embarrassing if someone’s there.”

“Oh, don’t worry.”

Chae-song laughed softly and answered.

“We’re just the two of us.”

There it was!

I hooked my bag to my front and kicked the stall door open.

Bang!

I stormed out with a loud crash. Chae-song looked startled.

“Why did you come out so quickly?”

“I was cleaning my bag and the toilet lid was up so someone didn’t flush!”

“Oh…”

“Maybe it’s clogged. The water won’t go down.”

I pulled a face like someone disgusted and carefully pushed the lid down as if touching something filthy.

“Ugh, so gross! Totally rude.”

I scrunched up my face like I was holding back the smell.

“You must’ve been surprised. Want to use the next stall?”

“No, it’s fine. I think I’ll just go back to class.”

I wanted out of that moment with her so badly!

I hurried toward the door, moving like my limbs were disconnected. When I turned the doorknob, it turned more easily than I expected.

I’d worried the ghost would trap us inside — but when I opened the door I saw the bright hallway light. Dan Seohyeok happened to be passing by and our eyes met; he looked slightly put off.

“…….”

Neither of us spoke.

“Choyeon, wash your hands before you go!”

At that perfect moment, Chae-song’s voice called out, and Dan Seohyeok’s gaze drifted down to my hand gripping the doorknob.

‘No, that would make him misunderstand! It’s true I touched the toilet lid, but—!’

I couldn’t explain that I was just trying to get out of the situation, and I didn’t want Seohyeok to think I was unsanitary.

‘Damn it!’

I hid my hand behind my back without meaning to.

“You said you were going to the hospital…”

I tried to change the topic awkwardly, and Seohyeok frowned as if I’d asked something obvious.

“You should go after school.”

The kid who’d skipped class before was saying something so sensible.

“Wash your hands and come out — I have something to tell you.”

He looked at me with a look of reproach, but then, unexpectedly, leaned against the window and spoke.

Break time was almost over, but I hurried to wash my hands, scrubbing until they shone.

“Alright, I’ll be in the classroom first.”

Chae-song made space and told us to have the conversation. I walked over to Seohyeok with my proud, clean hands — and he gave me a disdainful look.

This jerk.

“Are you stupid?”

“Why now? I washed my hands, didn’t I? Besides, the reason I didn’t wash earlier was—!”

“Not that.”

Seohyeok’s gaze was fixed on the figure of Chae-song walking toward the classroom.

“Don’t even think about being alone with her.”

“But how can I stop her from going to the bathroom? I didn’t rent the whole bathroom.”

“Make some other excuse.”

“I didn’t have one and I was flustered.”

“Ma Choyeon.”

Seohyeok tilted his head expressionlessly. I found myself tilting my head too.

He was tall and had been looking down at me, expression blank but clearly displeased.

“Don’t keep making excuses for me.”

It felt like being scolded by a parent or teacher.

‘And he’s the same age as me!!’

That annoyed me — a lot.

But he had a point, so I had nothing to say.

‘If I’d been alone in the bathroom and had run into that ghost, my heart might’ve stopped.’

Especially if it had crawled under the stall door or peered down from above! Just imagining it gave me the chills. I nodded weakly and Seohyeok straightened his head.

“Come to Class 1 after this.”

“Why?”

“Come to the hospital with me. I’d be worried leaving you alone.”

If anyone else had said that, I might have felt my heart flutter, but coming from Seohyeok I only felt annoyed. Maybe because his handsome face couldn’t make up for his attitude?

“By the way, Chae-song said she was going to sneak there at night anyway?”

“Didn’t she ask you to go with her?”

“I… did?”

“What was the vibe like?”

This guy — did he eavesdrop on our conversation outside?

“…It felt kinda creepy, didn’t it?”

“Then she’ll come find you at night, to go with you.”

“Eek! Why would you say something so chilling like it’s nothing!!”

“Shut up.”

The bell for the end of break rang and Seohyeok got up from the windowsill.

I glared at him as he headed to the classroom without hesitation, then slowly raised my middle finger.

‘Lucky jerk. Trip and fall on the way!’