Chapter 12
Eden Hospital.
That was where Jang Hyun-woo had been admitted.
“…Why does the hospital have to be in Eden-dong of all places?”
At least I wasn’t alone coming here—that was the good part.
Though, unfortunately, my companion was Dan Seo-hyuk, and we spent the entire trip bickering as if we might eat each other alive.
“It’s the biggest hospital near our school,” he said flatly.
“…That’s not what I meant, and you know it!”
Correction: it wasn’t so much a conversation as him tossing out curt replies while I yapped like an angry little Chihuahua.
Even now, when I muttered to myself, all I got was another meaningless, soulless answer.
‘I meant it’s creepy to be hospitalized in a neighborhood famous for ghost sightings!’
At this point, I seriously questioned whether this guy had any empathy at all.
I sighed heavily at Seo-hyuk’s indifferent tone, but he didn’t even look back as he walked straight into the building.
“Do you even know what room Hyun-woo’s in?”
“No.”
“Then why are you just walking in like that?”
He didn’t answer.
As he stopped in front of the reception desk, his tall frame caught the attention of the clerk, who looked up from her computer.
“Excuse me,” he said politely.
For a second, I wondered if this was even the same guy who’d been so rude to me just moments ago.
His voice was calm, respectful—even his expression softened.
“A classmate of mine was admitted here, and we came to visit, but we’re not sure which room he’s in.”
And that smile!
I blinked in disbelief, but the clerk looked momentarily stunned, as if dazzled by him.
‘Yeah, he’s rude and has the personality of a rock, but… fine. I admit it. The face is unfairly good-looking.’
“What’s the patient’s name?”
“I think he’s on the third floor… If it’s not too much trouble, could you please check?”
“Of course. Can I get the patient’s name?”
“He was admitted today. His name’s Jang Hyun-woo.”
“Today?”
She glanced at his school uniform.
“Oh, that must be the student who came in this morning.”
It’s not common for a student to arrive in an ambulance, so she must have remembered.
She typed something on her keyboard, then looked up again.
“Room 303.”
“Thank you very much. Have a good day.”
He bowed—actually bowed—before turning back to me.
“Let’s go.”
His face was cold and blank again, as if that smile had never existed.
‘Wow. The emotional whiplash is insane!’
Of course, I didn’t say that out loud in front of the clerk.
I just gave her a quick bow of my own as I followed him.
The woman smiled and waved a little, in that fond way adults do when they find kids cute.
It made me a bit self-conscious—but hey, I am pretty adorable.
“Peanut,” Seo-hyuk said suddenly.
I snapped out of my smug thoughts. “What?”
“Focus. You’re the one who begged to come here.”
“I—what? Why do you make it sound like I did something wrong? You’re so mean.”
“Whether you’re upset or not isn’t my problem.”
Instead of taking the elevator, he started climbing the stairs.
His long legs took the steps two at a time, while my short ones scrambled to keep up.
“When you waste someone’s time, at least stay focused,” he added.
He’s so cold it’s unreal.
Does this guy even have friends?
‘He was snappy in the original story too, but that was because he found the horror-obsessed characters annoying. I didn’t even do anything!’
“Dan Seo-hyuk, you’re the worst.”
“Want to go home?”
He stopped dead.
“No, no!”
I grabbed his sleeve in panic, afraid he really might leave.
Damn it! If you draw your sword, at least swing it! Don’t threaten me halfway!
“Oh, most handsome and kind Sir Dan Seo-hyuk, please forgive this foolish maiden’s rash tongue!”
“Don’t joke. Think before you speak next time.”
I ground my teeth. “Yessir!”
At least my reply sounded obedient enough.
He finally started walking again—and I caught the faintest hint of a smile before it disappeared.
‘Ugh. Does he enjoy toying with me?’
Still… if he could get rid of whatever ghost might’ve latched onto me, he could tease me all he wanted.
If he drove away that awful keychain spirit, I’d crawl up these stairs on all fours barking like a dog.
…Not that I’d ever say that out loud. He might actually make me do it.
“We’re here,” he said suddenly.
As if reading my thoughts, he stopped in front of Room 303.
Hyun-woo’s name was listed beside another patient’s.
The door was open.
“Excuse us,” I called softly.
No teacher was inside, so we stepped in.
“Oh, Ma Cho-yeon! You came to visit?”
Hyun-woo’s face lit up as he spotted me.
Trying not to draw attention, I bowed slightly to the other patients and went to the far corner.
Despite having fallen from the rooftop, Hyun-woo only had a cast on one leg.
He really didn’t look like someone who’d survived that kind of accident.
“You feeling okay?”
“Yeah. They ran some tests just in case, but everything came back normal. Mom already went back to work.”
He grinned. “Honestly, my back hurts more from her hitting me.”
“Hey, don’t joke about that! How did it even happen?”
“Hmm.”
He glanced briefly at Seo-hyuk, and I jumped in to clarify.
“He’s my friend—really into paranormal stuff. That’s why I brought him. You know how creepy Eden-dong’s been lately.”
…Okay, maybe there was a bit of selfish motivation in that.
I could feel Seo-hyuk’s glare stabbing into the back of my head, but I ignored it.
“Alright,” Hyun-woo said. “Let’s talk outside.”
Even while talking to me, his eyes never left Seo-hyuk.
‘Why’s he staring like that?’
Then I noticed Seo-hyuk wasn’t paying attention to Hyun-woo at all—his eyes were fixed on a keychain hanging from Hyun-woo’s bag.
‘Ah. The keyring.’
Of course he’d be interested in that.
But why was Hyun-woo reacting to him like that—he didn’t seem afraid, exactly.
“Can you hand me those crutches?” Hyun-woo said suddenly.
“You sure you should be moving?”
“It’s just one leg.”
He took the crutches and led us to a small lounge at the end of the hall.
“Thing is,” he began quietly, “I don’t even remember going to the rooftop.”
There were a few people in the lounge, but it was noisy enough that no one could overhear.
I sat beside him and motioned for Seo-hyuk to sit too.
He didn’t. He just leaned against the wall, blank-faced, refusing to meet anyone’s eyes.
‘Ugh, what is his problem? Whatever, focus.’
Hyun-woo continued, “When you were out of the room, Yoo Chae-song asked me if I really wished on the keychain for my grades to go up.”
“And you said yes?”
“Yeah. She said it was cool and asked me to show her. Then everything went blurry, and next thing I knew—I was falling.”
He tried to laugh it off, but his trembling eyes betrayed him.
“My mom cried and hit me, asking why I did it. I didn’t even know what to say.”
He hesitated. “But right before I fell… I saw you guys.”
I blinked slowly. The memory flashed vividly in my mind—his terrified face as he plummeted.
“‘You guys’? Who do you mean?”
“You and Yoo Chae-song. You looked really shocked.”
“Of course I was!”
“Right? That’s normal. But do you know what Chae-song was doing?”
He paused.
“She was smiling.”
“…What? Are you sure you didn’t imagine that? She was worried sick about you.”
“I wish I imagined it. But everything was so clear in that moment.”
“Maybe it was just chaos—you could’ve misseen—”
“She’s been eyeing that keyring, hasn’t she?”
I stiffened.
It wasn’t strange that he’d notice—if even I had, of course he would’ve too.
He gave a small, bitter laugh.
“She’s weird. Thinking there’s something in that keychain.”
“…What do you mean, something in it?”
“There is something. It’s haunted.”
My eyes went wide. I glanced at Seo-hyuk, but he was still staring off somewhere else.
“Haunted? What are you talking about?”
“At first I thought I was seeing things. But every time something bad happened, I saw this woman. Dressed all in black. Pitch black.”
He whispered,
“When I fell from the roof, I only survived because she caught me.”
“She… saved you?”
“Saved me?”
He gave a dazed, hollow laugh.
“That thing? Smiling wide as she caught me?”
He rubbed his temples, voice trembling.
“Maybe it’s because my wish wasn’t strong enough to kill me. The fatal wish probably came from Yoo Chae-song.”
“Chae-song wouldn’t—”
“Anyway, since my wish was weak, she only shows up sometimes. And the accidents weren’t too serious.”
He muttered under his breath, voice barely audible.
“I should’ve never made a wish. No—I should’ve never gone to get that keychain in the first place.”
His eyes were unfocused now.
“I don’t want to see her anymore, but she keeps appearing. Just smiling at me.”
“B-but it’s daytime! You’re fine! We’re here with you!”
I tried to reassure him, but he suddenly went still.
He lowered his head slowly.
“She’s here now,” he murmured—in the same metallic, distorted tone I’d once heard echoing in the bathroom.
“Right next to your leg.”
Before I could even look down, Seo-hyuk’s hand shot out and gripped my chin.
“Don’t. Look. Down.”
And in that instant, I couldn’t breathe.
