Dark Secrets

Chapter 17: Do You Say That I'm A Freak? (1 of 2)

It was almost sunset when we left Seongbuk-dong, after we set everything on fire except the building itself.

Adam suggested to get the place blessed before using it again for business as they negotiated about the contract price with Ashton.

Pluto drove Alessia, Troye, and Diso home before he dropped me off last but I’m bothered with his mark on the neck so I asked him to come over at my place to help him cover up his obvious injury.

“I don’t get it. Diso’s marks weren’t visible anymore since injuries made by such entities disappear when they obliterated.” Pluto looking at his neck through the mirror.

“Maybe because you pissed that demon off when you shot her with salt.” preparing the medical kit.

“Will that work?” he looked back to me. “You’re the only one who can see these marks aside from me.”

“Ah right.” I realized that Diso couldn’t see the imprint on Pluto’s neck as well as Alessia and Troye. “Does it hurt?”

“It stings a bit but I can manage, so you don’t have a solution for this, do you?” looking at me like I wasted his time.

“I’m not a shaman like Halmeoni.” scratching my head until a crazy thought popped up in my head. “What if I strangle you myself?”

“Sure, maybe your small hand will remove the imprint on me.” he said.

“Alright, I’ll do it now.” I’m about to touch his neck but he holds my wrist to stop me from grabbing him.

“Don’t you know what sarcasm means?? You think I really agree with your rubbish?!” he’s staring at me coldly.

“Oh, I only want to try if I have a magic touch.” I uttered.

“Magic touch my foot.” he sneered at me. “What do you think you are a cleric? Just give me something to drink at least.”

“Fine.” I stand up and walk towards my fridge. “It’s a shame I should’ve strangle him right away without saying it.” mumbling.

“What are you mumbling about over there?!” he noticed me. “That beer is fine with me.”

“That’s mine to drink.” taking out a cola that I’ve been saving for my exam day. “Here, just drink this cola and leave.” handing the cola to him. “As if I would give you a beer, you’re driving back home.”

“You don’t look like someone who drinks alcohol.” he opens the can and take a sip of the cola.

“I’m not alcoholic if that’s what you meant. I only drink beer to passed out at night.” I explained myself.

“Passed out? Why do you want to passed out??” he asked curiously.

“Because I can sleep without being disturbed. It’s hard for me to have a complete sleep because spirts never rests. If not for those Aussie boys who left their beers here, I won’t discover this kind of solution for my sleeping problem.” I continued.

“Ashton and the others left beers here??” he raised his eyebrow.

“Uh-huh. When they visited for the first time, they brought a case of beers and 10 kilos of meat, we had a BBQ party as well as housewarming.” I replied. “They only drunk a bottle each so there were much left, I drink a half bottle of beer every night since then.”

“I see. Have you tried other beverages aside from beer?” emptying his can of cola.

“Not yet, I don’t know the effect if I try something new. But maybe I’ll try on summer break, for the meantime I’m sticking with that brand of beer since I’m already used to it even though it’s kind of a luxury to me because of the price of each bottle.” I responded.

“Because that’s an imported brand, you should try the local brand with the same alcohol content.” he suggested.

“Hmm … I haven’t thought of that before. I’ll give it a try on summer, for now I’ll just drink that beer, I’m not into alcoholic beverages really so I don’t want to risk.” I said.

“Well, up to you. I’ll go now.” he stands up and prepare to leave.

“I’ll see you off.” walking out with him. “If it hurts, just go to my Halmeoni she could help you. Sorry, if I can’t do anything.”

“It’s alright, at least you care.” climbing down the stairs.

After I watched him drive away, I went to the store nearby to buy something for my dinner and replace the cola I’ve offered to drink.

I’m on my way back to the apartment when someone suddenly bumped at me, he’s running fast because he’s being chased by two men but he’ll die as soon as he got out at the end of the alley.

A truck will hit him and run over his body that would end his life immediately.

After I had my premonition, I stand still at the corner and let the man passed by instead of letting him bumped at me.

I look down and see my reflection through the water on the ground.

It’s true, I do have yellow eyes when my ability is activated.

I just heard that the man got hit by the truck, and the two men who were chasing after him are still in shocked of what happened.

I can see the man’s spirit standing on my way but I walked over him to pretend that I don’t see him and let him know that he’s dead.

I have midterms this week and I don’t have time to meddle with someone else business especially when it’s too complicated.

The next morning, what happened last night was written on the newspaper, apparently the man who died was a murderer and stalker of a university student.

He was held before in the police station but got released because of lack of evidence but when he attacked the university student again, he was caught in the act that’s why the cops were chasing after him last night.

I know that the man’s spirit is still wandering around the area but it has nothing to do with me.

Tuesday morning, and I saw the restless spirit in the classroom.

It was Ana Lee, the man who was stalking before he died and since he’s a spirit he can follow her freely anytime.

Wednesday morning, Pluto showed up in the classroom to bring me French macaroons, since it’s midterms week he told me to eat sweets instead of the usual breakfast meal.

“Why is it cold in your classroom?” Pluto rubbing his arms.

“Because there’s someone in here that shouldn’t be around.” I replied to him as I write at the back of my notebook to notify him.

“Ah, really. Is it urgent?” he read what I wrote on my notebook.

“I don’t want to involve myself; I still have midterms to think about.”

“Yeah, me too. I’ll come again tomorrow and bring something with me to at least ward this room from that nuisance.” he stands up to take his leave. “Good luck on your exams, baby.” smiling at me handsomely.

“Now, you’re making my blood boil.” I replied to him with a fake smile.

Even with the electric fans off and the sun outside is shining brightly our classroom feels like a freezer.

Ari is always with Ana anyway so she’s never alone, I have to focus on my exams tomorrow and not keep away from distractions.

Thursday morning, Pluto came again as he promised and put seals under the long table that I shared with my two classmates.

I helped him to cover up his secret acts when he pretended that he’s tying my shoelace.

“Not just your hands are small but also your feet.” Pluto measuring my shoe size with his hand.

“If you’re done will you get out from there?!” frowning at him.

“Haha. I still have one left but I have to get over there, you have to make way for me.” gesturing to move my legs to the side.

“Geez. By the way, thanks for these chocolate coated strawberries.”

“You like them?” making his way to the side to put the seal.

“Mmm.” stuffing the strawberry in my mouth. “I bought pastries from the bakery earlier but I guess I’ll just have them later.”

He sits on the chair at my left after he completed his task like he did nothing under the table.

“I used to hide under the table before to crawl out from the classroom when I feel like skipping class.” he uttered as he wipes his hand with his handkerchief.

“I never skipped class before even though I wanted to.” I replied.

“I think the ward is working now, it’s not that freezing in this room anymore.” he eats the strawberry that I supposed to put in my mouth. “Mmm. This is really delicious, now I know why Zeus wanted chocolate on his strawberries.”

“Zeus?” looking around to see if the spirit is still lurking.

“My oldest brother …” he’s about to eat again the strawberry when I suddenly turn my head to him. “This is my last one, promise.”

“O-Oh.” I don’t know why but it feels like everything is going in slow motion while he’s inches away from me.

“Why are you blushing?” he smiles at me teasingly.

“I-I’m not. It’s just that the room temperature is right now.” I said as I cover my cheeks with my hands.

“Not because I’m handsome and we’re this close to each other?”

“Ha. Haha. Your self-confidence is over-the-top.” I sneer at him.

“Am I ugly to you??” he leans his arm on the table and rest his head on his fist while staring at me.

“W-Will you just leave me alone?! I need to review.” I cover my face with the book as pretend to read and ignore his presence. “Why is he doing this to me?!” mumbles.

“Are you sure, you’re reviewing?” he pushes down my book. “How do you read? Upside down??”

“Don’t you have a class?! You have to drive to the main campus, right? You should go and stop bothering me here.” I noticed the mark on his neck. “That mark, I really think you should go to Halmeoni.”

“Accompany me this Sunday.” he stands up when the students are going back to their seats.

“Sure, I want to visit my parents anyway and see Halmeoni again.”

“I’ll leave now. See you on weekends.” he walks off the classroom.

Friday passed by and midterms are over, I could say that I did better than prelims because I had enough time to review.

But before the night is over, there’s one thing left for me to do that I couldn’t ignore anymore.

“Why? What’s wrong??” Diso asked me when I didn’t get in the train when the door opens.

“Diso-sunbae, you said that Kim Kwanghee’s body is in the hospital that you’re interning to, right?” I turned my head to him.

“What about him?” he’s looking at me in puzzlement.

“Can you help me to burn his body?” asking him a favor.

We took a cab to the hospital as I explained to him everything while we’re in transit.

“He’s scheduled to be cremated tomorrow anyway so I don’t think there will be any problem to do it tonight.” Diso pouring rock salt all over Kwanghee’s body before he pushed the tray to the crematory machine. “Is it over now?”

“Mmm. It’s done.” I can see the spirit burning with the body.

“Let’s go, we can’t be seen in here. I’m not authorized personnel to bury a body.” he grabbed my hand immediately as we heard someone coming to our direction.

When we walked out from the hospital while trying not to bump to anyone, we could finally breathe with ease.

“Haha. Thank you, Diso-sunbae.” smiling at him.

“I risked my internship for you, you should treat me not just an afternoon snack on Sunday.” he responded.

“Ah right, do you want dinner too??” I asked him anxiously.

“Why are we separating immediately after we had our snack??”

“I don’t know what else can we do after. I don’t want to take too much of your time Diso-sunbae.” I replied.

“We can take a stroll at the park and have dinner too before we go home, so what do you say?” staring at me.

“Ah dinner, that’s what you want in exchange for tonight. Sure.” I nodded. “Let’s have dinner too. I’ll pay my debts to you on Sunday.”

“It’s not what I meant but if that’s what you want to think of it then let’s do it.” sighing heavily as he hails a cab. “For now, let’s go home and take a rest, it’s been a long night for us.” opens the door for me.

“You’re right. It’s a good thing that we live on the same way.” I get in before him and he told the driver to drop him off at the station.

“I’ll just walk from there to get home, it’s not that far anyway.”

... To be Continued ...