THE CALL

EPISODE 3

I was right, where she took the picture was actually my uncles working place.

Do you know her? I asked, giving a man the picture I founded.

Young-sook, he replied.

Young-sook? Was she a shaman? I asked.

No, she wasn’t, but her mom was, he replied, walking out.

Did our house use to belong to a shaman? I asked, moving towards him.

No, I wouldn’t say that.

But you just said her mom was a shaman

Well that was ages ago, it was back in the 90s, so I hardly remember anything, he replied, moving away.

But you knew her name?

Bobby, what is this? I told you not to do this, how many times do I have to tell you? Come here, come on girl, he said, talking to his dog, at this point I knew he was avoiding my questions. At this point, I was pissed.

Walking down the road, I was contemplating on how to find the strange lady and what my uncle was hiding from me.

I walked pass an old abandoned store, written SUN-HEE’S STORE, I could remember I had seen that name somewhere.

I saw a lady in her late 40s sitting there all by herself and smoking, immediately she looked at me, I was scared, so I left the place, back home.

Likewise, I went back to the wall, thinking what could have happened here and why was there a secret room.

Beep Beep Beep!!

At this point, I could see my heart leaving my body.

I went to get the phone ringing.

Sun-hee, please come help me! Hurry!, this was the voice of the lady always calling.

What ? I asked.

Mom’s is trying to set me on fire now! She replied, shouting and crying.

I could hear noises.

My mom is trying to… before she could finish, she started screaming in pain.

Hello Hello.

I was petrified, I didn’t know what to say or think again, I went to close my windows and doors.

I came across the open wall, It was covered with fog, I bought my touch lights, attempting to see if I could see anything, but I couldn’t, I pointed at the staircase. It was covered with red burning coal.

Beep Beep Beep!!

My phone rang again, I went to get it.

Hello?

Why didn’t you come yesterday? How can you do this to me?

Is your address really 4, Yeongcheon-ri, Bosung-eup? I asked.

Isn’t this Sun-Hee? I ignored her question.

I saw your picture, Ms. Oh Young-sook. Likewise, I bought out the picture. The one that was taken on November 26, 1999, I said, still looking at the picture.

What? But it is the 18th today, she said.

Did you write this in your diary yesterday?

“ NEW LIFE WAS BORN, AND THE PARENTS BEGAN TO OPPRESS AGAIN”? I asked.

I could hear her flipping her book,

are you watching me right now? She asked angrily.

This will be difficult to believe, but I think we’re in the same house right now, I said.

Hmmm, I am sorry I must have called the wrong number again, she said, trying to end the call.

Wait.

I bought out my laptop, searching, in November 1999.

PLANE CRASHES NEAR GIMPO AIRPORT,

136 PASSENGERS INJURED.

There will be a plan crash near Gimpo Airport tonight, I said. But she ended the call.

Beep Beep Beep!!

Hello? There was a total silent for about 20 seconds.

How did you know? She asked, breaking the silent.

How old are you, Young-sook?

MMM I am 28, she replied rather not too sure.

I am also 28, I said.

I was born in 1972, she added.

Oh, you like Seo Taiji, don’t you? I played one of Seo’s songs on my laptop so that she could hear him singing.

This is Seo Taiji’s song, right?she asked.

He will return from the states and make a comeback in 2000, I replied.

It sounds like him, but…

Ding ding ding!!

This was the sound of a bell, I could hear it coming from the wall.

So there is a computer inside the phone? She asked.

Yes, it is called a smartphone, you can do almost anything with it. I replied, feeling comfortable talking to her.

What about music? Do you have Walkman's? She asked.

“ Walkman's”?

Yes, don’t you know what they are? They play music, she said.

Oh, music? Of course, you can take pictures, watch movies and even shop on your phone, I replied happily.

Sounds like you are lying to me, she replied, smiling.

I can understand when I was small, I never imagined we would be able to make videos calls.

Video calls? She asked flabbergasted,

yes you can see the other person while talking on the phone.

That is possible? She asked.

Are you curious about anything else, I asked, smiling.

I wonder what I will be like, she said.

Oh good question, I bought my laptop closer, do you want me to find out? I asked her.

No, she replied quickly.

Why not? Finding you will be a piece of cake, I said.

My mom told me that I am cursed with a wretched fortune, she replied sadly. She said I was born with a brutal, atrocious fate. Anyway, she is crazy, she locks me at home and doesn’t let me see anyone, she added.

Do you not get along with your mother?

With my mom? That woman is not my real mom, my real mom is dead, she said.

Hmm, oh, I'm deeply sorry.

Why are you sorry? It is not like you killed her, she said.

Actually I also lost my dad when I was young.

Really? How? She asked.

There was a fire at our place, I replied, looking at my scar on my leg, my mom forgot to turn off the gas valve, I said, but I started noticing something.

Hey Young-Sook, I called.

Yes, she replied.

What did you say the date was over there?

Seo-yeon I think my mom is coming, I will call you back in a bit, she replied trying to end the call.

Hey, wait,

Beep Beep. She had ended the call.