THE DEVIL'S GUEST LIST

HAN SEO-YEON'S POV The first time I made my father look like he wanted to disown me, I was standing beside my brother's coffin with a strawberry lollipop in my mouth. In my defence, it was a very good lollipop. “Seo-yeon,” my aunt whispered, staring at it. “Please. Not today.” I removed it from my mouth. “Would you prefer grape?” Her mouth fell open. Honestly, people were so dramatic. My brother had been missing for months. His body was never found, but the police eventually declared him dead. My father arranged the funeral because my mother couldn't bear to discuss it. Now everyone was crying around an empty coffin. Not a body. Not even a strand of hair. Just an expensive wooden box. My father approached me. “Take those sunglasses off.” “Why?” “Seo-yeon.” “Dad, if you want me to cry, at least give me a reason that makes sense.” His expression changed. For a second, I saw how exhausted he was. I wanted to hug him, but I knew I'd start crying if I tried. So I put my sunglasses back on. “Besides, Oppa would be furious if he knew how much we spent on a funeral he wasn't even attending.” Nobody laughed. Tough crowd. I looked at the coffin, remembering how my brother used to steal my food and annoy me for absolutely no reason. He'd promised to come home early the night he disappeared. He never did. “You're not in there,” I whispered. And when they lowered the coffin, I refused to say goodbye. I wasn't burying my brother when nobody could even tell me where he was. --- ONE YEAR LATER “Why are you so expensive?” I turned a packet of instant noodles over. “Do you have a university degree I don't know about?” “Seo-yeon!” Manager Kim stood at the end of the aisle. “Stop talking to the products and arrange the shelves.” “They're the only customers who listen to me.” He shook his head and walked away. My phone vibrated. A message from my father's assistant informed me that a car had been arranged to pick me up. I declined. Naturally, Dad called almost immediately. “Why are you still working?” “Because the customers refuse to serve themselves.” “You don't need that job. Come home.” “I know, Dad.” “Then why insist?” Because being at home meant watching my parents pretend everything was fine. Because every conversation eventually returned to my missing brother. “I like having something to do,” I answered. “Your brother wouldn't want you exhausting yourself.” My smile disappeared. “Then maybe he should come back and tell me himself.” Silence. I closed my eyes. “Sorry, Dad.” “Just come home when your shift ends.” “I'll call you tomorrow. Love you.” After hanging up, I stared at the noodles again. “At least you don't have family problems.” “SEO-YEON!” Oh, for goodness' sake. --- I drove home after my shift. My house stood behind tall gates in a quiet residential neighbourhood. Its modern glass exterior was beautiful, expensive, and far too big for one person. Exactly how I liked it. My phone rang as I entered the living room. Yoon Chae-rin. “If you're calling to ask whether I've eaten, the answer is yes.” “What did you eat?” “Food.” “Seo-yeon!” “Chae-rin!” She laughed. “Are you coming to class tomorrow?” " I guess so." “Good. I'm not sitting beside that annoying guy again. He breathes like he's being paid.” I dropped onto the sofa, laughing. Then her voice softened. “Have you been thinking about Seo-jun?” I glanced at the photograph on my side table. My brother stood behind me, pulling my cheeks while I tried to slap his hands away. “Every day.” “Do you still think he's alive?” “They buried an empty coffin, Chae-rin. How am I supposed to accept that he's dead?” She went quiet. “I just want to know what happened to him,” I whispered. “I know. I wish I could help.” “You do. You answer my calls.” “That's because I'm a saint.” “You're a menace.” We talked a little longer before hanging up. I picked up the photograph. “Where the hell are you, Oppa?” As usual, he didn't answer. --- The next morning, I arrived at Haneul International University with iced coffee and absolutely no intention of being productive. Chae-rin spotted me. “You look suspiciously happy.” “I bought coffee.” She snatched it and took a sip. “Give it back!” I chased her across the courtyard until something caught my attention. A black car stood near the administration building. A man stepped out, and I noticed a small white orchid symbol on its rear window. My smile vanished. The same flower left behind after my brother disappeared. “Chae-rin. Look.” She followed my gaze. For a moment, she said nothing. Then she grabbed my wrist. “Come on. We're late.” “Wait. I want to know who that man is.” “After class.” By the time I looked back, the car was gone. Wonderful. My first possible clue in months, ruined by an attendance sheet. After class, I visited the administration office, but the receptionist refused to disclose visitor information. I searched for the symbol again. Nothing useful. At this point, I was beginning to hate flowers. Especially expensive-looking white ones. --- My evening shift started at eight. At 9:38 p.m., the entrance bell rang. A tall man wearing a dark coat walked in. Black hair, handsome face, and the sort of appearance that could make a girl forget her own name. Not me, obviously. Well... He checked the street before approaching the refrigerator, then spent an unreasonable amount of time studying the noodles. “The spicy ones are terrible if you're planning to sleep afterwards,” I said. “Speaking from experience?” “A very painful one.” He picked up a packet. “I'll take my chances.” “Brave man.” When he brought his purchases over, I noticed a cut across his knuckles. “Fighting?” “No.” “Lost a fight with a cat?” He smiled. Annoyingly attractive. I immediately decided I disliked him. As I handed him his receipt, he studied my face. “You're Han Seo-yeon, aren't you?” I glanced at my name tag. “Congratulations. You can read.” His gaze dropped to my silver pendant. My brother's pendant. “Where did you get that?” I covered it. “Why?” “Listen carefully. If anyone asks about that necklace, you didn't get it from your brother.” My smile disappeared. “How do you know my brother?” He glanced towards the entrance. “Forget I said anything.” “Oh, absolutely not.” His phone rang. He checked it, rejected the call, then looked outside. A black car had stopped across the street. The white orchid symbol was visible on its rear window. My stomach tightened. “Stay away from that car,” he said. “Why?” “Just do it.” He picked up his water and headed for the door. “Wait! What's your name?” He turned. “Kang Do-yun.” “Okay, Mr Kang. How do you know my brother?” His expression changed. “I knew him before he disappeared.” My heart began racing. “Then tell me what happened to him.” “I can't.” “You can't, or you won't?” He didn't answer. “I'm trying to keep you out of this,” he finally said. “Well, congratulations. You've just made me more curious.” His phone vibrated again. He checked the screen. “Go home when your shift ends, Seo-yeon.” “You seriously need to work on your manners.” He stepped outside and entered the waiting black car. I watched it disappear. For the first time in a year, someone had admitted knowing my brother before he vanished. I grabbed my phone. KANG DO-YUN. Several search results appeared. KANGSEONG GROUP. BUSINESS HEIR. HANEUL INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. “Well, Mr Mysterious. Aren't you full of surprises?” I searched his name alongside Seo-jun's. Nothing useful. My eyes returned to the entrance. The white orchid. My brother's pendant. Kang Do-yun. Someone who had popped up like it was destiny. I checked the clock. 9:51 p.m. Nine minutes until my shift ended. I saved Do-yun's photograph to my phone. “All right, Oppa,” I whispered. “Let's see what kind of trouble you got yourself into.”