Today, the weather in Segwang Special City was absolutely perfect.
"Hoo."
Stepping outside Hanbit Department Store, I took a deep breath in and out.
No pollution, the weather wasn't as hot as I'd expected—it was completely pleasant.
The expressions of the people walking around seemed bright too.
I smiled as I walked along the sidewalk, dodging a broadcasting station vehicle driving by.
'Why am I feeling so good today?'
My mind felt at ease, like after finishing a long trip and returning home to rest deeply.
Maybe it's because I just came out of the department store.
Or maybe it's because the pollution level here is lower than in Seoul...
'Hmm. It could be because it's the day before Children's Day.' I opened my smartphone to check the date.
Monday, May 4th.
It's Monday after the weekend, but you have the joy of knowing you get to rest again tomorrow. Maybe that's why I feel so much better?
...Still, I have work to do now.
'A lunch meeting...'
Ah, come to think of it, I still have to go to that meeting.
It seemed that way... Ugh.
But just now, why did I even use my paid leave?
It wasn't like I had a long, relaxing weekend planned or anything, and visiting the department store using my leave feels totally unreasonable...
...doesn't seem that important!
A client meeting was suddenly scheduled after I planned to use my leave.
Yeah. What matters now is what I have to do.
'Let's just go entertain them...' I held back a sigh and moved my feet.
I had some time left and the weather was nice, so I thought of walking instead of taking the subway to the meeting place.
"Mr. Kim Sol-eum, as I always say, you seem like a really pleasant person."
"Haha, no, it's just that Manager Park is such a good person, so he sees me in a favorable light, right?"
Entertaining the client in itself wasn't that difficult.
Since it wasn't a dinner meeting there was no drinking involved, which made it less burdensome, and we were already acquainted.
In any situation, the larger company holds the upper hand, but if the other company's standing isn't too far behind, there's generally an atmosphere of maintaining mutual courtesy.
At times like this, I really felt fortunate to have landed a job at a large corporation...
Not that it meant the client being entertained wasn't the one holding the upper hand.
"Huh? So even if you study hard and get into a good place, you still end up doing unproductive work like this? How pathetic this country is..."
"Hahaha..."
Making money isn't easy...
Probably because this person likes chatting with lively young people, they sent me, a low-level employee, to entertain them...
'Just don't step on any landmines... Phew.'
I desperately steered the conversation toward smoother, more personal topics with survival moves.
Luckily, the moment we finished eating and stepped outside, I found another topic to talk about.
"My kid goes here."
"Oh, your child's school is right over there?"
I smiled faintly, looking at the high school building the client pointed at.
Segwang Technical High School.
It seems like a high school that receives significant city-level support for technical education, almost like a specialized vocational school.
And the person next to me points their finger at the massive glass building beyond the high school.
"See that? It's the library. I really like it because it seems to have a positive influence on the academic atmosphere."
"A studious atmosphere is definitely important. You sent them to a good place."
It's the rule of thumb to enthusiastically agree when bosses and higher-ups brag about their kids.
I looked at the massive library building visible beyond the high school and gave a sincere reaction at an appropriate level.
Usually, when I go to such lengths to react, I get a reaction back too...
- Wow, that's excellent customer service. Friend!
'...?'
Huh. Did someone say that phrase?
I felt like I remembered that pleasant voice. I swear I've heard it somewhere before...
'...I think I heard it on TV.'
"..."
"Mr. Kim Sol-eum?
"...Yes! Manager."
Oh, right—the client!
I snapped myself out of my deepening thoughts and smiled at the client. I could look into this later.
"So your child must be in class right now."
"Exactly! The school's dead quiet, like a ghost town—perfect atmosphere, don't you think?"
"Hahaha."
That was when it happened.
Someone was seen sprinting out from the high school's main gate.
"Hm?"
The person rushing out of the school wasn't wearing a uniform but neat, everyday clothes.
"He's handsome. A teaching intern?"
"Ah, that could be it."
But from across the crosswalk, I caught a glimpse of a cutely designed name tag on his chest that read 'Counselor'.
Probably something a student made.
I heard some high schools even have teachers who specialize in counseling these days, so it must have been one of those counselors.
"You're taking the subway. Don't you have a car?
"Hahaha..."
You sure do love other people's business, don't you...
"Ah. That's my taxi. Well then, I'll head off for today, Soleum-ssi."
"Yes! Have a safe trip!"
I saw off the client who was taking a taxi.
As I did, I happened to glance in the same direction and saw that person—the counseling teacher—running off toward the subway station in the distance.
Somehow, their face looked familiar. I felt like I'd seen that back somewhere before...
A sharp pain shot through my hand.
"...!"
I jerked my hand out of my pocket in surprise.
Static?
But it hurt so badly it seemed strange to call it that.
I pulled out the metal object in my pocket.
A silver coin.
That thing, which had been in my pocket for who knows how long, was now covered in black grime.
'What the—'
I tried wiping it with my hand, but it didn't help much.
'Maybe it's made of something bad?'
Just as I was debating whether to throw it away, the silver side of the coin glinted in the sunlight.
It was blinding.
I reflexively looked up and saw the sunlight reflecting off a glass window.
The window of Segwang Technical High School.
"...."
Feeling strange, I approached the high school building.
As if possessed by something, I drew near the school's wall.
"Excuse me!"
I looked up.
Someone was calling me from a window at the far end of the third floor, on the outer edge of the school building.
A student with dyed hair and piercings, dressed casually in a sloppily worn uniform, waved at me and shouted.
What are they saying?
"Down there!"
I lowered my head again.
Looking again, I saw a slip of paper lying near the wall.
It seemed that student had accidentally dropped this paper from the window.
"Can you pick it up for me? You can just crumple it and toss it."
"Oh, sure."
Was it a note passed between friends during class? Before grabbing it to refold and toss it back up, I accidentally read the contents.
Just stay here
"..."
I folded it very small so it wouldn't fly away, then tossed it toward the window.
"Thank you."
The student with dyed hair, who unexpectedly thanked me politely despite his appearance, snatched the note in one swift motion and vanished beyond the window.
I finished the Americano in my hand.
For some reason, I stood motionless for a moment in front of the school wall...
It felt strange.
I returned home.
"Phew!"
My studio apartment is a two-room layout, neatly divided into a living room and bedroom.
Even after taking the bus home, I still had some time left.
'Let's enjoy my day off.'
I ordered some chicken first, then sat in front of the living room window, slightly opening it, enjoying the comfort of being in a familiar place.
"Hah."
The breeze felt refreshing.
Living alone isn't so bad, you know.
My parents live in Bundang-gu and my younger sibling runs a dessert shop nearby that's famous as a local favorite.
I'm alone in Seoul...
...No, I was assigned to 'Segwang Special City' and live here now.
Well, I go down every weekend to see them.
Sometimes when my brother says he's busy with some popular dessert trend, I get hired as weekend help and get roped in....
-Wow, Soleum Hyung, you're really good at this. Just quit your job and come work here.
And it feels like just yesterday when I'd squeeze him and he'd yell, "Stop! Stop!! Hyung!"
Hmm. That was heartwarming.
Come to think of it, it wasn't like yesterday—it really was yesterday. I must have gone down over the weekend.
'It's spacious enough to breathe freely.'
Come to think of it, this is my studio apartment.
Segwang Special City isn't as crazy expensive as Seoul, so I could've found a bigger place. Why did I sign for this one?
Well, I guess it was to save money.
I shrugged, took off my suit jacket, and started getting ready to shower.
But right from the first move, something soft and squishy touched my hand, and I grabbed it.
"...."
I put my hand in my pants pocket, and inside it was...
I pulled it out.
A pink rabbit doll.
The silver coin was one thing, but I have no idea where this thing even came from.
If I had to guess, I probably bought it at the department store.
'But why did I even go to the department store today, taking a day off?'
I really have no clue. Was it impulse?
Now that I looked at it, the doll seemed incredibly well-made.
Plush and soft... almost frighteningly intricate, yet somehow endearing.
I turned the doll over to examine its features.
The fabric on its torso bore intricate golden lettering, but I couldn't read it—it wasn't Korean.
I pressed firmly on the rabbit doll's belly.
There was no sound.
"....Ah, seriously."
I don't know what I was expecting. How long ago did that fad of dolls that make noise when you press their belly even end?
What the heck was I thinking?
"Sorry. I acted foolishly."
I tapped the rabbit doll's nose. It had a smooth, velvety texture.
After some hesitation, I washed my hands thoroughly once more.
Then, using a cushion and blanket from home, I made a small spot on the nightstand and placed the rabbit doll there.
In the soft glow of the lamp, the rabbit doll's black nose gleamed.
"..Comfy?"
Of course, there was no answer.
But feeling a strange awkwardness, I fled to take a shower.
I washed up, grabbed the chicken that had arrived, and sat down in front of the TV.
Well, it's more like an OTT* streaming service than an traditional TV, really.(*T/N: From my understanding, OTT means 'over-the-top', which means it bypasses standard cable/satellite streaming and lets you watch things directly. Basically, programs like N*tflix or H*lu.)
"Alright."
The show was a mystery thriller drama.
As long as I skipped the slightly gruesome scenes, watching wasn't too bad. Well, it wasn't like ghosts were jumping out or anything.
But strangely, it felt more uncomfortable to watch than before.
Why?
Especially whenever I saw people's limbs getting chopped off... or people dying in someone else's place, my mood would plummet rapidly.
It wasn't like the severed flesh was being shown outright...
Why is this happening?
I thought I was in good mood today. Guess the hospitality sucked the life out of me, and the feeling from the good weather is all gone.
I held back a sigh and turned off the OTT.
Then, a little early, before the day was over, I lay down on the bed and turned on my smartphone.
"..."
Something... I feel like I always looked at something on this before, but I can't quite remember. What was it?
Was it shorts?
But it didn't feel that familiar.
I kept scrolling through the internet, but without finding any real comfort or dopamine hit, I turned off my phone.
Then, as I turned my head, I froze in terror.
A huge, black silhouette of a person was on the wall!
"Eek!"
...But looking again, it was just the shadow of the rabbit doll on the side table.
"Ha."
So embarrassing, even though no one was watching..
This wasn't like being startled by a sudden noise and then getting scared again by something else.
After calming my pounding heart, I looked at the rabbit doll's shadow again.
The light from the street lamps and car headlights streaming in through the window made the shadow flicker, making it look as if it were moving, but...
That was all.
The doll didn't move.
Of course.
"...."
I might as well go to sleep.
I shrugged my shoulders, then buried my head in the pillow. Oddly enough, I felt a lingering regret, mulling over the lingering aftertaste as I rested my head.
And then I fell asleep…
May 4th ended.
***
"...."
I woke up in the lobby on the first floor of the department store.
'Hm?'
I must have dozed off while waiting for something.
What was I waiting for?
'I don't know.'
But it wasn't that important anyway. I should just go home.
"Phew."
I tucked my smartphone into my pocket and stood up. Then something in my front pocket fell out with a thud.
"A doll?"
There's a rabbit doll. Did I buy this?
Rummaging through my pocket, I find a coin that looked like a silver button, stained with grime, along with my smartphone.
"...Merchandise?"
Did I buy this too? But it looks too well-used for that.
I'm not sure.
I shrugged and put the coin back. Well, I must have gotten it somewhere. I tucked the doll back into my arms and headed for the department store lobby door.
Outside Hanbit Department Store in Segwang Special City.
It was repeated 612 times.