Minji’s POV

He looked at me nervously.

“You’re kidding, right?” He asked, trying hard to maintain his voice.

I looked down, and then back up at him.

“If I told you the truth, would you still be my friend?” I asked.

He took a step back, and then walked back again.

“Yes.” He said, sounding a little unsure.

 “Yes, you’re right.” I said.

I heard him gasp.

“I’m kidding.” I giggled.

“YAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!” He yelled and started chasing me.

I ran with all my might, but I was a coughing mess very quickly.

“Are you okay!?” He asked with concern, patting my back lightly.

I nodded.

“Do you have water in your bag?” He asked, digging into my bag.

He pulled out a bottle of water and handed it to me.

“Drink slowly.” He said. I did as I was told.

“Better?” He asked.

“Thanks.” I said.

“Sorry.” He apologized.

I shook my head.

“Not your fault.” I said.

“Right. It’s not my fault.” He crossed his arms.

“Opps.” I muttered under my breath.

“HOW COULD YOU PRANK ME TWICE IN A ROW!?” He yelled.

“How could you fall for it twice in a row?” I asked.

“I…!! Aish!” He made a face at me.

“How could you think I am a ghost!? Were you even thinking that I may keep you here and make you give up your body to me so I can possess you or something!?” I asked.

He bit his lower lip and looked down.

“Oh my.” I mumbled.

“You looked so scary just now! And you’re so fair, with all the long hair! How would I have not think of that!?” He argued.

We ended up laughing at each other.

“You’re buying me double nom nom later on!” He said with a pout.

“Yea yea~” I said.

“Where are you going?” He asked.

“Up.” I said, climbing up the structure of the broken Viking ship.

“Be careful! Yah! It’s dangerous! Don’t!” He grabbed my arm.

“Tell me, how many times in life do you get to climb up the Viking ship like that?” I asked.

“But what if you fall!?” He frowned.

“I wouldn’t. Stay there if you don’t wish to come.” I said as I continued to climb up.

I heard him mumble something under his breath that I could not make up, but he started climbing behind me. It felt like we were climbing up a crane.

“You okay?” I asked, looking down.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK!?” He yelled grumpily.

“You can go back down.” I said.

“HOW!?” He shouted.

We were already ¾ way up.

“Hahaha! Just think of nom nom! It’s waiting for you up there!” I said as I continued to climb up.

We finally reached a platform where we could stand. He gave me a push up so I could climb over.

“Hand.” I said, stretching over to help him.

“Don’t bend over like that! What if you fall!? Do you know how high we are right now!?” He scolded.

I was a little taken aback by his outburst.

“I just… wanted to help you.” I mumbled.

He helped himself up, and then looked at me.

“Sorry. I was just… Afraid you would fall off.” He said softly.

We were indeed very high up and in a very dangerous position.

“It’s fine.” I said.

“Sorry.” He apologized again.

“I know, it’s really okay.” I smiled, assuring him I was not offended.

“Isn’t it nice here?” I said, resting my arms on the railings.

“Don’t lean. It’s rusty. It might hurt you, or worse, shatter.” He pulled me away.

“Ouh.”  I looked around.

“Breathtaking.” He said.

“Pretty, right?” I said.

He nodded.

I grabbed my bag from him and pulled out my drawing pad and a pencil.

“Are you going to draw here?” He asked.

I nodded, sitting down. He looked a little stiff.

“Are you scared?” I asked.

He shook his head.

“Sit down.” I dusted the empty space beside me with my palm.

“Hey, it’s dirty.” He said.

“Palms are meant to be dirty.” I said.

He gave me a weird look, before sitting down beside me. He left me to draw while he snapped a few photos on his own.

“Do you always come up to places like these?” He asked, looking at what I was drawing.

“No.” I laughed.

“Then why today?” He asked.

“Because you’re here.” I said.

“What?” He asked.

“You’re here. That’s why I think it will be safe.” I said.

“You think?” He asked.

“Ya.” I smiled at him.

“Hungry? I have nom nom in my bag.” I said.

“Really?” He beamed as he dug into my bag.

“Wah! Pepero!” He tore open the box like a hungry animal.

“Eat well.” I smiled as I continued drawing.

He poked a stick of the biscuit at my mouth, gesturing me to open my mouth. He fed me while I draw. He finished all three boxes of Pepero I brought along.

“Can I drink this?” He asked, holding up the bottle of water I drank just now.

“No.” I said.

“Huh… Oh. Okay.” He put the bottle of water back.

He was quiet for a while. I looked over to find him trying to swallow his saliva.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“I’m thristy.” He said with a pout.

“HAHAHA! DRINK UP!” I laughed as I handed him the bottle of water.

“You said no.” He said pitifully.

“I was just teasing!” I said.

“Tsk!” He frowned and gulped the water down his throat.

“Ahhh nice~” He smiled to himself.

I laughed and continued to draw. There was a long silence between us. I turned to find him asleep.

“Am I that boring?” I asked the sleeping him.

The empty water bottle rolled out of his hand, before I could grab the bottle, it rolled off the flooring and down.

“R.I.P, plastic bottle.” I muttered.

“Yang Seungho, you plastic bottle murderer.” I pinched his nose lightly.

He flinched a little, but did not wake up.

“Sleep well.” I laughed.

I linked my left arm over his, just in case he fell off. I continued drawing, occasionally checking to see if he was still asleep. He was comfortably resting his head on my shoulder, snoring softly next to my ear.

He was asleep soundly until he jerked out of a sudden, startling me. My pencil dropped out of my hand and rolled down.

“Omo!” I watch my pencil fall off.

I turned to him, about to yell at him, but he was not awake. He was struggling. Was he having a nightmare? Just as I was about to wake him, his eyes shot open. He let out an audible sigh.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He looked at me, as thou he forgot where he was.

“Oh. Yes. I’m okay. Just… Bad dream.” He said, burying his face in his palms.

“Sure?” I asked.

“Yea yea. Just dreamt that I was falling.” He said with a weak smile.

“It’s a common dream.” I said.

“Really?” He asked.

“Yeap.” I said, closing my drawing pad.

“Done drawing?” He asked.

“No.” I said.

“Then?” He asked.

“My pencil died.” I said.

“Died?” He asked.

“Tragic death. It was murder.” I said.

“Murder?” He looked at me.

I pointed down.

“It rolled off? How did you draw till your pencil flew out?” He laughed.

“I said. It’s murder.” I said.

“Mur… Oh . Is it me? Did I push you while I was asleep!?” He asked.

I nodded.

“You killed not only my pencil, but the plastic bottle too.” I said.

“Oh my, I’m so terrible.” He covered his face.

“What should I do? How should I compensate for these deaths?” He asked.

“I’m calling the police.” I said.

“No! Please don’t!” He grabbed my hand.

“Hahaha let’s go down.” I laughed.

I packed up and he grabbed my bag naturally, carrying it for me.

“Thanks.” I said.

He smiled and pulled me up.

“It’s… pretty scary… huh~” He said, looking down.

“Yes.” I said, feeling a little scared.

“Now, how should we go down?” He asked.

“I… I don’t know.” I said.

We stared blankly at each other. Going up was easy, but going down was a total different story.

“Let’s just… Go.” I said, stepping out.

“Ehhh.. I’ll be below. Just in case.. You know.” He said.

He showed me a scared look as he stepped out.

“Careful.” I laughed, holding his hand.

“Aigoo.. So cold.” I teased.

“Don’t tease me when we’re so high up.” He said as he made his way down slowly.

“Come!” He shouted when he was at a good distance.

“I’m scared!” I confessed.

He laughed out loud. We froze when the wind blew.

“Come on! I’ll grab you if you fall. Promise!” He assured.

Tell me again why did I decide to climb up this thing?

I took a step out and started climbing down.

“Ouch! Ouch!” I got a shock when I heard him yell.

“What!? What!?” I looked down, but regretted instantly.

“My… fingers..” He whined.

“Oh sorry!” I apologized when I realized I was stepping on his fingers.

It took us about twenty minutes to climb down.

“Okay?” He asked as he helped me down.

“Yes. Your fingers?” I asked.

“They are fine.” He smiled, wiggling his fingers in my face.

“We should go. It’s getting creepy.” He said, hugging himself.

“RACE TO THE ENTRANCE! LOSER BUYS NOM NOM!!” I yelled, starting to run.

“Huh.. YAHHHH!!! YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BUY NOM NOM!! YAH!!! DON’T RUN!!!” He chased behind me and caught up very quickly.

Seungho’s POV

She sure do run fast, but I was faster, perhaps because my legs were longer.

“YOU’RE BUYING NOM NOM!!” I shouted as I grabbed her arm.

“NO FAIR! YOUR LEGS ARE LONG!” She pouted.

“What was I supposed to do? Chop my legs?” I asked.

“Hmph~” She stuck out her lower lip.

I laughed at her expression. We walked the rest of the way to the entrance.

“Sleepy?” I asked when I saw her yawn.

“A little.” She smiled sheepishly.

“Hand me the keys.” I said.

“What keys?” She asked.

“Motorbike.” I said.

“Huh? Why?” She asked.

“I’ll ride back.” I said.

“You know how?” She asked.

“Of course. I…” She cut me off before I could finish.

“You’re Yang Seungho, I know.” She said.

“That’s right.” I laughed.

“But it’s okay, I can manage.” She said.

“Come on, hand me the keys.” I said.

She was about to protest, but she yawned again.

“Quick.” I said.

She handed me the keys reluctantly. We put on the helmets and got on the bike.

“You can rest against my back to nap.” I said.

She seemed a little surprised.

“It’s.. fine.” She said.

“I’ll not let you fall off, don’t worry.” I said.

“Erm.. O.. Okay.” She rested her cheek awkwardly against my back.

“Not like this.” I laughed as I yanked her forward, causing her to yelp a little.

She circled her arms around my waist. I held onto her hand with one hand so as to prevent her from falling, and steered the bike with another hand. She slept soundly against my back on the way back. I drove slowly to let her sleep.

When we finally arrived back, it was dark already. I tapped her hand lightly to wake her up.

“Nghh… Mmm..” She rubbed her face against my back, perhaps thinking it was her pillow or something.

“Oh no! Sorry!” She apologized quickly when she realized it was not her pillow after all.

“It’s fine.” I laughed, holding onto her as she almost fell off the bike.

“So sorry.” She apologized again.

“No problem. Slept well?” I asked.

She grinned and nodded.

“Good.” I handed her back the motorbike keys.

“Ehh.. Why are we back?” She asked.

“Why not?” I asked.

“Then… Nom nom?” She asked.

“Look at the time.” I said.

She checked her phone and stuck out her tongue. It was almost 2AM.

“Another day.” I said.

“Aren’t you hungry?” She asked.

“No.” I lied.

My stomach betrayed me by growling loudly.

“Damn it.” I cursed under my breath.

“I see, not hungry.” She laughed.

I smiled embarrassingly at her.

“How about…” She said softly.

“About?” I asked.

“How about we… you know… order takeout?” She asked.

“Takeout?” I asked.

“Yea. Since… we’re back here. We could.. Go up to my place.. And erm… Freshen up… Then order takeout.” She said.

“Erm…” I was a little hesitant.

“You… Don’t wish to? It’s fine, you know. I was just.. suggesting.” She said.

“Okay. Let’s do that. If you’re comfortable with it.” I said.

“Of course. Let’s go.” She smiled, leading me in.

I froze when she press the lift button.

“What… level do you.. live on?” I asked.

“Eleven.” She smiled.

“Ele…ven.” I mumbled.

Just thinking about it was enough to make me tremble.

“Hey! Seungho! What are you doing outside?” She asked.

I snapped out of my thoughts to find her already inside the lift.

“Oh. I.. Erm…” My feet seem to be glued to the ground.

“Coming?” She asked, frowning slightly.

“Yes.” I said, forcing my legs to move.

Yang Seungho, you’re a man.

“You okay?” She asked.

I nodded, forcing a smile. But as soon as the lift door closed, I started panicking. I tried to stay as calm as possible, but it felt like forever in the lift. I was starting to feel cold sweat drench the back of my shirt. I was suppressing my urge to yell. My whole body started shaking and I started feeling breathless, like someone was choking me. Images of being trapped in that box that day started coming back to me. 

She was talking, but all I heard was muffled voices. I started seeing black dots in my vision, but no Yang Seungho, you cannot faint now.

“Did you hear me?” I think I heard her say.

I saw her eyes widened, and then I think I felt her grab my arms.

"LET ME OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I started yelling, losing every single ounce of control in me.

***
Seungho: HOW COULD YOU PRANK ME TWICE IN A ROW!?