“Let’s go there next!” Seryung decided pointing to the haunted house that was right around the corner. Seryung turned to her companions for approval.

 

Tao looked away pretending he hadn’t heard.

 

Hana looked down and drew circles with her shoes.

 

Sehun shrugged not too bothered by a trip to somewhere scary. He reckoned he’d seen scarier, “Okay.”

 

“Alright! It’s decided!” Seryung cheered in excitement, “Let’s go!”

 

Seryung wanted to run towards it but noted that both Hana and Tao were wearing pained expressions. She gave them inquisitive looks. Hana smiled back weakly in response making Seryung smirk, ‘She’s afraid! Ooooh! Don’t worry, I’ll send oppa with you! Hahaha!~’

 

Seryung giggled silently. ‘If Hana goes with oppa then I’ll be with Tao again!’

 

Tao cursed under his breath as they approached nearer and nearer to the haunted house. He hated these kinds of places, they were dark, they stunk of humidity, the sound effects were creepy, and what took the crown, were the people working inside, chasing after you and popping out of no where as you tried to leave the dark area being extra cautious of walls!

 

Sehun wasn’t too bothered by haunted houses in general, he disliked the humidity but otherwise found them to be quite boring, unlike his sister who would wait excitedly in line and once inside, would pretend to be afraid by screaming at the top of her lungs and running but would always come out laughing, saying that haunted houses were 'fun.'

 

The only one whose face was etched in worry was Hana. She noticed that Tao had refrained from hiding his own dislike of the way the situation was progressing. Their eyes met for a moment and unspoken words were exchanged.

 

“You guys should go by yourselves. Haunted houses aren’t much fun,” Tao announced to the siblings.

 

Seryung arched an eyebrow at him for defying her without reason. Tao merely avoided eye contact. It irked Seryung to see animosity rise at her suggestion. Seryung swallowed back her indignation. and opted to overlook it not wanting him to ruin her day.

 

Now that they were no longer disconnected. Seryung hurried over to Hana, “Come with me!” Seryung stipulated tugging Hana’s arm.

 

“I-I don’t like ghosts,” Hana responded bashfully as all eyes turned to look at her. Hana took a step backwards and shuffled her feet embarrassed by the sudden attention.

 

Sehun chortled quietly, ‘She’s the opposite of Seryung!’ And it was true, because Hana and Seryung viewed things in polar opposites. Sehun thought it was 'refreshing' to have someone like Hana with them. He’d always been so accustomed to Seryung’s habits that he’d almost forgotten that people different to her could exist.

 

“B-but you were tired like four seconds ago,” Tao spluttered, he was amazed by the dramatic change in her persona. It wasn’t possible for her to feel completely fresh so quickly!

 

“The haunted house will wake me up!” Seryung clapped her hands together cheerfully leaving Tao feeling dumbfounded.

 

“Why were you tired?” Sehun asked all of a sudden with genuine interest.

 

“None of your business,” Seryung replied coolly without looking up at him.

 

Hana cringed uncomfortably. The atmosphere fell flat onto its face. The warm weather did nothing against the coldness that had appeared. Sehun looked away from them too pretending it didn’t bother him.

 

Tao ruffled his hair. He didn’t know which compelled him, Seryung’s temper or Sehun’s dismay or Hana’s disconcert, “I’ll go, with you guys…”

 

Seryung’s expression brightened up instantly, all traces of quarrel forgotten, she pumped her fists enthusiastically, “Let’s go then!”

 

Tao’s eyebrows receded into his hairline whereas Hana’s eyes widened. Sehun rolled his eyes when he noticed them looking at him.

 

“What’s wrong with her?” Tao whispered wondering if she’d been possessed by the ghosts she was meant to fear.

 

“She’s a horror junkie,” Sehun admitted. He could only imagine what would happen next. He restrained himself from smiling as he glanced at Hana who seemed to be looking unwell already. He wondered if Hana’s friendship with Seryung would be able to withstand against the haunted house.

 

‘Probably not,’ Sehun decided his own answer. They possibility of Seryung getting offended was high and that only meant she would vent her frustration on Hana. Sehun sighed. He would have to protect Hana and maybe even Tao… From his sister’s strange idea of ‘fun.’

 

Tao’s expression soured in stark contrast to Seryung who was bouncing on her toes like a child waiting to open Christmas presents.

 

‘We’ve got zero compatibility,’  Tao thought wryly to himself as the queue to enter steadily decreased.

 

Hana dreaded each step forward. She clenched her fists, nails digging into skin. She could already feel the malice that lay inside the haunted house but that didn’t bother her as much as the sign that read: ‘Not suitable for under 18’s, people with asthma, heart conditions, epilepsy, pregnant women, the faint hearted and non-able bodied persons.’

 

Hana clenched her teeth at the sign, she looked toward Sehun who said nothing. He didn’t even glance at her. Hana sighed. Her secret was safe…

 

Tao on the other hand didn’t particularly look pleased. However he masked what he was thinking. Tao turned to Seryung and poked her forehead. “You’re not eighteen.”

 

Seryung slapped his hand away and shrugged nonchalantly. “I can pretend, it’s no big deal.”

 

“How about the two of you go.” Tao indicated to Seryung and Sehun.

 

Seryung shook her head, “We’re all going!”

 

“We’re not, we can’t,” Sehun intervened, he crossed his brows sternly at his sister.

 

Seryung pouted, “Why not?”

 

“You’re too young,” Tao teased, chuckling at Seryung’s dismayed expression.

 

Seryung met each of their eyes one by one, no one was will to have fun.

 

“I’ll go with Hana then,” Seryung persisted reaching out for the older girl.

 

Hana pursed her lips and avoided eye contact. Seryung felt something was amiss.

 

“No, Hana won’t be going anywhere.” Sehun declared. He glared at his sister, asking her to stop.

 

Seryung was bemused to say the least, she turned to Hana once again, “You’re coming right?”

 

Hana was in a bind. She met Seryung’s determined eyes with her shaky ones. Hana liked haunted houses as much as Tao did but that the sign had stuck her self-confidence. She was aware that both Tao and Sehun wouldn’t let her enter because they were cognizant that she was asthmatic, unlike Seryung. Hana didn’t exactly want to tell her the reason either. Having Sehun know already felt like too much.

 

“She can’t, she’s faint hearted.” Sehun spoke in a calm voice. He stared at his sister. ‘Leave her alone. She can’t go in there. She might have an attack.’

 

“Faint hearted is another word for ‘chicken.’ You’re not chicken are you?” Seryung challenged Hana whilst scowling at her brother.

 

“I’ll go,” Hana finally spoke. She felt the two boy’s stiffen on either side of her.

 

“No you won’t,” Tao stated frankly. He glowered from Hana to Seryung and then back to Hana. “You’re not going, and that’s final!”

 

“But why?” Seryung lamented, she stomped her foot. “You guys were the ones that invited me and now you won’t even let me enjoy myself! I went to the places you guys wanted to go to but now you’re abandoning me!”

 

“Stop it,” Tao muttered quietly to her.

 

Seryung opened to protest again but her brother began to shake his head at her. She looked toward Hana for support but Hana was avoiding her eyes.

 

“I came for you, you know,” Seryung prompted. Her words were directed at Hana.

 

Hana felt something break. She glanced at Seryung who was now gazing at her with a burning passion of resentment. She took a deep breath and tried not to ruin the mood further.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Tao grimaced at her and shook her shoulders lightly. “Go where? You shouldn’t go in there!”

 

“It’s okay. Let’s all go,” Hana announced, her voice projected small yet that didn’t stop it from reaching Seryung’s ears.

 

Sehun clenched his jaw silently and surveyed the scene. Tao looked like he were about to explode and Seryung had calmed down from her previous outburst. Sehun didn't like it but agreed.

 

Hana nodded bravely and took a deep breath. “Okay…”

 

Seryung grinned, she pulled Hana towards her. “I’ll go with you, so don’t be scared! It’s all fake anyway,” she assured.

 

Tao massaged his temples, he wanted to scold them both but he was left speechless by Hana’s thoughtless conduct. ‘You’re more scared of these places than I am… What on earth are you thinking?’

 

“No, I’ll go with Hana, you can go with Tao,” Sehun punctuated his words with a tug on Hana’s arm.

 

Seryung’s eyes widened and then proceeded to blink blankly, she was too confounded to say anything in response. She bobbed her head slowly and looked at Tao.

 

Tao gave Sehun a curt smile before purposely brushing shoulders, ‘You’re all crazy!’

 

Seryung was pleasantly surprised that Tao was readily willing to partner up with her.

 

The queue for the haunted house was not as long as other rides. The house was normally frequented towards the end of October and in the dark winter months. In the warmer months it received less visitors, and that was why, despite the bickering, the ticket attendant didn’t pay much heed to the group of four.

 

Tao and Seryung were first to enter. Hana watched them go. She pitied Tao before herself. Her feet were rooted to the ground and she was in the midst of gaining courage.

 

“Come on, we’ll wait for them by the exit.” Sehun whispered into her ear.

 

Hana’s eyes widened in her face, she gazed at Sehun who only smiled in return and gestured towards the exit.

 

“We can go in,” Hana pointed at the heavy curtained door. She could hear shrills coming from inside.

 

“No, we shouldn’t. Let’s not risk it,” Sehun advised wisely.

 

“Seryung won’t like it though…”

 

Sehun smirked, “Is that what you’re worried about? Seryung? Seryung won’t mind, actually.” Sehun raised a hand to his mouth and chuckled. There was a glint in his eye that hinted that he was hiding something.

 

“We should get out of here before they come out. Let’s go have some real fun. Those two… They’ll be in there for a while.” Sehun chuckled and bowed in apology at the people waiting behind them as he pulled Hana out of the queue.

 

-

 

Tao huddled his shoulders and walked behind Seryung, holding onto the back of her dress lightly not wanting to show this side of him to her.

 

Seryung paced forward guilelessly before stopping. Tao bumped into her from behind, she spun on her heel and peered over his shoulder.

 

“Those love-birds aren’t coming!” She pouted pointing to the door to the entrance. There were ‘love birds’ entering the house however they were not the birds Seryung spoke of.

 

“They’re not in love,” Tao replied tartly, fixing his hair in hopes that his bruised ego would mend itself and remain intact through the plight he found himself in. The spooky laughter emanating in the haunted house was already giving him goose-bumps.

 

“It’s inevitable for them. One day we’ll wake up and hear that they’re together,” Seryung stated matter-of-factly before turning around.

 

“Yeah, sure,” Tao replied sarcastically, hurrying to keep a safe distance with her.

 

“If you ever need to mop your broken heart, make sure not to come to me,” Seryung continued waving her hand dismissively.

 

“You’re a great friend!” Tao rolled his eyes scathingly and grinned.

 

Seryung flinched at the word, ‘friend.’ Her steady pace decelerated, she whisked her head to look at him and offered him a small, sad smile. The haunted house was dark, nonetheless he could make out her face in the dim lighting. She wore that smile that hit him with a pang of nostalgia, he still couldn’t remember the origin.

 

“Come on,” Seryung finally mustered and headed into one of the tunnels. There were seven of them and Seryung chose to enter the middle one. Tao stayed close behind trying to block out the sound effects.

 

Perspiration began to grow across his forehead and his palms. The tunnel narrowed. The only source of light came from erratically positioned flame torches. Tao squinted his eyes. He was sure they weren’t real torches - for safety reasons - but the scent of dripping wax, oil and heat clogged his nostrils.

 

The ambience was smothering and a mist began to rise. Tao cursed silently under his breath, the fog was thickening and Seryung was starting to disappear. He reached out for her but his hand met with empty air. It occurred to him that she might have already zoomed on ahead. He clamped his teeth and dragged his legs. They refused to move at the speed he wanted.

 

A scream pierced through the fog. Tao froze in place. His eyes shook in panic and a tremor pummeled through him.

 

‘Oh Seryung…!’

 

The shackles around his ankles broke, allowing him to race forward.

 

-

 

Hana compressed her lips and followed Sehun. She gave the haunted house one last glance before it was no longer in view.

 

“Are we going to leave them on their own?” Hana asked stumped that Sehun would leave Seryung behind.

 

A whimsical expression graced Sehun’s features, he pivoted his head to observe her. A ghost of a smile played on his lips. His eyes twinkled with mirth yet his mouth spoke no words. Hana stopped walking forcing him to do the same.

 

“We should at least wait for them,” she sighed and chewed on her lower lip.

 

“There’s no point, they’ll be in there all day,” Sehun grinned wickedly.

 

“Is it that big?”

 

“Probably not but she’s going to want an encore…”

 

Hana gaped at him, and then scoffed twirling back to look at the path they’d come from. “Tao would never go in a second time. The first was just for courtesy’s sake. He’s terrified of scary places.”

 

Sehun snickered into his palm, “Oh trust me, once you go in you’re gone and it’s not just two rounds. It’s a cycle until Seryung’s completely content, there’s no getting out of it. She has her ways. Why do you think I got you away from there?”

 

Hana shut her eyes tightly, crinkling them in the process. “Is she that bad? I don’t think Tao would let her. Tao’s not like you. He wouldn’t hesitate to get mad at her.”

 

Hana tried to work out the scenario in her head while Sehun continued to chuckle. A new idea struck Hana. She turned to Sehun this time and blinked dubiously.

 

 “Did you just use me to get away from her?”

 

-

 

Tao blindly followed the direction of the scream momentarily forgetting where he was. His footsteps were silent for the most part but he couldn’t help scream when something warm and fuzzy brushed against his leg. He jumped on the spot when a rat’s cry was heard. He shuddered hoping never to run into one again.

 

A hand touched his shoulder making him stiffen, “Tao?”

 

Tao exhaled slowly and held her hand, “You scared me!”

 

“Sorry,” Seryung whispered without a trace of remorse in her tone, “I heard you scream.”

 

“No! I heard you scream and then… And then something ran across the ground!”

 

Seryung laughed, she pulled away her hand. Her footsteps told Tao that she was striding away from him.

 

“Wait for me! Damn it.”

 

Seryung wafted the air. The fog was too thick to see through. She felt something brush against her leg for a second time. This time it didn’t rush past her legs but leaned against it.

 

“Yuck!” She exclaimed kicking it away. She imagined it was part of the house and it wouldn’t surprise her again. She’d initially wanted to run through the house screaming at the top of her lungs but Tao had become somewhat needy.

 

“Yaaaah!” Tao screamed, something clung against him and he didn’t want to think about what it was. He hurried through the fog, arms in front of him almost crashing into Seryung in the process.

 

Seryung furrowed her brows. The loud-pitched screaming raced past her and into the distance. She decided to follow its example.

 

Seryung screamed as loud as she could, flailing her arms like a hooligan as she zoomed through the narrow tunnel. It was straight for the most part but sometimes curved. The only things to guide her were the glowing footprints on the ground.

 

An echoing clang followed by a hiss stopped Tao in his tracks. The glowing footprints vanished. He heard skidding feet behind him. He listened to them until they also came to a halt.

 

“The foot prints are gone?” Seryung chuckled. She looked around for another sign but found nothing.

 

“Where are you?” Tao asked waving his arm hoping to find her. It was rather comforting to know he wasn’t alone. Still, he wanted her to be right beside him before something popped out of the shadows and claimed to steal his soul.

 

“Over here!” Seryung called and frowned. “I can’t see anything. Can you see me?”

 

Tao was about to answer with a ‘no,’ until he collided into her. Tao chuckled nervously as the eerie sounds around them began to accentuate. “Found you.”

 

Seryung held her breath and looked around. The fog was beginning to condense. Hues of red flashed around them. She looked up to meet Tao’s eyes. They were frighteningly close to her own.

 

Seryung took a step backwards instinctively. Tao cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head muttering incoherently to himself.

 

Another resonating clang made Seryung jump, she covered her ears while her eyes found the cause of the disturbance. She pressed her lips together as a jail gate dropped to the floor. It was followed by a series of horizontal bars from either sides. They sealed their exit.

 

Tao whipped around to look in the direction they’d ventured from. Iron bars stood dauntingly in place.

 

“Where do we go now?” Seryung’s voice rang in the square shaped room.

 

THUD!

 

The duo’s ears rang. Tao felt another tremor pass through him. He raised a shaky finger at the wall that had appeared where he’d last seen bars. Seryung kept her hands on her ears. She shut her eyes tightly as another thud reflected in the hollow area.

 

Four walls surrounded them on either side. No windows. No escape. They stared at each other briefly. Two pairs of eyes asking the same question.

 

What next?

 

The ground began to shake from side to side, a monstrous roaring sound filled their ears. Tao almost lost his footing and Seryung tripped. Tao tried to make his way towards her. He muttered a string of colorful words under his breath as he stumbled like a crippled man without a walking stick.

 

Seryung resisted the urge to laugh as the ground moved rhythmically under her like escalators having a seizure. Tao came tumbling towards her, like Jill following Jack down the hill.

 

Seryung giggled and scrambled to her feet. She offered Tao her hand but the latter swatted it like a fly, making her pout.

 

Tao hopped to his feet like a true martial artist. He gritted his teeth. His ego had been bruised more than once after coming into the haunted house. He hovered closer towards Seryung in hopes that his nervousness would subside. She wasn’t as afraid as he. In fact, Tao was certain she was enjoying the perpetual doom.

 

The lights flickered quickly. Laughter rang across the walls. A loud boom followed, and then darkness.

 

The cackles continued and the ground had stopped moving, Tao took deep breaths trying to concentrate his racing heart. He wanted to close his eyes but feared something would pop out the moment he did. His adrenaline was pumping but there was nowhere to run to. He thought he would faint at one point.

 

Total darkness.

 

No sound.

 

Blinding silence.

 

Tao could hear his heartbeat in his ears, it hammered against his chest wanting to pop out of his skin and run for the hills. His breath came short and haggard. A hand clasped over his. A worried face looked at him.

 

The screech of concrete against cement scraped their ears. The walls on either end began to close in on them. A spectral glow followed by eyes, millions of eyes turned to stare at them. The roof opened to rain a sickly, sticky, and iron scented fluid. The air became heavy with the house’s vehemence.

 

-

 

“I saved you,” Sehun corrected. The humor still on his tongue.

 

Hana wasn’t convinced. She scowled softly, “You wanted to escape!”

 

Sehun shrugged his shoulders, he waved his hand dismissively, “Maybe but once you bring Seryung to a haunted house you spend all day there. She will visit no other attraction. I’ve seen my fair share of them, now it’s Tao’s turn.”

 

“Why pick on Tao?” Hana demanded placing her hands on her hips.

 

“Because it’s the price he has to pay for falling in love with my sister.”

 

“How would you know how he feels about her?” Hana pursued and added, “You’ve got as much emotion as a spoiled onion,” quietly under her breath.

 

“He’s being obvious and so is she, so they should learn how to put up with each other.”

 

“Somehow, you sound bitter about it.”

 

“I’m not. I’m letting them be together.”

 

“Like Seryung tried to do with us?”

 

“No. In this case, both parties have feelings. In ours, it was forced.”

 

‘Forced…’

 

Hana didn’t reply after that. She simply turned to the ground and noted how much taller Sehun’s shadow looked next to her slumped one. It wasn’t a jab at her pride. It was the raw truth that bothered her.

 

‘Of course it was forced. We didn’t even know each other properly at the time…’

 

“We got of on the wrong foot because of that,” Sehun continued incognizant of Hana’s discountenance.

 

“So many things happened after that… I’m beginning to think everyone’s just twisted.”

 

Hana continued to remain silent as Sehun talked about the foundation of the school’s hierarchy and how it was built on wealth and status rather than achievement.

 

“It’s all wrong, it just goes to show that behind the flamboyance there’s nothing but chipped cracks.”

 

“Why don’t you do something about it, then?”

 

Sehun stopped walking. Why didn’t he do something about it? He’d never thought about it. It was too much work. It was too hard. He was lazy. There had never been any need. He didn’t want to get involved. There was too much to do. People didn’t change. Values didn’t change… History had illustrated time and time again that values didn’t change.

 

“Should I?” Sehun’s voice projected hollow. He half considered the idea, the other half… He would let her decided.

 

Hana blinked, unmindful to the fact that she’d spoken aloud. Her eyes widened after she noticed. Her teeth automatically chewed on her lower lip fretfully.

 

She shook her head vehemently, “No. It’s not worth it. You’re in your final year, you have better things to do than challenge the whole school.”

 

Sehun sighed. It a relief that she’d tried to dissuade him. ‘You’re in your final year; you’ll be out of there. It doesn’t matter.’

 

-

 

Tao shrieked, his arms caged Seryung, he buried his head in the crook of her neck, “Save me, save me!” He whispered desperately.

 

He was shaking. All manliness shed. All pretenses forgotten. There was no more he-said she-said. It was all down to instinctive survival and she was all he had. Haunted houses brought out the coward in him. The real coward who hid behind the mask of a martial artist and the ugly kid who liked to think designer clothing changed him.

 

“Tao?” Seryung called. His name seemed to only tense him further. His grip tightened around her waist and shoulder.

 

Seryung inhaled slowly, she could hear the walls closing in. The logical side of her brain told her that another passage would open. This was a haunted house not tomb raider. The illogical side told her to savor the moment. From there, it was a fight between her heart and her head to see who would become victorious.

 

“Tao, I can’t save you, if you don’t let go.”

 

Tao let go. His eyes were wild as if he’d run through a forest being changed by blood-thirsty hounds. He still held her elbows, afraid if he let go. She might disappear, and leave him behind in the cursed house.

 

Seryung attempted a smile. The walls had since slowed their imminent desire of wanting to squash them. The roof was still leaking fictional blood on them. The smell was nauseating.

 

“Come on, let’s look for an escape route.” She confided gently, offering him an encouraging smile. He nodded in response but still clutched onto arm silently.

 

Seryung eventually found an opening. It was in the form of another tunnel and this one was narrower than the one they’d traveled through before.

 

“Do you want to go first or should I?” Seryung asked her quivering companion. He remained unresponsive to her question.

 

Seryung pursed her lips and chose to go first, still holding his hand as if guiding a lost child. He pulled her back out and held her by the shoulders. His eyes were quivering too. “What if it gets narrower? It’ll squish you.”

 

Seryung chuckled, she fixed his hair absentmindedly, “It’s fake. It’s supposed to scare you Tao. It won’t actually kill you.”

 

Tao didn’t reply to her statement however this time he did allow her to slip into the wedged tunnel. He followed behind her carefully taking small steps. This time she wasn’t speeding away from him; she'd become cautious for him. Tao still wasn’t sure when the walls would try to flatten him, he kept his hands on them as he trudged sideways. Seryung was doing the same.

 

He was glad to be out of the tunnel. She was waiting for him. She didn’t laugh at him as he was expecting. The place where they stood was big enough for Tao to breath. It was dark but there was light creeping from various medieval torches.

 

Seryung held out her hand. This time, Tao ignored it. He had regained some of his sense. His self-esteemed had been flushed down the toilet. He knew his escapade would be retold in detail to the likes of Oh Sehun. It was mortifying to show a side of oneself that one tirelessly tried to hide.

 

Tao pouted, hands in pockets, ignoring Seryung who was walking behind him. The haunted house was practically abandoned. They couldn’t hear the screams of other people and Tao thought it was a clever idea to only send people in at such a time that no more than two would be at any one stage.

 

The idea was applauded in his head but he was unprepared for what came next.

 

White strobe lights flashed before his vision. His stomach felt sick. He held out his arm to protect his eyes. The eerie sounds, lights and smell distorted his senses.

 

Seryung redirected her gaze to the ground. She saw flashes of Tao’s shadow in front and scampered behind him.

 

The flashing lights soundlessly came to a stop and with it so did the duo.

 

Tao cringed when new sound effects began to build on one another. He sensed this was the part where he would be chased. What he wasn’t prepared for was the ghost that stood in front of him, holding out her hand as she came towards him.

 

Instinctively, he ran backwards, aiming to go back to the wedged tunnel where he could hide. Seryung intercepted him by griping him arm. He glanced at her stern face. He could only imagine what a mess he looked next to her serene features.

 

“It’s a hologram!” Seryung exclaimed pointing at the ghost. Tao shook his head vigorously.

 

“It’s not! It’s vengeful!”

 

“There’s no such thing as vengeful ghosts! Those things aren’t allowed to hurt people!”

 

“No! Let me go!”

 

“Tao, I can see ghosts. I’m telling you, it can’t hurt you.”

 

“Let go!”

 

“I see them all the time. They don’t bother me.”

 

“Because you’re a freak!”

 

Seryung let go. She let go too late though. The hissing ghost wearing a white dress, with long hair that covered her face and outstretched long fingers, passed through them before vanishing. It left behind a supernatural chill.

 

‘A freak…’  Seryung had never been called 'a freak' before maybe because she’d never told anyone about her ghost-seeing self? It hurt. It hurt a lot.

 

“YAH! Wait for me!” Tao scrambled after her for protection.

 

Seryung’s mood had turned sour, her fingers clenched into angry fists. ‘What did you expect? It’s not normal! Of course he’d call you a freak. You’re lucky he didn’t elaborate on that. You’re a freak of nature. People like you are usually experimented on. Scientists want to see what makes your brain different from the rest. They want to know how you can see ghosts while others can’t. You’re not normal, so stop being offended!’

 

Seryung clicked her tongue. She wanted to abandon him. He held her hand as he liked and called her names too. She wanted to return the favor of being mistreated.

 

Seryung didn’t need a plan. In fact, she had only been plotting when Tao screamed and sprinted past her with a zombie on his tail. She clutched onto her stomach and laughed. She might even have collapsed on the ground laughing if the zombies didn’t come after her too. This was Seryung’s favorite part, the chase. However, things were different this time round. She wasn’t able to scream because her screams were replaced by laughter. She wasn’t able to run properly either because the cackling tears fell too graciously.

 

Tao’s howling, was audible. It bounced of every wall and reached each part of the haunted house. He screeched for his mom and begged to be saved, crying clamorously as he dashed through the obstacles that impeded his escape.

 

When Seryung arrived to yet another pitch-black part of the house she could hear silent wailings coming from the darkness. She snorted back another laugh and made her way to the Chinese man.

 

“You sound like the ghost,” Seryung explained sardonically. She patted his shoulder in mock sympathy until he took to his feet.

 

“I’m so glad, you’re alive!”

 

Seryung was brought into a bone-crushing hug. The moment didn’t last very long because well… The ground shook under their feet more rigorously than before. Gated clanged shut and demonic laughter resonated. Tao was quick to let go. He looked for somewhere to hide but found none. His only solace was the comfort of Seryung’s hand.

 

-

 

“Let’s not talk about school,” Hana suggested after seeing Sehun’s expression drop to that of an angry wasp.

 

Sehun nodded, his porcelain features grim.

 

“I’ve noticed that you rarely ever smile,” Hana pointed. It was bold of her to do so but she sulked the way he was sulking to demonstrate his physiognomy.

 

Hana was mindful that he wouldn’t yell. They’d transgressed that boundary. She wasn’t sure where they were now or if they were anywhere at all. She only gathered that she liked him, although he was of a different mind frame.

 

Her action caused Sehun to scowl in defense. “I don’t look like that!”

 

Hana shrugged to brush away the statement. The smile on her lips told Sehun that she was pulling his leg.

 

“Seriously! I don’t,” he insisted. They were walking aimlessly. The attractions around them were not as interesting anymore now that they were in each other’s company.

 

“You should smile more,” Hana prescribed in an amused tone that didn’t go unmissed by her companion.

 

“I would but there’s no reason to smile.” Sehun offered, his hands sinking into his pockets as he strolled alongside her.

 

Hana considered this for a moment. Now that she thought about it, her reasons to smile were limited too.

 

“What makes you smile?” Hana asked out of curiosity.

 

Sehun tapped his chin. He was hard to please most of the time. He was stoic in nature and he didn’t plan to change. He had friends but didn’t really make an effort with them. He had a sister who he was obliged to take care of. He had parents who were never home. He had a fiancée of sorts... Then there were the headaches of the glass room...

 

“Nothing really… You?”

 

“Not school, anyway,” Hana murmured darkly after a considerable pause. Sehun chuckled his thoughts were similar too.

 

“There we go, you make me smile.” Sehun delineated fondly.

 

Hana’s heart, didn’t skip a beat, it skipped three successive beats. A pink hue colored itself into her cheeks. ‘You make me smile too…’

 

“Can I ask you something?” Hana blurted the question before rationalizing it. She drew a sharp intake of breath.

 

‘You’re stepping too far Hana. He might hate you for asking…’

 

It was already too late. That question had tumbled off her tongue and the real question would follow. Just like Jill had followed Jack…

 

 

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