GRR 81

As Jion gazed into space and muttered to himself, the student sitting next to him tilted his head and glanced at Jion. Since Kwon Chasa had shed his human disguise, Jion was the only one who could see him.

Kwon Chasa, who had finally stopped in front of Jion, took a jeokpaeji out of his jacket pocket.

“Park Youngil.”

When Kwon Chasa called out the name in a low voice, the ghost’s gaze, which had been fixed solely on Jion, finally turned toward him. The jeokpaeji held in Kwon Chasa’s hand was surrounded by a white light. That meant the deceased was ready to depart for the afterlife.

As Kwon Chasa called out the name once more, the ghost moved his hand to stroke Jion’s head. It was an affectionate gesture, but since it was a ghost, Jion couldn’t feel anything.

Jion stared at Kwon Chasa. He had hoped he would come, but he hadn’t expected him to appear without warning.

Had the letter he wrote to Yeomra been effective?

His body flushed with heat as his heart began to pound. But Kwon Chasa did not spare Jion a glance.

“Park Youngil.”

When his name was called for the third time, a hongsalmun appeared on the classroom ceiling. The ghost of the elderly man named Park Youngil looked at Jion with a pleased smile, even as shackles were being fastened around his ankles. Kwon Chasa slipped the jeokpaeji back into his jacket pocket.

“It seems he thinks you’re his grandson.”

“Ah…”

Only after hearing that did Jion understand the ghost’s strange behavior. That was why he had been following him and trying to stay by his side. That was also why he looked at him with such a warm gaze.

“Hey, they’re asking for your bag.”

“Oh, uh… thanks.”

Jion, who had been staring at Kwon Chasa, was brought back to reality by the voice coming from beside him. It was the student who had been looking at him strangely earlier. Jion scrambled to his feet. Everyone else had already handed in their bags at the front of the classroom.

Fearing that Kwon Chasa might leave without a word, Jion hurriedly set down his bag and turned around. Fortunately, Kwon Chasa was still standing there.

They had finally met again. There were so many things he wanted to ask and so many stories he wanted to hear. Why, of all times, did he have to show up right before the exam, when there were so many eyes watching that it was hard to even say a single word?

Feeling frustrated and anxious, he bit his lip and hurried back to his seat. Just then, Kwon Chasa turned away without a second glance. Jion reflexively reached out to grab him, but unable to withstand the glance Kwon Chasa gave him, he had to sit quietly.

Just then, Kwon Chasa turned to look at Jion. Jion saw a faint smile appear on his face, which had been frozen the whole time.

“You say you’re a good student.”

“……”

“Prove it by doing well on the exam. Then I’ll believe you.”

While Jion remained silent, Kwon Chasa jumped and vanished beyond the hongsalmun along with the ghost. Jion stared at the answer sheet that soon appeared on his desk and bit his lip.

Those words sounded like a promise that he would not to leave this world. Jion suppressed a smile and thought to himself.

He had to confess his feelings once more to Kwon Chasa when he appeared before him again.

This time, he had to hear a proper answer to his confession.

***

Perhaps thanks to his determination to prove himself to Kwon Chasa, he easily finished the exam. Jion walked out of school and met his grandfather, who was waiting at the school gate. As soon as Jion linked his arm through his and clung to him, his grandfather offered a brief “Good job.”

They had dinner at a nearby barbecue restaurant and chatted about their future plans. But in the back of Jion’s mind, there was nothing but thoughts of Kwon Chasa. As soon as he got home, Jion went straight to his room and took out the wooden plaque he had carefully stored in his desk drawer.

He’ll respond today. After all, he didn’t leave as if he’d never come back. Jion slipped the wooden plaque into the pocket of his down jacket and quietly slipped out of his room. If Kwon Chasa did respond to his call and come looking for him, his house would be a bit dangerous.

“Where are you going?”

“Oh, to the convenience store. I suddenly got a craving for snacks…”

He mumbled a reply to his grandfather’s question as he looked up from the book he was reading in the living room. Fortunately, grandfather nodded without seeming suspicious. Though he did ask why he hadn’t bought them on his way home earlier as Jion ran to the entrance to put on his sneakers.

Jion ignored his words. He hurried outside and made his way to the children’s park not far from home. It was evening and the weather was cold, so there was no one around. He sat on a bench in the corner, curled up, and took out the wooden plaque he’d kept in his pocket.

Since Kwon Chasa had led a ghost through the hongsalmun that morning, he might still be Read onin the underworld, but Jion thought that if he called out persistently, he might respond.

“Kwon Chasa… Kwon……”

Jion clutched the wooden plaque tightly in both hands and muttered his name. But even as his hands grew colder and colder, the plaque didn’t react.

As time passed, he grew more and more anxious. Jion had no way of knowing whether Kwon Chasa wasn’t responding because he was in the underworld, or if he was simply ignoring him.

But since he had acknowledged me this morning, he probably isn’t ignoring me…

Though he thought that to himself, he felt uneasy. He already had experienced his indifferent nature. But Jion didn’t give up and continued to call out to Kwon Chasa. With his eyes tightly closed, he looked as if he were praying.

Just as Jion was calling out to Kwon Chasa repeatedly, he suddenly opened his eyes. He had sensed a presence.

The moment he raised his head, Jion’s eyes widened and his mouth slowly fell open.

He probably had come straight from work, because Kwon Chasa held a menacing double-edged buwol in his hand while looking down at Jion.

“Chasa-nim!”

Jion jumped to his feet and hugged Kwon Chasa. Even though he had embraced him forcefully, Kwon Chasa didn’t budge. Kwon Chasa quickly sheathed his buwol and sighed. But Jion, his arms wrapped around his warm, human form, didn’t let go; he just peeked up at him.

The words he’d been holding back, the things he’d wanted to say to Kwon Chasa, spilled out in a rush.

“Are you back for good now? Does that mean you won’t have to be punished? I even wrote a letter to King Yeomra. What happened to Baek Kitae wasn’t entirely your fault. You had no choice but to do what you did because of me, so it doesn’t make sense for you to be the only one punished…”

Jion spoke without taking a breath. At that, Kwon Chasa couldn’t hide his shiver and let out a hollow laugh. He finally managed to pull Jion away from him and put some distance between them.

“What are you saying? What if Yeomra actually sends you to hell in my place later? You’re so reckless.”

“What does that matter? I might never see you again… I have to do something, even if it’s just this. I’ll take the punishment if I have to.”

At his defiant retort, Kwon Chasa let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. Jion had been worried that his letter wouldn’t work, but fortunately, it had the desired effect.

Fearing Kwon Chasa might run away again, Jion quickly grabbed the hem of his sleeve. Of course, if he transformed into a grim reaper and vanished via teleportation, there would be nothing he could do.

“Please don’t run away today. Just tell me.”

So he declared his intentions first.

“What?”

Kwon Chasa looked down at the sleeve Jion was holding and asked. Jion clutched his sleeve so hard it was completely crumpled.

“I told you I like you. Please, this time, you have to answer me.”

He figured it was a rejection, but he hadn’t actually heard a definitive answer from him yet. This time, he might really turn him down. But even if Kwon Chasa didn’t accept him, he didn’t think he could give up on him.

Hadn’t he just ran away as if he’d never come back, only to appear the moment a ghost started lurking by his side and resolve the situation? Even after making him wait anxiously, he eventually responded to his call and came to him.

If he was going to be indifferent, he should have stayed that way until the end. It was unfair of him to act like this and then tell him he was confused about his feelings. If he’d just been cold-hearted from start to finish, he wouldn’t have ended up liking him this much.

As Jion stared at him, waiting for an answer, Kwon Chasa closed his eyes, then opened them and slowly ran his free hand through his hair.

“Student, as I’ve said before…”

“You’re saying I’m confused?”

“…Yes.”

If he had just said, “I don’t like you, and I never will,” Jion wouldn’t be this upset. Jion bit his lower lip as he watched him try to avoid facing his feelings to the very end.

“How can a human fall for a grim reaper? Do you really think that makes sense?”

“It’s not like it doesn’t make sense…”

Feeling hurt again by the question, Jion replied in a barely audible voice. This time, Kwon Chasa firmly pulled his hand away from Jion’s. Thinking he might actually try to run away, Jion tried to grab him again, but he couldn’t reach out and could only clench his fist tightly.

This was because the expression on Kwon Chasa’s face was darker than ever before.