Si-woo's Sight: 1-2 Bus Stop Encounter

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Choi Si-woo leaves her house to pick suitable clothes for the audition. She meets a weird person while waiting at the bus stop...

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Transcript

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You: (J Agency invited me to their trainee auditions. This is the opportunity I've been dreaming of!)

You: (But Mom wants me to go to Busan with her and continue my schooling there.

You: (She won't approve of me becoming a trainee. And I don't even know if I'll do well..)

Wavering, I look at the magazines and CDs I've hidden under my quilt.

I think of the countless nights I spent secretly learning to sing and dance, and how hard it was to save up money to buy instruments.

These are the things I truly love, and I've invested blood, sweat, and tears in them.

You: (There's no good reason to hesitate.)

You: (I have to at least try, for my own sake.)

I regain my confidence and begin rummaging through my things.

But I don't have a single outfit suitable for the audition.

You: (I'll go to the S shopping mall in a bit and pick out a good dress now.)

I dress quickly and prepare to depart.

Before going out, I glimpse the navy blue umbrella on my desk. That strange boy comes to mind.

You: (I wonder if I'll see him again...)

I walk down the main road. The sky is still gray, and the heat after the rain is depressing.

Strangely, there are few people in the commercial district, which is usually very busy at this time of the day.

I arrive at the bus stop. An old lady is standing in the otherwise empty stop, learning on a walking stick.

You: (What a relief. I should be able to get a seat.)

I approach the front of the stop, where the old lady is standing.

She's plainly dressed, hunched over, and looks fairly old. She stands with her back to me, murmuring to herself.

Cat-faced Granny: ...

I can't make out what she's saying, but see her thin body is shaking furiously.

You: Ajumma?

I tentatively call out to her. But she doesn't respond.

The bus arrives soon after. I want to board, but the old lady doesn't move, and she's blocking the way.

You: Ajumma, are you not getting on the bus?

Cat-faced Granny: ...

The old lady still has her back to me, but her muttering is growing louder and louder. And she is shaking more and more intensely

You: Are you all right?

I touch her on the shoulder. And now that I'm nearer, I can hear what she's saying.

In a hoarse, old voice, she's saying two words over and over again.

Cat-faced Granny: Go home!

I stumble backwards. She turns around.

When I see her face, I feel the blood freeze in my veins. It's not a normal human face--

It's half human and half cat!

Cat-faced Granny: Go home!

You: Ah!!

The cat-faced granny howls at me, and I see the beast-like fangs in her mouth. I'm filled with fear.

Chills race up my spine. I grit my teeth, an force myself to start running.

I have to get out of here now!

But no matter how fast I run, I still hear the thud of the woman's walking stick striking the ground behind me.

The sound gets nearer and nearer, until it seems to be right behind me.

You: Don't...don't come any closer!

My heart is pounding, but I don't dare to turn around, and I don't dare to stop.

In my panic, I stumble on the roadside gravel and fall heavily to the ground.

As my consciousness fades, I know that my life is over.

I wait for a blow, but it doesn't come. Instead, I hear a man's soft chuckle.

Confused, I look up and see the cat-faced granny, who is now farther away from me. She is staring warily at something behind me.

???: You're not an exorcist, but you can see ghosts. Fascinating.

I look behind me to see a tall man with deep, profound eyes.

The cat-faced granny seems afraid of him. Enduring the pain in my knees, I force myself to get up and hide behind the man.

You: Who are you? Do you know what that thing is?

???: Me? Hmm, perhaps later you will call me your savior.

The man's joking attitude makes for a stark contrast with my fear.

???: Quick, tell me what the ghost chasing you looks like.

You: She has a half human, half cat face and is standing in front of us, can't you see her?

Confused, I point towards the cat-faced granny. The man's gaze follows my finger.

???: Half human, half cat? That's just a small fry.

As he says this, he makes a gesture in her direction.

At the same time, he begins muttering some kind of mantra.

???: Time for you to go...

As soon as he says these words, the cat-faced granny utters an ear-splitting scream. Frightened, I cover my ears.

Then she races away at the speed of light.

Her flight stirs up leaves and dust on the ground, making me cough.

???: Quick on her feet, that one.

The man mutters to himself, then looks at me again.

He begins walking towards me, his handsome face coming nearer and nearer.

As he approaches, my heart starts thumping hard. I wonder if he's about to do something to me, but he just sniffs.

???: You don't smell like someone from an exorcism clan...

???: Interesting. Humans usually can't see ghosts. Does that mean... you're not human?

He reaches out and grabs my wrist, like he's trying to sense something. Nervously, I pull my hand away.

You: Of-of course I'm human. Can you tell me what in the world happened just now?

???: What, was that your first time seeing a ghost?

You: I've never seen anything so frightening before!

???: So you've suddenly gained the ability to see them? It's been ages since I encountered something this interesting...

You: Wh-why was she following me?

???: Eh? You've never heard the legend of the half human, half cat granny ghost?

???: She kidnaps naughty children who don't get home before dark!

I suddenly recall that old urban legend. It was used during my mother's generation to scare children.

You: Then that story... is true?

???: It doesn't matter whether it's true or not. You did something wrong, so now she's after you!

The man says this teasingly, but I can't tell if he's joking or not.

You: I didn't do anything wrong! And I'm not a child!

???: Hahaha!

The man bursts into laughter and I realize he's making fun of me. Irritation replaces most of my fear.

You: Who on earth are you? I'm asking you a serious question! Stop laughing!

???: Ah, you have a temper. My name is Ha Jin-hyuk. Remember it.

Ha Jin-hyuk: What just happened, and what you witnessed well...

Ha Jin-hyuk: Welcome to the real world of humans and ghosts... little girl.

You: Real world? You mean... ghosts really exist?

Ha Jin-hyuk: Do you think a human could look like that? What else can it be?

You: Then why did I suddenly see one today, when I've never seen any before?

Ha Jin-hyuk: To seek the answer to that question, you must ask yourself if you've had any strange encounters lately.

I scour my memories, but can't come up with anything.

I shake my head.

You: I can't think anything in particular. Now what should I do?

You: Can I go back to my old life? I don't want to see such things!

Ha Jin-hyuk: Go back? You know, ghost-detecting eyes are a great thing to have.

You: But I don't want them.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Well, it's not possible. No one has the power to seal ghost-detection eyes.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Anyway, weak ghosts like that usually stay away from humans.

Ha Jin-hyuk: There must be some history between you two, for it to suddenly come after you.

You: But I've always lived by the rules. How could I have any history with something like that?

You: Wait! Are you saying I'll run into her again?

You: No way! Is there anything I can do? Help me, I don't want to see her again. She's terrifying!

Ha Jin-hyuk: Ahem. Perhaps you should ask me nicely?

You: You...!

Red-faced and angry, I glare at Ha Jin-hyuk.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Well, there is one way...

Ha Jin-hyuk: You see, I'm an exorcist. People like me prevent ghosts from causing trouble in this world.

Ha Jin-hyuk: We've answered requests to protect people before. However, the price is very high.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Can you afford it?

You: What is it you want?

Ha Jin-hyuk: Only your eyes are of any value to me.

Ha Jin-hyuk: I can't see ghosts. I can only sense them, and extrapolate their general location.

Ha Jin-hyuk: So, are you willing to surrender your eyes in exchange for my protection?

Ha Jin-hyuk's smiling face suddenly turns grave. He stares at me intensely.

It feels as if he'll dig out my eyes the moment I nod. I'm too scared to say anything.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Hmm? Why have you suddenly gone quiet?

You: I-I have an audition. I want to become an idol. I-I can't give up my eyes...

Stammering, I explain my situation. Ha Jin-hyuk breaks into a frivolous smirk.

You: Isn't there... some other way?

Ha Jin-hyuk: Pfft!

Ha Jin-hyuk: I haven't met someone so interesting in a long time. Well, there is another way.

Ha Jin-hyuk laughs so hard, he can barely stand straight. I'm so furious at his endless teasing. I can't speak for a moment.

You: What is it?

Ha Jin-hyuk: If you won't give your eyes, then become my apprentice and follow my orders instead. What do you say?

You: (I wasn't expecting that. I can become an exorcist too?)

You: (Ha Jin-hyuk keeps teasing me. I'm not sure I can trust him.)

You: (Who knows what he'll ask me to do? I shouldn't rush into a decision.)

I lapse back into silence for a long while. Ha Jin-hyuk starts to look a little uncomfortable.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Think about it carefully. I'm only giving you this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because I'm in a good mood today.

You: I'm very scared of ghosts, and I know nothing about exorcism. Let me think about it a little longer.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Hmph, you're missing your chance.

Suddenly, Ha Jin-hyuk seems to sense something. He frowns.

Ha Jin-hyuk: I have work to do. I can't stay and play.

Ha Jin-hyuk: See you later, little girl.

So saying, Ja Jin-hyuk turns and prepares to leave. Hastily, I grab his shirt.

You: Wait! What do I do if I see that half human, half cat creature again?

Ha Jin-hyuk: How annoying you are. Here, take this!

From his pocket, Ha Jin-hyuk pulls out a pendant that looks like a storage box.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Take this pendant. I have enchanted it with an exorcist spell. If you hold it and call my name, I'll come to you.

Ha Jin-hyuk: Ah, and tell me what your name is.

You: It's Choi Si-woo.

Ha Jin-hyuk: I'll see you again soon, Choi Si-woo.

Ha Jin-hyuk jumps onto a fence and very quickly disappears. I grip the pendant tightly and start walking home, looking nervously all around me.

Still in shock, I arrive home. Thankfully, I don't encounter any more strange events.

But that cat-faced granny's features still linger in my mind.

I suddenly think of the saying that red beans repel ghosts.

I find some red beans in the house and scatter them on the flower bed by the doorway and the windowsill in my room.

You: (Please, please, please, don't come to me again, cat-faced granny!)

I mutter these words while scattering the beans, trying to comfort myself.

It's getting dark. I hear Mom getting home and preparing dinner.

Mom: Si-woo, have you seen those red beans I just bought?

You: Huh?

Mom: Oh dear, I just wanted to make some red bean porridge.

Mom: I know I put them in the cupboard. I'm so old now. My memory's gotten so bad.

You: What about bibimbap, Mom? Let's have bibimbap tonight!

Mom: All right...

You: (Whew, that was close. What happened to me today is too unbelievable. Better to keep it a secret from Mom.)

You: (I wasn't able to buy a dress for tomorrow's audition. I guess I'll just have to wear an old one.)

You: (I have to pass the bus stop on my way to J Agency tomorrow. Will the cat-faced granny show up again?)

You: (Ah! Even thinking about that makes my skin crawl. Why is this happening to me?!)

Anxiously, I mull over the problem. I spend a long, restless night feeling uneasy and exhausted.