Chapter 5 – Graduate (5)
What is a nightmare?
The definition varies from person to person, but I think it’s a dream where worries are infused with a sense of reality.
In other words,
‘It wasn’t a nightmare.’
It wasn’t a nightmare—it was a premonition dream showing me the grim future awaiting me.
…What else could it be?
If it wasn’t a dream, it’s occult nonsense far beyond the realm of science.
“Moon-soo.”
“Yes.”
“You’ve been so quiet on the way to the staff room. Aren’t you curious about who I invited to the school?”
“Not at all—how could I not be curious! Of course I am!”
I already knew who it was, so I wasn’t curious at all, but I played along with my homeroom teacher’s enthusiasm.
“Want to guess?”
“…Yoo Il-am.”
“Oh my! You got it on the first try! Yoo Il-am really is famous, isn’t he?”
“I only know his name.”
Everything unfolded exactly the same up to this point.
My duty-driven homeroom teacher had invited the shaman Yoo Il-am to the school for my sake, and, as expected, he caused a ruckus while starting a live broadcast.
‘But not this time!’
After glancing back to confirm Yoo Il-am was following, I deliberately passed by the stairs leading to the rooftop.
I didn’t think it was wise to bring that man to the unconscious female student.
Kicking someone who’s passed out?
My common sense couldn’t comprehend it.
Plus, leaving someone collapsed on cold concrete didn’t sit right with me.
“Hm. This should do.”
I sent a text to my homeroom teacher on my smartphone.
Kang Moon-soo: Teacher, there’s a female student passed out on the rooftop.
“…Perfect.”
Yoo Il-am’s bizarre act of kicking an unconscious girl wouldn’t happen this time.
Flawless.
‘What could I have done better?’
With a lighter heart, I turned my steps. Then, spotting Yoo Il-am filming in the classroom, I called out to him.
“Mr. Yoo Il-am, I can’t find any ghosts.”
“Look harder! They’re hiding around here somewhere.”
“I think it’s impossible. I don’t have enough talent. Plus, I have a part-time job soon, so I need to go.”
“…”
Yoo Il-am glared at me, clearly sensing my intent to bail.
But perhaps because countless subscribers were watching the live broadcast?
“…Well, if that’s the case, there’s nothing I can do.”
He gave up remarkably quickly.
‘Just as I expected.’
I vaguely recalled hearing that broadcasters have two faces.
Their demeanor when the camera’s off.
Their demeanor when the camera’s on.
And right now, the camera was rolling. A live broadcast, uneditable…
In other words, finding a ghost in the school was his top priority, not dealing with uncooperative me.
However,
“Here’s my business card. I don’t give it to just anyone, so keep it safe.”
Yoo Il-am didn’t give up entirely.
“Yes, I’ll keep it safe.”
I slipped the golden business card he handed me into my pocket.
‘I’ll toss it in the trash can at the bus stop later~♪’
I didn’t want to be entangled with this overbearing man anymore. I hoped I’d never run into him on the street, even by chance.
“Kang Moon-soo, give your contact info to my apprentice—”
“I’m busy with my part-time job, so I’m off!”
To avoid giving him a chance to scheme, I bolted out of the school building like the wind.
‘My contact info? Not a chance!’
Since it’s personal information, even my homeroom teacher wouldn’t share it with an outsider like him.
“Nice!”
Freedom at last!
My grueling part-time job awaited, but compared to dealing with Yoo Il-am’s nonsense—
Thud!
“Hm?”
I heard something large fall onto the grass beside the school’s main entrance.
‘What was that?’
Reflexively turning toward the sound, my face—
Splatter, splatter…
Red liquid splashed mercilessly onto my school uniform.
“It’s like blood—huh?!”
The moment I saw where the liquid came from, my mind went blank.
***
“Buddha…”
“Lord…”
“Father…”
I saw students fervently praying to their gods with desperate hopes.
<Aptitude Testing Center>
And there it was, the sign I thought I’d never see again.
Even as an atheist, I couldn’t help but join the others in seeking a god.
“Oh, God…”
Does this make any sense?
I was back at the day of the aptitude test, standing in the school gymnasium where the designated hospital bus was parked.
‘This is the third time…’
I had concluded that the first time was a premonition dream and the second was reality. But now, it turns out the second time was a dream too?
I was utterly confused.
“Next student.”
“…Yes.”
At the nurse’s call, whom I’d met again, I stepped into the hospital bus.
This time, to avoid being misunderstood as a prankster, I decided to keep my mouth shut and quietly take the aptitude test.
“Student, before we start the test, I’ll ask some simple verification questions.”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever taken the aptitude test before?”
“No.”
“Have you traveled abroad in the past 15 days?”
“No.”
“Are you taking any medications regularly, aside from supplements?”
“No.”
“Have you fought with a friend?”
“…Huh?”
That question wasn’t asked before.
“Sorry, your expression was so serious that I asked without thinking. Ignore that last question.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Now we’ll begin the test. Even if you don’t feel anything, don’t fidget or get up.”
“Yes.”
The nurse’s odd question came from reading my expression, but the aptitude test itself went smoothly.
So far, so good…
“That’s weird.”
The aptitude test was proceeding too smoothly.
Unless my memory was distorted, there was a student who skipped the test.
But now?
“Next student.”
“Yes.”
“Next student.”
“Yes.”
“Next…”
Unlike before, not a single student made the nurse wait. Not even until the aptitude tests were complete.
‘That’s strange…’
Did the future change because I quietly took the test?
The situation kept defying my understanding and common sense. It was too long to be a dream, too.
Anyway,
“Moon-soo, good work today.”
“Yes, boss.”
Even if the future changed slightly, my part-time job remained the same.
The place: a convenience store.
I have to discard expired food, but I save on meal costs by eating it myself.
Earning money and solving meals.
I’m quite satisfied.
But,
“During a quiet time, wax the floor. Some drunk customer threw up in broad daylight, and the smell won’t go away.”
“Yes…”
The repetitive part-time job is the problem.
‘It’s not just that it’s hard—it feels like I’m working for free!’
I get paid on the 30th, a lifeline for my empty bank account, but imagine if the 29th kept repeating.
It’s enough to drive anyone insane.
Scrub, scrub-
While cleaning the convenience store floor in the dead of night, I made a decision.
“…I’ll accept it.”
I don’t believe in the occult. But I’m not so stubborn as to deny it after experiencing it firsthand.
Shaman.
I’ll accept my aptitude.
‘Can’t see ghosts but have the power to go back in time?’
I gave up analyzing the mechanics scientifically and decided to focus on the phenomenon itself.
‘Three times total.’
I recalled the moments I’d regressed to.
The first time, when I fell next to the female student.
The second time, when the female student fell next to me.
There was a common thread.
‘If I avoid encountering that female student, can I prevent the regression?’
It wouldn’t hurt to try.
Ding~♪
“Welcome, customer!”
“Cigarettes—”
“Here you go.”
“…I haven’t even ordered yet. How did you know what I wanted?”
“You bought them before.”
“Did I? I thought this was my first time at this store.”
“You’ve been here before.”
I remember it three times, at least.
“Am I getting dementia…?”
“Come back again, customer!”
‘Fear not, young lamb. Your memory, steeped in nicotine and tar, is still intact.’
It’s the convenience store worker who’s the odd one out.
***
Today is a very important day.
Why?
‘Please, let me move forward this time!’
It feels like half a month has passed, but the calendar date remains as stubborn as reinforced concrete.
I keep returning to the day I took the aptitude test, unable to move past the day after the results are announced. The date never changes.
“Stay calm.”
My heart pounded as I watched the backs of students heading home after classes.
It meant the moment of fate was approaching.
And,
“She’ll jump again, won’t she?”
The death of the female student who jumped from the school rooftop weighed heavily on my mind.
‘If I tell the teacher in advance—oh…’
I hesitated as I reached for my phone to text my homeroom teacher. I didn’t know her face or even her name, so I couldn’t prevent the accident.
‘If only I’d checked the name tag on her uniform…’
I had two chances to see it.
But the first time, she was lying face-down on the rooftop, her name tag and face obscured. The second time, she was covered in blood, and I didn’t have the chance to look.
“…Nothing I can do.”
I put my phone back in my pocket and gave up cleanly.
For now, I had to deal with the immediate problem.
“Hey, Kang Moon-soo, how long are you gonna hide it?”
“Yeah, you’re the only one in class keeping your aptitude test result a secret.”
“It’s making me so curious!”
“Maybe it’s really astronaut?”
“That’s unfair, Kang Moon-soo!”
“Don’t live like that, dude!”
The attention of the “some” students who had bragged about their aptitude test results turned to me.
‘Everyone revealed theirs?’
That’s a blatant lie. I’ll admit many students shared their results, but not all.
“No way. It’s a secret.”
I wanted to punch the past me who thought it was okay to share.
If I revealed my aptitude here, my homeroom teacher would invite “Shaman Yoo Il-am” to the school again.
That’s the last thing I want.
‘Teacher, I appreciate the thought.’
A salute to my homeroom teacher, brimming with duty and passion!
But I had no desire to meet Yoo Il-am, who seemed more suited to being a celebrity than a shaman, a third time.
“Is it some amazing job?”
“Kang Moon-soo, that’s unfair!”
“Hey, just tell us this: Is it bigger than president?”
“Now I’m even more curious!”
Despite their persistent demands, I held firm.
“Sorry.”
Right now, a girl’s life was more important than this stupid aptitude.
***
There’s exactly one good thing about reliving the same past for the third time.
“It’s easy~”
I can correct past mistakes.
“Hey, Kang Moon-soo.”
“You really not gonna tell us?”
“That’s harsh, man.”
“Spill your aptitude!”
I praised myself for my excellent decision to hide “shaman.”
It was a bit annoying that my friends kept pestering me about my aptitude test result, but it was better than being mocked like before.
“Phew…”
But my heart wasn’t at ease. The time when that girl would fall from the rooftop and die was drawing closer.
‘It’ll be fine.’
I had a plan.
How?
Kang Moon-soo: Teacher, I saw a female student standing dangerously on the rooftop railing.
I’d prevent the incident by texting my homeroom teacher before the problem occurred.
“…Done. It should be fine now.”
With a lighter heart, I slung my schoolbag over my shoulder.
By hiding my aptitude test result from my homeroom teacher, Yoo Il-am didn’t come to the school, and my quick report saved a life.
A satisfying walk home!
Perfect.
‘Tomorrow’s sun, stay right there and wait for me~!’
I’m coming for you.