"Alright class, meet Mr Jang, he'll be joining us for our semester group activity."
A man with blurred face said inside a dark classroom. Everyone's face were blurred.
The darkness of the classroom seemed to swallow everyone whole, making the blurred faces of the students even more unsettling. The air was thick with an eerie atmosphere, punctuated by strange noises that seemed to come from all directions. Husky chuckling sounds emanated from the sink, while teeth gritting sounds echoed from behind the door. Crawling sounds creaked above the classroom, and a head seemed to be creeping on the window from the second floor. It was as if the classroom itself was alive, watching and waiting.
A Girl wearing full korean uniform with long black hair with pale smooth looking skin and gorgeous dark brown eyes was walking in a corridor that seemed to be inside a school.
A familiar girl's voice called her name out loud.
"Hae-soo!"
It came from a short girl with light brown eyes and her hair was in buns hairstyle. It was Kim Moryeong, Hae-soo's best friend. She stopped behind Hae-soo and hugged her tightly.
"Why are you late? I was waiting for you outside the gate you know! Hmmph!" Kim Moryeong said.
'Waiting my ass, I saw you with Lee Junhwo and Cho Ha-jun in the cafeteria, hmmph! Eating without your best friend. Why were they in the cafeteria anyway, it's quite early to eat lunch.'
Hae-soo thought and gave Moryeong an intense look before pinching her cheeks until it became red as Moryeong groaned in pain.
"Ahuhu..." Moryeong mumbled in pain as she rubbed both sides of her cheeks using both her palms to ease the pain.
"I saw you eating in the cafeteria with Cho Ha-jun and Lee Junhwo, how dare you lie to your best friend."
Hae-soo said to Moryeong while crossing her arms. Hae-soo kept staring at the teary Moryeong, seemingly waiting for her to say something.
"I'm sawrieeeee..." Moryeong whimpered as she hugged Hae-soo's thighs tightly.
Hae-soo sighed and looked around the corridor. Sensing someone or something was looking at her.
"Yeah yeah, I forgive you. Let's get going, we're gonna be late for class."
Hae-soo and Moryeong went inside their classroom. Room 4A. Inside the classroom were students around the age of 18 to 20. There were 24 students inside the room. 11 girls and 13 boys. There were 7 students outside the classroom. 4 girls and 3 boys.
Moryeong looked around, her eyes lingering at the empty seat beside the window.
She must be looking for Junhwo. Why is he not around anyway? Ha-jun must've cut classes with him.
Hae-soo thought as she walked towards her desk, right beside the second window.
For Shim Hae-soo.
A small paper envelope was placed under her desk's drawer, a love letter? Maybe. Without even reading it, Hae-soo just picked the paper envelope and crumpled it into a ball and threw it out the window without any hesitation.
Behind her desk was Junhwo's. Hae-soo looked at Junhwo's desk intensely and then walked towards it and took something under his desk.
Before Hae-soo was able to turn around someone grabbed her hand. Though it was gentle, it was tight enough to make Hae-soo unable to break free.
It was a tall brown haired guy with slim but muscular figure. It was Lee Junhwo. His two dark brown pupils stared straight to Hae-soo's eyes without even blinking.
"What are you doing? What did you take under my desk?" Junhwo said, his tone impassive.
Hae-soo stared back at Junhwo as the class started cheering them on.
"I'll ask you again, what did you take under my desk? Why are you touching someone else's stuff?"
Junhwo asked again, adding few more words as his grip on Hae-soo's hand tightens.
Hae-soo rolled her eyes then yanked her hand away from Junhwo's grasp.
"I'm only taking what belongs to me."
Hae-soo said and showed up an eraser with the initials HS, meaning Hae-soo Shim on both backs of the eraser.
Everyone enthusiastically cheered both of them until Hae-soo walked pass Junhwo and sat back on her chair.
A guy, a little shorter than Junhwo, with black hair and black pupils came in in a hurry. It was Cho Ha-jun, Junhwo's best friend. He looked confused after getting inside the classroom right after Hae-soo and Junhwo finished arguing.
"What happened?"
Ha-jun asked in a curious and confused tone.
Everyone knows that Cho Ha-jun had romantic feelings for Shim Hae-soo in the past so they remained quiet.
As everyone went silent until someone came inside the classroom that startled everyone. It was Mr Lee.
"Good morning class."
Lee Sanggeul/Mr Lee said as he placed his lesson plan on the table in front.
He looked like he is around his twenties, with his tight white long sleeve with red necktie and green vest, he looked more like a poker dealer than a teacher.
Everyone went back to their desks and stood up and then bowed to Mr Lee.
"Alright, Mr Jang Ha-jung, please come inside."
Mr Lee politely said and forced a bright smile right after the person outside came in. Though everyone looked curious, Hae-soo wasn't looking pleased.
"Alright class, meet Mr Jang, he'll be joining us for our semester group activity."
'What's this? Déjà Vu? It's like the dream I had last night.'
Mr Lee said as the students once again stood up and bowed to Mr Jang.
Mr Jang smiled brightly at everyone and then introduced himself to the students.
"Hello everyone, I'm Jang Ha-jung, I and the Principal made a deal, and we both agreed to each other's rules so, now, I will let you have a camping trip at my island at Jeju for free."
Mr Jang was cut off when the students started cheering.
"Alright, now, I want you to make your parents sign this admission slip. No admission slip is equal to no joining to Jeju."
Mr Jang said as he walk to each student's desks, handing each of them an admission slip.
Suddenly, someone clapped his or her hands twice. It was Mr Lee, who was still forcing to show a bright smile.
"Alright, class 4A room will be used for a meeting so, you may go home early today."
Mr Lee said and then everyone started packing their stuff and exits the classroom.
"Shim Hae-soo."
Someone whispered behind Hae-soo Shim. It sounded deep, like a Guy's voice. It was from Junhwo.
Hae-soo looked at him with displeasement in her eyes, and ignored him then went out of the classroom.
"Hey!"
Junhwo yelled as he followed Hae-soo outside the classroom.
"Look, I'm sorry. I was a bit harsh on you a while ago so uhhmmm, what should I do to make it up to you?"
Junhwo kept following Hae-soo, a while attempting to apologize for what he did earlier in class.
Hae-soo remained silent, not responding to any of Junhwo's words even when they reached the campus grounds.
"Hae-soo Shim! Shim Hae-soo!"
Junhwo called out repeatedly but still didn't get any response from Hae-soo, who was walking on the football field.
"Shim Hae-soo!"
Hae-soo was pulled by Junhwo forcefully before a soccer ball nearly hit her head.
Everyone who saw what happened started cheering them as they fall on the ground while Junhwo held Hae-soo's hand.
"Hey, are you okay Shim Hae."
Hae-soo stood up, ignoring Junhwo and then walked away from the soccer field, until she got out the school gate.
"Soo?"
Junhwo said to himself as he looked at Hae-soo, who was walking in a hurry towards the gate.
As Hae-soo walked out of the school gate, she hailed a cab, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. But as she glanced back at the school, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. The darkness of the classroom, the strange noises, and Mr. Jang's enigmatic smile in her dreams the night before still lingered in her mind.