5:03 A.M. Monday.
Seeing everything fine I put my phone down. So far it hasn't happened yet, not after last Saturday. But I can't say it won't. Hopefully it's not happening now of all time.
My eyes runs around the lobby. She is still nowhere to be found.
Maybe the girl is just running late; it is very early in the morning, and the sun isn't out that much yet anyway.
I sit down on one of the couches and realize there's a huge drop in quality compared to the one in the special class. Yet Sunshine Apartment doesn't look cheap, nor does what's underneath me now. An average person would throw away their bed, switch to this couch instead, and get much better sleep. If it's the case of looking expensive, why does it feel so different? Is the special class couch made from a mattress in heaven? Maybe it is; there is some supernatural shit going on in there anyway. I am one of them, if anyone wants proof.
Now I know what's on your mind, before I, so rudely ignored it and went ahead and talked about my experience with couches. You're probably asking why I am down here and not up in bed. My tutor session starts in the evening; I have no reason to wake up so early. That was true until after what happened in my apartment room a couple of days ago. I'm talking about when Nelly visited.
I can't narrate much about it, though, since I only remembered half of it before waking up in my bed that night. Yeah, it's not far to say, I was unconscious. But this wasn't where I went to sleep, and my body stopped moving; no, in the case of what happened that evening: I was conscious… to the others.
According to them:
I listened, I talked, I smiled, I ate.
When asked, my sister confirmed it, saying, "You were completely normal, if I remember correctly."
Then I went to my phone and texted Sohee. I vaguely hinted to her that I had forgotten what happened (just so she doesn't think I'm going crazy)… I missed everything somewhere after Nelly revealed she was being followed.
"Sunbae, you aren't trying to cancel the plan, right?"
I stared at my phone for a while before sending a reply. "No."
"That's what I thought. Well, it would be very awkward if you backed away, now… after all, you're the person who suggested that. Still, I'm quite surprised Nelly was being so brave to accept it. I hope it went well this Monday."
I have no idea about this plan that apparently I made up.
"Sohee, what do you think about roleplay?"
"I think they are fun."
"Let's do it now, on our phone. Let's pretend I forgot everything and now you're explaining what happened that evening."
It took a while to get Sohee on board, but she eventually agreed. It was a few paragraphs, but after reading, I now understand the situation.
Nelly had shut herself in her room after that day. Fear was eating her alive, but she still didn't want the police involved. That's why she couldn't let her aunt Tammy find out either—Tammy would go straight to the station. That tracked why she was being irrational when we appeared in front of her doorstep. As for why we're keeping this from the authorities, who have every reason and the power to help her, I don't have a clear answer. Sohee never told me.
For that reason they came for me last Saturday, asking for... Help.
So my amazing plan was: to start following Nelly to school…? Like a bodyguard job?
Apparently Nelly always goes to school… (5:11 A.M.) early at this time. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason why I'm here.
Now, if I may ask, what's the reason for you being inside my head? I know you're there; I can hear you.
Smack, smack, smack.
An echo of hurried footsteps… coming my way.
They are coming from her—the aunt. Wearing light cyan pajamas, her brown hair disheveled, and those green emerald eyes are shooting a glare in my direction. I look behind; there was no one, so either she had something to say at a wall, or at me.
I stand up just as she arrived.
"Good morning."
"Fuck you."
"Uh…"
You know, to other passersby, I looked like I was caught cheating by my partner. Maybe I should try to deescalate this.
"Is something wrong?"
She jabs a finger at me. "Fuck. You."
Oh, I see.
"I'm sorry, Tammy, but it's too early in the morning. We can do what you want tonight though… not at either of our places; maybe we can find a hotel."
"I'm not here to listen to your joke." She watches our surroundings, trying to sound quieter. Trying.
"Well, maybe try saying something else. I misunderstood you the second time you said it."
She grits her teeth, stepping closer to me. "Why do I have to find it from Nelly and not… you?"
I remain quiet so she can elaborate.
"This. Your plan. Nelly, school."
So she knows about the bodyguard plan. Great.
"I figured… Nelly already told you."
"Yeah, just now. I was so happy to see her back getting ready for school… I thought whatever she went through, she was over it." She holds her forehead, looking at the ceiling. "But god… she was acting weird, so I had to ask. I can't believe she's going through with this. No, there's no way she's agreed to this. Did you make her?
"Did you force her into this?"
She was speaking too fast for me to handle this early. And, whoa there, your fist is just eager to fly in my face. Is there something I can say to calm you down? I do.
"Tammy, I'm helping her."
But that only makes her face redder, so she starts to hold my collar, pulling my face closer to her. "Help? Will following her around to school help her? That kid can't even handle when her uncle came to visit. You think you can do better? Than her family? If you truly care about her…"
Her wrist squeezes, "Tell me what she's not telling me."
Ah, so she came in anger, not because of me. It is because Tammy realized that her niece, whom she had cared for like her own daughter, was hiding things from her.
Her clutch on my collar is so intense… I think I'm beginning to choke. Uh, oh. I can't handle this pressure much longer. I might just tell her.
"Aunty!"
A small yelp comes from her back. She has to turn around to see, but I already know who it is.
Nelly is here, wearing her school uniform: green, shining eyes, brown hair covering everything above her eyebrows, and her neck. What's new is… she is breathing heavily like someone who is frustrated.
Just like her Aunt.
Seeing her, Tammy throws me away and walks straight to her niece.
Rubbing my neck, I watch the two 'arguing' quietly.
Some time passes… and Nelly walks away. After some distance, she stops and looks behind… at me. Ah, she must be waiting for me to move. But I can't do that yet; I have to deal with your aunt first.
Tammy once again comes over to me, but this time I hold my collar first before she can.
"Fuck are you doing?"
"Well, I'm trying to make this easier for you and me."
"Stop joking around, man."
Huh, is she not going to choke me again? Phew, that's a relief.
"Look, I'm sorry about earlier. I just…" she glances away, "disappointed."
"It's all good. I'm sure it was all just a misunderstanding."
"You sure you don't want to tell me?"
Our eyes stare at each other for a moment. I'm sure telling her about Nelly and her stalker is the right thing to do. But it was too late now. Nelly made it apparent she doesn't want you to know, and my life now revolves around serving her, your niece. "There's nothing to tell. Nelly just wanted to feel safe walking to school… I'm here to help that."
"She is androphobic. Won't she feel more in danger if you follow her from behind?"
"I will make sure to keep my distance."
"Tell me something, how is this helping her? She's fine walking to school alone all this time. Why do you need to be there?"
"I think this is called Exposure therapy."
"What's that mean?"
"Uh, I'm not so sure. Can I call Sohee?" Though she might still be in her bed.
Tammy sighs, "So Sohee is in this, too. Well, that's a slight relief."
After she said that, my shoulders dropped. But she quickly caught that.
"I still think you're untrustworthy."
"I apologize."
"Tch." She brings out her palm between us, "Your phone."
"All yours, Ma'am."
I hand it over. She turns my phone on—5:16 A.M.
"Who's this, your girlfriend?" She scans the phone's wallpaper, "She looks like a middle schooler."
"Yeah, because she is."
"Are you just admitting to being a predator in front of my face?"
"No. That girl is my little sister."
"Oh, so you're a siscon."
"I…"
She quickly dialed up a number. "If anything happens, let me know. Oh, just to clarify… if anything happens to my niece, if you call me for any other reason than that, you're dead."
I salute her, "Understood."
She snickers, but this time she looks a little amused, "Sunbae, right? Looks like the girl trusts you for now. So, take care of them. I'm going back to bed."
Tammy turns around, walking away.
Phew, that went well. At least nobody is getting shot or run over by a car today… Hm? Strange? Why would I think that?
I shake my head before anything supernatural happens. I can't afford that now. Nelly is waiting long enough.
I step toward her, and she walks away, maintaining our distance. This is how it's going to go until she arrives at school.
It is 5:20 A.M., and the sun begins peeking at us.