Episode 6

"Yura, please don't drive like that again. It's dangerous!" Mom cried out as we arrived home.

My body was still trembling, remembering the earlier incident, that figure had truly vanished as I sped up the car. Reflecting on it, that figure had appeared before me multiple times.

"I'm going to my room, Mom," I replied before hurrying up the stairs to the second floor. At times like this, my room is the safest and most comforting place. Upon entering my room, I immediately turned on the light and played the holy verses I usually listened to.

I didn't forget to cleanse myself and change into fresh clothes before settling onto my bed. It wasn't that late yet, but I already had no desire to wander around the house, fearing another apparition.

Thinking back to the afternoon's event with Kaivan, "It seems like Kai could see that creature too," muttered Yura, engrossed in her phone while leaning against the headboard of her bed.

Glancing at the social media statuses of Nana and Mail capturing their time at the mall.

"You two might fall in love over there," I murmured again.

Suddenly...

Bang.

The balcony door flew open and a gust of wind caused the curtains to flutter wildly.

Bang.

Crash.

Several items on my study desk and dressing table fell to the floor due to the strong breeze.

"Goodness gracious." I quickly went to close the door and paused when I took in the calm surroundings. Even the towering trees in the neighbor's yard showed no sign of swaying leaves or branches.

*Why only my room?*

I quickly shut and locked the door. My phone, which I use to play the sacred verses, had fallen and its screen was cracked. My room light flickered, and suddenly I got goosebumps, feeling the presence of that creature near me.

As I crouched, holding my broken phone, I began to recite the holy verses softly.

"Don't disturb me, we exist in different realms. I don't understand why I can see you all, but I don't care and do not wish to bother."

Scrape.

The sound of a chair dragging across the floor echoed.

"Please, go away," I said as I continued to recite the verses I remembered and had memorized. My phone on the bed rang, prompting me to glance around.

Sigh.

Breathing a sigh of relief, I saw nothing unusual. Hastily, I reached for my phone where an unknown number was displayed.

"Hello?"

"Yura," a voice at the other end spoke.

"Yes," I answered while scanning the room.

"It's Kaivan."

"Ah!" I exclaimed.

A click was heard on the line. How could I not be surprised, Kaivan was calling me. I checked the caller ID again and cautiously asked if this Kaivan was the senior from campus whom I met at the hospital.

"This is Kaivan, Mrs. Broto's son?" I asked softly.

"What do you think?"

"I'm just asking, just to make sure. It might be another Kaivan."

I heard a sigh from him. "Not going to class tomorrow?"

*Wait a minute\, why is Kaivan asking if I'm going to class or not. It's not like he wants to hang out or is smitten with me\, right? Please Yura\, don't flatter yourself.*

"Hm, yes to class," I replied nonchalantly.

"Okay. I'll call again tomorrow."

Finally, the call ended, though I was a bit disappointed because our conversation was too stiff (what kind of relationship was I expecting, we only met this afternoon).

Eventually, I lay down in bed, hoping to quickly fall asleep and wake up the next morning without any disturbances.

***...

"Are you not going to campus?" Dad asked during breakfast. Mom too was looking at me, seemingly asking the same question.

"I'm going in a bit later, no early schedule."

"Mom said you were driving recklessly?"

I sighed and turned to Mom.

Should I just tell them why I drove like that last night? I wasn't sure if they would believe me, as only I could see it.

"Do you need me to arrange a driver for you?"

"No need, Dad, I can take public transport or a motorbike taxi," I quickly dismissed Dad's offer.

Though if I had accepted, it would have made things much easier for me and I wouldn't have been scared since I would have company wherever I go.

"Is there something you want to tell us? We've been hearing strange things about you, reckless driving, the sound of breaking items from your room last night, and…"

"There's nothing, I was just uncomfortable driving, and the items that broke last night were because of the wind."

Mom and Dad exchanged glances then looked back at me.

"Wind where?" Mom inquired.

"The wind in..." The wind last night indeed only seemed to affect my room, I hadn't noticed it anywhere else even though it was close by.

"Yura," Dad called. "If you need to talk or more extensive checks, I'm on board with that."

"Do you mean there's something wrong with me?"

"Not at all, dear," Mother interjected. "Ever since you were sick recently, you've seemed different to us."

"Different how?" I asked, now setting down my fork and spoon since I had lost interest in continuing breakfast.

"Yura, we just want what's best for you. If these hallucinations continue, we can treat them," Dad explained.

I sat silent, not in agreement with Dad's request. But pondering if they saw a change in me, possibly ever since I could see those that aren't real. I stood up, intending to return to my room.

"I'm full, excuse me."

"Yura, honey," Mom called out as I walked away from the breakfast table.

Back in my room, I changed clothes and planned to leave for campus earlier than usual, which was unlike me. I made sure textbooks, assignments, my wallet, and the phone with the broken screen were all in my backpack.

Hoping Mom and Dad had already moved from the breakfast table, to avoid further questions or comments about my condition. I myself felt fine and whatever I was experiencing wasn't a hallucination.

"Miss Yura, where are you off to?" asked the housekeeper when she saw me tiptoeing by.

"Shh, I'm going to campus," I whispered back.

"But I thought you said you would go later?"

"I just don't want to stay home, Auntie. They think there's something wrong with me and want me to consult. I'm actually just fine."

Auntie sighed upon hearing my complaint.

"I'm heading out, Auntie."

The motorbike taxi I had ordered from my room was already waiting at the gate. After putting on the helmet, the two-wheeler took off towards my place of education.

Arriving at campus, I went straight to the library. Not because I was eager to read or pretending to be a bookworm, but to wait for my upcoming class.

Instead of waiting in the canteen, which would tempt me to try this and that, not to mention the smoke and noise, the library felt like the right place to wait.

I looked for the ideal spot not just for reading but also where I would feel safe if my eyes happened to close. I went toward the towering bookshelves, intrigued to find a book about supernatural beings.

The library was not yet crowded, and many reading tables were available. I settled down at a particularly strategic spot and opened the book I chose. Engrossed in page after page, I momentarily forgot about the earlier upset. My phone vibrated, and I answered the incoming call without checking who it was.

"Hello?"

"Yura, where are you?"

"In the library."

"You're not alone, are you?"

"I'm by myself. Like I would invite the whole neighborhood to come with me to the library."

"I'm serious, Yura."

Yura pulled the phone slightly away from her ear, "Kaivan?"

"I'm in the hallway, you better come out and...”

"Yuraaa."

I ignored Kaivan upon hearing my name being called, a faint voice coming from the old bookshelves.

I stood up and slowly made my way to the source of the voice, with the call from Kaivan still going.

"Yuraaa."