VI

Busan, South Korea (June 2019)

LJ entered the beach house warily. One of the Virtues told him that Alice would be there. Knowing her, there was bound to be a prank. He stood in the center of the shed, waiting for her to show herself. The place looked like a summer faerie vomited into it. Alice probably did. Paint of different colors splattered its walls and the equipment inside it. Damn. Alice sure was taking her painting to the next level these days.

"Boooo!" a light figure jumped into LJ's back, shrieking in his ear.

"Alice Park! You skinny runt." LJ yelled at her. He took a few steps back, almost losing his balance. And he thought he was prepared for whatever antic she had in mind. 

"Scared you, didn't I?" Alice said, snickering. She stretched her arms behind her and did a series of backflips until she was on a platform at the edge of the shed, disappearing behind the boxes stacked on it. 

"Oh, come on, now. Do we have to do this every single time?" LJ asked, turning around to search for motion behind the boxes.

"It's nice to see you, Oppa. I haven't seen you in...how long has it been? Two hundred years, three hundred?" Alice's voice flitted around the room, throwing LJ off her location. 

LJ sighed, settling himself on what looked like an abandoned couch in the center of the shed. It was the only object in the room that was strangely devoid of paint. "You saw me yesterday." 

"Oh...right." Alice giggled. "Sorry. I just thought it'd be more dramatic that way." 

LJ smiled. He still couldn't see her, but she could imagine the glee on her face. He wished he came with better news. "How's the job?" LJ asked the faerie, not willing to tell her the reason for his visit yet.

Alice laughed, "You ask me that every time." 

"Do I?" LJ said, amused.

"Yes, and I always say, 'It's soo much fun.' Ask another question." Alice replied, finally showing herself. She excitedly sat on the floor in front of LJ, looking like a complete mess. The paint was all over her hair and overalls, not to mention her hands and arms. She was also clutching a bunch of tangerines. "Want some?" 

"Are they safe?" LJ asked, narrowing his eyes at Alice. 

Alice cackled, "Of course, they are. Come on, get one. I went to all that trouble to look for these." She threw all the tangerines from her arms towards LJ. One of them hit his head while most fell on the floor. Another one he barely managed to catch. LJ shook his head reproachfully at Alice.

"Thanks," LJ scowls at Alice.

"You're welcome," she replied, smirking. She adjusted her position, laying with her belly on the floor. "So, why are you here? You look sad. You're not even attempting to play with me."

LJ sighed, answering, "Haneul sends a message. He says he's taking you up on your offer to help him with...something." He was not looking at her, focused on peeling the fruit in his hand instead, his mouth in a bitter line. 

"Oooh...that," Alice said, oblivious of her friend's reaction. She pulled back her messy curls and laid on her back. Looking at LJ upside down, it didn't take long for her to mull it over, as he'd hoped, "Okay!" Alice announced brightly. 

"That's it? You're not even going to think about it? You're just going to throw away the life you're currently living for this?" 

"Yes," Alice said, decided. "I offered to help, remember? I was ready for this." 

LJ's brows furrowed as he studied her. He swallowed, realizing something, "Alice, don't tell me..." 

"Yep. I knew about her." Alice confirmed. Her slanted eyes looked guilty.

"Why didn't you tell Han?" LJ asked, perplexed.

"Because he didn't need to know at that time. Plus, the girl really needed him. All sorts of beings were hanging around her, you know. I bet some of them still are." Alice reasoned. Uncomfortable, she started doing some gymnastic moves on the floor, hoping it would distract LJ. He always cheered for her whenever she did them.

Not this time though, his eyes were furious, "You're unbelievable. We could have avoided this if you just told him the truth, you know. Do you know how miserable Haneul is right now?" 

"I told you, she needed the help, and he wouldn't have agreed to be her guardian if I told him." Alice was adamant. "So, what's the plan?" 

"So, you're really going to do this?" 

"Yep. As you said, it was kind of my fault too. So, you see. I had no choice but to help." Alice replied, smiling. LJ looked at her, making sure to show his disappointment. Alice had been a faerie for only a century, and he still could not believe that she would just abandon something that she claimed to be her dream for a Mirror. 

Alice tilted her head to the side as if she knew exactly what LJ was thinking. "What about you? You're helping her despite the consequences."

"I'm not helping her. I'm in this for Haneul." LJ replied. "He's my brother. I can't just let him be on his own." 

Alice's eyes took a mischievous glint, "Oooh...got it. The bromance, yes. You're in love with him." 

LJ startled, "I am not---" 

"Nah-uh, no use denying it. You guys are in lalalalove," Alice singsonged. 

Despite himself, LJ laughed, "Why you little ---" he got up from his seat, lunging at Alice.

She screeched, barely avoiding his grip. LJ then started chasing her, and she had no choice but to save herself. "Aah! Don't chase me! Just tell me the plan already."

Seoul, South Korea (June 2019)

"Tina, are you okay? Because I've been talking for hours, and I bet you don't even know the first word I said." Melanie's voice roused Tina from her thoughts.

"Don't exaggerate. It's only been 15 minutes." Tina snapped, and Melanie started at her tone. Catching herself, Tina reached out to pat Melanie's arm. "Sorry, Mel, I'm just--out of it." 

"Is this about the hot guy that I saw you with before you came in here?" Melanie asked. 

It was Tina's turn to be stunned, "What? No--I--" 

"No way. Did he reject you? Shit. That never happens. That should be on the news." Melanie replied, gleefully leaning on the table towards Tina. 

"I thought we were supposed to be catching up," Tina told her friend, amused. Melanie called Tina earlier that day, telling her that she was visiting South Korea for the weekend. Tina was excited to meet a friend. But now, she wished Melanie hadn't called. Tina wouldn't have to leave the office building, and she wouldn't have bumped into Han. 

"We're catching up right now," Melanie responded, "Catch me up on that guy." 

Tina opened her mouth, ready to brush the topic off. She didn't feel like talking about Han at all. But the ringing of her phone interrupted her thoughts.

"Excuse me," Tina told Melanie, who playfully shooed Tina away with her hand.

Tina answered her phone."Hello?-- Yes--Why are you-- Fine, I'm on my way." sighing, Tina ended the call and turned to Melanie, "Mel, can you excuse me for a bit? I just need to do something in the office real quick. I'll be right back." 

"Okay, fine. It's not like I'm in a hurry. Between the two of us, you're the only working girl here." Melanie replied in a half-serious tone. Tina laughed, getting up from their table and leaving the restaurant in a hurry.

Her office building was just across the street, and she had just crossed the lobby towards the elevators when her phone rang again. She smiled as she saw the name that appeared on her screen. "Hi, Lola. Kamusta, po?"

"Hello, darling," Lola Lita replied warmly. "I'm good, hija. How's business? Where are you right now? I can never keep track of your travels."

Tina laughed at that. She does travel a lot, both for business and pleasure. "I'm in South Korea, Lola." 

"Oh, really? I heard it's wonderful there. For how long are you staying?" Lola Lita asked from the other side of the line. Tina felt comfort in her tone. It was nice to be missed, and she could always count on her adoptive grandmother for that. Tina scoffed at the wall in front of her. It would've been better if her childhood crush had missed her, too. But judging from their meeting earlier, she was sure that he barely thought of her at all. Tina's stomach churned at the sudden thought of Han.

"I'm not sure yet. There's still a lot of work to do." Tina answered her grandmother as she waited for the elevators to come down. "Why? Do you miss me? You know you're always welcome to visit."

"Oh, I'd love to, Tina. But my store..." Lita's words were hesitant. Ever since Tina can remember, her grandmother always found it hard to leave her antique shop. Tina could never get her out of it except for very important occasions.

"I told you I can send someone to watch your store for you," Tina said, hoping to convince Lola Lita this time. "Come on, take a break. You would love it here. I'll arrange everything for you." 

The elevator dinged, and Tina's heels clicked on the floor as she entered it. She pressed for the floor of her office suite and checked her reflection on the mirrors surrounding her. 

"Oh, would you? Maybe I'll come for your birthday. If you still plan on spending it there..." Lola Lita was saying on the phone, but Tina was only half-listening. Perfect. Her outfit that day was perfect. Almost out of her control, her thoughts strayed towards Han, who clearly didn't think the same. She sighed. He probably still saw her as the grubby little kid who screamed and cried about the stupidest things. 

"Darling, are you still there?" 

Tina clicked back to the present, "Ye--yeah. Still here." 

Just then, her reflection on the mirror moved on its own. Tina screeched, almost dropping her phone. 

"Tina, are you alright?" Lola Lita said on the other side, worried.

"Yes, po. Sorry. I thought I saw something. I--um...what were you saying" 

"Are you sure?" Lita's tone was doubtful. 

"Yes. What were you saying?

"Oh well...I said I already picked your birthday gift." 

"Really? Oh, that's wonderful, Lola. Thanks in advance." Tina said, trying to sound cheerful despite the pounding in her chest. The elevator opened in front of her. "I gotta go now, Lola. It's good to talk to you. Think about it, okay?" 

As she stepped out of the elevator, Tina's stomach sank. The office was empty, but she expected it. Their employees went out for lunch. But there was a tangy smell in the air, and it was colder than usual. 

"Mar'ah," there was a gruff, masculine voice to her right, and Tina's heart leaped out of her skin. 

"You scared me," Tina told the delivery guy. He was standing beside the door to the breakroom, clutching a packet of documents in his hand. He was wearing an orange cap and a black jacket that had seen better days. She faced him, annoyed, "Look, Mister. I was kind of in an important brunch with a friend. So, I'd appreciate it if you guys could make it on time for the next one, okay? Here, give it to me." 

Tina extended her hand, but the delivery guy didn't budge. She almost laughed at herself. Of course, he wouldn't. He probably didn't understand a single thing she said. "Oh, joesonghamnida. Um...annyeonghaseyo. Jong-i?" Tina said in her broken Korean, not sure if she said what she meant to say. 

The guy remained unmoving, "Mar'ah," he said again. 

Fed up, Tina moved to grasp the other end of the packet and pull it towards her. The moment her fingers touched the paper, the guy looked up. Tina shrieked. He was hideous. His eyes were pupil-less, and veins were visible underneath his parchment-like skin. Smoke emanated from him, accompanied by the horrible smell that Tina sensed earlier. The paper between them burst into flames, and Tina released another scream. She turned on her heels to get away from the man, but his icy fingers gripped her. He had claws for fingers, and his nails scraped Tina's skin.

"Mar'ah," he uttered again. "Chay. Mar'ah." 

"I don't know what you're talking about!" Tina yelled. His fingers were sinking so deep into her skin, her eyes watered from the pain. "Let go of me!" 

Tina struggled and managed to set herself free from his grip. But he just grabbed her again, pulling her towards his chest, his arms around her neck. Tina started to choke, but she continued to squirm as the man grabbed her towards the elevators. She elbowed him hard. But she might as well have hit a wall from the way her arm numbed at the impact. The man did not even react. 

Just then, a flash of light flared between them, and the man yelled, pushing Tina away from him. She tried to keep her balance, but her ankles gave out, and she hit fell, hitting her head on the wall. Tina welcomed the dark as her consciousness left her, and she slumped on the ground.