[ School ]
Three storerooms had already been cleaned.
Only Room Number Four remained.
As they walked toward it, Hira said casually,
"People say this room is… kind of horror."
Geone let out a short laugh.
"There's nothing horror about it."
"You'll know once you go inside," Hira replied, a strange glint in her eyes.
They stopped in front of the door.
The old wood looked heavier than it should.
"I don't get scared by things like this," Geone said.
Even he could hear the lack of confidence in his own voice.
He pushed the door open—slowly.
Darkness swallowed the room.
"The light switch is inside," Hira said from the behind .
"Finnee," Geone muttered, stepping in.
One step.
Then another.
The darkness felt thick, almost solid. A weak line of light crept in from the corridor—useless.
Something shifted in the dark.
Geone froze.
His chest tightened.
His skin prickled.
Why did they even tell us to clean this room? No one uses it. They just could've called the guardian. And now I'm stuck here with Hira—
"Did you find it?" Hira asked from the doorway.
Startled, Geone moved faster.
His foot hit something.
"AAhhh—!"
He crashed to the floor.
Click.
The light came on.
The first thing Geone saw was Hira's face.
She was laughing.
Open, unrestrained laughter.
"Oh my God—" she laughed, covering her mouth, then losing control again.
"You actually fell!"
Geone pushed himself up, breathing hard.
"You knew where the light switch was."
Still laughing, Hira nodded.
"Yeah. I've been in this room before."
"Then why didn't you tell me?" Geone snapped.
Hira finally wiped her eyes, still smiling.
"Because I wanted to see this."
Geone clenched his jaw.
"Enjoyed it?"
"A lot.." she said lightly.
Then she held out her hand.
"Want some help?"
Geone tilted his head .
"Why not."
Slowly, deliberately, he placed his hand over Hira's.
His grip tightened.
An evil smirk curved his lips.
Before Hira could react, Geone yanked her sharply.
Hira gasped as she lost balance and hit the floor.
"Ahh—!"
Geone burst out laughing.
"Thanks, Hira. For your help."
Hira pushed herself into a sitting position.
The laughter was gone from her face now. She brushed hair from her eyes and said coldly,
"Cheap tricks."
Geone's smile faded as he stepped closer.
"I learned them from you."
Hira reached up and messed his hair deliberately.
"Nice joke."
Geone lifted his hand to do the same, but Hira leaned back suddenly.
"It's.. your turn Hira..."
Geone shifted back a little.
Hira leaned farther, putting her weight into the movement.
"Try hard… heh!"
Geone planted his foot forward, trying to grab her hair—
but he leaned too far.
His balance gave away.
Suddenly, he tumbled forward.
Straight onto Hira.
"Ah—!""Ah—"
They hit the floor hard.
Geone was right on top of her.
Their bodies pressed together, no space to breathe.
Both of them panted, the impact echoing through their muscles.
Geone lifted his head slightly, wincing from the pain.
Hira's eyes were shut, face tight, lips parted as she tried to catch her breath.
She was too close.
So close that Geone could feel it through their bodies—
her heartbeat.
Fast.
Unsteady.
Racing against his chest.
It wasn't subtle.
It wasn't imagined.
Her body trembled faintly beneath him, every breath uneven, every beat colliding with his own.
For a second, Geone forgot the pain entirely.
Hira opened her eyes.
In the dark depth of those eyes, she saw her own reflection reflected.
From a distance, he never looked like this. Up close, he was different.
Maybe it was the light.
She could see the tiniest details of his skin.
Each line. Each curve.
Just beneath his lips, perfectly aligned, was a small mole—something Hira noticed for the first time.
Under the light, Hira's eyes looked darker, browner.
Strands of her hair had fallen across her face.
Geone found it… strange.
And unsettling.
Neither of them moved.
The room felt smaller.
The air heavier.
For a moment, neither knew whether to pull away—
or stay exactly where they were.
Hira suddenly pushed him away.
Geone fell to the side, hitting the floor.
Hira stood up at once, confused, her head spinning. She didn't even understand what had just happened.
"Ufff—!"
She grabbed her hand.
Blood seeped out.
Geone sat up sharply.
"You could've said something before pushing. That hurts man!"
Hira turned away, clutching her hand.
"This is all your fault."
Geone got to his feet.
"How is it my fault..?"
"Because of your weight," Hira snapped.
"My hand got hurt. You're like—what—100 kilos?"
Geone scoffed, teasing despite the situation.
"I'm perfectly fit. And because of you, I fell and my joints are hurting."
Hira opened her mouth to argue—
but pain shot through her hand again.
"Ugh—!"
Geone grabbed her wrist instinctively.
"Let me see… it's bleeding."
"Leave it," Hira said sharply.
"It hurts more because of you."
Geone smirked and pressed slightly harder.
"Good..."
"—Geeone!" Hira hissed.
Ignoring her protests, he pulled her along and dragged her out of the storeroom.
"Where are you taking me?" Hira asked, struggling.
"Be quiet," Geone said firmly.
He took her to the playground basin, turned on the tap, and pushed her hand under the running water.
"Ooof—!"
Hira gasped. The water was freezing, cutting into her skin. She tried to pull back, but Geone didn't let go.
"It hurts—Geone—!"
He cleaned the scratched area carefully with his own hand.
Hira shut her eyes tightly, biting her lip to keep from crying out.
"If it gets infected later," Geone said flatly,
"you'll blame me."
He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the wound properly, then looked up at her.
The pain eased slightly.
Hira looked back at him—then suddenly pulled her hand away.
"Oof..!"
"Crybaby..!"Geone teased again.
Geone splashed some water onto his own injury.
Hira stood beside him silently.
Cleaning his leg, Geone muttered,
"Great. No cloth left. Keep it tied around your hand."
"Don't you need it?" Hira asked.
"I'm barely hurt," he replied.
"You're the kid. You'll complain at school later."
Hira snorted.
"Right. You're so big. So mature."
Geone stood, took her hand again, and tied the cloth securely.
Then, walking back toward the storeroom, he said calmly,
"We still have to clean the room. Don't use hand pain as an excuse."
Hira started to speak—then stayed quiet.
They cleaned the room together.
Moved the furniture.
Wiped the dust.
Stacked everything properly.
Geone didn't order her around once.
Hira told him where to move things.
By the time they were done, both were exhausted.
Breathing hard, they dropped onto the floor—side by side.
Silent.
Tired.
Continues...