Ursa Major | Park Jin-Seong

12 • Plotted Perfection

"We plan for everything. For when we're going to wake up in the morning. For what we're going to do in the seconds after. We even plan ahead enough to cover the rest of our lives with careers and retirements. But plans can fail, and in the event that they do, we have to move onto our second set of plans. Except my plans. They don't fail."
-초성민 (Cho Seong-Min)

"Plans are tedious sometimes. We're all told to plan ahead, to think of the future. But the future is any moment after now. How many little plans do we make for every second that we're alive? From breathing and blinking, to jobs and marriage, the future is every second after the present. Spontaneity is non-existent. Everything is planned."
-박진성 (Park Jin-Seong)

"They told me you a killer, a killer. I saw your collection of hearts and I should have known better, better. 'Cause they told me you a killer, a killer. And I've got no doubt that the only way out of this thriller is if I am a killer too."
-Valerie Broussard, "Killer"

"I quit. Regards, Jeong Nari." That was what the email to her employer read. That morning, Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, Nari had quit her job as an artist and animator. Her employer sent her countless emails back, in concern, confusion, frustration, and everything in between. He couldn't figure out why on earth Nari would quit her job out of nowhere. He knew she was serious too, as she hadn't turned up to work.

Nari started receiving calls from her coworkers, who were sent by her confused employer to try to figure out what was going on. She picked up the first one that came her way. "Hello?"

"Nari, oh my god, why did you quit so abruptly?"

"I don't want to work there anymore."

"Why? Did someone bully you?"

"No, I just don't want to work there anymore. I'm not obligated to explain. Goodbye." She hung up, and declined every call after that. Well, there really was no turning back now. If she didn't go through with the plan, she would have quit her job for nothing and would be pennilessly broke within weeks.

She had been perfecting the plan for months now. It was flawless. Impeccable. Everything was set, and centre stage today would belong to Nari. All the spotlights would be cast upon her. Everyone would watch, and by the end of it, everyone would know who she was.

Areum's favourite childhood belongings that she had never bothered to pick up were neatly placed on the shelf in her bedroom. The whole house was tidied to spotlessness. No more stickers on the wall, no more random things scattered across the floor.

Nari smiled to herself. She felt like a warm and gentle middle-aged mom, preparing for her beloved children to come over. She went to the kitchen to make sure everything there was in place. The countertop was shimmering, and all the cabinets had been fully cleaned, inside and out. Now, all that Nari needed to truly complete the feeling of middle-aged mom was a blueberry pie baking in the oven.

A bright spring day in May

She closely followed the recipe, rolling out the pie crust and putting it into the pan.

Today is a good day

She used a fork to press down and make linear markings on the edge of the crust.

I ask "can I kill you?" And they respond with "okay"

She mixed sugar, corn starch, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl.

On a bright spring day in May

She angrily mashed the blueberries, as if she had a vendetta against them.

So I pull out my knife and prepare to make them pay
Then I stab and stab for each number on the clock
Today is a good day

Red juice squirts up into the air. Nari mixes the blueberries with the dry ingredients and scoops the mixture into the pie crust.

I'm radiant as blood falls like rosy red rain
My dream is cut short as rain turns to ruddy fog
It's a bright spring day in May
Today is a good day

Into the oven you go! Nari dusts off her hands and unlocks her phone.

정나리 (Jeong Nari):
Hey, you left some of your things here. Come collect them today?

정아름 (Jeong Areum):
Uh sure