After Midnight | VerKwan ✓

Chapter 3

I didn't sleep well. I was still thinking about the night. I didn't get what happened in the book.

"Hansol, are you awake?"

"Yeah!"

Jisoo entered the room. "Your mom released me in."

"I thought so," I muttered with a smile and sat down on the bed.

"What happened at night?"

"I appeared in the book again..."

"Of course, how else," Jisoo answered. "You will appear in the book every night till the end of the story. I think..."

"What!? But-"

"You write the story. Hansol... You're the main character in the book. You will be in the book to the end."

"But-"

"The book has always the two ends... The good ending and the sad ending. You can choose just one of them."

"But-"

"Hansol... I'm talking seriously. Everything is real... If you still don't understand, I don't know how to help you..."

"I- I maybe understand, Jisoo, but still... I don't wanna believe it..."

"I know, Hansol... It's hard for someone who doesn't believe in fairytales, but please... try it at least." Jisoo sat down next to me and smiled sadly. "I think you are thinking why I know a lot about it, it's just, it's not for the first time I saw this book... I happened once before..."

I bowed my head. After a while, I looked at the shelf where was the book. The cursed book! The book that ruined my whole life! "I hate the book," I muttered and looked at the floor. "Who was that person before me?"

Jisoo looked at me. "Can't tell..." he answered shortly. "Also, I'm not surprised that you hate it. You hate Fairytales, after all, you will hate the book as well. I wish I could be in the book instead of you."

"I wish too..."

"Don't worry, Hansol. I will be here with you 'till the end. I will support you!"

"Why? Why, Jisoo... Why are you always so happy?"

"I don't even know, but someone has to if not you," Jisoo answered calmly with his smile. "Hey... calm down, Hansol. Nothing's happening! Just that you are in the book every night, nothing else," he added.

I sighed. "Thank you, Jisoo for your psychic support..."

"You're welcome, Hansolie~! I'm always here for you!" And yes... I know it was just ironic."

"I'm glad you're my friend, for real!"

"Yeah, I know, Hansolie. I'm glad too, but I'm the only one who knows the truth about the book, right?"

I nodded and looked away.

"Nothing's happening, Hansol. I really appreciate being the first person you told about the book."

"Yeah... I wish I could live a normal life as before..."

***

I got up after midnight, as every night before. I looked at the book that was closed yet. But then the book immediately opened. I little flinched with myself. Everything suddenly has changed. I appeared in the book again. I blinked a few times and turned around. I flinched with myself again when I noticed a unicorn behind me.

"W-What's wrong with me!? I- I really see this thing!?" I yelled.

"Of course you do."

I quickly turned around and stepped back. The unknown person stood in front of me. "Don't worry, the unicorn doesn't hurt you. He's yours from now."

I blinked and my eyes got bigger. "W- WHAT!?" I yelled in shock and turned back at the unicorn. "O-Okay... But why the unicorn isn't white? I thought the unicorns are always white."

"In the fairytales? Yes, there are always white..." the person answered me sadly. "The unicorns are white or black in the fairytales, but the truth is a little different. How I noticed you know just the white ones."

I nodded. "Why are the unicorns white or black?"

"Think about it."

"Oh... I maybe get it. The white ones are good and the black ones are bad, aren't they? But if I'm right, why is this one black?" I said, frightened, and stepped back from the unicorn.

The person grinned broadly. "Yeah, you're right, Hansol. The black ones are really bad."

I suddenly got up from my bed. I was sweaty and I was breathing fast.

Wha- What exactly happened?