merely a film, merely a life

- distortion.

Minji's always been interested in cassettes, VHS, vinyls, old cameras, all of the sort. Her fixation on them started way back when she was back in middle school. So to find a collection of recordings, in the house she inherited from an unnamed relative. It was quite the surprise…

Minji hadn't had her parents around for as long as she can remember. She could only afford schooling now because her childhood friend's parents have agreed to help her out. She didn't want to trouble them so she picked up scholarships and other programs to lessen the fees. It was the least she could do, and she will forever be grateful for that.

When she recently turned 17, the rights of the house were now listed under her. The lawyers who contacted her have kept it strictly confidential on who owned it prior. However, she was still grateful. She never met any of her relatives since her parents passed away when she was young. Actually, she doesn't even know if they're deceased or not.

However, if she's dead to them, then they're dead to her. It's fine, a simple thank you for being out into the world is something she will never forget to do, though. There's a part of her that wants to make the world stop, and yet her heart wants to live. She has too many debts to repay.

Well, then again, if not for this, she'd be burneding the Lee family's house for longer, and she wanted to limit that time as much as possible. Even after years of staying there.

When she goes through the recordings nothing shows, only muffled voices from certain recordings of pitch black and darkness. She keeps trying, though. These should be able to be restored, or something of the sort. Her curiosity takes over her way too much. Bleeding into the school days until she finds Hyein knocking on her door like some ballistic lady.

She groans, god, this woman. She opens the door to a pout on the other girl's face. "Why the fuck aren't you answering my calls?" She says, annoyed.

"My phone died."

"Go charge it?" She scoffs, letting herself in. "Minji, listen, you haven't been to school in DAYS and I can no longer cover for you!"

"WAIT WHAT?!?" Oh god, Minji is oblivious… She hasn't realized that time went by that fast. She's been processing images, reworking footage, and reforming audio for the past… THREE DAYS?

"Oh my god, Kim Minji. Did you not realize?"

"No…"

"At least you can admit that. Get your attendance up if you want to save your grades."

Minji only sighs, bringing Hyein a cup of coffee to drink. Just how she likes it, Minji has learned to treat her as a sibling. Even if the other forgets that Minji is older, she guesses she loves her all the same… or whatever cheesy stuff Hyein says. "My grades are not the problem. I've yet to get things fixed around here.."

"You could've called me for help, you know…" Hyein avoids eye contact in times like this. Minji absolutely loves pushing people away, it's sickening, it makes her laugh.

"You've already helped enough."

"You're annoying."

"Thank you, Hyein."

"Whatever." Hyein laughs, "What were you working on for three days anyway… something on with this house?"

"No, actually, it's perfect. It's near the school and near you guys… but it's just…"

"It's just?"

"A mystery."

"Ooh, I like that!" Hyein laughs, Minji has to stop herself from laughing at her. No matter the time, she's still Hyein. "Well, that confirms my suspicions. You found something here, didn't 'cha?"

"Um, sort of." Hyein only furrows her eyebrows, "Geez, you know me too well."

"Of course I do, now spill! If you don't I will actually make this house a wreck from trying to find it myself."

"I should've never given you the keys to this thing!"

—

This has left Hyein utterly puzzled. Both of them have been interested in this kind of stuff since they were kids and it just doesn't make sense! The camera is in good shape, no damage to the SD card either. They've got the appropriate card reader, however their devices refuse to read it. The pictures they've processed or have gotten processed over the course of a few weeks come out pitch black or way too blurry. The audio is distorted on an unholy level. She just doesn't know what to do anymore, and it's taking up way too much of their time.

Minji assures her that it's fine, they'll figure out what to do with it soon or just leave it alone. However, Hyein just physically can't. If she won't be able to see the footage, Minji will, and she swears she will.

Well, that mindset didn't last for long. "I think we should give up."

"I've been telling you that for like, forever?" Minji questions her, more like provoking her, or something. "I mean if there really is nothing and it's beyond repair then it's fine. I was just wondering if it had to do with the person who owned this house prior. I wanted to know a little bit more about them."

Hyein only smiles, "That's sweet, dude! Classic Minji. Though you really have to start going to school!"

"That is the…" she stops to think, "the seventh time you've told me that in the past hour."

"Well, will you do it, then?"

"I will… Now get off my back about it. I promise I will."

"Whatever, sis. Just go, it's not like you're losing time by going." How ironic…

Wait, ironic? Minji doesn't know why she thinks that.

—

She scans the hallways, as loud and as suffocating as always. It's just that, certain glints of light catch her eyes and it throws her off. It's been throwing her off since this morning.

She sees certain faces in the crowd, faces she's sure she's never seen before but holds an unnerving sense of familiarity that she's sure she's known before.

She's seen them in classrooms, on rooftops, on benches. All just expectantly staring at her, she can feel their gaze from a mile away. It's not uncomfortable, it's just…odd. It makes her stomach twist and turn. She can hear their laughter and voices mixed with her own. She isn't even talking when it happens.

It suffocates her.

It makes the hallways even more suffocating. Her heart drops whenever she sees one of those people in her peripheral vision. It's not the uncanny valley type of familiarity, it's more of…

"Hey!" She snaps out of her haze, Hyein waving her hand in front of her face. "Did you even sleep last night, Minji…"

"I-I did!" She tries to reason as she finally looks her way, moving away when Hyein keeps trying to swat around her eyes. "Just distracted."

Right, sure, just distracted. She wants to convince herself.