"You're Late."

Chapter 3: Enchanting Deception

Chapter 3.3: I'll be dammed

As I drove home, my mind was consumed by thoughts of the enigmatic magician, Haerin, and the inexplicable experiences I had encountered in her presence. A belief had taken hold within me – that she was somehow cursed, and her presence in my life was more than just a mere coincidence.

I found myself caught in a peculiar internal struggle. On one hand, there was a compelling urge to go and seek her out, as I had mentioned earlier. It was as if an invisible force drew me towards her. Yet, on the other hand, my rational mind resisted, urging me to stay away, to avoid the enigmatic woman who had stirred such intrigue and unease within me.

It was a tumultuous battle between my mind and body, with desire and curiosity pulling me in one direction and apprehension tugging me in another. The uncertainty gnawed at me, fueling the relentless curiosity that had taken root in my thoughts. I couldn't let the mysteries surrounding Haerin go unanswered; I needed to know what was going on.

With a sense of determination, I made a decision. I turned my car around, redirecting myself towards the place where I had last encountered Haerin. The drive was punctuated by a mix of nervous anticipation and a resolute determination to confront her.

I knew that this time, I couldn't afford to act scared or timid, as I had in our previous encounters. It was imperative that I be assertive in addressing her and demanding answers. My heart pounded as I pulled up at the location. I took a deep breath, readying myself for whatever would transpire within those enigmatic walls. The choice to confront her was mine, and I was prepared to take responsibility for the consequences, whatever they might be.

The building loomed ahead of me, a place that had become a nexus of the inexplicable in my life. It was a place where magic and illusions intertwined with reality, where Haerin had left her enigmatic mark. I parked my car and took another deep breath, my resolve unwavering. I was determined to seek answers and put an end to the unsettling mysteries that had entangled my life.

As I entered the building, I was greeted by an air of anticipation. It felt different from my previous visits, as if the very atmosphere held a sense of foreboding. I wondered what kind of encounter awaited me this time and whether Haerin would be present.

With each step I took, I felt a growing unease, a tingling anticipation in my chest. It was as if the walls of the building held secrets and whispers, and I was on the cusp of uncovering them.

Entering the room that had been the setting for our previous encounters, I found myself face to face with the mysterious magician. She sat in her customary spot, a knowing smile on her lips, as if she had been expecting me all along.

The room felt charged with an unspoken tension, as if it held the key to the mysteries that had eluded me. I met Haerin's gaze, my eyes filled with a mixture of determination and curiosity. This time, I was ready to confront her and demand the truth, whatever that truth may be.

"Welcome back," Haerin greeted me with a mischievous glint in her eyes as I entered the room. I dropped my backpack and wasted no time getting to the point. "We need to talk," I asserted, my voice filled with a determination that had been building within me.

Haerin adopted an innocent facade, asking, "What about?" Her feigned ignorance only fueled my resolve. "You know what," I retorted, my words low and laced with a sense of urgency.

She smiled, reclining in her seat as if she were enjoying the game. "Do tell," she coaxed, her gaze fixed on me. My eyes darted around the room, seeking the right words to convey the depth of my frustration. I clenched my jaw, my impatience growing.

"You need to leave me alone," I stated firmly, my voice unwavering. Haerin's response was infuriatingly casual. "You've said that before," she cooed, her demeanor resembling someone taunting a child. My temper flared, and I could feel the tension in my fists.

I pressed on, determined to break through her enigmatic facade. "Whatever... spell you put on me, remove it," I demanded, a sense of desperation creeping into my voice. Haerin, however, remained unfazed. "I don't do spells, only magic tricks, illusions if you will," she retorted with a smirk. Her words left me doubting myself, and the confusion only added to my frustration.

As I stood before her, my thoughts raced. A suggestion arose in my mind, driven by a desire to confront her and find the truth I sought. "Slap me, if it'll help let out your frustrations," she suggested, her taunt daring me to act. I widened my eyes at the unexpected proposal. "Why would I do that?" I questioned.

With a sinister smile, she goaded me further. "Right here, a slap, you can do it," she encouraged. Fueled by my exasperation, I prepared to act on her words. But just as my hand was poised to strike, the door abruptly swung open. I spun around, my heart racing as the door slammed shut behind me.

I scanned the room, searching for any sign of Haerin. She had disappeared yet again, playing her elusive games. "Hey, don't hide from me," I called out, frustration lacing my words. "Oh, I'm soooooo scared," she responded mockingly, her voice echoing from an unknown location.

I turned in another circle, feeling disoriented by her uncanny ability to vanish and reappear at will. Haerin materialized once more, and I couldn't help but express my bewilderment. "How do you do that?" I inquired, my curiosity getting the better of me.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Practice," she offered with a smirk. My furrowed brows betrayed my continued confusion. As she approached me, Haerin's demeanor shifted, her sweet smile giving way to a more serious expression.

"Why don't you just let me use you?" she asked, her hand reaching to stroke the wisps of hair that had escaped my work-induced ponytail. I cringed at her touch, her closeness sending shivers down my spine. "Because I have a life, unlike you," I retorted, trying to assert my own sense of normalcy.

"I have a life," Haerin insisted in a more serious tone, her attempt to assert her normalcy coming across as genuine. Her face transitioned from sweetness to a more solemn expression.

In response to her assertion, I couldn't help but smirk, realizing that I had found a chink in her enigmatic armor. However, the words that left my lips next surprised both of us. "Then prove it." The challenge hung in the air, carrying an unexpected weight that added to the tension in the room.

A firm knock echoed through the room, signaling that our time was up. I couldn't help but smile at Haerin's growl of frustration as I made my exit. Once I stepped out of that enigmatic room, I made a beeline for my car, my head resting on the steering wheel, my hands trembling with the strange encounter. Fatigue had washed over me, and I was in dire need of sleep.

The following day, I received a welcomed reprieve as I wasn't called into work. This day held a different significance – it was the day of the magic show. My department manager had informed me about it, and soon enough, some of my colleagues and I gathered at the venue, a grand theater.

"I've never been in a theater," I mumbled to myself as we approached the entrance. Danielle, a colleague, flashed me a reassuring smile. "Better keep up," she advised, leading the way into the bustling crowd.

As we entered the venue, the surroundings were nothing short of spectacular. The atmosphere was electric, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building within me. People bustled about, serving champagne, and I accepted a glass with a polite thank you. I took a sip, savoring the moment.

A server suddenly stood on a table, capturing everyone's attention. They announced that the show was about to begin. It had been approximately 30 minutes, so I anticipated that the performance was getting underway. We all filed into the theater, receiving pamphlets as we entered. I didn't bother to flick through it, more focused on the impending show.

An introduction was followed by the grand reveal as the red curtains gracefully peeled away from each other. The first act was captivating, filled with simple tricks like picking a card from the audience and dazzling illusions. I silently hoped not to be chosen as a participant for these tricks.

During the second act, my phone unexpectedly pinged. I looked down to answer a quick email, only to look up in surprise. To my astonishment, the figure on stage was none other than Kang Haerin, adorned in a dazzling costume, radiating an inexplicable glow. I gaped at the unexpected turn of events, my mind reeling with questions and disbelief.