Monstrosity

Episode 3 (Part 1)

With a gentle tap on the door, you sprang from your seat, your heart racing. Mr. Han swiftly reached for his cannon gun, his face a mask of determination. You followed his lead as he cautiously swung the door open, revealing Hyun-Su ushering two children—safe and sound—into the apartment. Relief washed over you like a warm tide at the sight of them. They weren't unscathed, but physically, they seemed okay. Mr. Han's quiet exclamation mirrored your own relief.

Hurrying over, you enveloped the kids in a tight embrace, feeling their arms wrap around you in return. Their minds seemed preoccupied with their father, you overheard. Leading them to Mr. Han's bed, you offered water, but they declined. Sensing their need for space after such a traumatic experience, you gave them room to breathe. Hyun-Su's eyes never left you from the moment he entered, a silent testament to his concern. The hours spent alone had led you to a partial realization: your ability to hear thoughts only seemed to activate upon touch. But then there was Hyun-Su, whose thoughts you'd heard without physical contact. Were your powers evolving— no, you corrected yourself, it was a curse, wasn't it? As minutes stretched into an anxious eternity, a sense of calm settled over you in Hyun-Su's presence. Closing the door behind him, he enveloped you in a hug, unexpected and comforting. His trust in you was palpable, melting away any lingering tension as you felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. You sighed in shared relief.

"Couples these days," Mr. Han muttered, his voice laced with amusement as the kids giggled. The door creaked open once more, and you and Hyun-Su quickly broke apart. A familiar face, a resident of Green Home, entered, prompting Mr. Han to raise his gun in caution.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his gaze sharp. The woman offered a friendly smile to the kids and introduced herself — Im Myung-sook.

Ji-Soo and Jae-heon completed the group, and you all gathered around Mr. Han's table for dinner.

Taking a seat between Ji-Soo and Hyun-Su, you felt a magnetic pull drawing you closer to him. As Hyun-Su settled in last, Mr. Han gestured to the food.

"Let's all dig in. Eat up," he declared, and everyone eagerly began their meal. You savored the flavor of soy sauce mixed into your rice.

"Kids, why don't you tell us your names?" Mr. Han prompted, breaking the dining trance. The girl hesitated, her brother speaking up first.

"Kim Yeong-Su," he murmured.

"I'm Kim Su-Yeong," his sister added softly. Mr. Han was amused at their names.

"Yeong-Su, Su-Yeong... Almost the same," he mused, exchanging a surprised glance with Hyun-Su. Another chuckle escaped you at the coincidence. "I guess your parents wanted you two to always stick together. Yeong-su, Su-yeong, Su-yeong-Su, hmm?" Mr. Han teased, eliciting another chuckle. Hyun-Su seemed briefly affected before regaining composure.

"Um..." Su-Yeong began, the mood shifting. "Dad named us both," she confessed, casting a solemn pall over the room. All eyes turned to the children.

"Dad..." Yeong-Su's voice cracked, and Ms. Im comfortingly stroked his head, offering him a piece of meat. "Thank you very much, ma'am," he murmured.

Mr. Han busied himself with fetching drinks, offering one to Jae-heon, who politely declined. Ji-Soo, however, eagerly accepted and downed it in one impressive gulp, earning admiration from the group.

"You sure know how to drink," Mr. Han remarked, offering cans to you and Hyun-Su. Accepting gladly. Hyun-su hesitated while he looked at you in disbelief, you only lazily shrugged at him.

"Oh, we're..." he started

"Ah, you must be underage, the two of you." Han said and gave you a disappointed look. He continued, "I see. There are kids here. We shouldn't break the law in front of them. I'll buy you both drinks when you're adults. How does that sound?" A tinge of positivity in his words, yet you sensed the growing anxiety in everyone present in the room. You watched Mr. Han gulp his drink and feel yourself zoning out again. Hyun-Su's following question goes unheard as your mind slips away in search of your evil doppelganger. With your head dipped and your eyes blankly staring into your bowl of rice, you closed your eyes, your untied hair covering them from the sides.