The Aura Echoes | Sa Mun (The Uncanny Counter)

2. cute ducks.

"You get to enjoy my company all over again."

"I can't believe this is happening." Mr. Ga stated. As his eyes wandered around the restaurant one last time. "I knew it would one day but still."

The day had turned to night. I was sweeping the last part of the floor and decided to call it.

"What can we do? They know where we are now." I believe that is Mr. Jang Mul's voice. Ms Chu had told me everyone's name. She decided to announce tonight that she would tell everybody about me accepting the job.

Mr. Ga, Ha-na, and Mr. Jang-Mul had sat at the table, followed by me sitting next to Ha-na.

"Here are your noodles." Ms. Chu came out from the kitchen carrying a tray of noodles followed by Jeok-bong. We all then one by one carefully grabbed our bowl.

"Wah, our last bowls of noodles." Mr. Ga said as he stared at his bowl. "Ms.  Chu, other noodles won't taste as good as these, right?" This let out a chuckle from Mr. Jang-mul.

Mr. Ga looked at me, scratching his head. "Have I seen you before?"

I blinked, "Hm?" That's weird. Sa Mun looked familiar but he said he had never met me. Why did Mr. Ga ask me that now?

I was about to question him but Ha-na intervened. "This is Vivienne. The one we told you about earlier."

Mr. Jang-mul and Mr. Ga nodded at the information. I only bowed, smiling. "Nice to meet you all. You can call me Vivi."

As all of them sat down, Ms. Chu questioned as she took her seat beside me, "Is So Mun not here yet?" As if it's right on cue, the door opened causing the bell to ring. "Sorry, I'm late!"

Almost everybody greeted him, "Come on, sit!" Sa Mun obliged by sitting in front of me. Then we all properly dig into our bowls of noodles. As I slurped my noodles, I heard what sounded like moaning coming from Sa Mun as if he was in pain. My gaze looked up to see his hands had a small wound.

"Mun," Ms. Chu called, followed by Sa Mun's attention. "Yes?"

"I won't ask you to stop training on your own. So just let me know if you get hurt." She said, worrisome in her voice.

"You trained again today? You really don't listen, do you? " Mr. Ga started. "It won't do you any good. So you're the only Counter? You'll catch them all yourself?"  Mr. Ga scolded him, possibly feeling betrayed.

"No, that's not why." Mun finally answered. "I just have a lot on my mind. The evil spirits can see the territory so we can't find them. I just feel very anxious and frustrated."

For a moment the room fell silent. Somber eyes were on their faces as I watched. I could tell they also were worried.

"I can do it!" Ms. Chu shouted, making me startled causing my noodles to drop, as well as Mr. Jang-mul's. "Isn't that your motto?" She asked.

"I can do it!" She shouted once again.

"Ms. Chu, the evil spirit hunter." Mr. Ga called, making me chuckle.

"I can do it." I followed. "We can do it!" Mr. Jang-mul chanted.

"We're not in sync." Ms. Chu said, signaling to chant again. "I can do it!"

Then (almost) everyone followed, "We can do it!"

I giggled at the scene, the boys were confidently chanting then there was Ha-na just trying to eat her noodles.

"Mun," Ms. Chu started, "if you feel anxious, we do too. And if you can do it, we can do it too. That's us. Our job's never been easy, but we'll still get it done no matter what, and we'll succeed. Isn't that what you said?"