Hexed Intention

What came out from the cookie was a thin, long piece of paper. Written on it was:

“How do you make holy water?”

A familiar kind of question. Yoonmin stared down at the paper.

“Do you know the answer?” Soyul asked, twisting her head to read it.

“…You boil the hell out of it.”

“Huh?” Soyul paused for a moment, then clapped as she exclaimed, “Ah!”

When the delight of figuring out the puzzle faded, she frowned. “That’s ridiculous. How do you even come up with something like that? I mean, why would you think of that?”

“Did Haein make these cookies?”

“No. Haein and I made them together.”

“Then why are you giving them to me?”

“I’m handing them out to friends so I figured, why not you too?”

With that, Soyul returned to her seat. Yoonmin slowly chewed the now-paperless cookie. He couldn’t exactly spit it out, so he swallowed it reluctantly. Made with Haein? What a joke. It was probably mostly Haein who made them.

Even in middle school, Haein often brought cookies, and they always tasted the same. Just like now.

“How does it taste? Want more?” Soyul called from her seat.

“No thanks,” Yoonmin said. “It’s too sweet. I don’t want any more.”

“What?” Soyul said, offended. “I worked really hard on those.”

Ignoring Soyul’s whining, Yoonmin slid down in his seat. Haein was handing out cookies to the other kids.

“Why did the bicycle fall over?”

“Because it was two-tired… Is this for real? Did Haein write this?”

“At least the cookies are good.”

While his classmates enjoyed the free snack, Yoonmin tried to figure out how to describe his feelings at that moment. Haein said she would atone for her sins, but what exactly was her plan? Haein wasn’t even looking at Yoonmin; she was fully engaged in conversations with the other kids.

“Hey, Jinsol. I watched the video you mentioned. It was cute. What was it about again? A Devil is a Lie dance challenge…”

“Wow, Haein actually watched a video because someone told her to?”

“That’s adorable, Haein!”

“Soyul, you mentioned fried milk. I think I know how to make it. Want to come over to my house this weekend and try it?”

“For real? Sweet!”

Haein’s vibe was different. Not long ago, she had been pushing herself away from the others, but now, she was actively initiating conversations and trying to share interests with the class.

Is she finally realizing the importance of friends?

Had she finally accepted that Yoonmin’s feelings wouldn’t reflect hers? Was that why she was focusing on her friends now? Good. That was the right direction.

All day long, he tried not to think about Haein.

“Ahyoon, I think you got that part of the homework wrong… Copy mine quickly. Otherwise, the math teacher will scold you again.”

“Yeeun, what’s that? An errand for the homeroom teacher? I’ll take it. I need to ask him something anyway.”

Just a few days ago, Haein wouldn’t have said a word unless someone else spoke to her first. But now, her attitude seemed almost overly eager.

Yeah, Haein. This is what you should’ve been like from the start. Good. Everyone should find their own happiness.

Yoonmin decided he wouldn’t care about Haein anymore. He would forget all the memories and feelings he had for her and focus on Jiyoo.

But that afternoon during the end-of-day meeting…

“Sorry, everyone. I have some bad news,” the teacher said. “The principal is furious because too many kids have been littering near the snack bar, so… They’ve decided to make one student from each 10th grade class take turns cleaning up. Our class is up first.”

The students groaned in protest, complaining that they had never littered, asking why their class had to go first, and pointing out that being the first was always the hardest.

“I know you’re upset, but there’s nothing we can do,” he said firmly. “If you’re told to do something, you do it. That’s how society works. Life isn’t always fair.”

He picked up the attendance book.

“Today’s the 19th so, student number 19, Yoonmin Seo!”

“…Yes.”

“Good luck.”

“But sir, I just had my day as teacher’s assistant—”

“I’m sorry, Yoonmin. No matter who I pick, there will be complaints. You’ll have to blame the calendar. I didn’t want to work overtime today either, but the Ministry of Education suddenly sent out an urgent directive. Can I argue and say I don’t want to do it? We have to follow the orders we’re given.”

Why is he making this about his problems?

Yoonmin glared at the teacher with a scowl. Should he curse the principal or the homeroom teacher? No, curse them both. He’d cast a spell so they’d have diarrhea for two days straight.

Just as he was trying to remember the components for that hex, someone spoke up.

“I’ll do it.”

Everyone, both the teacher and the students, turned to look.

It was Haein. Their teacher looked a bit flustered.

“Uh… Haein? Why you?”

“I just want to do it.”

“Who on earth just wants to clean?”

“Please let me do it.”

“Well… Alright. If you want to, I won’t stop you.”

The teacher alternated glances between Haein and Yoonmin, as if contemplating their relationship, and then concluded the meeting.

Once the teacher left, the classroom buzzed with chatter. Amid the sounds of chairs scraping and bags being packed, whispers emerged.

“So, the rumor is true? Haein Ju has a crush on Yoonmin Seo!”

“Isn’t Yoonmin supposed to be a dating expert? Even Minsu Kwon asks him for advice!”

“Wow, that jerk…”

Ignoring the gossip, Yoonmin approached Haein and asked, “What are you doing?”

“Mind your own business.”

“Don’t you have plans with your friends?”

“I told them to go on ahead.”

“How am I supposed to ignore it when you do something like this out of nowhere?”

“Jiyoo is waiting for you,” Haein said, as if it cost her great effort. “You should go.”

“Why are you doing this?”

“Really… I just want to. Please, don’t read into it.”

“But—” Yoonmin argued.

“I should get going.”

Haein grabbed a broom and dustpan from the cleaning supplies closet and left the classroom.

Yoonmin watched her go a moment before walking out after her.

***

The next morning, Yoonmin was deep in thought.

What was Haein thinking? Had she not given up on reconciling with him? Is that why she was spending all her time trying to make a good impression? Could Soyul also have acted on Haein’s behalf the other day?

Yoonmin mulled over his convoluted web of thoughts. The likelihood of Soyul personally being interested in him seemed low. Maybe the mood lamp Soyul gave him wasn’t even from her—perhaps it was Haein’s doing, like how Haein had been the one to make the cookies yesterday.

“I can’t handle scary things.”

Haein had definitely said that and Yoonmin knew it was true. So, did she still watch that movie just to buy him that skull light? He couldn’t deny that he had been thrilled, arranging four of those skull lights around the magic circle—could Haein have been involved in that, too? No, surely not… She wouldn’t have gone that far, would she?

Yoonmin felt disgusted. Not because of Haein’s actions, but because he was dwelling on them, trying to decipher her intentions. He didn’t want to be involved with Haein anymore. He didn’t want to waste energy thinking about her.

“Hey.”

As he brooded, Jian approached. Damn it, another member of Haein’s circle.

“What?” Yoonmin’s tone was curt.

“Wanna have lunch together today?”

Jian seemed a bit less lively than usual, but Yoonmin didn’t care. He was suspicious of the invitation. There had to be an ulterior motive. Wasn’t Jian Haein’s closest friend? The person who liked her more than anyone else?

It was just like when Soyul had given him snacks yesterday. Was Jian here to pass on some gesture of goodwill from Haein? No. Absolutely not.

“No.”

“Oh, right. You said you don’t like noisy places. But I wasn’t asking to eat with the others. Just the two of us.”

“No.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Why?”

Yoonmin frantically searched for an excuse. “I already have plans.”

“With…?”

“Minsu.”

Jian’s second eyebrow joined the first. “Minsu Kwon? Are you friends with him now? Really?”

For the life of him, he couldn’t come up with anything else.

“Yeah.”

“I see… Okay, then.”

Jian returned to her seat. So far, so good. Until Jian said, “Yoonmin is eating with Minsu Kwon,” rather loudly, and Minsu overheard.

Yoonmin had planned to come up with a proper excuse and escape during lunch, but…

After hearing Jian, Minsu approached Yoonmin.

“Hey, you’re eating with me?”

“S—Sorry, it’s just that…”

“That’s perfect. I was planning to treat you anyway… No, wait, lunch isn’t enough.”

Yoonmin just stared up at him.

“Come out to the hallway.”

What now? Yoonmin thought, following Minsu out. The moment they stepped out, Minsu spoke excitedly.

“Yoonmin, you’re a genius at relationships. How do you give such spot-on advice?”

“What—What are you talking about?”

“That advice you gave me over the phone the other day.”

A few nights ago, Minsu had called on the verge of tears, which had utterly flustered Yoonmin.

“Dude, I’m screwed,” he’d moaned. “You were right. She said I seemed too young and not serious, so she dodged giving me a proper answer. What do I do now?”

Yoonmin’s voice was trapped in his throat for a moment. “Did you tell her how you feel?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“What did she say?”

“She said she’d think about it… But what do I do? What should I say? Do I need to do something?”

“No… Don’t do anything.”

“Don’t do anything?” Minsu sounded skeptical.

“Yeah. She said she’d think about it, so you should wait.”

“…I’ll trust you. But if this goes wrong, you know what’ll happen, right?”

A mental image of Minsu pounding him into a human pancake flashed before his eyes.

“Uh, yeah…”

“You’ll have to listen to me complain.”

He hung up right after that. His voice sounded like he’d kill someone if things didn’t go well, but the truth was unexpectedly wholesome.

“Oh, did it go well?” Yoonmin asked.

“Yeah,” Minsu said excitedly. “Since I didn’t reach out or show up, she had time to miss me. That’s when she realized she liked me! Damn… Yoonmin, that was your plan all along, wasn’t it?”

“Uh… Yes?”

When Yoonmin had said to do nothing, he meant not to make things worse by going overboard, not to cut off all contact entirely.

“With skills like yours, it’s no wonder three girls are into you at the same time. You’re insane, Yoonmin.” Minsu winked at him.

Yoonmin shook his head. “No, it’s not like that—Wait, three? Where’d three come from?”

“There’s a rumor that Soyul likes you too. It’s true right?”

“It’s not true!”

Who the hell keeps spreading these ridiculous rumors?

“Anyway, I respect you, man,” Minsu said, giving Yoonmin what he probably believed to be a light shove. “I’m treating you to the nines tonight. Be there.”

“I already have plans with a friend tonight—”

“Great, bring your friend along!”

“She’s a bit shy and might feel uncomfortable—”

“I’ll make sure she’s not uncomfortable,” Minsu said with a grin. “Don’t worry.”

Just seeing your face is going to make her uncomfortable, Yoonmin thought. Of course, he didn’t say it out loud. Instead, he muttered internally.

Sorry, Jiyoo. I’m powerless…

***

Around the end of lunch, Yoonmin’s phone vibrated.

It was a message from Jian.

Jian Kim: Could we talk, just the two of us, tonight? I have to tell you something about Haein.

Yoonmin replied, I’m having dinner with Minsu tonight.

He looked over at Jian, who was sitting at the other end of the room.

Jian was staring back at him with a very strange expression.