Episode 4 – "The Voice of a Whisper"

🔔 The bell rang, echoing through the hallways.

The short break was over. Students began rushing back to their classrooms, still chatting about what had happened outside.

Sojin quietly followed Eun-kyung, her cheeks burning red.

> Sojin (whispering):

“I can’t believe I screamed in front of everyone… Aigoo, they must think I’m crazy…”

> Eun-kyung (laughing):

“Crazy? No way! You went viral in our class. That scream has fan pages now.”

> Sojin:

“Wh-What?! Please delete me from the internet...”

🪑 Inside the Classroom...

The atmosphere shifted. Everyone got silent.

> Whispers filled the room:

“He’s coming…”

“Shhh… that teacher is scary.”

“If you breathe too loud, he gives homework.”

Suddenly—

THUD.

The classroom door swung open.

A tall, serious-looking teacher walked in, placing a thick stack of books on the table like a judge in court.

His glasses reflected the tube light. He scanned the class like a hawk.

> Teacher (deep voice):

“Good. No one's late. Let’s begin.”

Everyone sat up straight like soldiers.

Even Sojin held her breath.

Then the teacher's eyes stopped…

Right on Sojin.

> Teacher:

“You. The one hiding behind her friend.”

Sojin froze. Slowly pointed at herself.

> “M-Me?”

> Teacher (nodding):

“Yes, you. New student, right? Introduce yourself. Name, previous school, and favorite subject.”

Sojin stood up nervously. All eyes turned to her.

> Sojin (softly):

“K-Kim… S-Sojin… Seou–… I like sci–…”

> Teacher:

“EH?! Did anyone hear that? Was that Korean or a mosquito?”

The class burst out laughing.

Sojin turned red like a tomato.

> Eun-kyung (laughing quietly):

“Yah, use your human voice, not ghost voice.”

> Teacher (sternly):

“Again. LOUDER this time. We don’t have a built-in translator for whispers.”

Sojin took a deep breath and tried again.

> Sojin (a little louder):

“K-Kim Sojin… I came from Seoul’s Myeong High School… I like science.”

> Teacher (raising an eyebrow):

“Hmm. Science girl. Good. Let’s test that.”

He picked up a piece of chalk like a weapon and turned to the blackboard.

> “Class. Let’s see if our new student knows this:

What's the chemical formula of water?”

Sojin knew it instantly.

But… she was still nervous.

She looked down at her desk, and then said:

> Sojin (barely audible):

“...H-two-O...”

> Teacher (leaning forward):

“H-what? Speak up or I’ll turn 80 trying to hear you!”

More students started giggling.

> Random boy:

“Sir, maybe give her a mic!”

> Another girl:

“No! If she screams again, we’ll all faint!”

Sojin finally gathered courage, stood straight, and said:

> Sojin (fast and clear):

“H₂O, sir! The answer is H₂O!”

> Teacher (nodding):

“Good. Took 3 tries, but we got there.”

He turned back to the board.

> “Class, remember: even the shy ones have answers. Sometimes, you just have to wait for the software to load.”

The students laughed again, but it was friendly now.

Sojin sat down, exhaling in relief.

> Eun-kyung (whispering with a grin):

“Not bad, science girl. Next time, try not to sound like you’re confessing to a ghost.”

Sojin smiled.

> Sojin:

“Okay… I’ll try…”

And just like that, for the first time — she felt like maybe this class wasn’t so scary after all.

The class continued. The teacher was writing on the board. Students were yawning or passing notes secretly.

Sojin sat quietly, staring out of the window beside her seat.

🌥️ The sky outside had turned slightly grey.

The wind rustled the leaves of the big tree near the school boundary.

And then—

She saw it.

Just for a second.

A person.

Standing behind the tree.

Wearing a black hoodie...

And a white, cracked mask.

The mask had no smile. Just empty eyes.

It was staring directly at her.

Sojin’s eyes widened.

> Sojin (soft whisper):

“Wh… What is that…?”

And in the next blink—

The figure was gone.

Vanished behind the tree like a shadow.

No one else saw it.

No one else even looked.

Sojin slowly turned away, heart pounding.

She didn’t say a word.

Not to Eun-kyung.

Not to anyone.

She just looked down at her notebook…

And on the corner of the page, she had scribbled a line without realizing:

> “I see you too.”

Her fingers froze.

> Sojin (thinking):

“...When did I write that?”

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