43 Someone Else

June 26, 2021

Ivory Joy Cafe

Ian sipped his remaining drink a little more until it ran out. The young man has just ended his brief meeting with Tae Shik and manages to get an explanation from the man regarding the absurd story Tae Shik told. The story does sound very absurd and had made Ian doubt, but he again remembered that the purpose of meeting Tae Shik was not to believe the man's words but to hear them.

"Sixteen years ago, I had an accident and was in a coma for one month. Then, when I came out of the coma, I felt like someone was controlling my body," Tae Shik explained at the time.

"The articles and stories I wrote back then were the result of that person's control. For five years, I felt that way, to the point that the people closest to me said I was different. I wanted to say that, but someone inside me was holding me back. So, basically, the article is in my name, but it's just not me who typed it but someone else who controls me."

"Someone else."

Ian kept muttering that one sentence, as if it were a magic spell. The young man even tapped his finger on the table while still muttering the sentence.

"Is he possessed by something?" he thought.

"By the way, you don't think there's anything strange about that kid? I feel like that kid is like everyone else."

Ian's mind was blown when he heard a conversation from someone with a familiar voice in his ear. The young Hwang found his three underclassmen—Woo Jun, Hyun Soo, and Seung Yoon—who happened to be in a group with him in one of the courses, right at the desk behind him. He turned back to face the front so as not to be known by the younger class. He wanted to know who the three men were talking about.

"Yes, I've felt it since he came out of the coma." It was Hyun Soo's voice that spoke.

"Is it possible that the child has a split personality?" This time there was a low voice from Seung Yoon.

"Lee Dong Min? Dual personality? Don't say anything slurred, Seung Yoon!" This time, it's Woo Jun who speaks again.

Ian nodded his head after knowing who the three people were talking about. Lee Dong Min—no wonder he felt strange when Young Lee smiled at him when they first met. He then fell silent.

"Wait, he's coming out of a coma?" murmured Ian.

Tae Shik and Dong Min apparently have the same case: they are briefly comatose and, when conscious, seem like there is someone else in them. Is it a coincidence, or is there something behind it? If so, what has possessed the two men? And what is the purpose of getting into someone else's body? Gosh, this is getting crazy and so absurd; in this modern world, there is a figure who can possess humans? Ah, he forgot if in this modern world also lives a gumiho in human form, so there must be something like that.

"Senior Hwang?"

A greeting from Seung Yoon distracts Ian. The young Hwang had a slight smile on his face. "Hello, Seung Yoon."

***

KDS television station

Moon Tae Shik has just come home from work after the sky turns dark and is illuminated by moonlight. The man did a little stretching while waiting for the elevator that would take him down to come. He glanced at his watch.

"It's too late," he muttered.

His job as a television producer was exhausting for him. But he still enjoys it because becoming a producer has long been a dream of his. He has been working in the field for ten years, first as an assistant producer and then as a producer who is known to many audiences.

The elevator door finally opened, and he entered. Tae Shik presses the B2 button, which is in the basement where his car is parked. Since no one was using the elevator anymore, he arrived at the basement in no time. The man immediately got out of the elevator after arriving at his destination. Whistling, he walked to where his car was parked.

Unbeknownst to Tae Shik, not far from where his car was parked, someone noticed him from the car he was in. The man grinned as Tae Shik's car began to leave the basement. Not long after, he also started the engine of his car and followed the man's car.

***

June 27, 2021

Emma's House

"Famous producer Moon Tae Shik had an accident last night. The car driven by a 42-year-old man was hit by a truck with faulty brakes. Producer Moon was pronounced dead at the scene. Moon Tae Shik is known for successfully creating a variety show called 'Hello Friends' which is still airing today. Producer Moon's body is currently buried at Kyungnam Hospital's funeral home and will be cremated on Wednesday."

"Even though he was young, he had to leave this world," commented Emma, who was still seriously watching the news on television. "No one knows the age of man."

Ian did not respond to his mother's comments. He was too shocked by the news. In the midst of his shock at the sad news, his cell phone rang briefly. Ian immediately opened the message he had just received. His eyes widened as he read the message from the unknown number.

From: 010-xxx-xxx

Moon Tae Shik's death was caused by you!

***

The young man who was sitting in the front seat of the study desk chuckled a little. He is currently staring at his phone screen, which displays a messaging page. His strangeness stopped when someone knocked on the door of his room. He turned around and smiled when a woman appeared at the door.

"What are you doing?" asked the woman.

"Just diving on social media, mom," the young man replied as he got out of his chair. "What happened, Mom?"

"It's lunch time. Come on down; your father's waiting."

"I'm not hungry, mom."

"Just eat a little, Lee Dong Min."

Dong Min, the young man, shrugged his smile after hearing his mother's changing tone. "Okay, I'll go down."

"Okay, I'll wait downstairs."

"Ok."

After her mother came out of his room and closed the door again. Dong Min turned to face the mirror that was right nearby. A grin rose on the young man's face at the sight of his own reflection.

"Lee Dong Min, you will have the same fate as Tae Shik if you tell him what happened to you right now," he said with a grin on his face.

Meanwhile, an unexpected thing happens to Dong Min's reflection in the mirror. The young man's shadow moved by itself, hitting the mirror with both hands as if asking to go out.