The department store arcade was noisy. Electronic beeps, laughter, the sound of machines whirring. In the middle of it all, strangely, only one person stood out clearly to me.

"...No way."

Why is she here? I reflexively turned my head away. I thought I had hidden, but I knew it was already too late.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

Suyeon tapped my shoulder from beside me.

"No, it's nothing—"

Before I could even finish my sentence.

"Ms. Han!"

My heart dropped right then and there. This is insane. Slowly, very slowly, I lifted my head.

Han Iseol was looking our way. And she smiled.

"...Hi."

That one word sent a chill down my spine. I couldn't say a thing and just gave a stiff nod. I needed to run, but my legs wouldn't move.

"Hey, what's with you?"

Suyeon, oblivious to the situation, started rambling excitedly.

"Ms. Han, do you know how funny she is? She went on a blind date the other day and—"

"Suyeon."

"She said the person was a total witch—"

"Suyeon!"

"That she was so mean and scary that she hated it—"

I shook my head frantically while looking at Iseol.

"I-I was talking about my cousin..."

My throat went dry. Iseol didn't say anything for a moment. And then. She slowly walked toward me.

I couldn't even back away; I just froze in place.

"Is that so?"

A low chuckle.

"A witch, was she?"

My heart was pounding like crazy.

"Tell Ms. Han to scold her for you! Hurry up and call her!"

Unable to resist, I finally turned on the phone I was clutching.

"I said, call her!"

My hands were shaking. I dialed the number and pressed the call button.

—Ring.

Right in front of me, a ringtone went off. I slowly looked up.

Iseol was holding her phone out. And, while maintaining eye contact, she answered it.

"Yes."

The corners of her mouth curled up slightly.

"What was it you said?"

One step closer. She looked absolutely furious.

"Your date... was a witch?"