Chapter 25: There's Space Behind the Pillar (2)

Mom got stuck in the elevator. My vision darkened in many ways.

「Mom, I told you not to ride the villa elevator」

「Mom: What villa」

「Mom: It's not a villa, I'm in the company elevator?」

「Mom: It's a bit scary being stuck alone ㅠㅠㅠ」

「Mom: But I'll be able to get home in the evening since it's an early day off today ㅎㅎ」

On the day a strange elevator appeared in the villa where I live, my mom got stuck in her company elevator.

It could be seen as a simple coincidence, but my instincts, honed by various incidents, told me there was a deep connection between the two.

「Mom: Oh ㅋ The elevator arrived at the 4th floor ㅋㅋ See you later」

「Mom: But it's really chilly here ㄷㄷ And my phone battery is low」

Mom sent me a message saying she arrived at the 4th floor.

Was it just a simple malfunction?

My heart, which had been tense like a balloon inflated to its limit, felt a little relaxed.

「Mom: Photo」

When I was preparing for the next class, a photo came from Mom. It seemed to be a picture taken from inside the elevator looking out through the open doors.

Through the open elevator doors, I could see what looked like a rather dark interior.

Isn't it too dark outside?

Somehow, I felt uneasy.

"What's wrong? Is Jung Sojin bothering you with messages?"

Noticing my unease, Yang Juhee, sitting behind me, poked my back with her finger.

"Mom said she was stuck alone in the elevator and then got off on the 4th floor. Look at this photo. Isn't it too dark and strange? It looks like some kind of warehouse."

I showed Juhee the photo on my phone. I thought if we shared the problem, the weight might be divided a little.

"Oh. This is strange. Look below the number 4 written here."

Juhee touched the phone with her white, slender finger.

Swish-

When we zoomed in on the photo, there was indeed something strange, as Juhee said.

The number 4 written on the panel indicating the floor.

Below it, "Capacity Exceeded" was clearly imprinted in red letters.

"Your mom. Didn't you say she was stuck in the elevator alone?"

Capacity exceeded in an elevator she rode alone? It could simply be due to an elevator malfunction, but I just couldn't calm down!

「Mom, don't get off on the 4th floor, try going to another floor」

「Mom」

「Mom, don't get off, just stay put」

「Mom answer answer me answer」

「Please check」

「Photo」

「Gift card」

「Ha Young-won has sent a gift card.」

「Please read it」

There's no reply from Mom. The '1' indicating the message was seen hadn't disappeared either.

I immediately called Mom.

─The phone is turned off...

"......"

Ah damn, come to think of it, she said her battery was low!

I just couldn't calm down.

"...Hey. Juhee. What class do we have for 2nd period?"

"Next is Korean class, why?"

Korean means it's Ms. Kang Ha-neul's class. There's always a way out, even if the sky falls!

"Juhee. I think I need to skip class."

"What? Hey! What's going on!"

I ran towards the corridor.

Click, click.

Soon I could meet Ms. Kang Ha-neul walking down the corridor, making high heel sounds.

"Teacher. My mother seems to be in an emergency, so can I skip class? Teacher. It's really urgent! Teacher! Please! It's urgent!"

"Young-won. What are you suddenly talking about? Your mother is in an emergency?"

"Teacher! Please!"

Pat-

I turned around and ran.

I could hear the teacher calling my name "Young-won~" from behind, but my legs kept running like a truck with broken brakes.

As I was about to leave the school gate.

The school security guard, who was practicing his golf swing with a club, saw me at the main gate and shouted.

"Hey! It's class time! Where are you going! What grade and class are you in!"

"I need to go! My mom is critically ill! My mom!"

"Your mom? That's a pity, but did you get permission from your teacher? If you have a teacher's permit, I can let you go right away, but if not, go get one. There are many students who lie and leave without permission."

Do you need something like that to leave school during class time? I didn't know because I had never left early or skipped class before.

What should I do? Should I go back and get it?

As I was catching my breath from running so urgently, someone waved from afar.

"Hey. Ha Young-won. You forgot this."

It was Vice Class President Jung-seok.

Jung-seok came with two pieces of paper labeled "Early Dismissal Permit" and handed one to me.

"Student 'Ha Young-won' is permitted to leave early for the following reason"

"Family emergency"

"Signature - Kang Ha-neul"

It's Ms. Kang Ha-neul's early dismissal permit!

I was very lucky that Jung-seok brought this.

There was one for Jung-seok too.

"Student 'Jung-seok' is permitted to leave early for the following reason"

"Hospital appointment"

"Signature - Kang Ha-neul"

The handwriting was very neat. It looked like it was printed by a computer, but it must have been written by Jung-seok.

Did he forge the dismissal permit?! How clever!

The security guard narrowed his eyes.

"I know Ms. Kang Ha-neul well. She writes beautifully. This writing is also very well done. These days, with computers and all, there aren't many people who write well by hand."

Ring ring-

Just then, the security guard's phone rang.

"Oh my. It's a call from Ms. Kang Ha-neul."

A call from Ms. Kang Ha-neul? What if he realizes we didn't get permission to leave early?! Should we just run away?!

"Yes! This is Kang Man-deuk! Yes. There are two students at the gate saying they're leaving early with teacher's permission. Yes. Ha Young-won. And Jung-seok. Ah... yes. Homework? Yes. I understand."

Click-

The security guard hung up.

"I'm sorry for keeping you, students. There are so many kids who lie and run away sneakily! Ms. Kang Ha-neul says he'll send homework by email for the classes you're missing today."

"Seok! Let's go!"

Jung-seok and I left the school. As we entered an alley and the school was out of sight, Jung-seok asked me.

"What's going on? It's about the elevator, right?"

"I'll explain as we go. For now, we need to catch a taxi and go to my mom's company."

"Hey! Why did you come out so late!"

As I was turning on the app to catch a taxi, someone approached me. It was Yang Juhee.

Jung-seok asked.

"Did you leave early too?"

"No? I came out through the dog hole in the school wall."

So there's a dog hole in the school wall too. As expected, those who have experience skipping class are better at it.

***

"Is this your mother's company?"

Jung-seok marveled at the tall building.

The headquarters of Osung Electronics, located in Gaeryong Metropolitan City, boasted an impressive appearance.

"Wow. How many floors does it have?"

Yang Juhee also seemed overwhelmed, tilting her head all the way back. She was wiggling her fingers, perhaps counting the floors with her eyes.

Jung-seok commented.

"As far as I know, it's 100 floors. My dad participated in the building's completion ceremony before. I was there too. I didn't know your mother worked at Osung Electronics, Young-won. The average annual salary here is 200 million won."

Jung-seok seemed to find it hard to believe that my mom worked at Osung Electronics but we lived in a villa without an elevator and full of cockroaches.

It was my first time visiting my mom's company too, so I was honestly bewildered.

Mom didn't talk much about the new company she transferred to.

An average annual salary of 200 million won!

"Hey. Is this the time to discuss that? Let's hurry!"

Yang Juhee's words snapped both Jung-seok and me back to reality.

We slowly walked into the gleaming building, but as students in school uniforms entered, the people in the first-floor lobby immediately turned their attention to us.

A weekday afternoon. A time when office workers should be busy working. A time when students in school uniforms should be cooped up in school like chicks in a coop.

Our presence, walking through the company after escaping from school, was already extraordinary in itself.

"Kids, what's the matter?"

A pretty and kind-looking older sister at the information desk smiled at us.

I spoke as the representative of the children.

"Hello. My name is Ha Young-won. Is there someone named Ha Chae-yeon working here? She's my mom, and I really need to meet her urgently! It's an emergency! Really!"

"Ha Chae-yeon... Ha Chae-yeon.... Do you mean Ha Chae-yeon from the planning team? Or..."

"Planning? My mom is a cleaner. I heard she's in the facilities team!"

"Ah, that cleaning lady? But as far as I know, Ha Chae-yeon from the facilities team is 34 years old this year. She has a high school son? You're a Yeongji High student, right?"

"It's really urgent! Have you heard anything about an elevator malfunction?"

"Malfunction? I haven't heard anything like that. More importantly, are you really Ha Chae-yeon's son? No, right? A mother and son would have the same surname. Who are you?"

"Ah geez, this is so frustrating! Hey! Ha Young-won! Just come here!"

Pabapat-!

Yang Juhee ran somewhere, swinging her long legs under her skirt. The desk sister shouted "Hey! Where are you going!" as if surprised, but she couldn't stop Juhee.

Juhee was pressing all the visible elevator buttons.

Ding ding ding-

Juhee entered the elevators as they arrived one by one.

"What's this. There's no 4th floor here? They're all F floors. Even the 44th floor is FF floor! What kind of elevator is this?"

The elevators at Osung Electronics headquarters had changed all the number 4s to F.

Didn't my mom say the elevator she rode stopped at the 4th floor?

"This won't do! Let's go to the 4th floor ourselves!"

Pabapat-!

Yang Juhee ran with all her might, and Jung-seok and I followed. But Juhee was too fast, and just following her was exhausting.

The F floor we arrived at in this manner was a place decorated with large, colorful TVs. It was completely different from the photo my mom sent.

What on earth is going on?!

The situation had hit a snag. In the distance, men who looked like building security were approaching us.

"Hey! You kids! How did you get here!"

"Mister! Has there been any report of an elevator malfunction?"

"Elevator? I haven't heard anything like that. Kim, have you heard anything?"

"No, I haven't... More importantly, who are you kids? That's a Yeongji High uniform, right?"

No report of an elevator malfunction.

Mom definitely said she arrived on the 4th floor through a malfunctioning elevator...

As I hesitated for a moment, Jung-seok, who had been following silently, spoke.

"Young-won. It seems that's the only place left. Let's get out of here. It feels like we're just wasting time here. You've probably noticed by now too."

He's right. It's a waste of time to stay here.

"Taxi!"

I caught a taxi circling in front of the company and immediately called out our home address.

"Mister! Please go to Taegwang Villa at this address! Quickly! Hurry!"

Vroom-

After about 20 minutes of driving, the taxi arrived in front of the villa.

"Ah, damn! We ended up here after all! In the end!"

Rip, tear-! Rip!

As soon as I entered the villa, I stood in front of the elevator covered in tape and tore off all the tape and paper.

Ding-

Soon, the elevator arrived on the 1st floor.

"The door is opening."

Click-. Whirr-

The elevator doors opened and bright lights came on. It looked like an ordinary everyday scene. That's why it felt even more chillingly frightening.

It was like an antlion trap that lures and devours unsuspecting people. Like it was pretending not to know anything while naturally killing and eating people.

"What should I do! To think I have to enter this in my right mind! Guys! Give me courage!"

This was the lion's mouth. Should I bet even knowing it's a game I'll definitely lose?

I'm not a gambling addict like Kim Young-ho!

"You cowards. Wait and see!"

Step-

At that moment, Yang Juhee moved forward.

"Uh, hey!"

"Uh..."

Before Jung-seok and I could stop her, Yang Juhee strode into the elevator and said.

"There's a 4th floor here! No... it's not just that there's a 4th floor, all the button numbers are written as 4? This elevator only has 4th floors!"