"Good morning class. Today we are learning the basics of Korean literature." The sleek thin pale skinned Korean woman in a weird English attire said, and for a moment, I thought I was still in Kentwood high. Well that was until...
"Uh, ma we're not in highschool anymore. And try to treat us as such." A guy from the rear end of the class- or rather lecture hall- said loudly enough for the whole class to hear. We all started to laugh politely, sharing a chuckle here and there. Well, all of that was ruined by the epic - well, not so epic, but whatever - entrance of Eun-Jae Song, and Kang-Chul, followed by another student, who was stunningly paleing those two.
I shuddered at the memory of the evening before.
†*******************†
Those red eyes shone on me, and I wasn't sure what was happening, or why.
"Excuse me please. " I said trying to deflect what had just happened. But the moment I stepped inside the room, or rather apartment, I felt a weird wave of familiarity wash over me. What was familiar here? I tried to place it, but only one thought came to mind.
"Are you guys trying to put a spell on me or something?" That sounded weird, but it caught them off guard.
"You know a bit of magic?" The other one asked more annoyed than surprised.
"Even if, how is he able to deflect our kind of magic easily?"
Okay, this was driving me crazy. I desperately wanted someone to laugh, and tell me it was just a party trick, to welcome me into the dorm, but it kind of never came. So I tried harder.
"Is this some kind of prank?" I asked in a burst of Korean.
Eun-Jae looked as relieved as hell, but that did nothing to cool my raging mind.
"Well, welcome to the brothership." He said, with an unconvincing attempt at getting back on track. Had I not been a scholarship student, I would have longed to give them a bit of drama, but the words of Mr Chan made me shrink. 'Don't die trying too hard.'
I took a deep breath, and turned around, trying to look as relaxed and normal as possible.
"Sure thing. Thanks for..... thanks for welcoming me. I'll unpack." I said awkwardly, and looked around the apartment.
I had expected just a room with three beds, and an itsy-bitsy living space, but this was a four bedroom complex, with a living room, and bathroom that had a jacuzzi. Oh well. That's what you enjoy as a student of an international university.....
That night, while everyone was supposed to be asleep, I slipped out of my room, and was about heading for the kitchen, when I heard Eun-Jae and Kang-Chul's voices, low in their hushed tones, but loud enough for me to hear from the hall.
"What do we do about him?" Kang-Chul asked in a calm voice. I instantly knew they were talking about me.
Eun-Jae's next words stopped my heart; "It's either we kill him, or we turn him in. I'd rather have him dead anyway. That way, I wouldn't be punished."
They were planning on killing me? I was living with psychos!!!!!
"We're not killing anyone. If only we can erase his memory. Not much trouble then." Kang-Chul said in a reassuring manner.
"You can see how well that worked out." Eun-Jae said with a venomous amount of sarcasm in his voice as if he was speaking directly to me.
"We'll try again. If it doesn't work, we'll go with your plan." Kang-Chul said.
"Of killing him?" Eun-Jae asked hopefully, which scared the living shit out of me.
"No. Of turning him in. Besides, it's time someone new joined the clan." Kang-Chul said.
"Ugh. Do you have to be such a rule follower?" Eun-Jae asked in disgust. I flinched at his tone, and was at the verge of walking away, when Kang-Chul said" or we can stick to your plan of killing him."
"Now you're talking." Eun-Jae said in satisfaction.
I ran to my room as quietly as possible, and shut the door, hundred percent certain I was going to die on my first day in Korea.
Luckily, I woke up... Not as a ghost thankfully. I walked out of the apartment after completing my morning duties, and thankfully also, I didn't make contact with anyone, well until now.
"Can I sit next to you?" The rich elegant one asked, and I nodded in assent. He was just like Augustine, but only more taller and with really defined features. Think of Anthony Keyvan.
"I'm Ben, by the way. Your third roommate." He said and sat down.
I found myself glancing at his hands, and sure enough, he was wearing that same haunting ring. Just what had I gotten myself into????