The clouds drifted lazily in the sky. The sun slowly pushed its bright head over the horizon as the lone cock cried to its rising. The idyllic scent of the countryside mixed with the fresh unpolluted air invigorated Jeoja for the day.
She stepped out of the wooden house with a long white dress. Her sandals clasped tightly round her feet, indicating a long day ahead. Her legs took her through the dirt paths that covered Saengseon Village.
This version of Jeoja was a much younger one. She had just finished her middle school entrance exams and received a call from her grandfather to spend a few days with him in the countryside. Ecstatic at the offer, she jumped at the opportunity.
As she walked by the old houses, the wind gently caressed her face. Smiles covered her face as she went by the massive yellow corn fields. She sighted a tractor winding through the fields and bowed in greeting to the operator. The old man enthusiastically waved at her and she waved in response.
However, despite the happiness that followed her, there seemed to be a small inkling of mystery that filled the town. As she walked through, she always felt a strange feeling that emanated from the town itself. She just couldn't put her finger on it.
As she thought, her eyes wandered to a person crouched over a pool of water. It seemed like a young boy about her age. She ran over to meet him, albeit as quietly as a cat. She stood just over him and took in a deep breath.
"Hey" she whispered directly into his ears. The boy jumped out of his skin and fell to the ground. His heart pounded as loudly as a milling machine and his breaths sounded like popping of corn. He shook on the ground with fear written on his face.
"I'm sorry" Jeoja apologized quickly. She tried to get him to stand up but he was extremely heavy. The boy stopped shaking and sat on the ground. His body began to heat and flames started to take over his body.
His eyes pierced through her. Jeoja shrivelled at his height as he slowly stood up. He looked down at her and clicked his teeth in annoyance. His face was shrouded by his hair so Jeoja couldn't get a glimpse of him at all.
"Don't ever do that again"
His voice thundered in her ears and she fell to her knees. He turned and started walking away, leaving her shell shocked. She blinked and noticed something at his back.....A small scaly tail.
"HEY!!!!" she called out to him. He turned around at her with greater violence. His hands clenched into a fist. "Didn't I tell you not to call me again?!!!" he asked with anger. "You've got a tail" she said, pointing directly to his back. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity and she charged forward, not afraid of his massive frame.
The boy's face contorted in fear and he ran away, sprinting with speeds unknown to man. Jeoja stood for a while and thought if she should go after him. She shook her head and turned away. "I don't think that's nice" she thought as she started walking away.
Jeoja looked into the sky and saw something extremely peculiar. The clouds had sort of made a strange shape that resembled a tail. She smiled at the heavens and it smiled back at her. "To hell with niceness!!!! I won't let go of that tail" she said herself as she thrusted her fists in the air.
Jeoja stretched her legs and took a running stance. Her eyes turned even more catlike and her fangs protruded more from her mouth. Small claws grew on her fingers and her feet. The long dress she was wearing fell off to reveal running clothes and the sandals, a pair of sneakers.
A burst of wind followed her as she ran throughout the old village. Her catlike body nimbly moved on the walls of the ancient fences. She quickly caught scent of him and followed it towards a dark cave on the outskirts of the village.
It was cold and damp. Water dripped from the ceiling onto the little vegetation that grew on the ground. There was barely any lighting in the cave but she managed to see through her glowing eyes. The sniffling of the boy could be heard at the edge of the cave. Jeoja slowly walked towards it and noticed something strange about him.
A pair of wings covered his back and the once small tail had grown into a massive long serpentine tail. Jeoja moved to him but heard his voice. "Please don't come here. I don't want to hurt anyone" he pleaded with a tiny voice. His words were laden with emotions of sadness and a hint of fear.
Jeoja touched his wings and sat behind his back. "I'm not scared" she said. "Really?" he asked. "Yeah….. I'm also a little bit weird" she replied. "I don't think you should be scared of hurting anyone" Jeoja continued. The boy turned to her and she noticed his bright red snakelike eyes.
Stretching her clawed fingers, she smiled at him. "Let's be friends" she said, shining brightly to him, illuminating the air around her. "I'm Jeoja" she said and looked at him. "What about you?" she asked, expecting an answer.
The boy's hand went forward but stopped. Rejection terrified him. All the bad memories of laughter and hatred came flooding into him and he brought his fingers back. Jeoja noticed the fear in his eyes and took his hand in hers.
"I would really like to know your name" she said as she gripped onto his cold scaly hands. Not minding them, she held onto it, not letting go. The boy's mouth slowly broke into a smile and he said "Your claws are injuring me".
"What!!!!" Jeoja shouted and quickly dropped his hands. Her catlike features disappeared in an instant and the boy started laughing. He stood up and once massive frame turned into that of a young teenager. He smiled at her and said "My name is Yong. I like you".
He stretched his hands to her and noticed that Jeoja's face turned bright red. "What happened?" he asked, not noticing his words. Jeoja turned away from him and said "Yeah... Let's start things as friends".
Her mind was confused as she remembered his words. Her ears followed suit, turning into tomatoes. Her thoughts were jumbled but one took dominance over the others
"He likes me?!!!!!"