I was lying on the bed, dazed and watching the TV like a fool when I saw the door opening.
Since it was far too early for dinner, I wondered if Han Seori was up to some kind of experiment.
That suspicion strengthened when I saw her bringing the glass container she used to move me around.
Han Seori gently picked me up and placed me inside the glass container, then proceeded to place Daesik and Sosik inside as well.
As I leaned against the glass, bracing myself for whatever was coming next, the sound of cloth fluttering signaled the covering of the container with a sheet.
The surrounding area grew darker and a strange uneasiness crept over me.
It was somewhat similar to the feeling of being covered by a blanket, but I recalled unpleasant incidents whenever the glass container was covered with cloth.
As Jelly trembled for no apparent reason, a slightly muffled sound was heard.
“Could you please bear with it for a little while?”
Han Seori’s voice carried a faint note of apology, making me feel awkward and bashful, prompting me to restrain Jelly’s movements.
When Jelly finally calmed down, the sound of the glass container moving was perceived.
…It seemed that she really sensed Jelly shaking; how embarrassing.
I wasn’t able to sigh, so I focused on Jelly’s ripples as the clunk of the container being placed somewhere resonated.
A familiar sensation.
I had ridden in cars in this state so often that it was instantly recognizable now.
Anyway, I thought we were heading to an experiment, but it appeared we were going to another labyrinth-like place.
Well… Even though I’ve rested for a while, this break wasn’t altogether bad. Despite an unfortunate incident involving a broadcast from a peculiar middle-schooler cult group, it was a fulfilling rest where I ate delicious food and watched TV.
So, where are we heading now?
While conjecturing, I stimulated my imagination through my knowledge reserves.
The cloth covering my sight was suddenly lifted, revealing a vaguely familiar interior.
A space where the outside could not be seen.
The only sources of light were the small lamp attached to the ceiling and a hole-pierced window that seemed to be connected to the driver’s seat.
It felt a bit bleak.
My current room, being white, offered some openness, unlike this space, which was slightly claustrophobic.
As I slightly felt the discomfort, a familiar voice came through the perforated holes.
“Are you going to take it out already?”
“Yes, it seems it doesn’t like to be covered with cloth.”
“Ah… I think I know why.”
“…Definitely not a good memory, is it?”
Presumably the voice of Kim Cheon-soo conversing with Han Seori, her hand reached in as she opened the lid of the container.
But I couldn’t respond to her gesture.
Because Jelly’s trembling was due to embarrassment and shame.
Goodness. Not only did she detect Jelly’s tremor but also its reason.
I was blushing to beat the band.
On the one hand, it was somewhat frightening. Could they have some kind of mind-reading device?
Maybe not… it likely wasn’t the case.
Having swallowed Jelly, I felt the need to act more composed and manly, as I seemed to have been softened along with Jelly.
“Hmm? It feels kind of warm…”
Han Seori’s muttered observation as she reached into my armpit to lift me up brought me back to my senses.
Indeed, Jelly felt a bit warmer, perhaps because of the embarrassment.
Through my vision, I saw Han Seori’s face looking at me inquisitively.
She wore an ambiguous expression, unsure whether I was feeling what I did.
Gaining composure quickly, as it wasn’t too late, Han Seori gave a puzzled shake of her head and placed me down.
Relief rippled through me as I watched her take Daesik out of the glass container.
As the transformed Daesik emerged, possibly intimidated by the unfamiliar setting, he clung to my legs.
“Hmm…”
Chuckling softly, Han Seori reached in the container again to take out Sosik.
However, she was unsuccessful.
Sosik, finding the glass container comfortable, evaded her hand and stuck to the floor.
Rather similar to a cat snug in a box.
Considering Sosik as a liquid entity, he wasn’t much different.
“Um…”
Scratching her cheek bashfully, Han Seori seemed to abandon the attempt to fetch Sosik, maybe because her purpose was simply to release me outside.
She left the container lid open and sat on a chair reminiscent of the ones found in a two-and-a-half-ton truck, and tapped the chair beside her as if indicating me to sit there.
I felt somewhat treated like a child and slightly uneasy, more so because of the prior embarrassing events.
Though I might’ve disregarded it normally, it was different now.
As I hesitated, Han Seori rummaged in her bosom, then brought out a chocolate bar.
Was she attempting to lure me with merely this snack?
Still feeling abashed from earlier, I remained composed, just staring silently at the chocolate bar.
Before I could make a move, Daesik, clinging to my leg, started inching slowly towards her.
Taking on the shape of Alice and looking up at Han Seori, it seemed almost like mimicking a person.
Whether it worked or not on Han Seori, she picked up Daesik (in Alice’s form) and sat him beside her, then unwrapped the chocolate bar and placed it in front of him.
Excited, Daesik oozed out of Alice’s body and devoured the chocolate bar.
After enjoying the chocolate, he crawled back into Alice and slouched into the chair.
…Look at that guy.
He seemed to have realized the power dynamics of the space.
Apparently, he realized I couldn’t do much against Han Seori.
We’ll deal with that later.
Separately, I faintly felt embarrassed at the notion of being lured by a chocolate bar, remembering my earlier actions.
Perhaps, considering my past behavior, it made sense that Han Seori was trying to allure me with a chocolate bar since I fell for it gleefully before!
And as I was contemplating this, she rustled again and pulled out another chocolate bar.
How many chocolate bars does she carry around with her?
They say women have a dessert stomach; does she also have a dessert pocket?
Anyway.
I had no intentions of getting lured by mere chocolate bars this time, hence, crossing my arms and pretending to be uninterested, I turned away.
“Huh…? Why is that?”
Han Seori looked a tad perplexed.
Even their confusion was beautiful.
I moved deliberately, sitting on the opposite chair making a loud noise, as Han Seori tried catching my attention by shaking the wrapper or unwrapping it.
That sight made me feel oddly pleased.
Would I have ever seen such a scene before?
A beautiful woman struggling to grab my attention, indeed a rare moment.
I secretly chuckled with a ripple, as Jelly stirred during my silent laugh.
Clatter.
The partially closed lid opened, and Sosik’s face appeared.
He then extended his hand towards Han Seori as if asking for a chocolate bar.
Seeing this, Han Seori handed over a chocolate bar to Sosik with a look substituting for a quail.
Sosik slowly pushed the bar inside his body and returned to the glass container.
With both Jelly characters enjoying their chocolate bars, it seemed odd for me alone not to partake.
It’ll probably show up again, right? After all, she has this bottomless pocket.
If a new chocolate bar appeared from Han Seori’s seemingly infinite dessert pocket, I intended to concede and approach her to grab one, not wishing to keep rejecting her goodwill.
However.
Han Seori’s pocket wasn’t infinite, it seemed.
No more chocolate bars emerged.
*
Unknowingly dozing off, Han Seori stirred awake.
Noticing this, Kim Cheon-soo spoke up.
“Have you awakened?”
“Ah… yes. I apologize, I accidentally fell asleep.”
“Haha, it’s fine. We’ll be reaching the East Sea Branch soon, so you’ve woken up right on time.”
“Already this time?”
After checking the time and sniffing, Han Seori confirmed the smell of the sea faintly in the air.
‘Since I sent a message to Yoo Gang-jik before I dozed off.’
There was no real issue; still, she felt somewhat apologetic for leaving Kim Cheon-soo while she slept.
She decided to treat him to a big meal once the work was over.
Her eyes caught a Jelly Girl lazily resting on the opposite chair.
Looking at her evoked memories of what happened before she fell asleep.
‘…Am I not feeling well today?’
Rejecting snacks that she normally adores felt quite strange.
‘The fact that her body felt slightly warm earlier is also related.’
Han Seori felt something was off about the Jelly Girl’s unusual behavior.
Did she dislike the covering of the cloth that much?
If that were true, it felt a tad… unjust.
Even so, it was for the Jelly Girl’s benefit.
But since she couldn’t read minds, the exact reasoning eluded her.
In that moment.
Kim Cheon-soo opened the window, and the distant sound of waves reached Han Seori’s ears.
The irregular sound soothed her, eliciting a faint smile.
‘After this is over…’
Maybe I’ll go for a stroll by the sea.
I couldn’t do it with the Jelly Girl, but it seemed like a decent plan.
Gazing at Kim Cheon-soo’s silhouette dimly visible through the perforated window, she wondered what he might be contemplating.
Turning her head, Han Seori’s eyes caught the Jelly Girl’s antennae-like features perking up.
The previously slumped figure now straightened, shooting up as if pointing somewhere.
In the midst of her curiosity and wonderment, startled by Kim Cheon-soo’s voice.
“What, why suddenly like this─”
Suddenly, ominous sounds echoed.
Thumpbereng! Zzzaaa!
The sound grew ominous.
