Smiling, he handed his own card to the cashier, who calmly took it.
"Separate our stuff."
Definitely more annoyed than before, Kiho spoke in an even deeper voice. The cashier, who had already put the groceries in the bags and was about to swipe with Lim Soohyun's card, paused and, sighing deeply, began to take out everything.
"You're making his job harder. Just let me pay and go get your card before someone else steals it."
"It's fine. They can steal it."
Sulking and being stubborn, Kiho was unmoved, waiting for the cashier to separate the junk from his raw meat packs and ingredients you couldn't eat alone by themselves.
"Just scan my card for everything."
Lim Soohyun gave the green light to the cashier, who skeptically paused again, gauging Kiho's reaction.
"I'm not going to eat any of it, then. Have fun eating all this meat by yourself."
"Let's take out the meat, then."
"That's why I said I'll pay for my meat, so just pay for your cart."
Getting into another heated argument, the cashier had no choice but to speak out.
"There are other customers waiting in line. If you're having issues, please step aside."
"…Separate the carts…"
In the end, he gave up as the older one between them. He graciously walked to get Kiho's debit card for him, and they paid for their own groceries respectfully. Lim Soohyun tried to pick up the bag full of meat, but it was so heavy he thought he would definitely sprain his shoulder too, so he picked up his lightweight ramen and snack bags and walked out of the grocery store.
"I paid a third of the price you paid for all this uncooked stuff."
"That's because there's hardly any protein in that junk food. That's why it's called junk."
"I don't need protein, so it works out for me."
Before setting out again, Lim Soohyun had to fight again for the frozen meat packs to be put in the trunk and not in the back of the car. There was still light out when they arrived at the haunted house. Without the need to use flashlights, Lim Soohyun got ahead to open the door for Kiho, who was holding his precious meat that had lost most of its coldness. The smell radiating from the bag was no joke. Blocking his nostrils, he fiddled to get the door open quickly.
"Hurry up."
"I'm in more of a hurry than you, Kiho."
Finally unlocking the door, only to be assaulted by an even darker and nastier smell, causing him to gag intermittently.
"Ugh… Why does it smell so bad?"
"Wait, don't go inside…"
He weakly tried to stop Kiho, who braved through the deadly stench coming out of the house. Unable to continue, he accepted his defeat and silently retreated back out of the front porch of the house to stabilize himself. After a good while, Kiho came out, still alive unexpectedly.
"You closed off all the windows. The house is old. It needs to be aired out regularly, Mr. Soohyun."
"Yes, it's my fault."
Leaning towards the car for support, he showed no will to enter the house, but he needed to check something in his suitcase on the upper-floor bedroom.
"Kiho, can you take everything inside? I feel dizzy."
"You're so weak…"
Mumbling, Kiho transported everything, including his suitcase, into the house and came back out to stare at him.
"Move me too if it bothers you."
Crouching down beside the car, he had already started smoking in his free time. Seeing Kiho stand so close to him, he had no choice but to butt out the cigarette.
"Are you having withdrawals already?"
"I was just bored, that's all."
"Get up. Let's start preparing for the séance… the house doesn't smell anymore."
Locking his car, Kiho turned around to go back. Lim Soohyun stretched out to make his way inside too now. As Kiho had said, the house didn't have an odor. He was easily able to enter. Running straight upstairs, he opened the closet in his bedroom and pulled out his suitcase.
"They're really not here."
Only the 100-won coin, 1000-won note, and the bubblegum remained in the suitcase. The pink balls had all disappeared. These gashapon quests didn't want to leave any traces of their existence—that's probably why the things that were left were all normal, anyone could easily get their hands on. Putting back the suitcase, he closed the closet and turned around to glance at his bedroom. It was eerily quiet, and the feeling of being watched doubled back on him. Spending a day out, he could sense it again.
"It will take some time to get used to this…"
Having checked what he wanted to, he came back to prepare for the séance with Kiho. Kiho set up the dining table with three candles and a plate of snacks for offering.
"There are different ways to conduct a séance. For only two people, I suggest using the ouija board for answers."
"What's the best way to contact the spirits? Using the ouija board?"
Thinking before speaking out, Kiho responded honestly.
"The best way is to do it through me."
Through a person? Lim Soohyun thought about it. If he didn't need to think about Kiho's safety, he would have chosen to go with that immediately.
"I don't trust the ouija board. That's why I didn't use it to contact the spirits myself…"
He muttered out, showing that he preferred the second option, but Kiho still had a choice to not do it. Ultimately, the decision rested upon Kiho's shoulders.
"We'll do it through me, then."