Unmasked Panic

“Jangma-ssi. Really o—”

“Okay! Next horror game time! Play Seo Injun-ssi, I commentate beside!”

Cut Seo Injun words deliberate.

Gaze screen—focus gone long.

Half spaced—rather no thoughts good.

Knew this—should poured soju glass pretend water.

Every Seo Injun no intent action react—drink.

[▶ lololololol now barely go lolol]

[▶ Today broadcast last day right?]

[▶ Huh Jangma nim no horror games;;]

“Today special day Seo Injun-ssi came!”

Hollow eyes him, smiled.

Gaze me full worry—but ignored.

Now—ghost zombie anything see seem.

Opened carefully chosen game, mechanical read prepared script.

“This game long many recommendations, but as know huge coward—couldn’t play. But happen Injun-ssi likes horror!”

Words end perfect timing—game first screen appeared.

Reporter enter creepy mental hospital investigate, camcorder hold wander game.

Me coward—why enter hospital don’t know, but game so okay.

Already eerie mood spread—sneaky gaze chat turned.

[▶ Huh this?? Serious?]

[▶ Injun oppa call 119 ㅠㅠㅠ no joke serious]

[▶ Jang men ba~ Jangma nim mental bar mean~]

As expected viewers worry my safety.

Newcomers overreaction seem—but past incidents know understand enough.

Simple hunting game—side tiger jump out mouse threw once.

Even own wrong grenade hit self—alone startled game off once.

Countless records flashed—loud empty laugh.

Chat text clear see—max size set.

Then pushed mouse keyboard Seo Injun, half given up voice said.

“Okay, take care please. Injun-ssi!”

Quiet stood seat.

Hand mouse keyboard place posture set Seo Injun—blankly looked up me.

I kind smile, far back walked, wall attached chair sat.

His gaze persistent followed—long not drop.

“Why there?”

Seo Injun puzzled expression asked.

So calm answered.

“I’ll commentate here.”

This distance at least less scare.

Far broadcast screen my face bean size appeared.

Chat fast up—viewers nonstop ‘lol’ sure.

Funny probably—but me survival best choice.

Seo Injun serious? gaze.

Quiet nodded.

New concept broadcast. Guest alone game.

Serious face—then realized real probably.

He slow turned head, pressed game start.

Game brief caution during—Seo Injun silent.

So fill empty audio about open mouth—he again back turned.

“…Serious?”

Pitiful eyes toward me.

Of course illusion—but me gone lonely person seem.

That face first—moment breath stopped.

Seo Injun more expressions variety than thought.

Why wet puppy like face.

Me that—think go?

“…Game start.”

Go.

Fan beat idol no.

He anything cheer, anything want hand give fan heart.

Bit lip hard, sat his beside.

Seo Injun much comfortable expression looked me.

Somehow around him bright flowers fly illusion.

“Thank you. Never alone live done.”

“No… Me leave guest alone weird…”

Caution end—finally game started.

Max sofa back stuck body, sneaky game screen watched.

Game protagonist drive mental hospital start scene.

Me car side something jump worry—full scared.

Chat still no scary scene—comfort me, but no help.

Car bumpy sound only—mood more gloomy.

Ended something say distract.

“Why go such place? Injun-ssi reporter would go?”

“Yes. Fun.”

Calm answer him—horror stared.

But he consistent calm face screen watched.

First Seo Injun demon seem moment.

Meanwhile car stopped front ward.

He English explain game method quick understand, no hesitate forward.

“Really enter there?”

[▶ Not go start not lolololol]

[▶ Jangma horror movie protagonist never die… nothing do..]

Dark ward front—leaves fly eerie mood.

Old iron gate open sound speakers rang.

Shoulders flinch, hand one ear blocked.

Already scary.

Thick bushes inside something come seem.

Turn head—behind ghost stand seem.

All imaginations face distorted—Seo Injun leisurely chat check, front wandered.

[▶ lolol Injun oppa there enter must]

[▶ Main gate locked left!]

“Yes. Enter there. Keep inside right?”

How person like that.

Even virtual game—really not scary bit.

Screen and Seo Injun alternated watched.

Soon ward door front arrived.

Hand reach door moment—far strange roar heard.

“Uh uh, weird sound…”

Hand ear blocked, remaining hand eyes covered.

Why my hands only two—serious worry fell.

Seo Injun kept groan me—kept looked.

He look or not—screen something jump worry.

“Okay?”

“Yes… Continue…”

Horror game really amazing.

Seo Injun kind voice even focus can’t make.

Protagonist enter ward obstacles overcome during—tension higher.

Constant anxiety create background music played.

Narrow wood plank pass—building top small window open discovered.

That only entrance—Seo Injun no hesitate up key pressed.

Window inside old ward view visible.

Still nothing jump—but obvious something happen seem.

And sure—character ward inside foot step moment bright on light sudden off.

Eerie song louder.

Ear blocked hand—hurried tapped Seo Injun arm.

“Light off, light. …Light off. Light off!”

[▶ lolololol gradient anger lolol]

[▶ Sudden informal lolol]

[▶ lololol Jangma nim house light on lololol]

“No no, uh, not that sound…”

Meanwhile Seo Injun calm night vision on, looked around.

Black white screen messy ward inside visible.

Desk overturned placed, floor unknown trash placed.

Passed between, casual forward walked—sneaky grabbed Seo Injun sleeve.

“Uh uh, don’t go.”

“But that corridor light coming, not go?”

“Gasp, really? Then quick go.”

Light word—head nodded fast.

Brief stared me Seo Injun—urged can’t win, focused game again.

His words room exit—somewhat bright corridor appeared.

Opposite connected room—first entered cleaner.

Sofa intact, bookshelf not fallen.

“Here bit better. Very little.”

Relief released his hem.

Clue search wandered his screen—blankly watched.

Room one lap big—nothing visible.

Maybe help—stared screen hard, slow upper body leaned.

Then tease me like monster scream roar speaker tore flowed.

“Euaaaangak!”

And that effect even bury big voice scream.

Then opened eyes—under desk.

How entered even don’t know.

Even outlet visible—crawled under desk fact knew.

Both hands head covered—body shivered.

Soon Seo Injun back tapped, urgent voice called.

“Jangma-ssi! Just TV turned on. No monster.”

Intent comfort me—but pounding heart not stop.

Earlier wall stuck just endured should.

First startled desk up hate—time pass more embarrassing can’t out.

Barely one hand desk propped—choked muttered.

“Haa… Sorry. Me really chicken heart.”

Cold sweat full forehead wiped, upper body lifted.

No matter sigh—stomach not release.

Sofa plopped, messed hair fixed—him called beside come resentful eyes glanced.

But Seo Injun expression gradual panic dyed.

What reason—cam turn moment, big hand vision covered.

“Head turn.”

Then he eye sign quick floor pointed.

Quite serious—gaze peeked, obedient followed gaze down.

Then his panic reason knew.

My mask floor dropped.