The Village That Smiled Back

Whether she sensed the tension in the air or not.

The girl only kept smiling brightly.

Watching her with guarded eyes, Jaeyoung tilted his head, unsettled by the sense of dissonance.

Behind Dongjun, Mintae kept sneaking glances at the girl and poking Dongjun in the side.

He was clearly asking for an introduction.

Dongjun opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Which made sense, because Dongjun didn’t know the girl’s name either.

“So, um… what should I call you?”

Dongjun asked carefully, glancing at his friends watching him.

“Me?”

The girl hesitated, as if she hadn’t wanted to share her name even though she’d shared the address.

Normally, Jaeyoung liked people, but for some reason, the unease only grew stronger.

“Gora Yun.”

A surprisingly elegant name, finally revealed.

Even then, the smile on her face never changed.

It was a picture-perfect smile.

“We even have the same last name!”

Eager to get closer to Rayun, Dongjun tried to create a sense of connection.

Haewoon shot him a look full of disbelief, then tapped Jaeyoung’s shoulder.

“Let’s go to the resort first and drop our bags.”

Jaeyoung nodded and scanned the surroundings.

The road stretching ahead wasn’t asphalt but poured concrete.

Rice paddies and fields crowded both sides, with low mountains rising behind them.

The village felt completely enclosed.

‘I don’t think there’s even a police station here….’

He wasn’t sure whether a police station in such an isolated place could be relied on anyway.

“After that, show us around the village.”

Mintae, who adapted faster than anyone, spoke casually to Rayun.

“Hey, you should ask if that’s okay first.”

Dongjun checked Rayun’s expression and subtly scolded Mintae.

“Why? She invited us. Isn’t it obvious she’d guide us?”

Mintae frowned, genuinely confused.

Jaeyoung nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

“Of course.

I’ll take you to the resort too.”

Contrary to Dongjun’s concern, Rayun answered as if it were only natural.

Dongjun’s face immediately brightened.

He seemed happy just to spend a little more time with her.

Jaeyoung felt both sorry for him and deeply uneasy.

‘What if she actually has bad intentions?’

He clicked his tongue silently.

“The resort’s a bit far. Can you walk?”

“Yeah!

Oh, but are you okay?”

Dongjun asked Rayun worriedly.

Finding it funny, Rayun covered her mouth with her palm and shook with laughter.

“The whole village is my playground.”

Jaeyoung, who had been watching her face while surveying the area, stopped dead in his tracks.

From the moment they met, her smile had been unnaturally consistent, but just now, it seemed to deepen.

“The village is really quiet.”

There were maybe ten houses total, spaced far apart.

You could install a karaoke machine in any house and no one would complain.

On the flip side, if something bad happened, no one would know.

“There just aren’t many people.”

Rayun replied lightly, having somehow heard Jaeyoung’s mutter.

He hadn’t expected a response and looked at her in surprise.

When their eyes met, the gentle curve of Rayun’s eyes slowly flattened.

‘So you don’t like me either.’

Jaeyoung stared at her face as the smile drained away, then spoke.

“Even so, isn’t it strange that there’s not a single person around?”

“It’s winter.

There’s no work, and it’s cold.”

Given how freezing it was, it wasn’t an impossible explanation.

“What about other people our age?”

“There’s no school here, no academies either.

Everyone went to town.”

Rayun shook her head, staring at Jaeyoung.

Her voice had grown oddly bleak, which naturally made Dongjun uncomfortable.

“Really?

Then your parents—since we were invited as your friends, shouldn’t we at least greet them…?”

Even if Rayun felt suspicious, basic manners toward adults still mattered.

Especially since they were all boys visiting a girl’s village.

And as the youngest in his family, Jaeyoung found older adults easier to deal with than peers.

“That’s a bit…”

Rayun clearly hesitated.

“Oh, r-right!

We’re just here to have fun, greeting parents isn’t necessary—”

Dongjun waved his hands frantically, his face flushed.

His intentions were painfully obvious.

The others looked at him with half-lidded eyes.

“My parents can’t speak yet.”

Jaeyoung froze.

“I’m sorry.”

He apologized awkwardly, worried he’d touched a sensitive subject.

“It’s okay.

Now that you’re here, they’ll be able to speak soon.”

Rayun laughed lightly, waving it off.

She really did look fine, which eased Jaeyoung slightly.

‘…What?’

But as the guilt faded and his racing heart settled, something felt wrong.

The more he replayed her words in his head, the stranger they sounded.

‘They can’t speak yet.’

‘Now that you’re here, they’ll be able to soon.’

If it was just politeness, shouldn’t she have mentioned Dongjun, not him?

Feeling a sharp gaze, Jaeyoung turned his head.

Dongjun was staring at him too.

‘So she wasn’t just uncomfortable with me?’

Jaeyoung avoided Dongjun’s gaze, his thoughts tangled.

“I told you we should’ve brought a tent!”

A sharp voice snapped him back.

Jaeyoung looked up and scanned the building ahead.

It looked exactly like the kind of resort you’d hear about in urban legends.

Rusty water streaked down the walls, and dark green moss crawled up the pillars.

The garden was overgrown, weeds reaching knee height.

“Some people say that’s part of the charm.”

Sensing the mood, Rayun tilted her head.

“It is the kind of place people into abandoned-house experiences would love.”

Dongjun forced a laugh, clearly not into it.

Haewoon, equally displeased, didn’t hide his irritation in front of Rayun.

“When else are we going to stay somewhere like this?”

Jaeyoung said soothingly, tugging on Haewoon’s sleeve.

Haewoon frowned, then let out a heavy sigh.

“Pick any room you like.

You’re the only guests anyway.”

Rayun spoke as naturally as if she were the owner.

Looking around, it really did feel empty.

‘Well… a resort like this existing here is weird to begin with.’

People usually chose travel destinations for scenery or food.

They hadn’t seen a single restaurant, and the scenery wasn’t particularly special.

‘So that’s why it’s abandoned.’

Thinking that made sense, Jaeyoung stepped toward the entrance.

“Can we use the whole building?

One floor per person?”

Mintae shouted excitedly.

The resort was four stories tall.

Jaeyoung, who had made the reservation himself, ignored him.

“If you’re brave enough.

How about the fourth floor?”

Haewoon sneered.

Mintae’s face went pale.

“Scared?

Then just die.”

Haewoon laughed cruelly.

Jaeyoung joined in, teasing Mintae too.

Before Mintae could actually start crying, Haewoon ran inside.

Jaeyoung followed, slowing his steps.

“Hey.

There’s no staff.”

The reception desk was empty.

Dust coated the surface, untouched for ages.

“Hello?”

“Anyone here?”

No answer, only echoes.

Jaeyoung rubbed his forehead uneasily.

“We paid online, so it should be fine… right?”

“I don’t think there’s even proper bedding.”

Despite usually being careless, Haewoon complained fussily.

Jaeyoung glanced behind them.

Dongjun and Rayun weren’t there.

“Let’s ask Rayun what to do when she gets here.”

It felt wrong to wander around without permission.

“Let’s check inside more.”

Haewoon moved without hesitation.

Jaeyoung followed.

The deeper they went, the clearer it became how neglected the place was.

“Oh!

The elevator works!”

Mintae sighed in relief, hammering the button.

The screeching sound of rusted metal grinding echoed unpleasantly.

“If they don’t even mop, there’s no way they maintain the elevator.”

“Wouldn’t stairs be safer?”

“Hey!

Take me with you!”

Dongjun came running from the distance.

But Rayun wasn’t with him.

“Where’s Rayun?”

“She went home for a bit.

We’re supposed to meet her up there.”

Worried she’d be waiting, Dongjun rushed them.

And just like that, they were pushed into the elevator.

“Which room?”

“Third floor.

Room 307.”

Jaeyoung checked the reservation page as he spoke.

The elevator jolted violently.

“What if this thing really falls?”

Mintae clung to the handrail, trembling.

“At least it’s only three floors.”

Haewoon offered zero comfort.

Jaeyoung looked down at his arm.

Haewoon was gripping it tightly, veins bulging white.

Instead of shaking him off, Jaeyoung covered Haewoon’s cold hand with his own.

Startled, Haewoon stared at him, then grabbed his hand too.

After what felt like an hour, the doors opened.

Jaeyoung leaned out first.

The hallway was pitch dark, all the lights dead.

“Let’s go.”

Nodding frantically, they stepped out.

A red felt runner muted their footsteps.

Room 307 was at the very end.