TTRIA 39

Unlike her troublesome younger brother, there was a bright and passionate child.

With a refined demeanor and conduct that shone particularly under strict rules, and a sharp mind driven by a passion for learning, Amy Max was a smart girl who overcame the disadvantages of her environment through her own efforts, surpassing her male peers to secure sponsorship. Without a doubt, Amy was likely the child most frequently featured in local newspapers among the orphanage kids.

Amy was that remarkable. She was an object of admiration for many children, but she also attracted envy and jealousy in equal measure. Especially in the latter case, there were those who were desperate to belittle her abilities, and whenever they did, a certain name came up.

“I heard the director say that Jeff’s sponsorship is being extended because he’s going to advance to higher education.”

“That makes sense for him. Jeff’s definitely different from those smelly idiots over there.”

Jeff Lowell.

A boy who naturally drew attention. Undeniably striking.

“So Amy’s sponsorship will be extended too, right?”

“Of course. There’s Ms. Winslow, isn’t there?”

The only child who could compete purely, carrying the same weight of expectations.

“But did you guys hear?”

“What?”

“Actually, Ms. Winslow wanted to sponsor Jeff, not Amy.”

But the one who made her realize they could never be equals.

“Because his previous sponsorship got extended, it went to Amy instead.”

“Well, honestly, sponsoring a boy is safer than a girl. No matter how outstanding, a girl’s just a girl. In the end, it’s men who contribute to society, right?”

In the end…

“You ruined everything. It’s all your fault, if it weren’t for you…!”

The target of her resentment.

“Why are you here?”

Facing him again now, Amy couldn’t hide her twisted expression. She resented the reality of encountering someone she didn’t want to see.

“…Amy.”

Jeff looked down at Amy with an awkward expression.

“I asked why you’re here!”

“…I get that you’re not happy to see me, but could you lower your voice?”

The attention of others wasn’t welcome. Jeff, pressing his cap down further, lightly patted Amy’s shoulder.

“Sorry for bumping into you, but I have to go.”

“No. Answer my question first. I asked why you’re here. Does Johnny know you’re here?”

Amy blocked Jeff’s path as he tried to step aside, snapping sharply. Swallowing a sigh, Jeff rubbed his face and answered.

“Yeah. He knows.”

“You guys… have you been in contact?”

“Johnny and me? Are you seriously asking that?”

“Then why are you here? Don’t tell me you’re going to say it’s a coincidence.”

“Why not? That’s the truth.”

Amy let out an incredulous scoff.

“A coincidence? You expect me to believe that?”

“That’s what I want to say…”

A sigh escaped Jeff’s lips. Pressing his throbbing temples, he studied Amy’s expression with tired eyes. Could this be part of the play too? A trap to keep him here? He scrutinized her sharply, suspicious.

But Amy showed no particular signs. She simply seemed displeased to encounter Jeff here, her face contorted. Her expression, unchanged from his last memory of her, made Jeff give a wry smile. Well, he himself had cornered Johnny harshly after their long-awaited reunion, so he had no right to feel upset or wronged.

“So you’re saying you came to see Johnny’s play by coincidence?”

“No, not exactly. Johnny gave me the ticket himself.”

“Are you joking? You said you weren’t in contact.”

“Yeah, I said that. But I ran into Johnny by chance today. He seemed happy to see someone from back home after so long, gave me the ticket, and I came out of respect for his gesture.”

Amy’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

“You couldn’t ignore Johnny’s gesture? You, who always treated him like he was invisible?”

“…”

Did he sound too insincere? Clicking his tongue inwardly, Jeff said calmly.

“If not that, why would I be here? I don’t even know why I’m explaining myself to you.”

“What did you say?”

“And you—did you really not know I was here?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m asking if Johnny didn’t give you a heads-up.”

Close friends or family would typically greet each other before a performance, offering flowers to celebrate an achievement. So Johnny might have told her. Jeff’s suspicion grew as he stepped closer to Amy. Then…

“Amy?”

Johnny spotted them while passing through the lobby.

“Jeff…!”

Looking shocked, Johnny rushed over. He grabbed Amy, who was shorter than him, by the shoulders and pulled her away from Jeff. Flustered, he apologized to Jeff and turned to his sister.

“Didn’t you say you couldn’t come?”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“Wait, calm down. Let’s not do this here…”

“Why is he here? How could you invite him? You’re really…”

Amy’s shoulders trembled. Johnny, trying to soothe her in a panic, glanced at Jeff. His face showed unavoidable embarrassment and guilt toward Jeff. Amy, irritated even by her brother’s demeanor, turned to Jeff and said coldly.

“Get lost. I don’t even want to see your face.”

“Noona, please…! Let’s go, let’s talk outside!”

Unable to tolerate his sister’s rudeness any longer, Johnny grabbed Amy’s arm and hurriedly left. Even as she was dragged away, Amy glared threateningly. Don’t ever show your face again. Though she disappeared, her harsh voice echoed in the lobby for a while.

Hah, Jeff couldn’t suppress a hollow laugh, holding his forehead. A wave of exhaustion hit him after the storm.

“You okay?”

Cecil, gently squeezing Jeff’s hand, looked at him with worried eyes. He’d shown Cecil an unpleasant scene. Jeff gave an awkward smile and a light nod in response. As they left the theater with that uneasy mood…

“Jeff! Wait!”

Johnny, sprinting from somewhere, grabbed Jeff’s sleeve. Amy wasn’t with him.

“Sorry, Jeff. Really sorry. I’ll apologize for noona. You must’ve been shocked, right?”

Johnny, looking distressed, rubbed his face, at a loss.

“I didn’t know noona would show up. She said she couldn’t come because of something urgent. If I’d known, I would’ve given you a ticket for the next show…”

“…”

If he hadn’t been told in advance, Amy’s sharp reaction wasn’t premeditated. It was understandable enough. Jeff sighed lightly and looked down at Johnny.

“She found time suddenly, huh?”

“Guess she made it for the premiere. I really didn’t expect you two to run into each other. I’m sorry for noona’s rudeness again. It’s probably because of back then…”

Johnny trailed off with a wry smile.

“So, today’s probably not good because of noona. How about tomorrow afternoon?”

Jeff, staring at Johnny, nodded. Johnny’s face, expecting rejection, brightened.

“Thanks! Is 2 p.m. okay? I’m staying near the theater. By then, noona will be at work, so we can talk comfortably.”

“…At your place?”

“Since the topic’s sensitive, it’s hard to talk openly outside… Evenings, people are drinking and don’t care, but daytime’s different.”

“…”

It sounded reasonable, but it felt off. It seemed like a trap to lure him to the house. But voicing such suspicion might seem odd, so Jeff reluctantly nodded. Johnny, beaming, scribbled an address and contact info on a note and handed it over.

“Thanks for coming today. I hope I can hear your thoughts tomorrow. Get home safely.”

With a friendly farewell, Johnny turned away. Watching his retreating figure, Jeff led Cecil away. They stayed vigilant on the way back to the inn, but nothing happened.

Jeff’s suspicion toward Johnny eased slightly because he complied readily despite the sudden change. Instead of going to Johnny’s address, Jeff called and suggested meeting elsewhere. Contrary to expectations that he’d resist or insist on his place, Johnny agreed willingly.

Ding—the café door chimed as Johnny appeared. Jeff signaled to Cecil, seated diagonally in a corner. Wearing a cap pulled low, Cecil pretended to read a book, bowing his head. Unnoticing, Johnny sat across from Jeff.

“Am I too late?”

“No, right on time. Thanks for coming.”

Johnny’s eyes widened at Jeff’s noticeably softer demeanor. Flushed, he began talking about how surprised he was by yesterday’s encounter, how happy he felt despite their past making it bittersweet, and his gratitude for Jeff attending the play.

“Honestly, I thought of you the whole time I was writing the script. You saw ‘it’ before I did. If we were close enough to check on each other, I’d have shown you the script first.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. That’s why I was thrilled to see you yesterday. Not just to show you the play, but to apologize for the past…”

Johnny trailed off with a wry smile, recalling his childhood days of mocking and shunning young Jeff for chasing the “bug’s” shadow.

“You really saw ‘it,’ didn’t you?”

A faint breath escaped Jeff’s lips as he sipped his tea. His amber eyes, gazing at the tea’s surface, turned to Johnny. Johnny nodded at the low question.

“Yeah. Like I said yesterday. And like you saw in the play.”

“The shadow of a praying mantis?”

“Yeah, exactly. It was definitely a praying mantis.”

On the stage, the praying mantis shadow behind the woman overlapped with the shadow from the mansion. The lifeless panel’s form. The awkward shadow transformed into the dark figure wielding a sharp scythe that day. Then, in Jeff’s mind, the image of a pitifully moving butterfly appeared.

Biting his lip, Jeff glanced diagonally. Cecil, pretending to read while watching them, smiled softly. Feeling unable to return the smile, Jeff faced Johnny with regret.

“I want to hear more details.”

Johnny, prepared since facing Jeff, began slowly, recalling the past.

“It happened because of Amy. A noblewoman who once noticed Amy made the offer. In the play, Edward, the protagonist, works alone at the villa… but as you know, I was with noona. Amy handled kitchen duties and served the lady, while I managed the villa and general upkeep. While fixing things around the villa, I noticed something strange.”

“What?”

“The interior structure suggested a dead-end wall, but from outside, there was space. I mean… yeah, a structural space.”

Curious, Johnny explored the villa secretly, without the lady or Amy knowing. That’s how he found the hidden room, where the lady’s granddaughter was confined.

“It was shocking. We didn’t know anyone else lived in the villa. Turns out, the lady was neglecting her, like it didn’t matter if her diseased granddaughter died…”

Johnny’s face twisted painfully. Hesitating, he continued with difficulty.

“Amy and I started bringing her food. Amy was cautious of the lady, so I mostly delivered it. We started talking, got closer. And like I said yesterday… I opened her door while she was asleep…”

Johnny’s breath stopped. He shut his eyes tightly, as if seeing something terrifying. Regaining his composure, his gaze held a distant haze.

“…Our eyes met.”

“…”

“She wasn’t asleep.”

The corners of Johnny’s lips twitched.

“Her bright yellow eyes stared at me. In the faint lantern light, a huge shadow loomed behind her… It was clearly sharp blades. A praying mantis’s legs… and its antennae moved eerily. Then it came toward me…”

As Johnny’s words halted, a heavy silence fell. He silently rolled up his sleeve. Unbuttoning his shirt, a long scar appeared.

“…It attacked me.”

Jeff stared wordlessly at the scar. Johnny, grimacing as if seeing something repulsive, quickly fixed his clothes and added.

“…When you stopped talking about the ‘bug’s’ shadow as a kid… I actually started watching for it. Maybe I was curious deep down.”

“…”

“Then I saw praying mantises by chance, two of them together. As I stared, other kids came to watch. One said they were mating. Then the larger one started eating the smaller one’s head.”

Yet the mantis moved. Even while its head was being eaten, it moved its reproductive organs. Johnny, reciting dazedly, looked exhausted from the memory.

“When she attacked me… I was terrified I’d become like that male mantis, head eaten. So I grabbed sleeping Amy and fled like crazy. We left the villa that dawn, abandoning everything.”

The siblings wandered until a chance brought them here. Amy teaches kids and occasionally handles accounting for a small office. Johnny started as a theater worker, grew interested in playwriting, and got lucky with an opportunity.

“…I remembered what you used to say. That it wasn’t your uncle but a ‘monster.’ So your mother…”

Jeff knew what the pause implied.

“When I saw ‘its’ shadow. And when ‘it’ attacked me. Your face came to mind first. Because I realized you were telling the truth…”

“Have you heard anything since you escaped?”

Jeff asked, eyes on his cold tea.

“No, nothing. Not even from the lady. She probably didn’t want it exposed.”

“Why turn ‘that’ into a script?”

Johnny gave a weak smile.

“I want to ask you, Jeff. How could I not write it? ‘That’ story… I want to tell the world about ‘it.’ Like you did as a kid.”

“So why? Because the scar on your arm feels unfair? Because being threatened made you angry?”

“No, it’s not that simple! I, I mean…”

Johnny struggled to continue. He seemed frustrated, unable to express himself, but he was confused too. Jeff understood. Johnny’s reason for exposing ‘it’ through the play was to be a hero like Edward, who boldly defeated ‘it’ instead of fleeing.

“Enough. You don’t need to explain more.”

Jeff sighed. Johnny, upset, continued talking, but it didn’t register. Jeff kept his gaze on him, thinking.

Would Wayne approach someone like this? Knowing Johnny had encountered the ‘bug’ and used it in his play, how could they leave him alone if they knew?

“…”

Was this all just a bizarre coincidence?

Was his paranoia from being on the run?

“…Why give me the ticket?”

“Look, Jeff. Are you listening? I told you, after the villa, I thought of you a lot. Then I ran into you right before the show. How could I ignore that?”

“You gave me the ticket like you were waiting for me. Like you had it ready.”

Hah! Johnny burst into a hollow laugh, looking incredulous. When Jeff didn’t react, he shrugged lightly and rummaged through his jacket, pulling out several tickets.

“People in the business often carry promo tickets. For friends, friends of friends, you know, free passes.”

“Why two tickets?”

“Because you had a friend right there. Plus, full seats are always nice.”

“That’s really it?”

Johnny looked puzzled by Jeff’s persistent suspicion.

“What else would there be?”

His response was enough to ease Jeff’s doubts. Jeff’s shoulders relaxed, and he leaned his chin on the table, letting out a hollow laugh. Johnny frowned.

“You’re acting weird. Is something up?”

“Why? Gonna fix it for me?”

“Well… If it’s something I can help with, I’ll try…”

Muttering uncertainly, Johnny suddenly frowned. Glancing at Jeff, he said cautiously.

“If it’s about money… Sorry, but we’re struggling too…”

“If that’s the case, can’t be helped. You looked well-off, so I thought you were doing fine. My bad for assuming and making it awkward.”

Jeff, casually tossing out insincere words, sipped his cold tea. Caught off guard, Johnny stared with a distressed expression.

“How much do you need…?”

Jeff couldn’t help but laugh. Covering his smirk with the teacup, he took the last sip and said.

“Enough to cover this tea?”

“Hah! That I can do! It’s the least for an old friend.”

Johnny, relieved, relaxed his shoulders. He’d apparently been imagining a hefty sum. Not being close, he took Jeff’s teasing seriously and started offering other menu items. When Jeff lightly declined, Johnny looked disappointed, then brightened and spoke.

“Hey, how about dinner tomorrow night?”

Before Jeff could decline, Johnny continued.

“Honestly, noona seemed regretful yesterday. She felt bad for being rude. It’s been a while since then… Her actions were a bit much, even to me. Anyway, she was subtly checking if I got your contact. How about dinner to smooth things over?”