Page 139 of Perfect Happiness
Thud!
Jiyoo’s chest was pounding.This was impossible.This had to be a dream.But she didn’t want to stop the quiz.She wanted to know who this person was, this person who knew her, who cried like a loon, who was pounding on the wall in the attic.
“Then what’s my name?Knock once for Jiyoo Seo and knock twice for Jiyoo Cha.”
Thud!
Jiyoo jumped to her feet.She tensed the muscles in her legs as she glared at the spot in the wall the sound came from.It felt like electricity was flowing through her entire body.She could feel the blood pumping through her forehead, earlobes, throat, chest, belly button.But her mind was blank; she didn’t know what question to ask next.
You dummy.You need to ask who it is.That person beyond the wall knows who you are.That means you know who they are!Call out every name you can think of.
Mischievous Mouse was right.
“I’m going to name all the people I know.If you’re them, knock once.If you’re not, knock twice.Or just don’t knock at all.I’ll start now.Father.”
No sound.
“Grandma.”
Still nothing.
“Auntie,” Jiyoo said despite knowing it couldn’t be Auntie.
Thud!
“Auntie Jane?”Jiyoo shouted.
Thud!
“Are you really Auntie Jane?My Auntie Jane?”
Thud!And then another loon-like groan.To Jiyoo, this sounded like Auntie Jane was calling her name.
Jiyoo!
Jiyoo ran to the door without thinking.But then suddenly Good Daughter stopped her.
You can’t leave.You promised Mother.You said you wouldn’t leave, not even if Mother called you herself.
Jiyoo turned her head and glared at the wall.Jiyoo shouted to the wall:
“Auntie, why are you in there?”
Auntie Jane called Jiyoo again:Thud!
Jiyoo’s feet became tied when she reached the door.She couldn’t leave the room, but she also couldn’t just leave Auntie Jane inside the attic.Jiyoo almost wished this was a dream, too.
It’s not a dream.Mischievous Mouse said.Do you really still think this is a dream?Mischievous Mouse then started telling Jiyoo things she didn’t want to hear.Mother locked the attic.Auntie Jane is inside the attic.Auntie Jane can’t talk.Just think about what that means.
Jiyoo didn’t need to think.She already knew the answer.Mother had locked Auntie Jane in the attic, just like she locked Jiyoo in this room.Although Jiyoo didn’t know why Auntie couldn’t speak, that wasn’t important.The important thing was that Auntie was trapped in the attic, and Jiyoo knew where the key was.She could open it if she really wanted to.
“Wake up, little one.Wake up.”
Jiyoo thought of Auntie’s voice, which she had heard in her dream.
“If you have another bad dream, just call for me.Auntie’s not going anywhere.”
As Auntie had promised, she was always by Jiyoo’s side.She had called her little one, she had woken her up from her bad dream, she had told her it was okay, she had told her not to cry, and she had come all the way to Cheongyeon to give her Dad Puppet.And yet, when she needed Jiyoo’s help, Jiyoo hesitated.
