Brrring.
Brrringgg.
…A ringtone?
Who still uses the default tone these days?
I smirked. Probably some old man.
Brrring. Brrringgg. Brrringgg—
"…Wait. That's mine."
I scrambled for my phone.
"Hello?"
"Ah, you picked up. This is the vice principal."
Thud!
I fell off the bed. Hard.
Ughhh...
I'd jumped up so fast that my foot caught the edge of the nightstand, and I went crashing to the floor.
Couldn't even scream—it was the VP. I had to suffer in silence. Ugh…
"Is everything alright?"
"Huh? Oh—yes. Everything's fine."
"It's about that multicultural student incident Robert reported."
"Yes, yes. Of course."
I cradled the phone between my shoulder and ear while rubbing my now-throbbing foot.
'Why the hell is he calling me at home about this?'
I cursed internally while forcing polite replies.
"Robert said he'd talk with the student in question."
"Yes. He did."
"Then why didn't you report back with him? Come in immediately."
Wait—right now?! What time is it?
I glanced at the screen.
8:45 AM.
Crap.
"I checked. You don't have a first-period class today. Report to the main office."
"Y-yes, sir. Understood."
…Maybe he doesn't realize I'm late yet?
"Are you not coming?"
"No, no, I am. Just… I need a bit more time."
"What does that mean?"
"I don't have a full grasp on the situation yet."
Even as I answered, I was stewing.
Robert. That jerk.
After all the time I spent helping him—he dumped the whole thing on me?
"…Hmph."
A sigh slithered through the receiver. The kind that made your stomach drop.
"Just get here before noon."
"Yes, sir."
I hung up fast and called a cab.
First time in my life being late.
I was in shock.
Late? Me? I'm losing it.
What the hell happened? I wasn't even sick—how did I sleep through the alarm?
Suddenly, it hit me.
The reindeer cart.
The bonk hammer.
That ridiculous, way-too-real dream from last night.
Right.
Today, I had to find Nikky.
Figure out what the hell was going on.
…No. Not just Nikky.
I needed to talk to Alek and Sasha, too. All three of them.
I stepped into the 2nd year staffroom, trying to act casual.
Yes!
Everyone was gone—probably teaching first period.
I slipped to my seat and set down my bag.
…Ugh. I felt gross.
Like a delinquent teacher or something.
I was ashamed of myself.
The door opened.
Robert walked in.
"Oh, there you are."
"Good morning."
"I came by earlier. Thought maybe you were in the science lab again, like yesterday."
"Oh. I see."
How funny.
Just admit it—you panicked when the VP called and dragged me into it.
"Well, the vice principal already called me."
"He did? What'd he say?"
"He said he wants to see me."
Robert looked down, maybe feeling a little guilty.
Then the bell rang. End of first period.
I stood up without another word.
"I'm going to grab the students real quick."
Robert stared as I rushed out.
His face: Not thrilled.
Me: Not caring.
"What? All three are absent?"
"Yes."
That's weird.
They've never been late before.
Then—
Pop.
A bonk hammer floated into view.
Right in front of me.
Wiggling like, "Hey~ remember me?"
I… couldn't stop myself.
I laughed.
"Seriously? You followed me here?"
"…Excuse me?"
James blinked wide-eyed at me.
He was the one I'd asked to help round up the kids.
"No—never mind. James, if they show up, send them to me. Immediately."
"Yes, sir. But… I don't think they will."
"…Why not?"
James hesitated.
"Yesterday... something felt off."
We were standing in the hallway now.
"They were talking. I overheard them by chance. Normally I wouldn't eavesdrop, but… after what Nikky did yesterday…"
"…Right."
"It caught my attention."
"What did they say?"
"Well… Alek said, 'Not Tel.'
And Sasha said, 'He can still help us.'"
"…Really?"
"And then something about… red.
Sasha said something about red."
"…RED?"
"Yeah. That's it. RED."
James paused, trying to recall.
"She said something like: 'RED has followed us here.
They've crossed over. This place isn't safe anymore.'
But honestly? I don't know what she meant. Even with her English, it sounded… weird."
He looked uncomfortable.
"I didn't tell you yesterday because I wasn't sure I heard it right."
"Do you remember anything else?"
"Alek said…
'Today. Here. The last.'
That's all I got."
I exhaled slowly.
"Thanks, James."
I stared at James.
The hallway felt colder.
"Today. Here. The last."
What were they planning?
And the bonk hammer twitched in the air.
Still there.
Still following me.
What if today really was the last?