OOPS! MYSTERIOUS SOUNDS: BOOK 1.

The Ninth voice. 

I couldn't sleep at all that night. It wasn't until now, as the sun was about to rise and the light began to appear, that I got up, and in the process, I glanced at my younger brother. He was sleeping next to me because last night, Satang noticed I wasn't feeling well, so he came into the room to keep me company.

 

'Did I hear that right?'

 

I was thinking about the conversation I had with my younger brother last night, after I stammered out about what strange thing I'd encountered with my headphones, besides the sound. He didn't believe it and just laughed, completely uninterested. Since he acted that way, I didn't say anything more to him. Even though my younger brother didn't seem to believe in this supernatural story, he still cared enough to come and sleep with me last night. Even so, I still couldn't sleep because I kept thinking about what I heard through the headphones. I'm sure I didn't mishear.

 

The mere thought of that sound sent shivers down my spine. For a moment, I glanced at the troublesome headphones lying not far from my sibling. The man was still asleep because last night, Satang took it and tested it to make sure there was nothing there, to reassure me. But who could be reassured when I've heard that strange sound twice already? 

 

Sigh. What exactly am I dealing with? I can only wonder, because this is a supernatural matter that defies explanation. What should I do? Hey, I want to know what exactly happened. For a moment, I couldn't help but think of someone who, by chance, was forced into a relationship with me—the person who saved my mother's life. Maybe Jin knows something.

 

I sighed deeply before getting up to wash my face, brush my teeth, and make a simple breakfast for my younger brother as well. Actually, it's not that early. It was almost nine o'clock in the morning. Luckily, it was Saturday, so I could sleep in comfortably. While I was frying the sausages and toasting the bread, my younger brother walked over, wiping the water droplets from his face, still half-asleep. He hadn't even fully woken up yet, but he still managed to use one hand to pick up a sausage and put it in his mouth.

 

"Have you brushed your teeth yet?" I made a face at my younger brother.

 

"I'll brush my teeth while I'm taking a shower."

 

"Your breath smells like rotten food. Go take a shower!"

 

I waved my younger brother away, telling him to take a shower. He made a mischievous face before turning around and walking into the bathroom. Then he stopped in his tracks and turned back around.

 

"Yeah, P'Phod."

 

“yeah"

 

"I'm going to Pao's house to play games this afternoon."

 

I furrowed my brows because, even though I knew my younger brother's best friend, they had just spent the night together until late.

 

"Are you sure you're going to play games?"

 

I narrowed my eyes, scrutinising my younger brother, who just gave me a bright smile and shrugged.

 

"Yesterday, we stayed together until very late before returning to the condo. We worked on the report together yesterday," he smiled at me. "But we're planning to play games today, P'Phod. I never stay in my room on weekends."

 

I grumbled.

 

"I promise I'll be back no later than 9 PM."

 

Satang held up three fingers in a gesture similar to a scout's oath, and also made the pleading face he always uses when begging for something.

 

"Don't go wandering around," I warned my younger brother. "Or I'll tell Mom and Dad."

 

"You're using my parents to threaten me again." Satang pouted annoyingly, so I couldn't help but reach out and lightly flick its head.

 

"I'm going to buy some things for my room this afternoon."

 

"Then I'll go with you. I'll help carry the things."

 

It walked back out, grabbed a fork, and put another piece of sausage in its mouth. I shook my head because in the end, it still wouldn't brush its teeth; nobody's more of a filthy person.

 

"After I finish shopping, please drop me off at Pao's house, P'Phod."

 

"Go by yourself."

 

"Wow, I was going to help carry the things."

 

"You don't want to pay for the subway, do you? That's why you're making up an excuse for me to give you a ride."

 

"Sure, the subway fares here are ridiculously expensive. A round trip is almost the minimum wage," he grumbled. That made me nod in agreement because the subway fares really are high. Taking the bus, which is much cheaper, means enduring crammed conditions like those in a sardine can. I totally understand how people struggling to make ends meet have to rely on a transportation system that's so inconvenient for city life. Seriously.

 

After we finished our rather late breakfast, my younger brother went down to swim in the condo's communal pool. While I was there, I was cleaning the room when it was past noon, and my younger brother still hadn't come up. He hadn't taken his phone with him either, so I went downstairs to look for him. Upon reaching the swimming pool on the second floor of the condo, I frowned in surprise at the sound of children's chatter interspersed with the deep voice of someone else. In the meantime, I could hear my younger brother's voice intermittently until I stopped near the pool.

 

I frowned when I saw the broad, bare back of someone wearing swimming trunks. That back was very familiar. One hand supported the waist of a child, no older than five, wearing a nice swimsuit and with good legs, as if the child were learning to swim. A little further away was my younger brother, the one I was looking for. He was swimming and diving. I stood still for a while until Satang looked up and turned towards me. 

 

"Oh, P'Phod!"

 

At that moment, the person I had inadvertently been staring at turned towards me. That made me freeze because my gaze had unintentionally landed on their chest. Naked, that broad chest revealed clearly defined muscles. The droplets of water clinging to his chest made it even harder for me to look away. Before he knew it, the little boy who was learning to swim was being sent to the edge of the pool, and that familiar-looking swimming instructor walked out of the pool. It fit perfectly, pushing back the wet hair that was plastered against his face, revealing his sharp features. Surprisingly, I felt embarrassed by the person in front of me.

 

"You," I called out softly. At that moment, it was as if a parent of a child taking swimming lessons was walking by. The little child ran to their parent, and that's where the sound occurred. It was just me and Jin standing there, staring at each other.

 

"What are you doing here?"

 

It must have been a silly question, since just seeing him in his swimming trunks was enough to guess what he was doing there. I asked because I just wanted clarity, that's all.

 

"Swimming lessons"

 

"I've never seen you here before."

 

I asked because I wasn't aware he also taught swimming lessons to the residents of this condo.

 

"I've been doing it for two or three weeks now."

 

I nodded, feeling quite puzzled because he never told me he was going to teach swimming at my condo, even though we're friends. We have frequent opportunities to meet.

 

"You didn't tell me you were coming to teach swimming at my condo."

 

But on the other hand, we're not actually anything to each other. Even though we're just pretending to talk to others, our relationship is pretend too. We're fellow human beings who almost came to blows before, so there's probably no need for Jin to tell me everything.

 

"My senior colleague recommended this place to the parents of the children who want to take swimming lessons at this condo."

 

"Mmm." I nodded.

 

"I didn't know you were interested in my life, too."

 

He smirked, and that made my face flush. Especially when I thought about last night, how he tricked me into saying I was worried. He's so cunning, I don't know why. I wonder if they'll have any other gimmicks.

 

"Who would want to know about your business?" He didn't answer, just pressed the corner of his mouth into a smirk, the way he always did.

 

"What the hell are you smiling about?"

 

"Didn't get enough sleep? Why are you so grumpy today?" It asked with a smile, which made me pause because I hadn't actually slept last night. Before I could answer, Satang got out of the water and walked to join us.

 

"How did you know, Jin Hyung? I think P'Phod stayed up all night last night."

 

My younger brother repeated himself, which made Jin turn and look me straight in the face. He looked as if he were seriously examining my face.

 

"Dark circles under the eyes"

 

When it greeted me, I nervously touched the edge of my own tongue with my hand. That only made Satang burst into laughter, causing me to frown at him. Finally, he said he would go up to his room first.

 

"What's wrong?"

 

"nothing"

 

"Why didn't you sleep last night?"

 

I was speechless, unable to pull my lips away when I saw those sharp, piercing eyes staring at my face. Those eyes held an indescribable tenderness, and the events of last night had troubled me so much that I couldn't do anything; it was all bottled up inside me. I want to vent to someone. If I tell him, will he believe me?

 

Just as he was about to speak what was on his mind, the little kid who was having swimming lessons with him called out, so Jin had to pull away. I sighed deeply. I watched as the figure walked away. It turned back and held up its phone, as if trying to signal that it would call again later.

 

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

 

That afternoon, after buying some personal items with my younger brother and driving him to his friend's house, I returned to my condo. Just as I was about to get out of the car, my phone rang. It was my younger brother calling.

 

"Hey there."

[Did I leave my iPad in the car, P'Phod?]

 

That question made me furrow my brows before I leaned over to look at the passenger seat, and I saw my younger brother's iPad had actually fallen onto the seat.

 

"I see it. It fell right on your seat."

[There it is! How could I forget?] It grumbled angrily.

 

"You're so forgetful at this age. What will you have left when you're older?" (I was too busy talking to P'Pod, that's why I forgot when I got out of the car.)

 

"deservedly"

 

[Hey, P'Phod and P'Jin, have you guys gone back yet?]

 

"That's him. He’s probably gone back already. What business did you have with him?" 

 

[Nothing, I just wanted to thank Jin.] Satang sounded excited about something.

"What's the matter?"

 

[While we were swimming, Jin suddenly reminded Pao and me to be careful when crossing the road.]

 

That answer made my heart race, almost causing me to drop to the floor. I suddenly worried about my younger brother.

 

"What's wrong with you? What happened, Satang?"

 

[Heh]

 

"Satang", I called out my younger brother's name, my voice trembling.

 

(Just now, Pao suggested we walk to buy rice at the corner store. Pao almost got hit by a car while crossing the road. What a coincidence that Jin was there.)

 

[Keep it]

My heart skipped a beat.

 

"How is Nong Pao doing?"

(It's okay, brother. It's just...stupid.)

 

I listened intently to what my younger brother told me, and my heart trembled. I just told him to be careful and that I would hurry to pick him up. But in the meantime, I saw Jin. I had just come down from the condo.

 

I've encountered strange occurrences from its premonition twice, and both times my family members survived safely because of Jin’s help... I pursed my lips tightly and ran to stop in front of it. They paused for a moment when they saw me running towards them, breathless.

 

"Phu has something to talk to you about."

 

There's a small garden in front of my condo, so I led it to a bench by the pool. As I sat down, Jin then handed me something. It was an elastic bandage. So I raised my eyebrows, looking at the elastic bandage in his hand, as if asking a question.

 

"what"

 

"Wrap it with a bandage. Does it still hurt today?"

 

"Want to trade?"

 

It raised its eyebrows and looked directly at me.

"What do you want to exchange?"

 

I bit my lip thoughtfully.

"Phu has a question to ask, in exchange for wrapping your bandage."

 

"Sure, if I can answer, I will."

 

I took the bandage as he rolled up his sweatpants leg and placed his injured leg across my lap. I didn't have time to notice his expression. I was busy unfolding the bandage and preparing to wrap it around the knee.

 

"On Saturdays and Sundays, I teach swimming. On other days, I drive for Grab."

Suddenly, it spoke up, so I stopped wrapping the bandage in my hand.

 

"Why tell me?"

 

"Didn't you want to ask?"

 

I quickly shook my head and then froze when I saw the way its eyes met mine. Okay, I'll admit I was a little interested in this, but it wasn't really my thing. But since it brought it up, I couldn't help but wonder how it could continue driving for Grab after all that intense soccer training. Instead of resting on Sunday, he took on an extra job teaching swimming. It's like he's working so hard he can't make ends meet, which is very strange.

 

"Didn't you get a scholarship to play football?"

 

"Yes."

 

"With all this extra work, where do you find the time to sleep?"

 

He smirked, making me freeze, as if realising I was becoming too inquisitive about his personal life.

 

"I can manage." He shrugged.

 

"Seriously, are you having problems with money?"

 

"I did get a scholarship, but it only covers tuition and a little bit of school supplies. I have to find ways to pay for my own dorm and living expenses. I don't want to bother Venerable Monk"

 

"Mmm."

 

I once heard Ai Dang say that the person in front of me was working to support 

his own education because he didn't want to bother Luang Ta, who had raised him. I've never heard anything about his family, and he's never mentioned anything personal to anyone. All I know is that his real grandfather, Luang Ta, is supporting his education.

 

"This kind of work isn't tiring at all. I've been doing part-time jobs since I was a kid."

 

I paused, thinking about myself, still relying on my parents for money for tuition and living expenses. Sometimes I even overspent on frivolous things while not earning my own money. This was in stark contrast to the person in front of me, who worked numerous part-time jobs and seemed willing to take on any task. For a moment, I felt surprised by this person. How did you grow up to be so strong?

 

Phu is a temple boy. He has no relatives anywhere..." He spoke in a flat tone, as if discussing the weather. "But luckily, he has a talent for sports. I decided to play football because I hoped that my skills would help me pass the entrance exam and get into university without having to pay tuition fees."

 

It's not surprising to hear this because the structure of our education system doesn't allow all children access to education. Many young people drop out of the education system due to poverty, and many more have to abandon their studies midway to support themselves.

 

"I decided to play football because I wanted to study."

 

I was stunned, my hand gripping the bandage, trembling slightly. For a moment, I glanced down at his injured knee. Legs are vital limbs for a footballer. Getting injured like this must be heartbreaking for someone who's been involved with football their whole life. I reached out and gently stroked its knee. For a moment, I couldn't help but admire its strength.

 

"Does it hurt a lot?"

It smiled slightly before shaking its head.

 

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

"Much better since you wrapped it in bandages."

 

It was tied up for a while because the fabric fastener kept slipping off. I blinked rapidly before turning my face away. My mind was blank, so I lowered my head and kept wrapping the bandage. 

 

"I think using a slip-on knee brace is better, because those wrap-around braces tend to come loose easily and require hooks to fasten, especially on the knee. Because it's constantly moving, it won't be snug anymore."

 

"I already have it."

 

"Why don't you use it if you already have it?" I lifted my head from my knees and asked.

 

"I'd rather have someone help me wrap the bandage around it."

 

Damn it... my face is burning hot. I glared at him, feeling an itchy tingling sensation on my chest, while muttering curses under my breath. Damn, Jin was smiling more than usual today. I pouted before focusing on finishing wrapping the bandage around his arm.

 

"finished"

 

"Thank you very much."

 

"Now it's your turn to answer my questions."

 

"I already answered that."

 

"You know exactly what I'm going to ask."

 

It went still.

"Today, Satang and his friend almost got hit by a car, but the younger ones were fine because you warned them." I looked at him.

 

"Straightforwardly, my mother almost got hit by a car, but because you warned me, she's safe."

 

Jin smiled slightly and said nothing.

"I have a story I want to tell you," he said with a smile. "Do you want to hear it?"

 

"I want to listen."

 

I unconsciously shook its arm gently before stopping short when I saw it looking at me with a seemingly affectionate expression.

 

"You really want to hear it that much?"

 

"Tell me about it." I made a face at him, which made him laugh.

 

"There was a child born into a family where no one wanted him..."

 

I fell silent.

 

"After my mother died, my father's family didn't want me, but luckily, my grandfather adopted me."

 

I reached out and held the other person's hand.

 

"As far as I can remember, I started hearing strange sounds. Sometimes it was a cry for help, sometimes it was a sound of pain, a sound that most people don't hear. One day, the child heard a strange sound from the moon, and soon after, unsettling events began to occur. It happened so often that it became a special intuition, a 'self-awareness'.

 

"So, does that mean that every time you hear something, you can warn others about upcoming events in advance?" I asked.

 

"Not always," he smirked and shook his head. "Some things are unchangeable. Some things are hard to change. There was a time when I wanted to try and make a change."

 

"So, how did it go?"

 

It remained still for a moment before lowering its gaze to its injured knee. "No one can change another person's destiny. Because the outcome might cause him to lose what he loves forever." He clutched his knees and forced a smile. That sight made me clench my lips tightly before speaking.

 

"No matter what pain that child is experiencing right now, I want to thank him."

 

He stared at me intently.

 

"I want to thank him for helping my family twice already. If it weren't for him, I don't know what terrible things I would have gone through." I looked at him and smiled slightly. "Thank you so much for your special abilities that allow you to help others. I want you to know that what you did was a good deed that ordinary people couldn't do."

 

"I think that kid would rather you wrap his knees around them every day," I paused, glared at the other person, and then a smile spread across my face.

 

"You're asking too much."

 

"I didn't ask for it. That kid was the one who begged you."

 

"You..."

I don't know why. I couldn't help but smile. Then, realising what kind of expression I was making, I froze. I'm smiling and laughing with Jin. Before, just looking at him would make me dislike him, but today we're sitting here talking comfortably.

 

I felt so relieved that I wanted to tell him something. After thinking that, I hesitated for a moment before reaching into my shoulder bag. I was fumbling around for something when my fingertips landed on a headphone case. Jin looked surprised that I pulled out a pair of expensive brand-name headphones. It didn't say anything; it just glanced at the object in its hand with interest.

 

"Jin"

 

"Huh"

 

"If I tell you something strange, don't laugh at me."

 

"What is it about?"

 

I looked at the headphones in my hand with apprehension.

 

"I heard cries for help through these headphones."

 

"What did you say?"

 

I grabbed one earphone and put it in my own ear, while I took the liberty of putting the other in Jin's ear. Now we were each wearing an earphone. I held my breath. Before I pressed play on the song I was listening to from last night, Jin looked confused, but he just listened intently to the music I was playing. I squeezed my eyes shut and waited anxiously, wondering if I would hear that strange sound again, like last night.

 

"Help..."

 

I was so startled that I instinctively leaned towards Jin. Luckily, instead of pushing me away, he took one of my hands and gently stroked it.

 

"help"

 

I was speechless when I heard that voice again, before turning to look at Jin, who had gone completely silent.

 

"Can you hear it?"

 

Jin didn't answer immediately, but closed his eyes and listened silently to the sound for a while before his sharp eyes opened. Those eyes were filled with panic, its face...

The sharp-tongued man looked quite surprised before his thick lips spoke.

 

"Anda."