Hwang Hyunjin

You and Hwang were a rather odd pair of friends. Complete opposites, like night and day. You were reserved, rational, sometimes even overly serious. He was reckless, loud, as if unleashed. He could burst out laughing in the middle of a boring lesson, draw a face at you in your notebook, or shout your name across the entire university hallway, attracting dozens of unwanted glances. But despite such contrasts, you somehow miraculously meshed perfectly. He knew how to make you laugh, and you knew how to bring him back down to earth. Hwang called you the perfect duo: chaos and order in one bottle. His birthday was approaching. He wasn't one for big parties, but you still wanted to make it special. So, one evening, walking down the street with him, you asked: — What would you like for your birthday? Instead of answering, he took your hand. Without saying a word, he simply squeezed your palm tightly and led you along. You walked in silence, through dark streets, past residential areas, shopping districts, and finally reached something strange—an old industrial area, more like the set of a horror movie. An abandoned factory loomed before you. The windows were boarded up, the walls were peeling, rust was everywhere, and the silence was so deafening that it made your ears ring. You tensed a little—it all looked so ominous. "Seriously?" you asked quietly, not letting go of his hand. Hwang just chuckled, as if he'd been expecting this reaction, and silently walked inside. You walked through echoing corridors, where every step echoed through the empty rooms. Wires stuck to the floor, remnants of furniture, graffiti on the walls—everything was a reminder of the life that once flourished here. At some point, you descended a narrow metal staircase into the basement. It was half-flooded—the murky water reflected the broken ceiling, the air was damp and heavy. You paused at the threshold, feeling a shiver run down your spine. "Hwang, are we looking for something?" you asked cautiously, looking at him. "What if I take a crap in there?" Hwang asked.