By lunch, Jea-Hyun dragged me to the cafeteria like my opinion didn't matter.
"Food," he said. "Now."
"I'm not even hungry," I muttered.
"You will be."
We stood in line, and I kept scanning the place. Left. Right. Windows. Corners.
No glowing ghost.
Suspicious.
"…Where are you?" I mumbled.
"What?" Jea-Hyun leaned in.
I straightened instantly. "Nothing."
"You're talking again."
"I'm not talking, I'm… thinking out loud."
"That's called talking."
I panicked slightly. "I said I'm looking for—uh—"
Pause. Brain empty.
"…a snack with personality."
He blinked. "…What?"
"You know. Something that understands me."
He stared. Then rolled his eyes and grabbed my cheeks.
"Ow—!" I smacked his hand. "Stop that! You know I hate it!"
"Then stop being suspicious," he said, lightly hitting my shoulder.
"I'm not suspicious."
"You just asked a sandwich to understand you."
"…It's been a long day."
I sighed and glanced around again.
"Did you notice anything strange today?" I asked quietly.
Jea-Hyun frowned. "No. Just you being weird."
"…That's normal."
"Not this level."
Before I could reply—
Someone stepped in front of us.
Seo-Yeon.
Calm. Straight posture. That same soft, unreadable smile.
"Hi," she said. "Jea-Hyun. Min-Jun."
Jea-Hyun didn't smile. At all.
"…Hi," I said.
She looked directly at me. "Min-Jun, can I talk to you?"
I glanced at Jea-Hyun.
He gave me a sharp look. No.
I gave a small nod back. I'll be fine.
He didn't like it. Not one bit.
"I'll be right here," he said, eyes still on her.
I stepped aside with her.
"…What's wrong?" I asked.
She hesitated.
Then smiled faintly. "You're… quiet."
I blinked. "…Okay?"
"I've noticed you pay attention to things other people don't," she continued.
That was not comforting.
"And?"
She leaned slightly closer, lowering her voice.
"I think something's off."
My stomach tightened.
"With what?"
"With people."
…That got my attention.
She continued, "Ever since… you know… things feel strange. Like someone's watching. Or like something doesn't add up."
I stayed quiet.
She studied my face.
"You're observant, right?"
…I don't like where this is going.
"I guess?"
"I need help figuring something out," she said.
"About what?"
She paused.
Then—
"Niran."
My chest tightened slightly.
"What about him?" I asked carefully.
Her expression didn't change.
"I just don't think everything about him… makes sense."
Silence.
"People say it was an accident," she continued. "But it doesn't feel like one."
My heartbeat picked up.
"And I don't trust most people here," she added. "But you…"
She looked at me properly this time.
"You're different."
Inside my head:No.Wrong choice.Pick someone else.
Out loud—
"…Why me?"
"Because you don't talk much," she said simply. "You notice things. And you don't get involved in drama."
…If only she knew.
She stepped back slightly.
"So… will you help me?"
Pause.
Inside:No.Decline.Reject politely.Run away immediately.
Out loud—
"…Yeah. I'll help."
I blinked.
Why did I say that.
She smiled, satisfied. "Thank you, Min-Jun."
I nodded slowly.
"No problem," I said.
Big problem.
Huge problem.
And wherever Niran was—
I was 100% sure he was enjoying this.
Seo-Yeon smiled, gave a small wave, and walked away.
I watched her go.
"…Why did I say that?" I muttered.
"Because you're too kind."
The voice came from right behind me—low, echoing slightly.
I turned so fast I almost tripped.
"Niran—!"
He stood there, arms crossed, not looking pleased at all.
"What did I tell you?" he said, leaning closer.
I blinked. "What did you tell me?"
"I said don't do that again."
"Do what?"
"Agree to help people," he said flatly.
I frowned. "What's wrong with that?"
He sighed, straightening. "Nothing."
Pause.
Then he smirked.
"Guess what I did."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not playing this game."
"Guess."
"No."
He leaned in anyway, close enough that I could feel his breath—
"I messed with the principal."
I froze. "…You what?"
"I locked his office door from the inside," he whispered, clearly proud. "And turned his chair around while he was sitting."
My eyes widened.
"YOU DID WHAT—?!"
He slapped his hand over my mouth instantly.
"Shh!"
Too late.
Jea-Hyun was already staring at me like I just lost my mind.
"…Okay," he said slowly. "Now you're yelling at nothing."
I shoved Niran's hand away.
"I'm not—" I started, then stopped.
Jea-Hyun squinted slightly. "…What is that?"
I froze.
"What?"
"There," he said, pointing vaguely near me. "It's like… light? Something glowing?"
My heart skipped.
Niran glanced at me, amused.
I forced a laugh. "…You're seeing things."
Jea-Hyun frowned. "No, I'm serious. It's like—"
I grabbed his hand quickly.
"It's okay," I said, squeezing it slightly. "You're just tired."
He blinked at me.
"…You're the one talking to yourself."
"Exactly," I said. "So clearly I'm the problem here, not you."
He hesitated.
Then sighed. "…You're weird."
"I've accepted that."
He shook his head, but didn't push further.
I let go of his hand and turned slightly—
Niran was still there.
Smirking.
Proud.
Annoying.
I lowered my voice. "Stop doing things."
"Make me," he said lightly.
I stared at him.
"…I regret everything."
"Too late," he grinned.
I somehow convinced Jea-Hyun I wasn't losing it.
Barely.
"I'm going to the toilet," I said.
He stared at me. "You've been acting strange all day."
"I'm exploring a new personality," I replied.
"…Return it."
I left before he could say more.
Not to the toilet.
To the rooftop.
The door creaked open, and the wind rushed in—cool, light, messing up my hair like it had permission.
I sat down, letting out a breath.
Up here… things felt normal.
Quiet.
"I wish I could stay here forever," I murmured.
A pause.
"I don't want to go home."
"Because of those people?"
I turned.
Of course.
Niran was already there, sitting beside me, eyes closed, head swaying slowly like he had background music playing.
The wind didn't touch him. Not even a little.
"…Yeah," I said. "My family's coming."
He smirked. "More people. More chaos."
I nudged his arm. "Be calm."
"I am calm."
"That's the problem."
He cracked one eye open. "You're rude."
"You're dead."
"…Fair."
I looked ahead again.
"…Niran."
"Hm?"
"What about your family?" I asked. "Don't you want to see them?"
He went quiet for a second.
"…I do."
Then, lighter—
"But first, you help me."
I sighed. "Your wishes."
He nodded.
"What are they?"
"Later."
"Of course."
"Let's get to know each other instead."
"…Now?"
"Yes."
I exhaled. "…Lalita hasn't been coming to school."
He didn't react.
"I think she's hurt. Because you died."
He shook his head. "No."
"What do you mean no?"
"She doesn't even know me."
I frowned. "…That makes no sense."
"She's part of my wish," he said simply. "I'll explain later."
"At our home?"
"Our home," he repeated like it was obvious.
I leaned a little closer, studying him.
"…Why did Jea-Hyun see you?" I asked quietly.
Niran looked up at the sky.
Thinking.
Then he said—
"The closer we get to the truth… the more I exist."
I blinked. "…What?"
He turned to me.
"At first, only you could see me," he said. "Because you were the last one who saw me."
"Yeah…"
"But now?" He tilted his head. "People close to you are starting to notice."
"Notice what?"
"Me. Not fully," he added. "Just… traces. Light. Presence."
I frowned. "That's weird."
"It gets worse."
"…Great."
"The closer we get," he continued, "the more visible I become—to people connected to you."
I stared at him.
"…So my life is turning into a ghost-sharing program?"
He smirked. "You're welcome."
"No. I don't like that."
"You don't have a choice."
"That's the part I don't like."
He leaned back slightly. "Eventually, they might see me clearly."
I blinked. "…No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
"That's very bad."
"That's very useful."
"For who?!"
"For me."
I stared at him.
"…You're weird."
He smiled. "You're my human."
"Stop saying that."
"Anchor."
"Stop."
He held up his fingers, leaving a tiny gap.
"We're this close."
I squinted. "…That's still useless."
He stood up suddenly.
"Come on."
I didn't move. "No."
"We're going home."
"I'm staying here."
"I'll make you."
"You can't—"
He grabbed my hand.
I froze.
"…You can do that?"
"Obviously."
And then he started pulling me.
I stayed seated.
"No."
"Get up."
"No."
"Min-Jun."
"I said no."
"You're coming."
"I'm not."
He pulled harder.
I slid slightly.
"…This is bullying."
"This is teamwork."
"It's not!"
He kept dragging me anyway.
I sighed and finally stood up.
"…Fine."
He smirked. "See?"
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
"…You're the problem."
"And you're stuck with me."