We finally got home.
Well—I walked in like a normal human being.
Niran?
He literally walked through the wall.
I stopped at the door and stared.
"…Right."
I rolled my eyes. "I forgot I'm not a ghost."
From inside, his voice echoed, amused—"Skill issue."
"Annoying ghost," I muttered and stepped in properly.
The moment I entered, I noticed the shoes.
Too many shoes.
Five pairs.
I sighed.
"They're here…"
Of course they are.
I walked further in and into the living room.
And there they were.
My mom—Mrs. Lee—sitting perfectly as always.
Beside her—
My uncle, Mr. Lee Jae-Sung. Tall, sharp face, the kind that always looks like he's judging you—even when he's smiling.
His wife, Mrs. Park Sun-Hee. Elegant, but her eyes? Always scanning. Always calculating.
Then their children—
Lee Hyun-Woo, the oldest. Lean, arms crossed, already looking bored like this whole house offended him.
Lee Ji-Ah, next. Perfect posture, sweet smile—but the kind that feels rehearsed.
And then—
Her.
The youngest.
Lee Ara.
She saw me and her whole face lit up instantly.
"Min-Jun!"
Before anyone could stop her, she ran straight to me and hugged me tightly.
I blinked—then hugged her back without thinking.
"…Ara."
She laughed softly. "You got taller!"
"You say that every time."
"And it's always true!"
For a second—just a second—
It felt… normal.
Warm.
Then—
"That's enough."
My mom's voice.
Cold. Sharp. Immediate.
We pulled apart.
"Go and freshen up," she said. "You look tired."
"…Yes, Mother."
I nodded slightly.
As I turned to leave—
I felt it.
A stare.
I glanced slightly to the side.
Niran.
Standing behind them.
But he wasn't looking at everyone.
He was staring directly at Ji-Ah.
Eyes narrowed.
Sharp.
Different.
…Not his usual annoying self.
I frowned slightly.
Then subtly gestured with my hand—
Come.
He blinked once.
Then followed.
This time—
He didn't walk.
He floated.
Smooth. Effortless.
I stared at him.
"…Really?" I whispered.
He smirked. "Upgraded movement."
I rolled my eyes.
"Show off."
"Jealous."
"Not even a little."
We walked upstairs—
Well…
I walked.
He hovered.
And somehow—
That annoyed me more.
We were at the dining table.
Mrs. Hana served quietly, head bowed like she was the only peaceful thing in the room.
Ji-Ah?
Still complaining.
Of course.
About the food. The plates. The air, probably.
I walked in and sat down beside Ara.
She smiled at me.
I relaxed. Slightly.
Niran?
Hovering.
Of course.
Leaning over dishes, sniffing dramatically.
"Oh, this looks good," he said. "Is there poison in it?"
I muttered under my breath, "Please go away."
"No," he said cheerfully. "I'm invested now."
Of course you are.
Then—
Mrs. Park Sun-Hee turned to me.
"I heard you're almost done with high school," she said, smiling that sharp smile. "You want to become a doctor?"
No, I want to disappear from this table.
Out loud, I said calmly, "Yes. I want to help people. It's stable. And… meaningful."
She hummed. Not impressed. Obviously.
Mrs. Lee took over smoothly.
"And you?" she turned to Hyun-Woo.
He straightened slightly. "Business. I'll take over Father's company."
Of course you will.
"And you, Ji-Ah?"
She smiled sweetly. "Law. I like winning."
We noticed.
Mrs. Lee nodded. "Good."
Then her eyes landed on Ara.
"And you?"
Ara blinked, a little shy. "I… I like art."
Soft. Small.
Sun-Hee scoffed lightly. "Art won't feed you."
My jaw tightened.
Mr. Jae-Sung chuckled, backing her up. "She'll grow out of it."
Then Sun-Hee looked at me again.
"And you," she said, eyes scanning me, "are you sure you can even handle medical school? You look so… fragile."
Mr. Jae-Sung added, amused, "He might faint before the patients do."
Niran leaned toward me.
"Say something," he whispered.
I didn't.
"Min-Jun," he pressed, "they're insulting you."
"I noticed," I muttered under my breath.
He rolled his eyes. "Do I have to do everything myself?"
Yes. Apparently.
He turned. Walked—no, floated—toward Sun-Hee.
Her wine glass sat perfectly beside her.
He nudged it.
Just a little.
Then—
Spill.
Red wine poured all over her silky designer dress.
She shrieked. Loud. Sharp. Dramatic.
"My dress!"
Mrs. Lee didn't even blink.
"You must have knocked it yourself," she said calmly.
Sun-Hee turned—
And her eyes landed on Ara.
"You did this?!"
Ara froze. "I—no—I didn't—"
I clenched my fists.
I wanted to speak.
I didn't.
Niran looked at me.
Disappointed.
Then—
Sun-Hee huffed and went to sit back down.
Niran slid her chair back.
Smooth. Silent. Perfect.
She sat—
—or tried to.
And dropped.
Hard.
A loud thud.
She screamed. "My back!"
For a second—
Silence.
Then—
Everyone tried not to laugh.
Even Mr. Jae-Sung.
He coughed, turning it into a fake concern. "Are you alright?"
She slapped his arm. "Does it look like I'm alright?!"
He helped her up, barely holding it together.
She glared at everyone.
"You're all unbelievable!"
Then stormed off.
Dramatic exit. Finally.
Mrs. Lee stood. Calm. Untouched.
"I'll check on her."
She looked at us.
"Min-Jun. Show them their rooms."
"…Yes, Mother."
She left.
Mr. Jae-Sung followed quickly after her.
And just like that—
Peace.
Temporary.
I exhaled slowly.
Niran floated back beside me, satisfied.
"…You're a problem," I muttered.
He smirked.
"And you're welcome."
After dinner, I walked them upstairs.
Three of them.
One of me.
And one invisible problem floating beside me.
Ji-Ah was already talking.
"Is my room clean?"
"Yes."
"Of course it is," she said before I could even finish. "It has to be."
Hyun-Woo walked behind us, hands in his pockets, bored. "This house is too quiet."
Please keep it that way.
Ara stayed close to me. Quiet. Nice. Normal.
Rare.
Then Ji-Ah looked me up and down.
Paused.
Judged.
"…Why do you have no fashion sense?"
I blinked.
She continued, "Even a ghost would dress better than you."
Behind me, Niran scoffed. Loud. "I agree."
I rolled my eyes.
"Stop being stupid," I muttered under my breath.
"What did you say?"
She turned sharply.
At that exact moment—
She stumbled forward.
Like someone pushed her. Of course someone did.
There's this ghost right beside me who likes, to always get me in trouble, i thought he was worse when he was alive.
But No... It turn out he's worse when he is dead.
She spun around.
Of course—
I was looking away.
Wrong timing.
Her eyes narrowed.
"You pushed me."
"I didn't."
"You did."
"I didn't."
"You did."
This was exhausting.
Ara stepped in quickly. "It's okay, maybe you just slipped—"
"I don't slip," Ji-Ah snapped.
Hyun-Woo?
Just standing there. Watching. Like this was entertainment.
Niran sighed dramatically.
"Children," he muttered.
Then suddenly—
The hallway light flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then steadied.
Everyone paused.
Ji-Ah frowned.
"…Weird."
Ara blinked. "Yeah…"
And just like that—
Distraction achieved.
I kept walking.
We reached the first door.
I opened it.
"Yours."
Ji-Ah walked in like she owned the place.
Hyun-Woo followed, unimpressed as always.
Done.
Next—
Ara's room.
I stopped.
Looked at her.
Smiled. Just a little.
"This is yours."
She opened the door—
And froze.
The room was simple. Soft.
Paint.
Canvas.
Art supplies everywhere.
Her kind of space.
"…Wow," she whispered. "How…?"
I shrugged. "My mom, I guess."
She turned to me, smiling—real this time.
"Thank you."
I nodded.
She walked in slowly, like she didn't want to break it.
I sighed and turned away—
Straight to Niran.
And—
That was it.
"Are you insane?" I whispered harshly. "What was that back there?"
He blinked.
Confused.
"Which part?"
"The pushing. The lights. The drama. All of it."
"I was helping."
"That's not helping!"
"It solved the problem."
"It created three more!"
He crossed his arms. "You're welcome."
I stared at him.
"Stop interfering."
"No."
"Stop touching things."
"No."
"Stop almost exposing me."
"No."
"…You're impossible."
"And you're ungrateful."
I scoffed.
"If you keep stressing like this," he added casually, "your blood pressure will shoot up."
I blinked.
"…You're a ghost. Why are you giving health advice?"
"Experience."
"From being dead?"
"Exactly."
Before I could respond—
"Min-Jun?"
Ara's voice.
From inside her room.
I froze.
"Who are you talking to?"
I didn't even hesitate.
"No one."
Silence.
Then she smiled softly.
"Okay… goodnight."
"…Goodnight."
I stood there for a second.
Then sighed.
Turned to Niran.
"…You're going to ruin my life."
He smiled.
"Already started."