Min-Jun shook his head.
Once.
Twice.
Trying to think.
A lie.
Any lie.
Something smart.
Something believable.
Something that explains a floating breakfast tray.
…Nothing came.
Because the tray?
Still there.
Floating.
Right above Niran's legs.
Perfectly balanced.
Like it belonged there.
"…Think," I whispered to myself.
"Think faster."
Behind me—
A small, sleepy voice.
"…Min-Jun."
I froze.
Niran cracked one eye open.
"…why is my leg burning?"
I blinked.
"What?"
"I thought I was a ghost," he mumbled, voice rough with sleep. "I can't feel things—why does this feel like hot soup betrayal—"
His eyes snapped fully open.
He looked down.
Saw the tray.
"…Oh."
Then—
"OH."
He jerked up.
The tray flipped—
Plates clattered—
Everything crashed to the floor.
Ara didn't even flinch this time.
She just stared at me.
Dead calm.
"…You're definitely not alone."
Silence.
I exhaled.
Long.
Slow.
"…Yeah."
I stood up, walked to the door, and quietly locked it.
Click.
No going back now.
I turned around—
Walked back to her—
Gently held her shoulders.
She immediately crossed her arms.
Waiting.
I swallowed.
"…There's a ghost in my room."
Pause.
"…His name is Niran."
Long pause.
"…He died."
Another pause.
"…Unfairly."
I kept going.
Everything.
The night.
The fall.
Seeing him.
The wishes.
The fact that he's staying.
The fact that—
He'll leave.
Disappear.
Gone.
Ara listened.
Didn't interrupt.
Didn't laugh.
Just… watched me.
Carefully.
When I finished—
She tilted her head slightly.
"I want to believe you," she said softly.
"…but."
"Yeah," I muttered. "The floating tray isn't enough, right?"
Before she could reply—
Niran sighed.
Loudly.
"Humans are exhausting."
He walked forward—
Calm.
Annoyed.
And shoved me aside.
I stumbled.
"Hey—!"
"Move."
He stepped in front of Ara.
Tilted his head.
Studying her.
Then—
Without warning—
He gently lifted her chin.
Ara froze.
Eyes widening slightly.
Not scared.
Just—caught off guard.
"…Okay," she whispered.
Then—
He reached up—
Pulled off her hair tie.
Her hair fell softly over her shoulders.
Smooth.
Light.
Like a quiet wave.
Niran stepped back—
Holding the hair tie.
Letting it float in front of her.
Mid-air.
Then handed it back.
Ara stared at it.
Took it slowly.
"…Oh my God," she whispered.
She looked at me.
Then slightly ahead.
"…Min-Jun."
Her voice softened.
"…Niran's really here?"
I nodded.
Slowly.
"…Yeah."
She smiled.
Small.
Bright.
Then looked forward—
And waved.
"Hi," she said gently. "I'm Ara."
Niran blinked.
"…She's polite."
"I knew it," she continued softly. "Every time I felt something… like someone was there…"
She touched her chest lightly.
"…it was you."
I glanced at Niran.
Then back at her.
"If you stay around," I said, "you might actually start seeing him."
Her eyes lit up.
"Really?"
I turned to him.
"…Make yourself visible."
He sighed.
"Bossy."
Then pointed.
"At the mirror."
Of course.
I rolled my eyes.
Ara walked toward the mirror slowly.
Stood in front of it.
Waiting.
Niran stepped behind her.
And then—
Slowly—
He appeared.
Faint at first.
Like mist.
Then clearer.
Pale skin.
Blood-stained white shirt.
Black trousers.
Silky black hair falling over his forehead.
Sharp.
Handsome.
Too real.
"…Oh my…" Ara whispered.
Her breath caught.
She turned—slowly.
Eyes wide.
"I can see him…"
She reached out—
Her hand passed straight through him.
Niran snorted.
"Madam."
She blinked.
"I'd like to inform you—only my person can touch me."
She tilted her head.
"Who?"
He raised a brow.
"…Min-Jun."
I sighed.
"Of course."
"He's my anchor," Niran added casually.
I crossed my arms.
"Stop saying that like it's romantic."
"It's factual."
"It's annoying."
Ara laughed softly between us.
Then looked down at the mess on the floor.
"I'll get another tray," she said, smiling.
And just like that—
She walked out.
Door closing gently behind her.
Silence.
I turned slowly to Niran.
"…There you go."
He raised a brow.
"What?"
"You just exposed everything."
He looked offended.
"Did I tell you to get close to her?"
"Oh, I'm sorry—should I ignore the only sane person in this house?"
He stepped closer.
Eyes narrowing.
"You're getting too comfortable."
"And you're too controlling."
"Oh really?"
Before I could react—
He grabbed my nose.
Hard.
"OW—!"
"That hurts, right?" he said calmly.
"Yes?!"
"Good."
"LET GO—"
"Learn boundaries."
"I WILL SHOW YOU BOUNDARIES—"
"Try."
"YOU'RE DEAD—"
"AND STILL WINNING."
Soon, the door opened again.
Ara stepped in carefully—
New tray.
Safer distance from ghosts this time.
"I avoided… that area," she said, glancing at the bed.
"Smart," I muttered.
Niran scoffed. "Coward."
She set the tray down—on the floor.
Very intentionally.
Very not floating.
We both sat down across from each other, legs crossed.
Breakfast between us.
It smelled good.
Too good.
I picked up a spoon immediately.
Ara glanced at Niran.
"…Don't you eat?"
He blinked at her.
"I'm a ghost."
"…Right."
"How do you expect me to eat?"
She nodded slowly.
"…Fair point."
I snorted into my food.
They both ignored me.
Then Ara leaned forward slightly.
Curious.
"So…" she started, eyes moving between us.
"How did you two meet?"
I paused.
Niran leaned back against the bed.
"Dramatically," he said.
"Tragically," I added.
"Unfairly," he corrected.
Ara blinked.
"…Okay, details?"
I sighed.
"He died."
"I was pushed," Niran added flatly.
"I saw him."
"He saw me."
"He followed me."
"I'm stuck with him."
"He's lucky."
"I'm not."
Ara looked between us.
"…You two argue like an old married couple."
"NO, WE DON'T," we both said at the same time.
Silence.
Ara smiled.
"…You do."
I went back to eating.
Fast.
Ignoring both of them.
Then she tilted her head.
"Why you?" she asked softly.
"Why did you choose Min-Jun?"
Niran's gaze shifted to me.
Then away.
"I didn't choose him," he said.
A pause.
"…He was the last one who saw me."
I shrugged.
"Wrong place. Wrong time. Great luck."
"Terrible luck," he corrected.
"Same thing."
She nodded slowly, taking that in.
Then—
The door opened.
We all looked up.
Mrs. Hana stood there.
Gentle.
Calm.
"Min-Jun," she said softly, "two people are waiting for you in the living room."
I froze.
"…Two?"
She nodded.
I already knew.
Of course I did.
I stood up slowly.
"…Okay."
Ara stood up too.
I glanced at Niran.
He hadn't moved.
"Aren't you coming?" I asked.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
I frowned.
"That's not a reason."
He looked at me—
Something sharper in his eyes now.
Then—
"Are you sure you want Seo-Yeon here?"
I blinked.
"…If I get close to her, we might find out something."
"You might find out she's dangerous," he said quietly.
"Or that she pushed you."
"Or that you're walking into something stupid."
I crossed my arms.
"Too late."
A pause.
Then he sighed.
Annoyed.
"…Idiot."
He stood up.
"Fine. I'm coming."
We walked out.
Well—
I walked.
He followed.
Ara behind me.
Down the stairs—
Into the living room.
And there they were.
Of course.
Everyone.
My mom—sitting perfectly, posture straight, expression unreadable.
Ji-Ah—dressed in a fitted cream blouse and skirt, legs crossed, already looking annoyed at the air itself.
Hyun-Woo—black shirt, sleeves rolled up, leaning back like none of this mattered.
Du-Hee—quiet, observing.
And then—
Jea-Hyun.
Messy hair, oversized hoodie, hands in his pockets, looking like he just woke up five minutes ago and still decided to show up anyway.
Next to him—
Seo-Yeon.
Neat.
Composed.
Soft pink cardigan, white skirt, hair perfectly styled like she walked out of a magazine.
Too perfect.
Ji-Ah's eyes landed on them immediately.
She scoffed.
"…You brought people?"
I ignored her.
Completely.
"Follow me," I said simply.
Jea-Hyun nodded.
Seo-Yeon smiled.
They both stood up.
We walked back upstairs—
To my room.
Ara peeled off quietly toward the kitchen.
Niran noticed.
Paused.
Then—
"…I'll be back," he muttered.
And followed her instead.