We end up on the floor.
Not because either of us decided to.
Just… because standing felt like too much after everything.
The room is quiet again. Not empty. Just settled in a way that feels temporary, like it could break if anyone breathes wrong.
I sit with my back against the wall first.
Niran ends up beside me, then slowly shifts so our backs press together.
Not facing each other.
Just… there.
Connected without looking.
For a while, neither of us speaks.
I stare down at the notebook in my hands.
It feels heavier than paper should feel.
I turn it once.
Then again.
Then I place it carefully on the floor between us.
Like it needs to exist outside both of us for a moment.
My other hand moves without thinking.
The bracelet.
I turn it slightly around my wrist.
It catches the light from the window.
Jea-hyun noticed it once.
Asked questions I didn't answer properly.
I remember that now.
Strangely clear.
Like it mattered more than I realized back then.
Behind me, Niran shifts slightly.
His presence is steady now.
No flickering.
No breaking.
Just… him.
I don't look back.
I don't need to.
"…we're still friends," I say quietly.
It comes out more certain than I feel.
A pause.
Then his voice, low:
"…even if I disappear?"
My fingers stop moving.
For a second.
Then I answer.
"…yeah."
Silence.
Longer this time.
He doesn't sound convinced.
So I add, softer "…you don't have to stay to still matter."
Another pause.
"…how?" he asks.
That one word carries too much.
Too many endings.
Too many questions he doesn't know how to carry.
I exhale slowly.
Look down at the notebook again.
Then at my hands.
"…just keep that feeling," I say. "I know it doesn't have to be real… just don't forget it."
A beat. "…me."
He goes quiet.
Then, barely "…okay."
I nod once.
Even though he can't see it properly from behind me.
Then I turn slightly.
And he does too.
We don't fully face each other at first.
Just enough that the space between us changes.
The notebook sits between us on the floor.
Like proof of everything we're trying to not lose.
I pull something else closer.
Mr. Fluffington.
The plushie.
It looks ridiculous in a moment like this.
But I hold it anyway.
Like it belongs here more than anything else.
I point it slightly toward the notebook.
"…Seo-Jun," I say quietly.
Then I correct myself. "…Seo-yeon. She said something about you being, pushed."
I pause.
My grip tightens slightly on the plush. "…there's a possibility it was Lalita. Also."
My eyes narrow a little. "…but why would she?"
Another pause. "…and Ji-Ah was there too."
I look down at the notebook again.
The rooftop detail sits in my head like a fracture.
"…and you've got a hole in your stomach and nobody's explaining anything properly."
I exhale through my nose. "…I'm confused."
Without thinking, I lightly tap the plush against my head.
Once.
Twice.
Like it helps organize thoughts.
Niran watches me.
Then quietly "…rest."
I stop. "…what?"
He tilts his head slightly. "…or your back is going to be worse again."
A beat. "…and I'll become annoying again."
I glare at him immediately. "…you already are."
A faint pause.
Then "…good," he says.
I stare at him for a second longer.
Then sigh. "…fine."
I lean back again.
Let the plush fall into my lap. "…I'll relax."
A moment passes.
Then the door creaks.
Ara steps in.
It's late.
Too late for normal people to be awake and walking around casually.
She looks between us immediately. "…I was hearing noise."
Her eyes scan the room. "…I checked Ji-Ah's room. She and Lalin are asleep."
A pause.
"…Mrs Lee too. Mom. Hyu-Woo as well."
She looks at us. "…so I thought it was you two."
We both nod slightly.
"…yeah," I say. "it was."
Her gaze drops.
Notices the notebook on the floor. "…oh. Still on that?"
I glance at Niran. "…he just showed me."
She pauses.
Then looks at me properly. "…I gave you that a long time ago. Why now?"
Silence.
Niran answers first.
And for the first time, his voice is fully steady. "…because I couldn't stay hidden anymore."
Ara goes quiet.
Then sits down beside him like it's the most natural thing in the world.
She listens.
Properly.
As Niran explains everything.
No interruptions.
No disbelief.
Just calm understanding that feels almost unfair in how easy she accepts it.
When he finishes, she exhales slowly. "…that's a lot."
No shock.
Just acceptance.
Then she gently pats his head. "…you can come to me too, you know. If you can't find Min-Jun."
Niran freezes slightly.
Then… smiles.
Small.
Real.
He leans into it just a bit.
I notice.
I look away quickly.
"…don't get used to that," I mutter.
Ara immediately protests. "Hey!"
But she doesn't stop smiling.
Niran ruffles her hair lightly.
She protests again, but doesn't move away.
I watch that for a second longer than I mean to.
Then look back at the notebook.
"…this just got serious," I say quietly.
Nobody disagrees.
Because now it isn't just confusion anymore.
Or ghosts.
Or missing memories.
Or hiding things.
Now it's all connected.
And whatever happened on that rooftop…
isn't finished yet.
The room was quiet, but not in a peaceful way.
More like… comfortable noise waiting to happen.
I sat on the floor with my back against the bed, one leg stretched out, the other bent. The book lay open between us—completely ignored.
Niran was lying on his side, propped up on one elbow like he owned the place.
Ara sat cross-legged, watching both of us like we were some kind of show.
Then she clapped once.
"Okay," she said. "Let's do something."
I didn't look up. "That sounds dangerous."
She pointed at both of us. "Favorite things."
Niran frowned slightly. "About what?"
"About each other," she said. "With me."
Silence.
Then "No," I said.
"Yes," she replied immediately.
Niran smirked. "This should be interesting."
Ara pointed at him. "You first. What's Min-Jun's favorite hobby and what does he like the most?"
Niran didn't hesitate.
"Overthinking," he said. "And chocolate."
I nodded. "Correct."
Ara blinked. "You didn't even think about it."
"I don't need to."
She narrowed her eyes. "You say that like it's impressive."
"It is."
Niran let out a quiet scoff. "You say that like overthinking is a skill."
"It is," I replied calmly.
Ara turned to me quickly. "Okay, your turn. Favorite things about Niran."
I looked at him.
Really looked.
Then answered.
"He's annoying."
Niran clicked his tongue. "That's not a favorite thing."
"I'm not done," I said.
Ara leaned forward slightly.
"And," I continued, "he's obsessed with people's backs."
There was a pause.
Ara blinked slowly. "…What?"
Niran didn't even hesitate. "Only yours."
I didn't react. "Yes. He really likes my back."
Ara stared between us. "…I'm actually concerned."
"You made it weird," Niran said.
"I didn't do anything!" she argued.
I exhaled quietly, almost amused.
Ara wasn't done.
"Okay, no—proper ones," she insisted. "Say something good about each other."
Niran rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "…He's predictable."
"That's not good," Ara said.
"It is," Niran replied. "I always know what he'll do."
I glanced at him. "You're wrong."
"Am I?" he said lazily.
Ara pointed at me. "Your turn."
I thought for a second. "…He doesn't lie. Sometimes."
Niran's eyes flicked toward me. "Sometimes?"
That got a reaction.
Ara blinked. "Oh."
"He's annoying," I added. "But he doesn't lie."
Niran huffed softly. "That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."
"Don't get used to it."
"I won't," he said.
But he looked slightly more satisfied than before.
A small silence settled.
Then I shifted slightly. "What should I wear for the Halloween party?"
Ara lit up instantly. "Scary—but cute."
Niran sat up halfway. "No. Just scary."
"Not everyone wants to look like a nightmare," Ara said.
"That's the point," he replied.
I frowned. "You're both unhelpful."
"I'm right," Niran said.
"I'm more right," Ara corrected.
I rubbed my temple. "…I'll ask Lara."
Ara gasped. "Wow."
"Good choice," Niran said.
I ignored them.
Then, after a pause
Niran spoke again. "Do you remember how we first met?"
I glanced at him. "In human form?"
He nodded. "…Yes."
He sat up properly now.
"Good," he said. "Because that was cinematic."
Ara leaned forward immediately. "Wait—tell me."
I already knew this was going to be exaggerated.
Niran pointed at himself. "I was walking."
"You tripped," I said.
He ignored me.
"Graceful," he continued. "Calm. Untouchable."
"You were not untouchable," I said.
"—and then suddenly," he went on, "the ground betrayed me."
Ara covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "The ground betrayed you?"
"Yes," he said seriously. "Out of nowhere."
"You tripped on nothing," I corrected.
"That's worse," he argued. "That means it was fate."
"It means you weren't paying attention."
Niran pointed at me again. "Anyway. I'm falling."
"You stumbled."
"I was falling," he repeated.
Ara was already laughing. "Then what?"
"And then," Niran said, lowering his voice slightly, "he catches me."
Silence.
Ara blinked. "…He what?"
I sighed. "You grabbed my arm."
"I was saved," Niran said.
"You almost pulled me down with you."
"That's called bonding."
"That's called a problem."
Niran leaned back again, completely satisfied.
"So yes," he said. "That's how we met."
Ara shook her head. "That's so dramatic for no reason."
"It deserves drama," Niran replied.
I glanced at him. "…You looked ridiculous."
He smirked slightly. "You still caught me."
I didn't respond.
Ara pointed at both of us. "This explains everything."
"It explains nothing," I said.
"It explains why you act like this," she insisted.
Niran stretched slightly, completely relaxed. "I was clearly the highlight of the moment."
"You were the problem," I corrected.
"And yet," he said, turning his head slightly toward me, "you didn't let me fall."
I paused.
Just for a second.
Then looked away. "…That was a mistake."
Niran laughed quietly.
But he didn't argue.
And the book between us—
Stayed open.
Still unread.