"We were unsure of what to do. Should we move into a different house? Will she stop seeing it then? I couldn't decide by ourselves, and that's why I called you to have a professional handle it."
Youngmi continued after her husband.
"I have heard praises of you everywhere in the village, Kiho. They say you're even better than your parents in handling these things."
Even as he was being appraised, Kiho remained poised, his attention solely on finding out what or who occupied this house other than this family. After they finished their house tour, the last room was where they slept. Kiho stopped here, coming to a conclusion.
"The house is fine. The energy of this place is normal. You don't need to move out of here."
"That's a relief."
The man breathed out, sticking close to his wife.
"Then what is the problem?"
Youngmi asked, holding her daughter's hand, appearing distressed. Kiho eyed the plushie wrapped in Mija's arm quietly for a moment. Youngmi, noticing the action, denied it instantly.
"She's had this for years, Kiho. It's her favorite doll. She doesn't even let it out of her sight."
Lim Soohyun lightly banged his head on the wall behind him as he listened to the conversation—what he had been doing for the past few minutes, basically. Much to his expectations, this wasn't as thrilling as he had wanted. Everyone steered clear of haunted houses as if it was the most life-threatening place one could step into on earth, but having experienced it for himself, it wasn't much at all.
Ah… this house isn't even haunted… I've been tricked by a kid…
Lamenting with a bored expression, Lim Soohyun saw the crockery cabinet behind Kiho move ever so slightly.
"…?"
Standing straight, he watched the cabinet for a few moments, and it moved again—as if someone was trying to turn it over. Tilting his head in confusion, he didn't stay silent on the matter.
"Kiho, move away from there. The cabinet is moving."
Everyone turned to him as he spoke. Gaining the attention of the entire room, his eyes were still fixed on the cabinet, which stopped moving as as soon as he spoke out. Kiho looked back at the cabinet full of delicate crockery. If that fell over, someone could only imagine the damage it would do to the person. Not wanting the kid to be crushed under millions of glass pieces, Lim Soohyun walked over and grabbed his arm to pull him to the side himself.
"Are you sure, Mr. Soohyun? We have never had violent happenings. It's always just small inconveniences…"
Youngmi held her chin, examining the cabinet herself. Since it had not moved once after he had alerted everyone, it was only natural for them to not believe him, but he knew he hadn't seen it wrong.
"It's better to be safe than sorry."
Glancing at Kiho, he muttered, whose eyes didn't face him—his gaze followed the white white bear plushie in the girl's grip only.
"Mija, you mentioned that you see a ghost too sometimes. Do you see it in the house or in other places too?"
Kiho asked the girl, crouching down to be on her level in front of her.
"Other places?"
Mija repeated as she thought it over with a neutral expression.
"Yes, like at your school or anywhere else besides in your home."
"I do see it in different places, not only in the house."
The parents listened closely, and Kiho and their eyes met in mutual understanding. It was most likely the white bear plushie. Lim Soohyun felt bad for the little girl who had her favorite doll probably possessed now.
"And when you see it, do you talk with it?"
"I do sometimes…"
"What have you two talked about?"
The little girl took a moment to reply. Her eyes landed on Lim Soohyun behind Kiho as she mumbled.
"Him."
"What else."
Ignoring the fact that the little girl and the ghost gossiped about him behind his back, Kiho quickly urged her to move on.
"My doll… it also liked my doll, which made me happy."
Everyone wore a serious expression in the room besides Mija and Lim Soohyun. Kiho continued his interrogation.
"Did it want to play with the doll too?"
"Hmm. Mom says it's good to share your things with your friends. I wanted us to be friends, so I said we can share it."
Mija responded, glancing at her mother, who was flustered to hear the revelation, placing a hand over her gaping mouth.
"It's okay, nuna. Mija, when you see a ghost, it's best to not befriend it. Do you understand me? You'd listen to your hyung, right?"
Mija nodded vigorously, showing Kiho that she'd listen to him, but her attitude completely changed at Kiho's next words.
"Now give me that doll. We can't let the ghost share a doll with you."
Transforming into a protective shield, she hugged the doll ever so tightly, looking at Kiho with an expression that said it all—and then began the war between Kiho and Mija. Kiho tried every excuse and trick in his book to crumble Mija's defenses to capture the white bear plushie. The sun was starting to go into hiding as Lim Soohyun gazed out the open door of the room into the sky. Mija's parents tried convincing her too, but the child was as stubborn as an unmovable mountain.
Finally over it, Lim Soohyun joined the war. Walking straight into the scene, he proposed.
"Let's play a game. Rock-paper-scissors. If I win, I get the doll. If I lose, you'll get to keep your doll, and no one will bother you anymore."
Kiho glared at him with concern, his eyes full of distrust.
"Mr. Soohyun."
"Don't worry. I'm good at rock-paper-scissors."
Lim Soohyun assured him. Mija nodded once, agreeing to the game. There was a competitive spirit in her too.
"I'm also good at rock-paper-scissors."
She declared confidently.