The moment my feet hit the ground—
I feel it.
Not fear.
Not like the house back home.
This is… different.
Quieter.
Heavier in a soft way.
Like the air is holding memories instead of hiding something.
I look up at the house.
Same as before.
Nothing changed.
But it still feels like I stepped into someone else's story.
"…we're here," I say under my breath.
Beside me, Niran doesn't answer immediately.
And that—
that's what makes me turn.
He's just… staring.
At the house.
At the door.
At everything.
Like he's seeing it and not seeing it at the same time.
"…yeah," he finally says, voice quieter than usual.
I don't tease him.
I just walk up and knock.
The door swings open almost instantly.
"Min-Jun!"
Lara.
She crashes into me before I can even react, arms wrapping around me tight.
"You actually came!"
"I said I would—"
She pulls back, immediately scanning my face.
"You look terrible."
"…wow."
"You're still pale."
"I'm fine."
"You're lying."
"I literally just got here—"
"You fell on your back and didn't die. That's not 'fine.' That's suspicious."
I stare at her.
"…you're unbelievable."
Behind me—
a quiet voice.
"She's right."
I don't even turn.
"…don't start."
Niran chuckles softly.
Mrs. Wongchai appears behind Lara, followed by her husband, a cousin, and Yay.
They all recognize me instantly.
And the way they greet me—
it's not distant.
It's not polite.
It's warm.
Hands on my shoulders.
Guiding me in.
Like I belong here.
"How are you feeling?" Mrs. Wongchai asks, sitting me down gently.
"Better," I say. "I'm okay."
"He's lying," Lara adds immediately.
"He shouldn't have survived that fall."
"…thank you for repeating that."
Mrs. Wongchai doesn't laugh.
She just… looks at me.
Longer than normal.
Like she's trying to place something.
"…you remind me of someone," she says softly.
I already know.
But I still ask,
"…who?"
She hesitates.
Then—
"…Niran."
My chest tightens.
I glance sideways.
He's already looking at me.
Not joking.
Not smiling.
Just… there.
I nod slowly.
"…yeah."
A small silence settles.
Then I ask,
"…do you miss him?"
No one answers right away.
Then Yay nods.
"We do."
Mrs. Wongchai exhales softly.
"…but we've learned to live with it."
That—
sits heavy.
Then Lara claps loudly.
"Food."
Saved.
—
The table fills fast.
Too fast.
There's Pad Thai—golden, slightly sticky, smelling sweet and salty.
A bowl of Tom Yum Goong—steam rising, sharp and spicy.
A plate of Som Tam—fresh, crunchy, bright.
And a rich Green Curry over soft rice.
"Eat," Yay says.
I don't argue.
First bite—
and I actually pause.
"…this is so good," I say, half in disbelief.
Lara grins.
"I told you."
I eat faster.
Way faster.
And before I know it—
I'm leaning back into the couch like I've been defeated by food.
"…I live here now."
"No you don't," Lara says.
"I do."
"You don't."
Behind me—
Niran is staring at the food.
Not blinking.
Just… watching.
"…that's your favorite, right?" I ask quietly.
He nods.
I pick up some noodles and hold it toward him.
"Here."
He looks at me.
Then the food.
Then back at me.
"…you know I'm a ghost."
I nod.
"Yeah."
"…I can't eat that."
"…still offering."
He huffs.
But there's something in his eyes—
soft.
I eat it instead.
"…your loss."
—
Lara suddenly drops beside me.
"So."
I already don't like that tone.
"…what."
"You're trending."
I freeze.
"…what?"
She pulls out her phone.
"Class group chat."
I sigh.
"Of course."
She starts reading.
"'How did he survive that fall?'"
"Next."
"'That's not normal.'"
"Next."
"'He's weird.'"
"…great."
She scrolls.
"Wait—Seo-Yeon's sister."
I straighten.
"…what about her?"
Lara reads,
"'Ever since Niran died, Seo-Yeon's been acting strange.'"
Silence.
"'She says she sees him.'"
My chest tightens.
"'Hears him.'"
I slowly turn my head.
Niran is already looking at me.
Expression flat.
Like—
yes. obviously.
I look away fast.
"Not funny."
"It is a little," he says.
"It's not."
—
A clap cuts through everything.
Yay.
"We do something."
Lara perks up immediately.
"What?"
"Dance."
I blink.
"…dance?"
She grins.
"Backyard."
She grabs a speaker and heads out.
I hesitate.
"…I don't dance."
"You do today."
Before I can argue—
Niran leans slightly closer.
"…I'll guide you."
I glance at him.
"…you will?"
"Yeah."
I hesitate.
Then nod.
"…okay."
I turn to Lara.
"I can dance."
She freezes.
"…you?"
"…don't make it a big deal."
Mrs. Wongchai looks surprised.
But she smiles.
"Alright… let's go."
—
The backyard is small.
But beautiful.
Flowers along the edges.
Soft grass.
A little stool with chairs.
Mrs. Wongchai and Yay sit down together.
Watching.
Lara sets the speaker down.
Then pauses.
Her expression shifts.
Softer.
"…this song," she says quietly.
I look at her.
"…what song?"
She doesn't answer immediately.
She looks down at the speaker.
Then says,
"…it's the one me and Niran used to practice to."
My chest tightens.
"…practice?"
She nods.
"…he used to mess up the timing on purpose."
I blink.
"…why?"
A small smile.
"…because I'd get mad."
Behind me—
Niran lets out a quiet laugh.
"…worth it."
Lara continues,
"…we weren't good at it at first. At all."
She glances at me.
"…but he kept saying if we did it enough times, it would feel natural."
A pause.
"…it did."
She presses play.
The music starts.
Soft.
Slow.
Not romantic.
Just… emotional.
Like something you don't say out loud.
She steps forward immediately.
Moving like she already knows every beat.
Every step.
I stand there.
Frozen.
"…you said you'd guide me," I whisper.
No answer.
I glance at Niran.
He's just watching.
Still.
"…Niran?"
Nothing.
Panic creeps in.
"…I'm about to embarrass myself."
Then—
he moves.
Steps behind me.
Close.
"…relax," he murmurs.
His voice softer.
Focused.
"Just follow."
His hand lifts—
not touching—
but guiding.
"Step left."
I move.
Too stiff.
"Slower."
I adjust.
"Turn—now."
I turn.
It's awkward.
Really awkward.
I almost trip.
"…I'm going to die."
"You already almost did," he mutters.
"…not helpful."
He lets out a small laugh.
"Again."
I follow.
Step.
Turn.
Pause.
And slowly—
it starts to make sense.
My body catches the rhythm.
Lara notices.
She adjusts.
Matching me.
Helping without saying anything.
And suddenly—
we're moving together.
Not perfect.
But close.
Close enough.
The music fills the space.
Soft.
Heavy.
And for a moment—
I feel it.
Not just the steps.
But the memory inside them.
I glance slightly.
Niran is watching.
Not the dance.
Me.
"…you're doing fine," he says quietly.
"…don't lie."
"I'm not."
I exhale.
Focus again.
And this time—
I don't overthink it.
I just move.
Just follow.
Just stay in it.
And for a second—
everything else disappears.
No ghosts.
No fear.
Just this.
Just here.
And it feels—
strangely right.
I leaned back on the grass, palms pressed behind me, chest still rising a little too fast from the dance.
The music had stopped, but it was still… there.
In my head.
In the way Lara's steps had matched mine.
In the way Niran had stood just behind me, correcting my movements like—
like he used to.
I exhaled slowly.
"…I didn't trip," I muttered.
From beside me, Niran snorted.
"Barely."
"I didn't fall."
"You almost introduced your face to the ground."
"That was one time."
"Three."
"Stop counting."
Lara dropped down beside me with a soft thud, brushing hair out of her face, cheeks a little flushed.
"You were actually good," she said, nudging my shoulder.
I glanced at her.
"…don't lie to me."
"I'm serious," she insisted. "You were off at first, but then you got it."
I huffed.
"…yeah. Took me long enough."
My eyes flicked—without thinking—
to Niran.
He was standing a little ahead of us now, hands in his pockets, looking out at the garden like he wasn't just… part of everything.
Like he wasn't the reason I got it right.
"…you followed well," he said without looking at me.
I rolled my eyes.
"…thanks, coach."
He smirked slightly.
Lara stretched her legs out.
"Ugh… I'm tired."
"Same," I muttered.
A pause settled.
Comfortable.
Quiet.
Then—
Lara spoke again.
"Hey… someone's hosting a Halloween party."
I blinked.
"…it's Halloween already?"
She turned to me like I'd just said something illegal.
"Yes???"
"…wait." I frowned, thinking. "You said next week Thursday, right?"
"Yeah."
"…then today is Thursday."
"…yes."
"…which means—"
I froze.
Actually froze.
Then slowly sat up.
"…that's my birthday."
Silence.
Niran tilted his head.
"…you just realized that?"
I rubbed the back of my neck.
"…I forgot I was born in October."
Lara stared at me.
"…you forgot your own birthday."
I shrugged.
"…it's not like we celebrate."
That came out more casual than it felt.
Niran's gaze flicked to me.
Sharper now.
"…still."
I shrugged again, lighter this time.
"…it's just another day."
Lara didn't look convinced.
But she didn't push.
Instead, she leaned back on her hands.
"So… will you come to the party?"
I frowned.
"…who's hosting it?"
"Seo-Yeon's family."
I stilled slightly.
"…oh."
"Yeah," she nodded. "You know how they are. Big house, big decorations, whole thing."
"…their mansion, right?"
"Backyard," she confirmed. "They do it every year."
I looked away for a second.
"…I'm not invited."
Lara waved that off immediately.
"Relax. If you don't get invited by tomorrow, I'll take you."
I blinked.
"…what?"
"They said everyone can bring one person," she said casually. "I was gonna take Yay, but—"
From the stool behind us—
"I AM STILL IN MY PRIME, YOUNG LADY."
We both turned.
Yay was glaring.
Lara burst out laughing.
"Okay, okay—maybe not!"
I couldn't help it—I smiled.
Actually smiled.
"…you're funny."
"Thank you," Yay said proudly.
Lara turned back to me.
"So yeah. If no invite, you're coming with me."
I hesitated.
"…I don't really do… parties."
"Good," she said. "Start now."
I huffed softly.
"…I don't even remember birthdays, talk less of Halloween."
That slipped out before I could stop it.
Lara's expression softened.
Just a little.
Then—
she reached over and grabbed my hand.
Warm.
Firm.
Not letting me pull away.
"Then we'll fix that."
I blinked at her.
"…what?"
"You will celebrate Halloween," she said like it was already decided.
I let out a small laugh.
"…you're ordering me now?"
"Yes."
"Wow."
"Be grateful."
I shook my head, smiling faintly.
"…okay."
She grinned.
"Good. I'll come to your house on Monday. We'll get costumes."
"…costumes?"
"Obviously."
"…this is already sounding stressful."
"It'll be fun."
"…that's what people always say before something stressful."
"Trust me."
I looked at her.
Then sighed.
"…fine."
She squeezed my hand once.
"Good."
A pause.
Then softer—
"Don't worry. It's not a big deal."
I looked down at our hands for a second.
Then back at her.
"…thanks."
She shrugged like it didn't matter.
But it did.
It really did.
And behind her—
Niran was watching.
Quiet.
Unreadable.
But there was something there.
Something softer.
Something… familiar.
I looked away first.
Because if I didn't—
I'd start thinking too much again.
And right now—
this moment was simple.
And for once—
I wanted to keep it that way.