Chapter 95
“After that, Mom found out too, so Grandma stopped coming over to our house.”
Instead, Mom took maternity leave and took care of us until we started elementary school.
She still says she should’ve done it sooner and apologizes, but… given her strong workaholic tendencies, she looks happier now, busy with long business trips and work.
Since then, Chohae has always called me “older sister.”
And I’ve done the same—Machohai is my “younger brother,” someone I must always protect.
Now, I sometimes wonder if I really need to protect that huge body…
“But, if it’s Chohae, my body just moves on its own.”
Machohai knows this too, and that’s why he tries even harder to look out for me.
It might seem over the top, but hey, it’s fine as long as siblings get along!
“It’s okay now. That was a long time ago.”
Thinking of Machohai shouting, “my older sister,” made me smile.
I kept the smile and, after looking at Millie, stepped out the door.
“Shall we go?”
Millie followed behind me, speaking bluntly.
[Just because time has passed doesn’t mean wounds automatically heal.]
That was unexpectedly comforting.
‘Even ghosts know how to comfort people?’
A little surprising, yet very Millie-like.
I whispered a quiet “thank you” to Millie, keeping my voice low since we were outside. Someone might give us strange looks otherwise.
Millie followed quietly behind me, neither too fast nor too slow.
Feeling that I wasn’t alone made me smile softly.
“What’s so funny?”
A familiar voice came from behind.
I looked up to see Dan Seohyuk waiting in front of the dorm.
‘What time did he wake up to come all dressed up like that?’
I hadn’t washed my hair and was wearing a hat, but Dan Seohyuk looked sharp in a black coat. His hairstyle was also somehow different from usual.
Female students passing by the dorm couldn’t help but glance at him, blushing.
Aha?
“You came all dressed up just to come to the girls’ dorm?”
“…What are you talking about?”
“Look at your hair—you even styled it.”
Dan Seohyuk, who was running his hand through the waxed hair, froze mid-motion.
“And what’s with that coat? It’s freezing. You should dress warmer.”
“This is how I normally dress.”
“Ah, really? A prince, huh. I didn’t even wash my hair because I was too lazy, so if it’s dirty, don’t come near me, Your Highness.”
I teased him and started walking. I wasn’t planning to talk here anyway, plus it was cold, so I intended to head to a café.
Dan Seohyuk quickly caught up, his long legs matching my pace.
“Why are you picking a fight this early in the morning?”
“What fight? When have I ever spoken nicely to you?”
I asked, genuinely baffled, and he shut his mouth tight, unable to respond.
“You came alone? What about Chaesong and Yeonho?”
“Why would I call them?”
“Wasn’t it to discuss how to find your parents?”
I tilted my head.
“They’re old enough now; it’d be good to hear their opinions too.”
“They’re too busy having fun together right now.”
“Huh, did they go off alone?”
“That’s not what I meant… never mind. What could I say to them anyway?”
Wait, them? They’re my age!
“We wanted to discuss our parents’ situation, but also talk about the abilities we received yesterday.”
“You mean the family membership?”
“Yes. We need to properly understand our abilities so we can use them in dangerous situations.”
Dan Seohyuk reached out. The moment his hand grabbed my wrist, my body tensed. His hands were so large that my wrist felt frail in comparison.
He lifted my wrist slightly, speaking as he did.
“You never know when something might happen to you, especially with this thing.”
The fan-shaped decoration on the bracelet jangled.
“…Well, still. With Millie around, is anything really going to happen so soon?”
“You never know. And you tend to get mixed up with strange things.”
I couldn’t deny that.
‘Why does it feel like I meet more ghosts than Dan Seohyuk, even though he’s supposed to be the main character?’
I gave a hollow laugh, hoping it was just coincidence.
“How many ghosts have I been involved with already? Eden Villa ghost, Red, Millie, Kiring ghost, Quick uncle, hide-and-seek ghost, urban legend community ghost…”
“And the radio ghost too.”
I know about those better than you, thank you very much. I didn’t even want to mention some because they were creepy.
Back at the dorm, I struggled alone trying to take off the bracelet, but it stayed put.
It’s easy to talk about other people’s problems. That guy will probably lose all the points he earned with Millie just like that. No doubt.
“You’re acting like a brat, pouty and sulky.”
“I can do whatever I want with my own mouth.”
“Think about my eyes too?”
Well, then I had nothing to say.
Annoyed, I curled my lips inward this time. A soft chuckle came from beside me.
“Huh?”
“You just smirked, didn’t you?”
I glared at Dan Seohyuk, but his face showed no trace of amusement. His serious expression was award-worthy.
“No?”
“I heard the laugh just now!”
“What? Too far away, couldn’t hear well.”
He tilted toward me as if straining to listen. The faint trace of his laughter made me furious.
“Ugh, it must be nice to be tall!”
I kicked at his shin irritably. He overacted, saying “oops!” and dodged lightly.
It’s like he knows this will make me more annoyed!
“Dan Seohyuk, you’re so irritating!!”
“You call Yu Chaesong and Tak Yeonho by their first names, but why do you always use my full name?”
“Because I feel like it.”
“What about my feelings?”
“You call me Peanut!”
“Oh.”
He briefly stroked his chin as if pondering, then spoke again.
“Choyeon.”
I flinched.
Why does it feel so strange and itchy just because he said my name?
‘Is it awkward? Or creepy?’
I reflexively scowled and stepped back; he frowned.
“That reaction hurts me a bit too.”
“You called me creepily.”
“You said you hated ‘Peanut.’ I called your name.”
“Call me Peanut instead. Calling my name is awkward.”
“Ridiculous.”
Ugh.
I rubbed my goosebumps-covered arms. It’s already cold, and now this!
[Love quarrel?]
Millie, silently watching us, spoke.
“What are you talking about!”
“Absolutely not.”
Both Dan Seohyuk and I denied it at the same time. Our eyes met, and we quickly looked away.
What kind of love quarrel is this with such an irritating guy!
[Well, that’s none of my business.]
[They’re so busy, they didn’t even notice a guest arrived.]
Guest?
Millie pointed somewhere. Following her finger, Dan Seohyuk and I looked.
It was an alley across from the school. Dim, with sunlight barely reaching inside, something unusually red sparkled.
It was a pair of eyes.
“Gah.”
I gasped in shock. An entirely unexpected presence.
“…Red?”
Dan Seohyuk had the same expression—why is it here?
‘Right. Red said he’d help find Mom after gathering some information.’
Chohae had already found her, but…
I glanced at Dan Seohyuk. If Red really brought info about the human trafficking ghost, it would help him.
“It looks like he came to see us. Should we talk to him?”
“Don’t get soft just because he’s a kid. He could trick us into danger.”
As always, Dan Seohyuk doubted first. I nodded, keeping an eye on Red.
Green and yellow smoke swirled around the child.
“But… he doesn’t look dangerous to me.”
The smoke wasn’t strong like Millie’s or the radio ghost’s, and it wasn’t threatening red either.
Then, talking to him should be fine, right?
Red cautiously stepped out of the alley toward us, walking gracefully like a proper ghost.
[Sis!]
“Long time no see! Did you come because you found something?”
[No, not really, but I thought you should know!]
Something I should know?
I tilted my head, confused, as Red flailed his short arms.
[Sis, you’re currently wanted!]
…Excuse me?
[The ghosts are spreading rumors about what you look like, what you’re wearing! If they bring you in, they’ll give lots of eyeball candies and other prizes!]
[You’ve become an amazing person!]
…That’s not really “amazing.”
I groaned, burying my face in my palms. The fan charm on my bracelet jangled mockingly.
