I don't know how we all sat through breakfast like nothing happened.
Like the house didn't try to break us yesterday.
Like Ji-Ah wasn't floating in the air.
Like I didn't see something I can't unsee.
Everyone's just… eating.
Talking.
Breathing normally.
It's unsettling.
I keep my eyes on my plate, stirring food I'm not even tasting, because if I look up too long—
I'll see them.
Niran, somewhere close.
Always close.
And Lalin… quieter than she was yesterday, standing behind Ji-Ah like she belongs there now.
Mrs. Lee's voice cuts through everything.
"So. What exactly happened last night?"
Of course.
Of course she asks that.
Ara kicks me under the table immediately.
Hard.
I don't react.
"…nothing serious," I say, like I believe it myself.
Silence.
Mrs. Sun-hea raises a brow.
"Nothing?"
I nod.
"Just… house issues. Old wiring. Maybe pressure in the pipes. Or sleepwalking."
Ara jumps in instantly.
"Yes. Very real. Very common. Extremely… scientific."
Ji-Ah slowly looks up.
"…I sleepwalked into floating?"
"Rare condition," I say without hesitation.
Hyun-woo lets out a short laugh.
"That's not a condition."
"It is now," Ara shoots back.
Mrs. Lee narrows her eyes.
"And the chandelier falling?"
Ara answers like she rehearsed it.
"Gravity error."
"The screaming?"
I shrug.
"Emotional release."
"The phone breaking?"
"Bad quality," Ara adds.
A pause.
A long one.
Even the silence sounds tired.
Then—
from beside me—
Niran sighs.
Deep.
Judgmental.
"Embarrassing," he mutters.
I don't look at him.
"I heard that."
"You were supposed to."
Ji-Ah suddenly nods.
"I believe them."
We all turn to her.
Ara blinks.
"…you do?"
Ji-Ah shrugs.
"Sleep paralysis. Bad wiring. Makes sense."
Hyun-woo stares at her.
"…you're making it worse."
Mrs. Lee exhales, done with us.
"…just be careful next time."
Next time.
Like that's a normal thing to say.
Breakfast ends.
Chairs scrape.
People leave.
The house empties too fast.
And suddenly—
it's quiet again.
Ara stretches like she didn't almost die yesterday.
"So," she says, "what's the plan?"
I rub my face.
"No plan."
"Liar."
I ignore her.
Then—
a chair creaks.
I glance sideways.
Niran is already sitting beside me.
Like he was always there.
"You promised," he says.
I blink.
"…promised what?"
He just looks at me.
And it clicks.
Oh.
"…we didn't forget," I say quickly.
Ara frowns.
"What did you promise?"
"Visit," Niran answers.
Ara leans forward.
"Visit where?"
I sigh.
"…his family's house."
There's a pause.
Then Ara smiles slowly.
"Oh. That sounds like something I shouldn't miss."
"No," I say immediately. "You should miss it."
She gasps.
"Rude."
"You almost died yesterday."
"So did you."
"Exactly. Rest."
She squints at me.
Then crosses her arms.
"…fine. I wasn't going anyway."
I blink.
"What?"
She flips her hair slightly.
"I've been working on a painting."
"A… painting."
"Yes. A masterpiece. A surprise."
I narrow my eyes.
"…you're just scared."
"I am NOT scared," she snaps immediately. "I am creatively occupied."
"Mm."
She points at me.
"Don't come crying when you miss the reveal."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
She turns away dramatically.
"I'm not going."
I sigh.
"Fine."
Ji-Ah, still sitting quietly, speaks up.
"I'll stay too."
I glance at her.
"…you sure?"
She nods.
"I don't feel like leaving."
Her eyes flick slightly behind her.
Lalin.
Still there.
Watching.
I don't comment.
"Alright," I say.
Ara claps once.
"Perfect. We stay. You go."
"Feels unfair."
"Life is unfair."
Niran stands.
Of course he does.
"Let's go," he says simply.
I stand too.
Reluctantly.
Very reluctantly.
I head toward the door, then pause—
just for a second—
looking back at the house.
It looks normal.
Too normal.
Like it's pretending.
Like nothing happened.
I don't trust it.
"…I really need chocolate," I mutter under my breath.
Niran glances at me.
"You always need chocolate."
"It's a coping mechanism."
"It's an addiction."
"Same thing."
He scoffs lightly.
I step outside anyway.
The air feels different out here.
Lighter.
Like the house isn't watching me for once.
I exhale.
"…let's just go before something else happens."
Niran doesn't reply immediately.
But he walks beside me.
Close.
Like always.
And for some reason—
that makes it easier.
Minhyuk doesn't even question me.
That's what I like about him.
I lean slightly toward the front seat, resting my arm against the door as I say,"Hyung… can you take me to that house again? The one from before."
He glances at me through the mirror.
Just once.
Then nods.
"Of course."
Simple.
No questions.
No suspicion.
Just… trust.
I sink back into my seat as the car starts moving.
The engine hums softly.
Outside, the weather feels colder than it should be.
Not just cold—
heavy.
Like the air itself is watching.
I rub my hands together slightly, exhaling into them.
"…it wasn't this cold before."
Beside me, Niran leans his head back lazily.
"It was."
"No, it wasn't."
"You're just dramatic."
I roll my eyes.
"Shut up."
Silence settles for a bit.
Comfortable.
Familiar.
Then—
I hear it.
Faint at first.
Then clearer.
A bell.
That stupid, nostalgic—
ice cream truck bell.
My head turns toward the window immediately.
"…no way."
Niran follows my gaze.
Then instantly—
"No."
I blink.
"What do you mean no?"
"You're sick."
"I'm not sick."
"You almost died yesterday."
"Okay but that doesn't—"
"No."
I turn fully to him.
"…you're not my doctor."
"I don't need to be."
"It's just ice cream."
"It's cold."
"So?"
"So no."
I scoff.
"Wow."
He doesn't even look at me.
Arms crossed.
Firm.
I narrow my eyes.
"…tell him to stop."
"No."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
I lean forward suddenly.
"Minhyuk hyung—stop the car."
The brakes press gently.
The car slows.
Niran turns sharply.
"…you didn't."
I grin slightly.
"Oh, I did."
The car stops.
I open the door before he can say anything else.
Cold air hits my face instantly—
but I don't care.
Behind me—
Niran's voice.
"Min-Jun—"
I step out anyway.
The bell sounds closer now.
Victory.
"—as your best friend," Niran calls out sharply, "and like a big brother—"
I pause mid-step.
"…oh, here we go."
"I COMMAND you to come back."
I snort.
Actually snort.
Then turn slightly and stick my tongue out at him.
"Denied."
His eyes widen.
"You dare—"
Too late.
I'm already walking off.
—
A few minutes later—
I'm back in the car.
Holding ice cream.
Obviously.
Niran stares at me like I personally betrayed him.
"You're unbelievable."
I unwrap it calmly.
"Thank you."
"You're going to get worse."
"I won't."
"You will."
"I won't."
"You're stubborn."
"You're annoying."
He exhales sharply, looking away.
I take a bite.
Cold.
Sweet.
Perfect.
"…worth it," I mumble.
He mutters something under his breath that sounds like an insult.
I smile a little.
Just a little.
Then—
quiet again.
The car keeps moving.
The road stretches ahead.
And my thoughts—
start drifting.
Slowly.
Without permission.
"…hey," I say quietly.
He glances at me.
"…what."
I hesitate.
Just for a second.
"…what happens if you disappear?"
He goes still.
Not dramatic.
Not loud.
Just… still.
I stare at the melting edge of the ice cream.
"…like… if that ghost does something," I continue, softer now, "or if this whole… thing ends."
No answer.
So I keep going.
"…you're the only one who actually understands what's going on."
A pause.
"…Jea-hyun too," I add quickly. "He's different though. That's—like—brother for life. That's permanent."
A small breath escapes me.
"And Ara…"
I almost smile.
"…she's soft."
Then I pause.
"…not too soft though. She still hits."
My leg twitches slightly at the memory.
"…my leg still hurts."
Niran huffs quietly.
But doesn't interrupt.
I look down again.
Then—
quieter—
"…but you."
That word sits differently.
"…you're just…"
I struggle for it.
"…different."
Silence.
The car hums around us.
"…maybe it's because you're not human," I say eventually.
"Rude," he mutters.
"…or maybe it's because we're connected."
That lands.
He doesn't joke this time.
Doesn't tease.
Just listens.
"…it's weird," I admit. "We're close."
A pause.
"Too close."
Another.
"…but also not."
I frown slightly.
"…like we're both trying not to get attached."
I glance at him.
"…and failing."
Silence again.
But not empty.
Not awkward.
Just… full.
Niran finally exhales.
Soft.
"…you talk too much when you're thinking."
"I know."
"…but you're not wrong."
That—
makes something in my chest settle.
Just a little.
I take another bite of the ice cream.
It's already melting.
"…if you disappear," I say quietly, "it'll be boring."
He scoffs lightly.
"Wow. That's your emotional conclusion?"
I shrug.
"…yeah."
A small pause.
Then—
"…don't disappear," I add.
Quick.
Casual.
Like it doesn't matter.
Like I didn't mean it.
Niran looks at me.
Longer this time.
Then leans back again.
"…I'll try not to."
Simple.
But—
enough.
I nod.
"…good."
The car keeps moving.
The cold air stays.
The world outside feels uncertain.
But inside—
for now—
it's okay.