The sound of air splitting was accompanied by a fiery sting on my cheek. My face burned as if it had been set on fire. Before I could understand the reason behind the pain, I looked up to find a petite woman with her long hair tied back standing before me. For some reason, I was gripping her delicate wrist. At the same moment, my eyes landed on her disheveled clothing, revealing her undergarments, which snapped me back to reality.

As I hastily released her wrist, the woman pulled her clothes together, glaring at me with reddened eyes full of disgust. Biting her trembling lip, she spat out a single word:

“Trash.”

Her furious gaze was so intense it seemed like tears might spill from her wrath-filled eyes at any moment. I was so bewildered by the situation that I didn’t know how to respond.

While I stood there frozen, unable to comprehend the hatred I’d just encountered from a stranger, she turned and stormed away. As I watched her retreating figure, my hand slowly rose to the cheek that was still stinging.

“It hurts…”

Still holding my cheek, I glanced around. It looked like a back alley near a commercial area, but I had no idea why I was standing there. On top of that, my outfit—a leather jacket and ripped jeans—was something I’d never wear. The last thing I remembered was walking home from my part-time job, half-asleep. Now, I was here, in this alley.

More than confusion, a strange sense of unease washed over me.

That’s when it happened.

A low, chilling voice drifted closer, carrying a crisp scent.

“I thought I told you not to be a nuisance.”

The sound of deliberate footsteps filled the quiet alley. Turning my head in disbelief, I saw a man I had never met before. He was watching me, a cigarette between his lips, dressed impeccably in a suit that matched his heavy, commanding voice.

The man spoke.

“Bark for me.”

What? Did he just tell me to bark? Was he joking? It wasn’t funny, but I thought not playing along might make things awkward.

“Woof?”

“….”

The atmosphere suddenly turned ice-cold.

‘Was that not it?’

Before I could process the shift, he flicked the cigarette butt toward me. Startled, I stepped back to avoid it, but what came next made me forget all about manners. The impact was nothing like the slap from the woman earlier—it was brutal. Shocked by the pain, I instinctively touched my face, only to find blood dripping from somewhere, either my nose or mouth.

The world spun.

“….?”

Dazed and unable to comprehend why I was being hit, I raised my head. My eyes met his. From up close, his icy blue eyes were like the depths of the ocean. Modern contact lenses sure were realistic these days.

The man spoke again.

“Cleaning this up will be a hassle, but leaving you to be a constant annoyance would be worse.”

Seizing the moment while I was out of it, he grabbed me by the collar. Was he about to hit me again? I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“Um… excuse me, sir.”

The man frowned. His sharp brows furrowed deeply as he glared at me.

I tried my best to sound sincere.

“How about we talk this out?”

“You’re the one who doesn’t listen, aren’t you?”

Me? Since when? That’s not true!

But I had a feeling arguing would only lead to more punches.

“Fine, I’ll behave.”

“…….”

“I’m serious….”

“What’s this nonsense now?”

My head spun. Without thinking, I lowered it, and my forehead rested against the man’s arm. Somehow, leaning like this made it a little easier to breathe.

“Just once….”

“…Tsk.”

The man clicked his tongue and let go of my collar. Without his support, my body staggered. My vision spun, and I toppled forward, thinking my nose was about to smash into the ground. But at that moment—

“Unbelievable.”

A hand wrapped around my waist, saving my nose from the fall. Still, I blacked out almost immediately after.

* * *

When I came to, I couldn’t see anything. It was as if something was covering my eyes. My hands and feet were bound, and the floor beneath me was ice-cold. Where was I?

I remembered being beaten unconscious by some strangers in an alley. Beyond that, my memory was blank.

‘It hurts… and it’s so cold….’

Pain wracked my body, and the cold was unbearable. How had things come to this?

Then, the sound of a door opening echoed, followed by heavy, deliberate footsteps. Someone had entered the room.

Though I couldn’t see, I could feel someone looming over me, and for some reason, I thought I knew who it was. The man who’d hit me in the alley flashed in my mind.

At that moment, something tightened around my neck, forcing my head up. Sure enough, something was around my neck. Hard and metallic, it smelled of rust—it had to be a chain.

‘Why…?’

I couldn’t understand why a chain was around my neck.

The thing covering my eyes was removed. While it wasn’t blindingly bright, the room was dimly lit, and my vision was still blurry.

As I sat there in a daze, slap, slap! A sharp pain lit up my cheeks, and my skin stung as if it had split open.

“You’re not coming to your senses, are you?”

The voice was cruelly low but strangely pleasant to the ear. I’d heard it before. It was the same man who’d beaten me in the alley.

Why was he hitting me again?

He asked,

“Should I burn the trash or bury it?”

I was too disoriented to respond immediately. He yanked the chain around my neck roughly, forcing my head higher. I couldn’t breathe, but he didn’t give me a moment to react before speaking again.

“Answer.”

His demand finally pried my lips open.

“H-Huh, s-separate… recycling….”

“I don’t recycle trash.”

You’re supposed to sort general waste and put it in designated bags for pickup on specified days, or you’ll get fined…

I wanted to explain that much, but all that came out were strained groans of pain.

“What should I do with you?”

His low, dry voice carried a hint of laughter, making it sound deceptively sweet.

When I looked up, his features came into blurry focus.

For some reason, I felt like I should beg for my life, but my lips refused to move. Was it because of the cold, or because the pain had locked my jaw?

If my hands weren’t tied, I could at least grovel and beg, clasping my palms together. But stuck like this, I could do nothing, and the helplessness only made the situation feel more unfair.

Maybe that’s why…

***

“Sniff…”

Tears started streaming down, flowing uncontrollably like a dam had burst.

I had only wanted to go home after my part-time job, take a shower, and sleep. Instead, I got beaten up, dragged around with a chain…

I told them I’d listen, but they left me tied up in a freezing place like a trussed-up chicken.

“Hic… sob.”

“What are you doing?”

It seemed he didn’t know that talking to a sorrowful person only makes them cry harder, as he asked.

“Hiccup, sob.”

I couldn’t answer and only wept harder. Maybe it was from being in the cold for so long, but my vision started spinning suddenly. As I toppled backward, I felt my body lift into the air at the sound of a sharp “tsk.”

Feeling warmth, I leaned entirely against him. My sorrow abated slightly as I sniffled. While I was still trying to catch my breath, the man, who had paused momentarily, began to carry me somewhere. As he opened the door and stepped outside, the sudden brightness blinded me.

I buried my face in his chest to escape the light, causing him to flinch again. Whether he did or not, I couldn’t care less—it was just too bright.

I didn’t know how long I had been carried like that, but when he tried to put me down, I grabbed onto his collar in fright and clung tightly. He stopped, seemingly puzzled, and said,

“I don’t get it.”

“…Neither do I.”

It sounded like he let out a short laugh, but I didn’t bother to confirm it—I didn’t have the energy to.

“Let go.”

His tone turned cold.

Afraid he’d toss me back into the cold if I let go, I stayed silent, gripping him tightly. Realizing why I was acting this way, he spoke again.

“I won’t do anything for now. Let go.”

Trusting his words, I released my grip, and soft bedding met my back. After placing me on a bed, he crossed his arms and looked down at me.

I couldn’t tell whether my body temperature was dropping or rising anymore. Everything hurt, and the cold pierced through me, yet my breaths were hot, and my head spun relentlessly.

The bed was so soft I wanted to lie down.

“Uh…”

I opened my mouth, and the man tilted his head, gesturing for me to speak.

“Can I sleep for a bit?”

“Are you insane? Do you even understand your situation?”

“…No.”

“What?”

He asked again, but I couldn’t answer. I was so dizzy I felt nauseous. Covering my mouth with one hand, I tried to suppress the urge to vomit.

“Ugh…”

“Ha.”

As I barely managed to hold it in, I heard him sigh. Unable to contain it any longer, I grabbed his arm desperately and stammered,

“T-the bathroom, please…!”

Seeing me at my limit, he picked me up again and hurried somewhere. The sudden movement made me feel even worse, but I mustered all my strength to hold on, cold sweat dripping from my brow.

“How did I end up picking up something like this?”

His voice reached my ears as he brought me to the bathroom. Once there, he pulled my hand away from my mouth, and I immediately vomited. Nothing came out except stomach acid, but the ordeal left me utterly drained.

As I slumped lifelessly, he sighed again and washed my face. His touch was rough, but I couldn’t resist. After wiping away the water, he carried me back to the room and threw me onto the bed.

I collapsed on the mattress. Despite the softness of the bed, the slight impact made my entire body feel like it was shattering.

Shivering uncontrollably, I clutched at the soft blanket and tried to endure the pain.

‘Am I allowed to lie down under this blanket?’

The plush bed made me want to curl up immediately. Sneaking a glance at the man, I noticed he was still watching me with his arms crossed. His expression didn’t seem to suggest he’d allow me to lie down, so I decided not to ask.

A heavy silence settled between us. Though I felt on the verge of passing out, I held on through sheer willpower until the man finally broke the silence.

“What did I say would happen if you showed up near Kang Ji-Ah again?”

“Pardon?”

“….”

I had trouble processing his words, so I asked him to repeat, but he didn’t. With my mind scattered, I couldn’t recall what he’d said, leaving me at a loss.

Unable to delay my answer any longer, I responded with the first thing that came to mind.

“…I’m afraid of dogs.”

“….”

The man’s brows furrowed at my response. He didn’t seem pleased.

“Not even worth looking at…”

“Quit the useless act already, before I kill you.”

“…Uh, excuse me.”

“Speak.”

“I do like cats, though.”

At least they stay still unless I approach them. Worried he might misunderstand and think I have a fear of animals, I added that clarification. But it didn’t seem to help much. The man remained stoic, arms crossed, his expression unchanging. He seemed to be having a rough day. Well, I suppose it’s hard to keep up that much energy all the time.

I used to lead a quiet, uneventful life—ordinary and inconspicuous. Even though I wasn’t the most social, I was content with my peaceful days, free of drama. That’s why this situation was so hard to believe, even as I experienced it firsthand. My uneventful existence, where people often didn’t even notice I was there, seemed like a distant memory now.

There was definitely some big misunderstanding here—both with the woman earlier and now this man.

Suddenly, the man grabbed me by the collar and lifted me off the ground. My body dangled like a paper doll.

“I told you to stop acting.”

“Uh, huh, uh…”

Dangling by my collar, I could barely breathe, and the pressure on my skin hurt. Maybe because I wasn’t used to this kind of pain, tears started falling automatically.

“It hurts, it hurts…”

“……”

“It’s not an act… sniff…”

The man seemed to lose steam and let me go. Freed from the pain, I immediately touched my neck where it had been squeezed. It stung—probably bruised from the pressure. My face, stomach, and entire body ached, and my neck throbbed. Silent tears streamed down as I clutched my neck.

I couldn’t remember being this much of a crybaby before.

“Stop.”

The man spoke, as if telling me to stop crying, but I couldn’t control it. Instead, I cupped my hands over my mouth to stifle any sound. The tears kept falling anyway. It hurt too much, and I felt so wretched.

“How on earth did you manage to pull off those stunts with this kind of nerve?”

I could hear the man muttering to himself. I didn’t understand what he meant. The word “nerve” couldn’t be more mismatched with me. I chalked it up to being too disoriented to hear correctly and didn’t dwell on it.

As I continued to cry, the man suddenly grabbed my face and tilted it up.

“Stop crying before I bury you.”

His tone wasn’t kind, but he used his thumb to wipe my tears. He kept talking about burning or burying things—must be a verbal tic of his. Though, judging by his antisocial demeanor, he might have a hard time with social interactions. Then again, with his looks being far from ordinary, people probably tolerated his personality quirks.

‘But how long does he plan to keep holding my face?’

Even though my tears had stopped, the man didn’t let go. Instead, he kept kneading my face like dough.

Given his serious expression as he touched my face, I couldn’t bring myself to tell him to stop. Maybe it was some strange hobby of his. If so, I wanted to respect his preferences, but unfortunately, my face bore multiple injuries from his earlier punches. He was pressing right on one of those spots.

“Ow.”

At the sound of my groan, the man finally stopped his fiddling. Acting as if nothing had happened, he pulled his hands away. Seizing the opportunity, I escaped his grasp and touched the spot he’d been pressing. Not that I could figure anything out by doing so—it just hurt more.

The man stared at his hands, looking as if something had broken in him. Did he get my tears or something else on them while touching my face? Either way, it wasn’t my fault, so I decided to play dumb.

Sneaking a glance at him, I cautiously spoke up.

“Excuse me…”

The man raised his eyes to meet mine, silently signaling me to speak.

“…Can I go home now?”

“No.”

“Oh…”

“How can I trust you won’t pull something if I let you go?”

“I have overdue bills… rent…”

And most urgently, tuition. I’d scraped together enough for the entrance fee, but I needed to work nonstop to cover the tuition balance. The payment deadline was just around the corner, and I had to deposit my paycheck the day after tomorrow. These were some of the busiest days of my life.

The man asked, “Why are you worrying about stuff like that?”

“Well…”

Because I’m an orphan.

The words rose to my throat but stopped there. I hadn’t lived long, but I’d learned it was better not to mention things that made me different from others.

“Don’t even think about anything stupid. Just stay put.”

With that, the man stood up. He seemed ready to leave, so I stood too. As he started walking, he suddenly stopped and turned back, glaring at me with wide eyes.

“You don’t get it, do you? Want to go back to the basement?”

“So… I’ll live there?”

“I’m not letting you go.”

With that, the man turned sharply and left, slamming the door behind him. I instinctively covered my mouth with my hand. I couldn’t stop myself from grinning.

‘At least I’m off the hook for rent for a while!’

The rent had already been unbearable, and I was on the brink of being kicked out in a week. I’d even considered crashing at the student clubroom. But just when I thought there was no way out, life somehow found a way, solving the problem in such an unexpected manner.

Though the spots where I’d been hit still hurt, it wasn’t unbearable. Compared to the muscle aches I’d gotten after labor-intensive part-time jobs, this pain felt manageable. Besides, having a roof over my head made me ignore it completely.

Grinning to myself, I crawled back into bed and slipped under the blanket. It was my first time experiencing such a soft, warm quilt. Fascinated, I rubbed my palms against it, marveling at the absence of static electricity. Under that luxurious blanket, I drifted off to sleep, relieved that all I needed now was to use my paycheck the day after tomorrow to pay for tuition. Then, I’d have no more worries.

***

Suddenly, I woke to a loud, rhythmic pounding sound. Struggling to shake off the grogginess, I could barely make sense of my surroundings. The noise seemed to grow closer until, with a bang, the door burst open.

It was him—the man from before. Assuming I should greet my new landlord, I started to rise from the bed. However, before I could utter a word, he grabbed me by the collar.

“Do you really think this pathetic act counts as resistance?”

What was he even talking about? My brain wasn’t sharp to begin with, and the sleepiness only made it worse. Oblivious to my confusion, the man kept hurling questions.

“Do you honestly think this will make me flinch, even for a second?”

Though he had me by the collar, he didn’t yank me forward like last time. It didn’t hurt, and instead, his arm was positioned at just the right height to support my heavy head. Before I realized it, my head kept leaning toward his arm, like it had found the perfect resting spot.

“You won’t even get a sip of water from now—”

Thunk.

I couldn’t fight off the sleepiness any longer and ended up resting my head against his arm. The man seemed to notice something was off because he suddenly pressed his hand against my forehead, muttering softly.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

* * *

“The fever will subside soon, but if you don’t start getting proper nutrition from now on, it could become dangerous. Your constitution is naturally weak, so you’ll need to rest for a while…”

A stranger’s voice echoed nearby. I tried to move my eyes toward the sound, but my vision was too blurry to make anything out. While I struggled to focus, someone who had been beside me came closer and covered my eyes with their hand.

Feeling stifled, I tried to pry it away with all my strength, but it wouldn’t budge. Just as fear started to creep in and I prepared to thrash around, I heard a voice.

“Here.”

It was a deep, steady voice.

Recognizing it brought a sense of relief. I let go of their hand and drifted back into sleep.

***

The next time I opened my eyes, I saw the IV line connected to my arm and the fluid bag hanging beside me. It didn’t seem like a hospital, though.

‘Can you even administer IVs at home?’

Growing up marked as a parentless child, I was always easy prey for criticism. Even a minor misstep would prompt comments like, ‘Of course they’d act that way. What did you expect?’ That stigma had made me cautious to the point of avoiding even the smallest legal infractions.

There was no one to protect me if I got entangled in trouble.

Back to the present…

‘There are home healthcare visits, so this should be fine, right?’

Still, I decided I’d never mention getting an IV at home. As I resolved to stay calm and lay still, the door creaked open. It was him.

Perhaps he hadn’t expected me to be awake, as he paused momentarily when our eyes met before approaching me. He was holding a tray in his hands.

Setting the tray down on the nightstand, he said, “Get up.”

Feeling awkward about lying down in front of my landlord, I tried to push myself up. But as soon as I attempted to rise, dizziness overwhelmed me, and I nearly collapsed forward. Thankfully, he caught me just in time, saving my face from an unpleasant collision.

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue out of habit, then helped me sit upright. I’d been lying down for too long, and now a headache surged, pounding in my temples. Holding my aching head, I spoke up.

“Excuse me, but could I get some water…?”

Without a word, he handed me a glass of water. My hands trembled as I tried to take it, and he sighed before gently pushing my hand away.

“Open your mouth.”

“I can drink it myse—”

“Before I shove it down your throat.”

What a charming personality… He must not have many friends.

Reluctantly, I opened my mouth slightly. He pressed the cup to my lips and slowly helped me drink. I wanted to gulp it all down, but he pulled the cup away anytime I tried to drink too fast. It took me several minutes to finish just one glass of lukewarm water.

When he finally set the cup down on the nightstand, I felt far from satisfied. A few measly sips didn’t even feel like hydration.

Still, he’s the landlord.

“…Thank you.”

“……”

He didn’t respond, but I hoped my gratitude got through.

Then, adopting a serious tone, he said, “If you’re ignoring my warning and hovering around Kang Ji-Ah out of sheer recklessness, I can almost understand.”

Kang Ji-Ah? Kang Ji-Ah… The name sounded vaguely familiar, though it could easily be misheard as “puppy.” I didn’t recall anyone I knew by that name.

What was he talking about?

“Baek Eun-Seong, are you insane?”

Baek Eun-Seong. That name also rang a bell. I didn’t know anyone with that name, but it felt like I’d heard it somewhere before.

“Why don’t you act cocky like last time and claim Cha Gil-Do’s nothing to worry about?”

Cha Gil-Do.

This time, something clicked in my mind.

Cha Gil-Do, Kang Ji-Ah, Baek Eun-Seong. These names shared one commonality. They were characters from the drama Please Obsess Over Me.

Kang Ji-Ah was the female lead, Cha Gil-Do was the male lead, and Baek Eun-Seong was…

“…dead.”

“What?”

“Baek Eun-Seong is dead.”

Killed by the male lead, Cha Gil-Do.

Baek Eun-Seong was a minor villain in the drama Please Obsess Over Me.

The man’s silence in response to my comment made me realize something.

‘Was that a spoiler?’

But wasn’t the drama already completed? It was popular, and Baek Eun-Seong’s death happened early in the series, so it shouldn’t count as a major spoiler.

‘Ah, maybe he’s a fan of Moon Hyun-Joon, who played Baek Eun-Seong.’

For a minor villain, his acting was exceptional. But Moon Hyun-Joon had gone on to take leading roles afterward, so I hoped the man wouldn’t be too disappointed. Despite the blunder of spoiling a beloved drama, I felt a bit apologetic and said,

“Isn’t it better that way?”

“…Better?”

‘That’s what everyone wanted anyway’

“ Of course!”

The man’s expression hardened slightly. It seemed he didn’t agree with me. His deep admiration for Moon Hyun-Joon’s character was evident. Despite his gruff tone, he had a surprisingly sensitive side.

Suddenly, he grabbed my wrist as if to pull me toward him and asked,

“Why is that obvious?”

Apparently, his dedication as a fan was stronger than I thought. Even though he looked upset, his eyes betrayed a hint of unease.

His serious expression with a slight tinge of vulnerability was unexpectedly fitting. Fan devotion truly is something pure.

How could I phrase this without tarnishing such heartfelt admiration?

“The writer intended it that way, and it’s quickly forgotten anyway.”

I smiled warmly, trying to encourage him.

“So, just—”

Before I could finish suggesting he move on to focus on the actor’s later leading roles, he gripped my wrist more tightly and pulled me closer. His face loomed so near that it felt suffocating, and he growled like a beast showing its teeth.

“I don’t forget. Once it’s in my sights, not even in death.”

Was he willing to embrace even the villains?

“Well… that’s, uh… quite a heartfelt sentiment.”

He frowned. I meant it as a compliment, but I guess it didn’t land that way.

“You…”

He seemed about to say something but stopped himself. Instead, a strange grinding sound filled the air. Before I could locate its source, he picked up a bowl from the tray and, using a spoon, offered it to me. It was porridge.

Expecting him to feed me like with the water earlier, I opened my mouth. As I thought, he brought the spoon to my lips and fed me. Quietly, I ate the porridge he offered without complaint.

After finishing the empty bowl, he left without a word.

‘…Is he mad?’

What if he decides to charge me exorbitant rent? With my part-time job barely covering tuition, I had little left for expenses. It felt like I was leeching off him, which made me feel guilty. But if I left, my only options were crashing at the school’s club room or, worst-case scenario, sleeping on the streets.

Increasing my work hours wasn’t feasible either; I was already pushing it with my late-night projects.

Feeling anxious, my gaze landed on the cup sitting on the nightstand.

“Dishwashing! I’ll start by doing the dishes!”

If I offered to handle all the housework, maybe he’d ease up. And if he still charged rent, perhaps he’d at least cut me some slack.

I quickly grabbed the cup and stood up. My determination was strong, but my body was still weak. I leaned against the wall as I made my way to the door.

But then I saw it—a figure.

A chill ran down my spine. It felt like I had just seen a ghost. I froze and stared in its direction. The next moment, I stumbled to the floor in shock, dropping the cup.

The cup shattered.

“What… what was that?”

Ignoring the glass shard that had nicked my wrist, I began picking up the pieces. Despite the sting, my mind couldn’t process what I’d seen. I was too scared to even glance back in that direction.

Suddenly, bang!

The door flew open. A hand gripped my wrist, lifting me as I crouched over the shards.

“What are you doing…!”

Through the man’s broad shoulders, I caught sight of the mirror behind him.

And there, I locked eyes with someone I had never seen before.

A cold sensation swept over me, as if all the blood in my body had drained out.

Then everything went dark.

* * *

As I regained consciousness, the man’s face came into view. While it was somewhat reassuring, the fear I felt made my body tremble uncontrollably.

“If you pull another stunt like this, I’ll tie you up—”

“Hic, sob.”

I was certain I had seen a ghost. A ghost I’d never encountered before in my life, and it was terrifyingly vivid.

The ghost in the mirror was unnaturally pale, its eerie appearance seared into my memory. It had a strikingly unusual face, but that wasn’t the issue—it was a ghost!

Just recalling it made my chest tighten, and I struggled to breathe. My breathing became so labored that I nearly passed out again, gasping and choking.

Noticing my distress, the man quickly grabbed my shoulders and spoke urgently.

“Breathe. Take deep breaths.”

Then, without warning, he stuck his fingers into my mouth.

“Hic, gasp, ack !”

“Dammit.”

The man cursed as he pulled his fingers out of my mouth. Before I could react, he supported the back of my head and neck, then pressed his lips to mine.

It was a surprise kiss, and I was so startled that I instinctively tried to push him away. However, the pain in my wrist sapped my strength, and during that time, he deepened the kiss, as though he were devouring me.

I had no idea how much time had passed when he finally pulled back, lightly biting my lower lip before meeting my eyes.

By then, the pain in my chest had subsided, and I could breathe normally. My mind cleared as well, allowing me to process the fact that I had just kissed another man.

Earlier, it was artificial respiration. Yes, that’s it—artificial respiration.

As I tried to convince myself of this, the man brushed his fingers along my jaw. He tugged me closer, applying slight pressure, as if to kiss me again. Panicking, I blurted out,

“I-I can breathe fine now….”

“…”

The man paused, then slowly backed away. I clutched my throbbing wrist as I stood up. When I looked at it, I saw that bandages were wrapped tightly around it.

“Oh… I must’ve hurt it when the cup broke.”

I had only wanted to help with the housework, but instead, I ended up breaking a cup. So much for making a good impression.

“You cleaned it up….”

I felt guilty for creating more work instead of helping, so I muttered apologetically. However, the man’s expression darkened with anger. Oh no… it seemed like staying here would be impossible after all. Feeling dejected, I said,

“…I’ll leave.”

“I told you, didn’t I? I have no intention of letting you go.”

“What?”

“You’re not leaving.”

Wait, was he forgiving me? Even after I broke the cup?

If that was the case, I wouldn’t have to worry about becoming homeless! Joy bubbled up inside me, but before I could fully celebrate, the memory of the ghost came back. My body shuddered involuntarily. Oh, right… I saw a ghost here….

“If you’ve got nothing else to say, don’t do anything reckless again. Otherwise, this time I really will tie you—”

“Um… can we share a room instead?”

“…”

Did I just overstep my boundaries as a freeloader?

“Yeah, that might be better.”

“Sorry?”

“Stay by my side.”

What? Did I mishear him?

Before he could change his mind, I quickly nodded in agreement.

The man’s room was much larger and nicer than the one I’d been staying in. There was only one bed, but it was big enough to fit four adults with room to spare. If sleeping together felt awkward, there was always the sofa—I could gauge his mood and decide where to sleep.

At least, that was my plan until I saw it again.

In the mirror hanging on the wall, the pale face of the ghost appeared.

I froze, unable to move, my body trembling with fear.

“What’s wrong?” the man asked as he approached me.

I raised a finger and pointed to the mirror. The man followed my gesture, gazing in the same direction, but tilted his head as if he didn’t see anything and asked:

“What’s there?”

“…You don’t see it?”

“…?”

The man looked at the mirror again. Could it really be that the pale figure I saw so clearly was visible only to me?

“The only thing reflected in the mirror is you and me. What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

Then, I remembered something I had forgotten.

Why wasn’t my face reflected in the mirror?

My hair stood on end, and goosebumps prickled across my skin. I couldn’t afford to lose consciousness here again, but the fear was overwhelming. Grabbing onto the man, I stammered:

“Uh… I think I see something.”

“What do you see?”

“A gho—”

I whispered so softly that even a ghost might strain to hear.

“…A ghost.”

“….”

The man looked puzzled, clearly not understanding. But seeing how terrified I was, he suddenly moved toward the mirror on the wall. I panicked and grabbed him, shaking my head desperately as he turned to look at me.

‘What if it comes out of the mirror?!’

Horror movie scenes replayed vividly in my mind—people dying the moment they confronted something like this. I didn’t want to see the man fall victim to the ghost, so I clung to him desperately. But he dragged me along and headed for the mirror anyway.

“See? There’s no such thing as a ghost.”

“Eek?!”

He unhooked the mirror from the wall and held it right in front of me. My eyes locked with the pale ghost I had only seen from afar. My legs gave out, and I collapsed, nearly frothing at the mouth. The man quickly supported me, alarmed. He called out to someone, and before I knew it, I was laid on a bed.

People in white coats came rushing in and checked me over. They spoke with the man as I drifted in and out of consciousness.

“He said she saw something in the mirror, and now look at him.”

“I think he’ll need inpatient treatment.”

“Really?”

“If he’s hallucinating and even self-harming, it’s not something that will improve over time.”

“I’ll consider it…”