Ji-eun awoke to the shrill sound of her alarm clock, groaning as she stretched her arms above her head. The events of yesterday—joon-oh's ghostly antics and his annoying habit of floating around—had left her feeling more exhausted than usual. But there was no time to dwell on it. She had to get up, get ready, and head to work.
As she shuffled to the kitchen to make her morning coffee, she found joon-ho already there, floating nonchalantly above the counter. He was surrounded by an assortment of kitchen utensils that seemed to be dancing in midair, guided by an invisible hand.
Ji-eun raised an eyebrow. "You're up early. And playing with my utensils again, I see."
joon-ho looked up from his floating breakfast accoutrements. "Good morning! I thought I'd help myself to a little fun while you slept."
Ji-eun rubbed her eyes. "Well, could you try to keep the chaos to a minimum today? I'm already running late.
joon-ho floated closer, his expression curious. "Late? What's the rush?"Ji-eun sighed, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "I have work, remember? And I'd really prefer not to be the crazy person with a ghost for a roommate who can't even make it to the office on time."
joon-ho smirked. "So you're saying you don't want me to accompany you today?"
Ji-eun almost dropped her coffee. "What? No! Absolutely not."
joon-ho pouted, though it looked more comical than genuine. "Aww, come on. It'll be fun! I promise I won't cause too much trouble."
Ji-eun gave him a skeptical look. "No offense, but your 'fun' usually ends up being a disaster. I'd rather you not embarrass me in front of my coworkers."
joon-ho crossed his arms, floating slightly above the counter. "Fine, fine. I'll behave. For today, at least."
Ji-eun gave him a wary smile. "Thank you."
After a quick breakfast and a hurried departure, Ji-eun made her way to work, grateful for a quiet morning. The last thing she needed was more ghostly shenanigans. But as she approached the office building, she couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual might happen today.
She settled into her desk, trying to focus on her tasks. Just as she was getting into the groove, her colleague, Mark, walked over with a warm smile. "Morning, ji-eun! You seem extra chipper today. Big plans for the weekend?"
Alice forced a smile. "Nothing special. Just catching up on some rest."
Mark nodded, though his smile seemed to widen a bit. "Well, if you're up for it, a few of us are heading to that new café for lunch. You should join us."Ji-eun hesitated. Social gatherings were not her favorite, especially when she was feeling particularly off-kilter due to Joon-ho's antics. "I'll think about it," she said, trying to sound noncommittal.
As Mark walked away, Ji-eun turned back to her computer, only to feel a familiar chill brush against her neck. She knew without looking that Joon-ho was nearby, probably floating just out of sight.
"Seriously?" Ji-eun muttered, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. "I told you to stay out of my work life."
Joon-ho voice, though soft, was unmistakable. "I'm not doing anything. Just keeping my distance. But I couldn't resist seeing how you handle the daily grind."Ji-eun tried to ignore the ghostly presence. But it was hard to concentrate with Joon-oh's constant hovering—literally. She glanced around the office, hoping no one would notice the faintly glowing figure floating near the ceiling.The morning passed uneventfully, and as lunchtime approached, Ji-eun was surprised to see Alex still maintaining his distance. Perhaps he was trying to be on his best behavior. She decided to join Mark and the others at the café, partly because she needed a break, and partly because she didn't want to be a hermit.
The café was charming, with cozy seating and a welcoming atmosphere. As ji-eun arrived with Mark and the rest of the group, she took a deep breath, trying to relax. For once, she hoped to enjoy herself without any supernatural interruptions.
Joon-ho's voice came through, almost like a whisper in her ear. "I'm here. But I promise not to make a scene."
Ji-eun rolled her eyes, but she was relieved that he was at least respecting her space. The lunch went smoothly, and Ji-eun found herself enjoying the company. Mark was friendly, and his colleagues were pleasant enough. For a brief moment, she managed to forget about the ghostly roommate waiting back at the apartment.
After lunch, as she was heading back to the office, Joon-ho appeared beside her, his form slightly more solid than usual. "So, how was it? Did you have fun?"
Ji-eun looked at him with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "It was nice, actually. I think I needed that break."
Joon-ho grinned. "See? I knew you'd enjoy it."
Ji-eun smiled despite herself. "Maybe you were right about mixing things up. Just don't expect me to make a habit of it."
Joon-ho floated beside her as they walked back to the office.