Ji-eun stared at her reflection in the mirror, still trying to process the weird turn her life had taken. Living with a ghost had become her new reality, but that didn't make it any easier to accept. Joon-ho was unpredictable, infuriating, and somehow, despite her best efforts, a strange part of her didn't hate having him around.
She heard a familiar whoosh behind her and sighed. "Can't you knock or something?" Ji-eun muttered, turning to find Joon-ho lounging mid-air, a mischievous smirk on his face.
"Where's the fun in that?" he replied. "Besides, I thought we were past all the awkward formalities."
Ji-eun groaned, throwing a hand towel at him, though it sailed harmlessly through his chest. "I'm trying to have some privacy. Ghosts should respect that."
Joon-ho floated closer, clearly amused. "What are you so worried about? I've already seen you at your worst."
Ji-eun's cheeks flushed. "I still have boundaries, you know."
"Fine, fine," Joon-ho said, raising his hands in surrender. "I'll try to be a less intrusive ghost."
As Ji-eun finished brushing her hair, she could feel his presence hovering nearby. "Can I help you with something? Or are you just here to be annoying?"
"Actually," Joon-ho said, adopting a more serious tone, "I wanted to ask you something."
That caught her attention. "What is it?"
"Why do you stay at that job?" he asked, surprising her with the question. "You don't seem happy there."
Ji-eun hesitated, taken aback by his sudden concern. "I… It's not that simple," she replied slowly, unsure of how much she wanted to reveal. "I need the job. I have bills to pay. Rent. And it's not like I have a ton of other options."
"But you don't like it," Joon-ho pressed. "I've seen how you come home every day, completely drained. You deserve more than that."
She stared at him, his words hitting harder than she expected. She hadn't really considered that a ghost would care about her well-being. "It's… complicated," she said finally. "Sometimes, you just have to do what you have to do. It's not like I'm unhappy all the time."
Joon-ho floated back slightly, watching her closely. "But you could be happier. You could find something better."
Ji-eun swallowed hard, uncomfortable with how accurately he had pinpointed her dissatisfaction. "Why do you care?"
"Maybe I don't want you to be miserable," Joon-ho replied, his usual teasing tone gone. "Maybe I want to see you smile more."
Ji-eun glanced at him, caught off guard by his sincerity. "You're… surprisingly thoughtful for a ghost."
"Don't get used to it," he said with a half-smile. "I'm still going to mess with you. But even I can tell when someone's not happy."
Ji-eun nodded, feeling a strange warmth in her chest. She had never expected to have this kind of conversation with Joon-ho. "Thanks," she said quietly. "I'll think about it."
Joon-ho gave her a nod before drifting toward the door. "That's all I ask."
As he floated away, Ji-eun sat down on the edge of her bed, her mind racing. Maybe Joon-ho had a point. She had been stuck in her job for so long, convincing herself that she had no other choice. But what if there was something better out there? Could she take a leap and change her life?
It wasn't like she hadn't thought about it before, but the idea had always seemed too overwhelming. Now, with Joon-ho's words echoing in her mind, she felt a flicker of hope. Maybe she could find something better.
Her thoughts were interrupted when her phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw a message from Soo-min, her best friend.
Let's grab dinner tonight. I need a break from work.
Ji-eun smiled and quickly typed a reply.
I could use a break too. Let's meet at our usual place at 7?
With plans made, she stood up and began getting ready for the evening. As she prepared to leave, she caught Joon-ho's reflection in the mirror again, watching her with an unreadable expression.
"You're not going to follow me to dinner, are you?" she asked suspiciously.
He grinned. "No promises."
"Joon-ho!" Ji-eun exclaimed, exasperated.
"Relax, relax," he laughed. "I'll stay here. But don't be too surprised if you feel a sudden chill in the air."
Ji-eun rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "You're impossible."
"And yet, you'd be bored without me," he quipped, fading into thin air.
She shook her head and left the apartment, feeling lighter than she had in days. She was going to see her best friend after all
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Later that evening, Ji-eun sat across from Soo-min at their favorite cozy restaurant. The smell of sizzling barbecue and the sound of chatter filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere. Soo-min was already digging into her food with gusto.
"So," Soo-min began between bites, "how's the new place? Getting used to it yet?"
Ji-eun hesitated, thinking of her ghostly roommate. "It's… different."
"Different how?" Soo-min asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ji-eun bit her lip. She couldn't exactly tell Soo-min about Joon-ho. Her friend would think she was losing her mind. "I don't know, it's just a lot quieter than I'm used to."
Soo-min nodded sympathetically. "Yeah, living alone can be like that at first. You'll get used to it."
Ji-eun forced a smile, feeling guilty for hiding the truth. She hated keeping secrets from her best friend, but there was no way she could explain Joon-ho without sounding crazy. Still, it weighed on her, and she wished she could talk about it with someone who wouldn't think she was losing it.
As their conversation continued, Ji-eun felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out to check the message, half expecting it to be from Joon-ho.
"Good luck with your ghost-free dinner. ;) – JH"
She stifled a laugh, shaking her head. Even when he wasn't around, Joon-ho found ways to remind her of his presence.
"What's so funny?" Soo-min asked, noticing Ji-eun's smile.
"Oh, nothing," Ji-eun replied, quickly putting her phone away. "Just a silly message."
Soo-min shrugged and went back to eating, but Ji-eun's thoughts were still on Joon-ho. How had her life gotten so weird so fast?
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Back at the apartment, Ji-eun returned home to find Joon-ho waiting for her. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, flipping through a magazine. It was strange how natural it felt to see him there now, as if he were just another part of her day.
"How was dinner?" he asked casually.
"Good," Ji-eun said, slipping off her shoes. "And thanks for not haunting me while I was out."
"I do have some restraint," Joon-ho replied with a grin. "Sometimes."
Ji-eun smiled and sat down beside him. "You know, for a ghost, you're not all that bad."
Joon-ho raised an eyebrow. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"It was meant to be one," Ji-eun said softly, glancing at him. She had no idea what the future held with Joon-ho in her life, but one thing was certain—her days would never be boring again.