Jaeha, witnessing everything that had just unfolded, stood speechless. He hadn't expected such an intense fight to erupt out of nowhere.
"The manager hyung was just trying to help… He didn't mean anything bad," he muttered weakly, unsure if it was even his place to comment.
But the sharp exhale from the man made him want to swallow his words.
"Just leave me alone. I don't want to talk to anyone right now," Sihyun said flatly, walking past the translucent figure without another glance.
"…"
'He looks really upset…'
Thinking he'd better keep his distance for a while, Jaeha quietly floated out of the house.
*
Time passed, and there was still no sign of the ghost.
As days went by without any sort of contact, Sihyun realized how lonely he could feel without the company of his ghostly friend.
The space hadn't felt this empty and hollow in a long while.
The man had clearly underestimated the value of companionship, only learning its weight after it slipped away.
Lying on his bed, his deep eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. Only the sound of his breathing could be heard.
His gaze twitched when he saw a familiar, translucent figure begin to seep in through the wall.
"What are you doing here?" he asked calmly, trying hard not to let the relief slip into his voice.
But the spark in his eyes was all too clear.
And Jaeha noticed.
There was no need to say it in words.
"Didn't you miss me?" he chirped, gliding through the air as if performing a lighthearted waltz.
The man sat up, his face veiled by the darkness of the room.
"Yeah… I did."
The low voice brought Jaeha to a halt mid-air.
He had only meant to tease, not expecting such a sincere answer. It caught him off guard, truly out of character.
Maybe they really had grown close after all.
And as if some invisible barrier had melted, Sihyun began showing more of his weathered tenderness from then on.
- - -
Boxes of luxurious gifts were stacked high in the living room, nearly reaching the ceiling and leaving barely any room to walk.
The company had sent them over, as they had remained unclaimed for a long time.
Jaeha hovered around them, eyes wide with amazement and curiosity.
He wanted to know what was inside, while Sihyun, on the other hand, showed little interest.
But after persistent nagging beside his ear, the man finally relented.
Inside the luxe packaging were expensive items—designer bags, watches, shoes, jackets, and more.
"Woah, all your fans must be super rich," Jaeha commented, awe-struck as he scanned the floor cluttered with branded goods.
He had never been an avid fan of anyone, but he did admire people who could show such deep affection for someone they cared about.
"You're really popular, aren't you?" he chirped.
The man dismissed the comment with a shake of his head, but Jaeha begged to differ.
"I used to wander around the hospital a lot. And in the TV hall, people were always watching your movies," he narrated with a cheerful glow. "You're a source of energy for them."
"They just happened to like the film," Sihyun said, brushing it off.
"But you were the face of that film," Jaeha insisted, his voice a scale higher. "Don't try to drag yourself down unnecessarily. That's a bad habit."
Saying this, he went straight to the main point, the voice becoming softer.
"People won't stay blind to the truth forever. So, don't just listen to the criticism—embrace your well-wishers too."
Sihyun listened silently, a smirk lifting the corner of his lips. "You sound like a boomer."
He said it with a light tease, watching the pale face twist into a comical frown. But inwardly, he was thankful for the kind words.
He had entered the industry with nothing but passion and a clear mind.
But the swamp of dejection had been weighing him down on this lonesome journey.
Yet somewhere along the way, rejection and scrutiny had piled on like chains he'd long since stopped trying to break.
He still sought the light beyond the shadowed tunnel—only to wonder if it had been beside him all along.
From the kitchen, Mr. Kim peeked out with a cup in hand, his gaze falling on the broad back seated among the unopened boxes, busily unwrapping one after another.
He'd been serving as Sihyun's manager for years and knew most of the actor's tendencies, so he didn't take their fights to heart.
It wasn't the first, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.
Mr. Kim had even instructed the staff to pre-check every parcel for safety–a precaution he now felt proud of.
But his serene look twitched when he noticed Sihyun talking to thin air again.
"…What is going on with him these days?" Mr. Kim muttered, sipping his coffee. "I should get in contact with the best therapist."
He nodded to himself, adding it to his growing mental checklist.